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YOUR XMAS GIFT GUIDE 75 IDEAS UNDER £40!

INSPIRING IDEAS AMAZING PRICES

LIVING SHOPPING COOKING MAKING STYLING

ONLY

We revamped our tired kitchen for under £500!

£2.49

£1,920 OF PRIZES TO WIN

DECEMBER 2020 £2.49

Whip up a festive showstopper

796

Christmas

Quick & easy seasonal makes

STYLING IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME

Make it SCANDI STOCKING CHRISTMAS DECS DIP-DYE CANDLES

XMAS TRENDS

Discover all the latest festive looks

EXPERT ADVICE Be a savvy sales shopper Style hacks for party season

+ GORGEOUS KITCHEN & BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Set your best dressed Christmas table

Real homes with ideas to steal

T O B O O K A F R E E A P P O I N T M E N T C A L L 0 8 0 0 5 8 7 6 4 8 0 O R V I S I T U S AT H I L L A R Y S . C O . U K

Welcome to our DECEMBER ISSUE!

C

elebrating Christmas is going to be a little different in 2020, but after a difficult year that’s all the more reason to make it extra special. So we’ve packed this issue full of wow-factor festive decorating ideas, stylish Christmas makes and affordable buys to help you make your home look and feel festive fabulous.

Discover this year’s must-have Christmas looks on page 76, along with easy styling tips for getting your home guest-ready on page 85, and all you need to set your best dressed Christmas table on page 94.

Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a festive feast, so turn to page 120 to find our delicious, seasonal recipes. With vegetarian and vegan options and our show-stopping Pavlova, these are dishes everyone can enjoy.

Starting to plan your decorating schemes for 2021? This issue’s four beautiful reader homes and stunning kitchen, bathroom and bedroom makeovers are crammed with ideas to inspire your next project. Flip to page 14 with your Pinterest board at the ready!

This is my first issue as Editor of HomeStyle so I can’t wait to see how you style your homes this Christmas – be sure to share your festive photos and decorating projects with us over on our Insta.

Until next month, I hope you enjoy this issue and wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season.

COULD YOU BE OUR COVER STAR? Reckon you’ve got what it takes to be a future HomeStyle cover star? A creative home and a smile is all you need!

Take a quick snap of yourself in your favourite room and email it to us at homestyle@ immediate.co.uk. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Get in touch WEBSITE yourhomestyle.uk

FACEBOOK facebook.com/homestylemaguk

TWITTER @homestylemaguk

INSTAGRAM

PS. Don't miss it

@homestylemaguk

PINTEREST

The next issue of HomeStyle is on sale 8th December

Living 40

Shopping 6

pinterest.com/your_home_style

Cooking

Making

Styling

120

64

94

C ontent s 26 67

06

DECORATING & STYLING 12

The wish list The latest high street home buys

67

Decorator’s moodboards Christmas colours get a revamp with these looks for year-round cheer

76

Christmas trends 2020 Discover this year’s must-have seasonal looks and how to style them

85

88

READER HOMES 14

We weren’t scared to be daring Bright colours and bold patterns have transformed Liz’s once unloved home

26

Our kitchen revamp cost £500!

Our cover star Louise’s upstyling has left room in the budget to extend her 1930s home

40

Style hacks for the party season Get your home ready for visitors with these finishing touches

54

Your Christmas gift guide Brilliant ideas to suit your budget

MAKEOVERS 98

94

Buying meant we could get creative Ediana has packed her ex-rental with personality and unique touches

Festive table settings Eat, drink and be merry in style with our affordable, Insta-worthy ideas

4 yourhomestyle.uk

It’s perfect for Christmas Lou’s creative family home is full of versatile spaces and playful touches

I craved a cosy and relaxing space Becky went for bold florals and rich colours to create a hotel luxe feel in her brand-new bedroom

104 It’s small but full of colour Riannon turned her dated bathroom into a modern, stylish space 110 We knew open plan was best By knocking down walls, Greer created a large, hardworking kitchen

SHOPPING 06

Shop the high street The best affordable home buys

22

Animal crackers A menagerie of quirky pieces

34

Minimalist ceramics Pots of inspo for a sleek look

48

Copper highlights This season’s must-have metal

62

Luxe-look upholstery Soft, deep-buttoned comfort

Contents

94

Plus WIN & SAVE

120

52

Subscribe to HomeStyle and get two Joules mugs!

75

Win! An indoor screen from Screen with Envy

83

20% off stationery from Martha Brookes

36

110 96

Be a savvy sales shopper Bag the best bargains with our top tips from the experts

50

DIY letter board Create a sign of the times

64

Christmas decorations Make a set of colourful wooden trees

72

Botanical candle holders Upcycle old bottles into beautiful candle holders

114 Loft living Urban accessories for a cool kitchen

74

Upcycling news The latest crafty finds and tutorials

116 Great gadgets The latest buys to make your home life that bit simpler!

COOKING

MAKING

102 Winter florals The bigger, the bolder, the better!

108 Pretty in pink Bathroom beauties for a modern look

118 Easy midweek meals Recipes to help reclaim your evenings

24

Dip-dye candles Transform plain white candles

120 A festive feast Tastiest ever Christmas turkey, delish vegan dishes and a showstopping pud!

36

Scandi stocking Sew a stylish, seasonal stocking

124 Food news What’s filling our trolleys this month?

REGULARS 66

Win a children’s playhouse bed Enter our draw for your chance to win this adorable bed worth over £1,000

75

Win a beautiful indoor screen We have two stylish indoor screens, worth £450 each, to be won this issue

82

#myHShome Our picks of your pics!

125 Coming next month A sneak peek at our January issue 128 Shopping directory Where to buy everything in this issue 130 In conversation with... Flock We talk pattern with Jenny Wingfield On our cover December 2020 5

Blue velvet cheetah ornament, £7.99; Nutcracker with pink fluffy hat, £9.99; Silver nutcracker, £8.99; Light up white Christmas tree, £29.99; Pink candle in glass jar, £4.99; Pom pom bunting, £6.99; Pastel pom pom wreath, £19.99, all HomeSense

HomeSense FESTIVE FUN Embrace the playfulness of childhood Christmasses with these accessories

Iridescent cocktail shaker, £12.99

Set of three pineapple baubles, £4.99

Gold knife and fork set, £14.99

Pom pom garland, £12.99

Blue silk quilted pillow, £12.99

ALL

£30 OR UNDER

Green llama ornament, £4.99

SHOP THE

HIGH STREET

Here’s our pick of the best bargain buys the high street and web have to offer 6 yourhomestyle.uk

Style on on a shoestring

Matalan

Robin side plate, £3.50

RUSTIC WONDERLAND Create a cosy festive cabin with natural, neutral decorations Antler hurricane lantern, £18 LED glitter half wreath, £12.50

Wooden triangle LED tree, £10

Wire tealight tree, £16

Cross stitch stag side plate, £3

Stag head, £35

Wooden Christmas rolling pin, £8

White nutcracker, £16

Stag dinner platter, £10; Black wooden star, £8; Wooden star with scene, £6; Ceramic candlestick holder, £6; Wooden triangle LED tree, £10; Faux sheepskin rug, £25; Wooden tree wall ladder, £12; Felt tree cutlery holders, £3; Stag dinner plate, £3.50 each; Stag side plate, £3 each; Stag pasta bowl, £3.50 each; Stag bowl, £3.50 each; Frosted stag tumbler, £3.50 each; Antler hurricane lantern, £18, all Matalan

HOW TO

style the look More is definitely more when it comes to this decoration style. Mix and match accessories and build up textures on your surfaces and walls; hang a pom pom wreath above a wooden garland, next to a sparkly tree.

Stick to bold, primary colours, such as blue, yellow and red. This style is reminiscent of childhood Christmasses and the retro décor of the Eighties and Nineties. It’s all about adding fun and playfulness to the scheme– the quirkier and brighter the better!

Feature Katie Dutton

1

2

December 2020 7

George Home TICKLED PINK For a lighter, fresher festive aesthetic, choose pretty pastel shades

Home knit texture cushion, £8

Pink tealight holder, 90p

Snowflake bauble, 50p

Silver twine trees, £12

White, pink and blue Christmas tree baubles, £1 for a set of four

8 yourhomestyle.uk

Baubles from 50p; Star tree topper, £7; Woodland Wide 5 ft green tree, £40; Silver twine trees, £12; Silver star, £10; Sequin stocking, £5; Disco boot bulldog ornament, £10; Cushions from £6, all George Home

Style on a shoestring

HOW TO

style the look

Torino bar stool, £35; Ombré storage basket, £12; Emilia bar stool, £69; Amelia butterscotch throw, £18, all Dunelm

1

Pastel pink pairs perfectly with silver – the sparklier the better. The shade will also pop against the dark green of a Christmas tree.

Keep things light and fresh and include just a few statement accessories and furnishings in this pink shade, to avoid colour overload.

2

Dunelm CHESTNUTS ROASTING Wooden accents and warm colours make up this cosy look

Acacia gold spice rack, £12

Arkin chair, £229 Arts and Crafts framed print, £17 Monkey bottle holder, £20 Amelia butterscotch throw, £18

Foil splatter black cushion, £10 December 2020 9

LATEST RELEASE If you’re a stationery addict like us, then the sight of the new Martha Brook 24 Days of Stationery advent calendar will have you all aflutter. Designed to look like a row of books on a shelf, each embossed box, to be opened each day in the lead up to Christmas (if you can restrain yourself ) contains everything to satisfy a stationery lover’s needs, and will set you and your workspace on the right course for 2021. A calendar, personalised notebook, luxurious pens and a writing set are just a few of the goodies hidden away! Better yet, the packaging is 100% recyclable, with no plastics used. The advent calendar costs £89 from marthabrook.com Be sure to check out our exclusive reader discount for Martha Brook’s gorgeous stationery, on page 83.

24 Days of Stationery advent calendar, £89, Martha Brook

TheWISH LIST...

Out this month: exciting collections, collaborations, colours and more…

NEW COLLECTION

SEW CUTE

A beautiful new line of china plates from Xavier China has been released to celebrate the rewilding movement in Britain. The plates depict several species of wildlife that were once key to our countryside but were sadly made extinct through hunting.

Thanks to rewilding projects across the country though, it may be possible for some of these animals to be reintroduced. The lovely beaver, boar, wolf and lynx are some of the animals depicted on the plates. They would make a wonderful gift for an animal lover, or mounted on your wall as a unique work of art, or simply used as a delightful, dainty plate! Each pudding plate costs £36 and is available in a range of colours. Five per cent of every sale will be donated to the Beaver Trust, to help with the rewilding movement. xavierchina.com

Whether you’d like to give a loved one a handmade gift, or just want to try a new hobby, there are many benefits to taking up a craft activity. In Craft Your Own Happy, maker Becci Mai Ford sets out a range of accessible and playful projects that promise a distraction, and maybe even a solution, to the stresses and anxieties of modern life.

We particularly like her pressed flower phone case and colourful pom pom footstool. Cosy up and get crafting!

The Wilding Collection pudding plates, £36 each, Xavier China 12 yourhomestyle.uk

Craft Your Own Happy

by Becci Mai Ford, £14.99, White Owl

Styling SPEND VS SAVE Statement candles almost too good to set alight!

JUST LANDED! Meri Meri’s paper foliage chandelier and garland are a great way of recreating a winter forest vibe inside, without the mess of the real thing. You can bring them out year after year with your other decorations and create a striking, winter wonderland in seconds. Made from recyclable paper, these rustic decorations tick all the eco boxes too. merimeri.co.uk

Stripe candles, RE

£16.9 5

£42 The ‘Purples’ pack of beeswax candles, Matilda Goad

WE ARE LOVING...

Paper foliage chandelier, £32; Paper foliage garland, measuring 240cm, costs £12.50, both Meri Meri

COLOUR CRUSH What better time is there than the h dark winter days of December to bring n out everything gold and sparkly? To aadd variance, try mixing different fabrics br and textures of gold, from crushed velvet e to polished metallic finishes. Alongside s flickering candlelight, candlelight th this his co colourr will really shine and bring somee warmth m to the colder months ahead. d

Enchanted gold mistletoe decoration, £3, Sainsbury’s Home

It’s hard not to break out ut into in nto song son ng when wh hen looking at these wonderful e Partridge in a Pear Tree coasters from Catherinee Rowe Designs. Each amazingly detailed coaster is handmade to o order, making them a truly one-of-a-kind addition to your dinnerr table.

They are also shatterproof oof and an nd extremely durable, so could double up as stylish trinket trays. A pack of four costs £32, catherinerowedesigns.com Roda mustard stoneware side plate, £9; Dinner plate, £12; Large plate, £15; Christian Tortu Riviera glossy gold leaf plate, £28; Christian Tortu Riviera ochre side plate, £9, all Rockett St George

Hampton small round storage pouffe, vintage gold velvet, £159, MADE.com

‘Peace’ gold hand sculpture/ jewellery holder, £24, Five And Dime Gold lantern, £4, PEP&CO Feature Katie Dutton

Gold drinks trolley, £125, Next

Folding storage crate in Gold, £10, Bobby Rabbit

December 2020 13

Living area

Welcome to my home A bit about me I’m Liz Moore @niceinnotts. I live with my fiancé, Rick, and our 13-year-old daughter, Ava.

Where I live Our home is a four-bed detached house built in 1937 in Nottingham. We moved here in 2014.

‘We get a certain look when we tell people we have black walls, but when they actually see them, they’re amazed at how light the room is and how stunning it looks. I love colour and have a taste for maximalist wallpaper, and the black really allows the colours of this Divine Savages design to stand out. It’s not cheap but it completely transforms the room. Originally, we had white-washed walls, but when the stove was installed it really stood out, so going to the dark side helped it to visually take a back seat. This white tree was in the sale from M&S and it really reminded me of old-fashioned Christmases, especially when teamed with the retro Thomas Pacconi hand-blown glass baubles. It feels really nostalgic and reminds me of my grandma.’

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson F

What I wanted to change Literally everything needed doing, from installing new central heating and windows to rewiring the whole property. The décor needed an overhaul too.

How I made it my own We created a large kitchen-diner and installed new kitchen and bathroom furniture.

I also went wild with patterned wallpaper and colourful furniture.

My favourite part The hallway. Every time I walk through the door, I breathe a happy sigh.

I also love the panelling and fireplace in the living room.

Style idea Oversized paper pompoms are a cheap way to add Christmas fun to a room

We weren’t 14 yourhomestyle.uk

Bright colours, bold patterns and ingenuity have

Inspiring homes

‘I absolutely love dressing up our home for Christmas and go all out with the decorations’

‘The ‘Let’s Stay Home’ sign is from Bag & Bones.

I found the frame in a skip and simply sprayed it gold. The large sofa and footstool, which are perfect for lounging on, are from M&S’

scared to be daring transformed Liz Moore’s once bland, unloved home

December 2020 15

‘The original gas fire was old, brown and ugly, but my dad’s neighbour offered us this one for free. Painting it the same shade as the rest of the woodwork has given it a modern update. It’s perfect for Christmas accessories, like this gold star from HomeSense’

Dining area ‘We investigated extending the back as originally there was just a small door out to the garden, but it would have been a big, expensive job so we decided to work with the space we had. Adding these big glass doors transformed the room and on warm days they are a real gamechanger.

Rick and I are not really handy, but we’re lucky that my dad gives us great practical help. He did the panelling for us using a cheap pack of timber from Wickes. It took lots of measuring to get the spacing exactly right, but I love all the shadows that reflect off the panels and the mid sheen finish. I suggested creating the hatch to link through to the kitchen so that we can still chat in the space.’

MAKING

Style idea

My story...

It was love at first sight when we viewed this house. I had seen it online, but it looked filthy and decrepit and I thought it needed too much work. But the estate agent persuaded us to take a look and as soon as we walked in, the light, bright hallway sold it to us. Even the fact that the back of the house was only held up by a few bricks under the joists didn’t put me off, and as I left I kissed the wall and said ‘I’ll be back.’

We spent the first few weeks eating microwave meals in the bedroom, watching TV on the bed and washing up in the bath, while the builders did the rewiring and plumbing and opened up the kitchen. We kept part of the partition as it would have cost too much to shore up the back of the house, but it’s given us more wall space for units and worktops, so it worked out well.

Though we did nearly lose everything when Rick put the money to pay the builders in the microwave for safekeeping. I turned it on to see if it worked and all the money set alight! Thankfully the bank replaced it all.

With the decorating, I love colour and wanted a look that’s unique, though we’ve tried to choose décor that will last rather than following trends. As Rick says, although we’ve gone for bold and bright, classic never goes out of fashion. And although our look isn’t for everyone, we absolutely love it and wouldn’t change a thing about our home.

16 yourhomestyle.uk

Use fake foliage and candles as a centrepiece for your Christmas table

‘My dad made this table and bench out of varnished OSB board, which is really hard-wearing. The wooden legs are his own design, which I then painted in Rust-Oleum Neon Pink. The dining chairs are from Søstrene Grene’

Make dipdyed candles on page 24

Inspiring homes ‘We chose this Anaglypta textured wallpaper as a cheap alternative to tiles, and then I painted it with gold paint from Crown.

It looks so impressive and saved us a fortune in tiling costs. The kitchen cabinets are from the IKEA Askersund range’

Kitchen

‘The original kitchen was tiny, so we decided to knock the back two rooms together to make a big kitchen-diner and extra living area. We considered moving the kitchen but my dad pointed out it would be pricey because we would have to move all the plumbing, so we decided to leave it in place. We wanted as much storage as possible so we included loads of high cupboards, though if we ever redo it, I think I’ll lose the top cabinets as we don’t actually need all the storage, and I think some open shelving would be nice in the future. We wanted to balance the dark walls and cabinets with a lighter floor and this soft grey vinyl flooring, from B&Q, really brightens up the space.’

‘I love to create a colourful Christmas table and pile it up with bright plates, baubles and pillar candles from IKEA’

‘The hallway – originally all white – is the only space I didn’t paint myself, but as it was such a big task it made sense to get a professional in.

I went to the Kings Carpet workshop, who make these stair runners, and they had all the colour reels on the wall, so I matched the edging to the Emma J Shipley wallpaper’

December 2020 17

Steal my style Get Liz’s home style with these fun buys

£26 Set of four Rosado Pink gin glasses, Oliver Bonas

‘This room originally had a tiny shower and we always banged our elbows using it, so we wanted to go as big as we could with the new shower. With no vanity unit, I needed somewhere to put our bathroom towels and products and this cabinet, from Mustard Mead, looks great and it’s amazing how much storage space it has. The shower, gold taps and shower head are from Lusso Stone’

95 £29.

Pink leopard print cushion, Mint & May

£9.50 Honeycomb ball decorations, Rockett St George

‘We spend so much time in here during winter. Although it’s a big space we want it to be cosy so we went for this big stove from Stovax – it heats up in a few minutes’

Expert advice How to decorate with black Go to the dark side with these styling tips O Black can create a striking backdrop for your interior style and complements most colour palettes, but choose how you use it carefully – you want to create a space that feels inviting rather than gloomy.

O As with any colour, all blacks are not the same; some can feel warm with brown tones whereas others might have a cool purple tinge, so use tester pots – as you would with any other paint – to see how the colour changes depending on the time of day. Also, think about the finish; matt won’t reflect the light as much as gloss or satin, which will give a soft sheen to a room.

18 yourhomestyle.uk

O Black can of course make a room really dark, but the right lighting can make it feel light and bright or warm and cosy.

Wall lights, floor lamps and dimmer switches are perfect for changing the mood and you’ll be surprised at how bright black can look.

O Decide on the look you want to create.

Bright neon colours and patterns will really stand out against the black to create a fun, modern vibe, whereas neutrals and whites balance the feel of black for a more sophisticated look.

O Create wow factor by painting all the walls and woodwork black or choose a feature wall to create a focal point and decorate the other walls with a lighter colour or pattern. Or, simply choose black furniture or accessories to add the perfect accent to your colour scheme.

Inspiring homes

Bathroom ‘We lived with the bathroom as it was when we moved in, and we’ve only just finished its transformation. The original room was an avocado colour, and I wonder sometimes how we put up with it for so long, but it didn’t feel as much of a priority as the other rooms. We kept everything in the same position to avoid moving the plumbing, and tried to maximise the look of the small space as much as possible, so we chose a basin without a pedestal and a large glass shower screen. We wanted to keep the room light and bright with matching floor and wall tiles which give a seamless look.’

‘I wanted a hotel-luxe feel in here and the gold shower frame and taps, from Lusso Stone, led to the Extinct Gold Animalia wallpaper choice by Emma J Shipley. I particularly love the gold trim on the tiles, which gives the room a really luxurious finish. The floor and wall tiles are from Wickes’

‘I’m extremely lucky that my dad helps us out and brings all my ideas to life’ December 2020 19

SHOP Shop animal homeware on page 22

Master bedroom ‘I’ve always loved interiors, pattern and colour, and I’m constantly thinking of new ways to change up our home. This room has already gone through different fazes – the last one being a very dark navy blue – but I wanted to create a pretty, more relaxed space. We’re lucky to have a small spare room where we can store our clothes, so we ripped out the fitted wardrobes that were in here to make the room more uncluttered and spacious, and then we used Valspar to match the wall colour to an expensive brand we liked.

I love a gallery wall and wanted to create a 3D effect above the bed. This wall is a growing collection of beauties that I find.’

20 yourhomestyle.uk

‘I wanted to make this gallery wall a little different so chose to mix quirky 3D objects and mirrors with my favourite prints. I covered the metal heart with gold leaf and painted the three little birds and the mirror with leftover gold paint. The beetle is from 2 Magpies Design and the Mrs Goose print is from HomeSense’

Inspiring homes

Ava’s bedroom ‘Ava’s room was done first as we wanted her to enjoy the house and feel settled. We replaced the windows and carpet and then decorated. It was originally all pink, but recently Ava has redesigned the room herself to be more on trend and grown-up. She just went for it with masking tape, creating a random design, and then used a few bright pastel-coloured tester pots to fill in the triangles. It was a really quick and cheap makeover.

The curtain of lights – from Urban Outfitters – adds a bit of sparkle.’

‘Ava created this gallery wall with a section of complementing prints from Desenio and simple black IKEA frames to create a theme. The pink wall boxes add a bit of extra storage. The tiger bedspread is from HomeSense’

‘I wanted to add something to this plain wall and was inspired by a floral display from Instagram. It’s simply some IKEA picture rails decorated with a selection of artificial flowers.

The chair is from HomeSense; I loved it as soon as I saw it then kicked myself for not buying it, but when I went back it had even more money knocked off, so I bought it there and then. The Bubblegum Girl is from Rockett St George’

What I learned...

O You don’t have to spend a fortune on wall art. If I see a birthday card or postcard that I love, I’ll pop it in a cheap frame, and since I haven’t spent a lot I don’t mind swapping it out for a different piece if the scheme changes.

O Think of your ceiling as a fifth wall and consider how to decorate it. Our bedroom ceiling needed replastering, but it was a lot cheaper to paper and paint it with textured wallpaper, which covers a multitude of sins.

O Be brave. If you have a preference for a tradesperson, but you found a cheaper quote, don’t be scared to let them know so that they can price match, or at least compromise on their cost a bit.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes December 2020 21

ANIMAL

Check out Liz’s quirky home on page 14

CRACKERS Give your house some character, like Liz, with a menagerie of quirky, animal-inspired piecess

£9.99 Prezzybox Enjoy a purr-fect brew with this cute leopard

£14 Anthropologie

£10 Dunelm

£16 Matalan

Create an oasis of calm with this serene cushion

Heads up! This wall planter is great for trailing plants

The perfect cake plate should a tiger ever come for tea

£65 Bobby Rabbit

Feature Hannah Tribe

Guests will badger you to find out where you got this rug

22 yourhomestyle.uk

£15 National Trust Shop

£84 Dar Lighting

Keep things mice and simple with this tealight holder

Brighten your bedroom with a pair of cheeky monkeys

Shop the look

£26 Red Candy This bold tiger doormat is grrr-eat!

£130 Next £65 John Lewis & Partners

There’s nothing standard about this peacock lamp

This collaboration with heritage brand, Spode, is full of style

£25 Habitat Turquoise ornaments really pop in a yellow or orange room

£12.99 The Range £6.99 H&M Home

A glam update for any bathroom shelfie

A dainty addition to the breakfast table or a dresser

£45 Mint & May Treat your soap or jewellery to this oh-so pretty dish

£15 Marks & Spencer Never bee late again with this bumblebee clock

December 2020 23

Make the look...

DIPPED CANDLES Light up your home with Christmas spirit, like Liz, with these easy-to-make two-tone candlesticks White taper candles, £2 for a pack of 10; triple taper candle holder, £4; Crayola crayons, £1.50 for 24, all Wilko. Cole & Son Jasmin & Serin Symphony wallpaper, £120 per roll, Wallpaper Direct. Maxim martini glasses, £15 for a set of four, M&S.

Fill an ice cube tray with the leftover wax, which can then be used another time.

You will need 4 White candles 4 Crayons in your choice of colour 4 Knife 4 Paraffin wax 4 Tin can 4 Saucepan and smaller lid 4 Skewer 4 Greaseproof paper

1 2 3

Remove the wrappers from the crayons and cut into small pieces.

Half fill the tin can with paraffin wax and place the crayon pieces on top.

Place the can in a saucepan half filled with water, using a smaller lid to hold the can in place. Bring the water to the boil and watch the wax melt.

Wearing an oven glove, carefully place the can on the greaseproof paper and give the wax a thorough stir with a skewer.

Dip the first candle into the wax for a few seconds then lift it out and hold until the wax has dried. Lay on the greaseproof paper and repeat with the other candles.

4 5

24 yourhomestyle.uk

Make M k and d St Styling li Suzie S i Attaway Att Photos Ph t Oli Oliver Gordon G d

Top tip

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

DRESS TO

IMPRESS Find the perfect window dressing for your space with the huge range of beautiful designs at Hillarys and local advisors who will measure and fit for you

A

s an architect, George Clarke knows that when it comes to home transformations your windows are key. ‘Choosing the right window dressing can make a massive difference in any room and it’s so important to get everything just right,’ says George. ‘As well as making budget choices, you’ve got to make big design choices about colour, texture and the look and feel of a room.’

Thankfully, Hillarys’ expertly trained advisors are here to help you every step of the way, as George discovered when he visited the Hillarys teams in Nottingham.

From making sure that your curtains and blinds are measured perfectly to quality checking your tailor-made products before your local advisor delivers and fits them at your home, Hillarys are committed to quality and second-to-none customer service. ‘Hillarys takes care of absolutely everything,’ says George. ‘From measuring and manufacturing through to fitting, ensuring the best results and the greatest fit, every time.’

Stylist Anna chose her blinds from Hillarys’ Abigail Ahern collection

‘Hillarys takes care of absolutely everything’ GEORGE CLARKE

BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS FOR EVERY ROOM With product collections inspired by trends around the world, Hillarys offers styles to suit every space. Anna Straw is an interior designer and home stylist who chose blinds from the Abigail Ahern collection. ‘I was impressed by Hillarys’ knowledge of trends, plus their huge range of designs and styles,’ Anna told George.

‘A local advisor was able to show me on the iPad how the blinds would actually look in the rooms, which was really helpful. There were lots of samples to look at, really great service and really friendly.’

New homeowner Sheryse agrees. ‘I didn’t know where to start,’ she recalled. ‘It was my mother-in-law who recommended I call Hillarys as she knew they were someone she could trust.’ With the help of her Hillarys local advisor, Sheryse chose designs and colours that transformed her ‘blank canvas’ into a living space she can totally relax in. ‘As well as helping me to make use of the space, the service was a smooth transition and really quick.’

The right curtains and blinds have transformed Sheryse’s ‘blank canvas’ into a relaxing home

Sheryse was impressed with Hillarys’ speedy service

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit www.hillarys.co.uk/ inspiration/a-lookbehind-the-curtain-withgeorge-clarke to view the range, order samples and request a brochure, or call 0800 5876480 to book a free home appointment.

Local advisor Kevin talks George through some of Hillarys’ designs Please note: these photographs were taken before COVID-19

December 2020 25

Kitchen-diner

Welcome to my home A bit about me I’m Louise Hart, a freelance product and clothing designer @houseonthehey. I live with my partner, Sean Melling, our daughter, Poppy, five, and son Cooper, two.

As the couple plan to extend their house, Louise decided to up spec the existing Howdens kitchen as a temporary measure. ‘The yellowy cream doors were fine but the vinyl on the laminate had started to lift off,’ says Louise. ‘Peeling it off was very therapeutic as it came off in one go. Then I s painted the cupboard doors in Frenchic Cool Bean silver ed outdoor chalk paint and sprayed the brush handles black. It only took a day.’ Replacing the g silver extractor fan with a new black design, buyin ks hbac splas glass the ping swap and a black fridge for herringbone tiles has made a huge difference too. ‘I did consider decorative monochrome tiles but felt plain, neutral ones would be a safer bet in e case I changed my mind,’ she says. ‘You can creat r rathe in, laid re they’ tion forma the with rn patte a ’ s. selve them than the design of the tiles

Where I live My home is a threebedroom 1930s semi in Wigan. We’ve lived here since August 2018.

What I wanted to change The duck-egg blue in the main reception rooms and purple walls in Poppy’s room had to go.

Feature Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee F

How I made it my own I’ve given it a clean, modern look with lots of open shelves and wooden peg rails that are constantly restyled.

My favourite part Upcycling the kitchendiner on such a small budget has definitely given the room a new lease of life. I love the light in here and the way we use the space as a family.

Our kitchen 26 yourhomestyle.uk

With some savvy upstyling, Louise Hart has been able to

Inspiring homes SHOP Shop modern ceramics on page 34

‘This house has so much potential’

‘We’ve had the dining table for about eight years,’ says Louise. ‘It was made by The Really Solid Furniture Company and it’s stood the test of time as you can sand it back and rewax it. I love mixing old and new with the modern chairs’

revamp cost £500! redecorate her 1930s semi while still saving for an extension

December 2020 27

Graphic shapes like the metal tree and mirror from Søstrene Grene give the console table from Jysk a contemporary look.

‘We sometimes have a mini Christmas tree on the vintage sleigh or put the kids’ Christmas Eve boxes on there, as if the elves have delivered them,’ says Louise

My story...

Location was the biggest factor when we decided to move from one side of Wigan to the other. With a newborn and a three-year-old, we wanted to be in the catchment area for good schools and closer to friends and family. Luckily, we sold our previous house within a day of it going on the market. Our search area was really small, and we didn’t want to scupper the sale, so we moved into a rental property and put letters through doors while we searched for our next home.

Eventually, we found this three-bedroom semi on a quiet cul-de-sac with similar square footage to our last place, but carved up differently with a utility room and potential to extend. It was described as a ‘turnkey house’, which appealed to us with a baby, and it had bright sunny rooms. Décor wise, it wasn’t totally to our taste, so we repainted the living room, master bedroom and Poppy’s room while we still had the rental property then did the rest bit by bit after moving in. Overall, it’s been a pretty inexpensive project, including revamping the tired kitchen for under £500.

I’d describe my style as Scandi and feminine with some Mid Century and vintage pieces. Although I do like modern design, I’m not too minimal. I like to add layers and depth to a room so I’m always chopping and changing accessories.

In the future we’d like a two-storey side extension to capitalise on the corner plot and views. This would give us a fourth bedroom, a bigger kitchen-diner and a designated study for home working, as well as more storage since we don’t have a garage.

I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made this year – the house has so much scope and I can’t wait to get creative with the next phase.

28 yourhomestyle.uk

MAKING Make a stocking on page 36

The exposed brick wall and cream wood burner were already in situ, but Louise has added the wall hanging by Seb & Charlie and Christmas stockings from Søstrene Grene

Inspiring homes Mince pies on a cake stand from Next and eucalyptus crackers by Gisela Graham set the festive tone. ‘Christmas Day is usually busy in our kitchen with lots of visitors,’ Louise says. ‘Family come over for breakfast and then Sean cooks a late afternoon dinner’

‘I used a design app to see how the tiles behind the hob would look,’ Louise says. ‘It didn’t look right with a trim around, so I left the jagged edges because I like the uneven, hand-finished effect they create’

Family room

‘This room was also duck-egg blue when we moved in and the couch div ided the room. Since then we’ve moved it to the side, so the space has a more full-flowing open feel with the kitchen. I par ticularly love my low vintage couch, wh ich I came across in a reclamation centre.

Originally it was covered in an olive-green velvet, but I had it reupholstered with a wa rm grey fabric to match in. Colour blockin g the wall has also made a big differe nce. I used masking tape down the straigh t sides, then made a DIY compass usin g string and a pencil for the curves. By mixing two leftover paint colours tog ether, I got the perfect shade.’

Next to the giant height ruler from H&M Home, Louise has adapted a Sainsbury’s metal plant hanger by attaching a bracket from B&Q. ’My friend’s husband – who owns White Attic Design – made the Let’s Stay Home sign,’ Louise recalls. ‘Who knew it would become so apt in 2020!’

December 2020 29

Steal my style

‘The wall hanging from Love Frankie is a great alternative to wallpaper as it still creates a big pattern on the wall but can be moved around,’ Louise says. ‘I’ve added monochrome touches like the side table from Maisons du Monde and diamond pattern cushions from H&M Home’

Get Louise’s modern Scandi n style with these buys

£10 Maddox star, Garden Trading

Framed exhibition poster, MADE.com

£49

£16.99 Gold lantern, HomeSense

Expert advice How to revamp a kitchen on a tight budget Update the heart of the home without breaking the bank O Painting existing doors will give you the most bang for your buck.

Remove and number the doors before cleaning and sanding, then try two coats of B&Q’s V33 cabinet paint with a brush or mini roller. To make the job easier, you could hire a commercial spray gun instead.

‘I’ve made the most of the vaulted ceiling height by adding pictures and accessories on top of the wall cabinets, like the Blah Blah Blah print by Gayle Mansfield and barn star from Søstrene Grene,’ says Louise

30 yourhomestyle.uk

O If some of your cabinets have glazed doors, use patterned wallpaper on the back panel to brighten up the inside. You’ll probably only need one roll, and you could even create DIY art by framing a leftover piece.

O Removing a couple of wall cabinets and replacing them with shelves will make your kitchen feel bigger and allow you to curate a creative display.

Scaffold boards can be bought for as little as £5 each online, or utilise wood offcuts and paint them to match your kitchen units.

O Replacing splashback tiles can be a costly affair, so why not paint the existing tiles or use stickers? Try Ronseal’s self-priming tile paint or Home Art Stickers on Etsy for a realistic tile effect.

O Small details like smart light switches and plug sockets can lend a designer look to your new space.

Try Swtch – www.swtch.co.uk – for vintage-style Bakelite switches and cool retro designs that come in a range of pastel colours.

Inspiring homes

Living room ‘The first thing we did was paint the duckegg blue walls white to better suit our modern Scandi style. I was worried about going dark all the way around, so we went for a feature wall in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. Normally we prefer wooden floors and rugs, but we kept the neutral carpet in here as it’s practical with a little one. In the future we might sand the floorboards.

We’ve also kept the fireplace as it’s original to the house. Most of the furniture is from our previous house, including a really comfy sofa from Laura Ashley, which is similar to Loaf’s Bluebell design. Although this room was meant to be more of an evening snug, it hasn’t worked out that way as the kids just go where they please!’

‘The sideboard is great for toy storage,’ Louise reveals. ‘I updated basic IKEA unfinished pine cabinets by limewashing them and adding new feet. On top is a wooden advent calendar, which the elves fill with treats, vases from H&M Home and a print by Wonder & Rah. Since having the kids, we tend to get the Christmas tree up at the beginning of December, and they love dressing the mini trees dotted about the house too,’ Louise says. ‘They also leave reindeer food in the street for when Santa lands in his sleigh’

December 2020 31

Monochrome artwork, like the wall hanging from La Redoute and print from Alice In Scandiland, work well against the dark walls while a geo cushion from La Redoute adds warmth and pattern. ‘I’m always chopping and changing cushions and wall hangings,’ says Louise

Master bedroom

‘I do love a feature wall, so we opted for Railings by Farrow & Ball behind the bed in here, which has a lovely navy depth to it. We had it in our previous house, and I’d seen how well it works on Instagram, so I didn’t bother getting a tester pot. As you walk in, it makes you feel cosy, but it still feels bright in the mornings for getting out of bed. A dark wall really makes artwork and accessories pop out, so we’ve painted our existing IKEA bed and cabinets to make them stand out against the wall too.’

‘My decorations tend to be quite neutral, but I like mixing up metals in silver, gold and rose gold’ 32 yourhomestyle.uk

‘As we’re eventually planning a twostorey extension, we haven’t updated the bathroom as it may get reconfigured,’ Louise says. ‘It’s fairly neutral so it’s fine for now, but I’d love a free-standing egg bath and a bigger shower with herringbone wall tiles, hexagon floor tiles and black taps’

Inspiring homes

Poppy’s bedroom Louise was keen to paint over the bright purple walls in here to create a more restful, neutral look. White walls and chalky pastel hues through bedding, furniture and accessories make it easy to change as Poppy gets older.

‘It’s a lovely, big room overlooking the rear garden and there’s even space for a little teepee den in the bay window,’ Louise reveals. ‘The IKEA bed has been great as we’ve extended it out as she’s grown.’

A pretty canopy from Molly Meg creates a fairytale-feel in Poppy’s bedroom, which also features rattan shelves from Matalan. ‘The cute little stool is ideal for hiding stuff from her brother,’ Louise says

‘Peg rails are so versatile as you can keep updating and restyling the accessories or use them for clothes,’ Louise explains. The moon picture is by Lorna Freytag, the bear print by Minii and Maxii and Lala Loves Decor sells a similar space mobile

‘Building this flat-pack playhouse was our lockdown project as a joint birthday present for the kids,’ Louise reveals. ‘The storage bench doubles up as a desk or seat, and underneath I added castors to IKEA crates. I love dressing it up to create a little grotto at Christmas.’ The Kindness Club print is from Etsy shop Minii and Maxii

What I learned...

O Upgrade what you’ve already got to save money.

Painting our kitchen made it look brand new and cost less than £500. I tend to keep tiles neutral though, as it’s easier to change the wall colour with paint if you get bored.

O Try to keep your colour schemes complementary throughout the house so you can change a room easily by moving things around. Enhance whatever original features you can and mix in some old with the new. I always like to bring a vintage piece back when I travel for work.

O Colour blocking is an easy way to add drama and detail to a room, especially if you have high ceilings like us.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes December 2020 33

FEAT OF

Louise’s home has stacks of style, check it out on page 26

CLAY Throw together a soft but solid llook, k lik like Louise, with chic, pared-back ceramics e £14 for two Next These sunny candle holders are a ray of light

£12 Arket Elevate your style with this tealight holder

£12.99 H&M Home £40 Rose & Grey

Make dinner time lit with a modern candlestick

£22 John Lewis & Partners Give plants a home in this brutalist-style pot

£12.50 Marks & Spencer

Dried floral displays look great in a circular vase

Feature e Hannah Tribe

Earn your stripes with a textured bud vase

£40 for four Denby Serve up style with these pastel rice bowls

34 yourhomestyle.uk

Shop the look

£45 Oliver Bonas A pink planter is the perfect place for blowsy blooms

£69.99 Zara Home Cast some shade with a ceramic pendant light

£25 Heal’s This egg-shaped bud vase is a cracking buy

£25 Debenhams It’s all about the angles with this sleek sgraffito vase

£34 Artisanti Lighten up with a taupe table lamp

£11 Nordic Nest Sharing is caring with this Japanese inspired tapas bowl

£20 Matalan Oversized vases are perfect for displaying branches

£35 Habitat Painted details make for a statement piece

£10 for two Debenhams Give yourself some season-all style with these pinch pots December 2020 35

Make the look...

SCANDI STOCKING Bring Scandinavian style to your festive celebrations, like Louise, with this special Christmas make you’ll treasure for years to come

Top tip

You will need 4 Printed fabric 4 White cotton fabric 4 White ribbon 4 White cotton thread 4 Air or water erasable pen 4 Basic sewing kit 4 Scissors

1

Go to yourhomestyle.uk and print out the stocking template. Cut out a left and right stocking foot from both the white and printed fabric.

Pin one printed stocking piece right sides (RS – the front of your fabric) together with the corresponding white

2

36 yourhomestyle.uk

stocking piece. Sew along the top, 1cm in from the edge, then press this seam open.

Repeat with the other two stocking pieces.

Lay one of your open stocking pieces RS up. Fold your ribbon in half then place it on top of the stocking piece, about 3cm down from the seam so the loop is on the inside.

Lay the other sewn stocking piece on top RS together and pin into place.

Mark the turning gap on the bottom of the white stocking piece, as shown on the stocking template.

Sew along the template line, starting at one end of the turning gap on the

3

4 5

white stocking inner, all the way around to the other end of the turning gap, back stitching both at the start and end of your sewing.

Cut around the edges, clipping the curves as you go to help it lie flat. Turn the stocking RS out through the turning gap. Iron the stocking flat, making sure you ease out the curves so the seam lies exactly along the edge.

Tuck your turning gap edges in and then top stitch this seam shut. Push your lining into your printed stocking outer, to finish.

6 7

Make Jessica Entwistle from Simply Sewing issue 11

Make one of these stockings for all the family – you could even embroider or appliqué their initials to make sure Santa knows who each one is for!

THE KEY TO

THE FUTURE Smart meters are already helping millions of households use energy more efficiently – and you could benefit too

S

ince we’ve all been spending more time indoors lately, you may have taken to refreshing your home décor here and there. Simple things, like moving the desk so it’s by a window, or knitting a blanket that will add a pop of colour to your living room, can make a huge difference. In fact, you were probably surprised by just how easy it is to transform your space, which no doubt left you wondering why you hadn’t done it before!

Of course, the idea that small changes can make a big difference can be applied to most things in your home.

Just take a modern kitchen appliance like the induction hob. Compared to its gas predecessor, it’s easier, quicker and cheaper to use, as well as being better for the environment – that’s why it’s become the norm.

Indeed, energy outgoings are often the biggest culprit when it comes to high bills and the size of your carbon footprint. That’s why having a smart meter installed is a great way to keep track of your energy usage. By knowing exactly how much energy you’re using throughout your home, you’ll have the ability to make small changes, which will ultimately help you to save on bills and be less wasteful.

38 homestylemag.co.uk

The perfect fit Far from being a futuristic gizmo, a smart meter is a simple way to make sure you won’t pay for energy you don’t use. It’s extremely handy, since it automatically sends readings to your energy supplier, so you won’t have to worry about doing it yourself. What’s more, smart meters come with an inhome display unit, which means you’ll also be able to keep track of how much energy you’re using in near-real time.

This means you can take steps to consume less energy, as you’ll notice when things are left on, and you’ll be able to save money and reduce your carbon footprint, all without compromising your lifestyle. Of course, once you see just how easy it is, you might be tempted to make a few more changes – like turning the TV off at the plug instead of leaving it on standby.

If this sounds like a simple solution to a big problem, that’s because it is. Just like modern appliances, smart meters aren’t some far-fetched idea, but a super-handy reality. And, as we’ll soon see a multitude of other everyday items become smarter and more energy-reliant, there’s no better time to set yourself up for the future, than in the present.

HomeStyle promotion

See for yourself Sometimes, the numbers speak for themselves.

Here’s some important stats you need to know about smart meters.

We could achieve

11% of the UK’s 2050 carbon emissions target just by taking household energy efficiency measures.

64%

What the future holds

of people with smart meters feel more in control of the energy they use at home.

‘Touch will go from screens to every surface in the house’

Britain could save a total of

BBC Science Focus contributor and tech journalist Jennifer Pattison Tuohy explains how touch technology will become part of the fabric of our homes.

£5.6bn on energy bills in the next 20 years.

‘Today’s technology is intrusive – a new bright, blinking gadget you have to put on your mantelpiece, bedside table or kitchen counter.

But these are simply bridging devices. Soon

If every UK household took action on energy efficiency now, we could save up to 54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

their smart capabilities will be embedded into our furniture, our countertops and even our mirrors.

A tap on a porcelain countertop will reveal an induction cooking surface, a fabric-covered armchair will become a wireless charging pad, a decorative LED light panel will be a switch for your smart home, a mirror will transform into a touch screen with a swipe.

Beyond that, augmented reality will beam touch controls into our peripheral vision and hand gestures will be the way we interact with our home, as well as each other.’

Contact your energy supplier to request a smart meter installation today Eligibility may vary

December 2020 39

‘There’s something of interest in every room’

Welcome to my home A bit about me I’m Ediana Dolan and I’m studying interior design. I live with my husband, Kevin, and our two children Oisin Mateuss, eight, and Caoimhe Maria, five, and our kitten Amber.

Where I live

Feature and styling Penny Crawford-Collins Photos Philip Lauterbach

My home is a threebedroom detached house in Killucan, Westmeath.

It was built in 2008 and we moved here in 2017.

What I wanted to change The house had been rented for nine years and the interior was a sea of magnolia and pine – the whole house needed a revamp.

How I made it my own Over a period of time we’ve added lots of colour and filled the rooms with a mix of bargain finds and practical furnishings to suit our lifestyle.

My favourite part The dining room, with our handmade table, wallpapered feature wall, the chalkboard and the drinks cabinet.

‘Kevin made the table out of planks from a hardware store – which we stained and varnished – and finished with legs from IKEA. We found the chairs in an antique warehouse and the drinks cabinet was found in a charity shop. For the finishing touches I hung central lights from IKEA and frames which I sprayed black’

Finally, we 40 yourhomestyle.uk

Owning her first home gave Ediana Dolan

Inspiring homes

Dining space ‘At one stage this space was all white with plants. Getting braver with the décor and keen to introduce some pattern, I decided to wallpaper one of the walls with this Linden Black and Copper wallpaper from Graham & Brown I found in the B&Q sale.

As this space opens up onto the garden, it’s lovely and bright, so I knew I could go with a dark, dramatic palette. I decided to paint one of the walls in Rust-Oleum Chalkboard paint and the opposite wall in Parisian Ink by Fleetwood Paints.’

can get creative the opportunity to pack her ex-rental with personality and original touches December 2020 41

Ediana created a gallery wall using frames from IKEA. She spray-painted the plant pots copper and found a coordinating wreath in HomeSense. The chair hangers are from IKEA

SHOP Shop copper accessories on page 48

MAKING DIY your own letter board on page 50

My story...

We were drawn to this house as it was within our budget; it had a good-sized south-facing garden – which made it very bright and sunny – and it had the added bonus of being walking distance of the local school. The house didn’t need any structural work, although the décor was in a bit of a time warp, but I loved the location and could see its potential.

I have always been into interior design but as I had only previously rented, I was limited in what I could do.

So, owning my first home meant I could – at last – give my creative juices free rein and use my talent for interiors and Kevin’s practical skills to put our own stamp on the house.

When we moved in, we painted the walls, ceilings, stairs and doors white to give us a blank canvas to build on. We also changed all the light fittings, sockets and switches which is a little touch that makes a big difference. In the kitchen, we fitted a new oven, hob and island unit. Then I started finding my style, which I gradually introduced in ways that complemented the space, getting braver with colour and pattern and putting our own unique character into the rooms.

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, I don’t like tinsel or glitzy baubles – I like the less-is-more approach which I think I’ve achieved.

We’re now considering a loft conversion and I’m going to renovate the bathroom. I’m also planning a hall makeover that includes panelling and I want to change the floor downstairs. So, there’s still masses to do, and the house is ever-evolving, but that’s all part of the fun!

42 yourhomestyle.uk

Kitchen ‘The cabinets in here were originally all varnished wood which made the space feel dark and dated, but as our budget was quite tight, we couldn’t change them. Instead, we updated the fronts by painting them in V33 Renovation Carbon from B&Q. I sprayed the handles in a RustOleum metallic copper shade and painted the splashback white. We added extra storage and workspace by fitting an island unit that doubles up as a breakfast bar – we found the perfect-sized one in IKEA.’

Inspiring homes

‘You can always do much more than you imagine in the DIY department – just go for it!’

Hung from the ceiling, these pretty decorations from Søstrene Grene add a lovely festive detail to the dining room and are a great idea if you’ve got no room left on the tree

’I try to recycle and use natural greenery as much as possible – it brings in that lovely Christmas smell,’ says Ediana. ‘This was the first wall I ever wallpapered and it’s my greatest DIY achievement.

It wasn’t as difficult as I thought and it sits well with my glass cabinet I found in a charity shop’

‘I look at Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration so I can find unusual decorating ideas for Christmas,’ says Ediana. ‘The large stars from IKEA are my staple decorations at this time of year

‘I love copper, and these copper lights from Lampandlight.ie tie in perfectly with the copper countertop accessories,’ says Ediana. ‘I even found a copper-coloured wreath which I hung in an empty frame on the gallery wall’ December 2020 43

Steal my style Get Ediana’s cosy home style with these buys

Multi star silhouette, B&Q

£12

£20 Set of four Liberty wine glasses, Ford Anthology

£90 Luanda pendant, Där Lighting

The plain white walls are a great backdrop for a gallery display – a showcase for family photos.

Ediana used the space under the stairs to fit storage with handy units from IKEA

The IKEA alcoves either side of the fireplace provide the perfect spot for some practical storage

Expert advice Create a lighting scheme Light up your home in style with this advice O Plan your lighting carefully, particularly in a kitchen and dining room. Use a large pendant or chandelier above a table to zone off the dining space and carefully select task lighting for the kitchen – consider spotlights or undercounter strip lights, that are practical and functional.

O To create a cosy atmosphere in the living room, use side 44 yourhomestyle.uk

lights or adjustable floor lights that can be used as a task light to finish off a snug reading corner. To create even more ambience, use LED strip lighting on shelves or hang fairy lights.

O Work out what kind of light you want from a lampshade – the colour and style of the shade will determine the amount of light that is emitted.

If you want a bright light, a mesh or glass shade is the best choice, or consider bare bulbs.

Smoked or amber-coloured bulbs that give a golden glow are perfect for the autumn and winter months.

Inspiring homes Pops of mustard – introduced with an IKEA footstool and Primark cushions – work well against the Misty Dreams backdrop by Valspar. An oversized rug from IKEA adds texture, making the room feel snug and cosy

Style idea Opt for a neutral sofa you can dress up with colourful cushions and throws

Living room ‘When we first moved in, this room was painted in magnolia and the fireplace was pine. I wanted the room to feel really cosy and be a fun space that the whole family could enjoy. I initially painted just the walls in Make a Splash by Valspar, but one day I looked at the fireplace and decided it would look good the same colour. It’s a stone fireplace so I primed it and applied three coats of the Valspar paint. Once I started, there was no stopping me – I even painted the mirror the same colour.’

om Caoimhe’s ro of our DIY

‘Caoimhe’s room was one untains projects as we painted the mo , I had ully nkf Tha es. selv on the walls our at at gre not I’m as this h wit p Kevin’s hel the cut we t, drawing straight lines! Firs t sor – er pap of mountain shapes out to m the ing tap ore bef – of like a stencil it. of side one on g ntin pai and the walls y wa ole wh We repeated the pattern the ’ ct. effe at gre to round the room,

‘You can really change the feel of a space with paint’

46 yourhomestyle.uk

‘Caoimhe insisted her room was painted pink, so we went for Morning Blush 24 by Fleetwood Paints. To make it really magical, we added the mountain mural and balloon stickers from Lamb Design. The tent is from Etsy and the furniture is from IKEA’

Inspiring homes

Master bedroom ‘I wanted this space to feel calm and relaxing, so I painted all the walls white.

For a cohesive look, I also painted the floor white – it was originally varnished but had a yellow hue which I didn’t like. I introduced some pattern to the space with floral bedding, while coppercoloured accessories and Primark cushions in soft pinks – plus comfy rugs from H&M Home – bring warmth to the scheme.’

‘Oisin loves Batman and Lego so we carried this theme into his room. We found the batman vinyl stickers on Etsy and picked up some black and white bedding in H&M Home’

‘I kept this room very neutral, for a calm, relaxing feel. I love to dress the bed with layers of cushions and throws – from Primark and Next – so it looks really warm and cosy. I picked up the curtains and side table in IKEA,’ says Ediana

What I learned...

O Try to tackle as many jobs as you can yourself.

I can do a lot more DIY than I thought I could.

Most jobs aren’t as difficult as they look and if you go wrong, you can always start again!

O Don’t give up on an idea because it’s different – just take time to develop it. Go with your gut instinct – it usually ends up exactly how you pictured it.

O Make sure you shop around for the best bargains.

I take time to look around the shops or online – sometimes you can find something similar at a fraction of the price – but I never compromise on the quality.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes December 2020 47

GLOW

Bask in the glow of Ediana’s home on page 40

UP Get cosy for winter, like Ediana, by surrounding yourself with the gentle warmth of copper £18 Dibor Display winter blooms in style with this shimmering vase

£120 Matalan A style classic, the Helene lamp shines where you need it

£16.99 The Range Lanterns aren’t just for Christmas, bring them out for summer too

Feature e Hannah Tribe

£15 John Lewis & Partners Stand candles on a metallic tray for extra glow

from £45 Mint & May This copper-lined lampshade can be personalised to suit your look 48 yourhomestyle.uk

£79 for 16 pieces MADE.com Give your dining table a Mid-century makeover with the Bude cutlery set

Shop the look

£179 Dunelm This Halston bedframe will stand the test of time

£20 George Home A simple bulb lamp is great for a bedside table

£40 Newgate The Starlight clock is a perfect finishing touch

£130 La Redoute This embroidered Raipur throw has us seeing stars

£17.99 Barista & Co Channel your inner hipster with this milk foam jug

£20 for two Habitat

£99 Cult Furniture Sit pretty on the Matteo bar stool

This pair of Maya lamps turn on with just a touch

£399 DFS Turn any corner into a reading nook with the Plush accent chair

December 2020 49

Make the look...

DIY LETTER BOARD It’s the most wonderful time of year, so spread the word – like Ediana – with this magnetic memo board Silver photo frame, £2.50, Wilko. Rust-Oleum magnetic chalkboard paint, £15 for 750ml, B&Q. 3D matt white mosaic tiles, £3.99 per 30.5 x 26.6cm sheet, Tiles Direct.

Magnetic letters and stars, from a selection, eBay. Pine cones, £3.50 for 200g; Bottle brush Christmas tree, £3 for a set of four, both Hobbycraft.

Top tip

You will need 4 A4 picture frame 4 Black magnetic paint 4 Paintbrush 4 Magnetic letters and gold stars

1

Remove the backing board and glass from the frame and set the glass aside to use for another project.

50 yourhomestyle.uk

2

Apply a coat of black magnetic paint to the front of the backing board.

Leave to touch-dry before applying a second coat.

When the paint is completely dry, carefully replace the backing board inside the frame.

Use the magnetic letters to spell out a message of your choice.

3 4

Make & Styling li Suzie S i A Attaway Photos Oliver Gordon

If you have an old frame that you’d like to repurpose, you could paint it to tie in with your décor.

made for generation snooze introducing our Snooze double sofa bed in sexy dusky pink and solid smoked oak. another new look from Calvers & Suvdal’s seductive AW20 collection.

snooze double sofa bed in dusky pink by Calvers & Suvdal / ÂŁ799 dimensions (cm): sofa: w: 191 x d: 106 x h: 99 / bed: w: 191 x d: 131 x h: 46 colours: dusky pink, grey, orange & navy blue shop: calversandsuvdal.com/snooze phone: +44 (0) 20 8133 9222

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Style idea Create drama in a white kitchen by painting the walls black

Welcome to my home A bit about me I’m Lou Wolfenden, an interior designer at House of Wolf @house_ of_wolf_interiors. I live with my husband, Tom, and our three children, Edie, Bas and Otto.

Where I live We live in a sixbed detached house in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Feature Louise O’Bryan Photos Rachael Smith Styling Vickie Nichols F

What I wanted to change The entire house needed gutting so it meant I could reconfigure the internal spaces to create a versatile family home.

How I made it my own I’ve combined sumptuous textures, edgy designs and plenty of playful touches to create a practical family home that’s fun, lively and inviting.

My favourite part The open-plan living space. It’s so comfortable to relax in and the practical layout makes it great for entertaining.

Bespoke brushed gold metallic units by Goodwood Interiors are the star of the show, while hidden discreetly in the centre of the run of units is Lou’s dream pantry, keeping everyday clutter tucked away.

‘The hidden pantry was key to the overall design and dictated the layout of the kitchen. I’m thrilled that we made it work as it’s the best part of the space,’ says Lou

It’s perfect 54 yourhomestyle.uk

Lou Wolfenden’s creative family home is a haven

Inspiring homes

‘One of our home’s biggest successes is its versatility and how it can adapt easily to any occasion’

Kitchen ‘As this open-plan living space was to be the heart of the home where we’d spend most of our time as a family and entertaining, it had to be planned to perfection. Overall, I wanted the space to be welcoming and extremely social, as well as feeling funky and contemporary.

Our wish list for the space was huge, including a French pantry fridge that would provide enough storage space.

I was also keen to include a hidden pantry as I’d seen how useful they are for disguising clutter in open-plan kitchens.

Once I’d decided on the brushed metallic gold units, the rest of the scheme fell into place. I painted the walls dark to create a bold contrast and added gold accents to tie in with the units. I even found a gold velvet sofa to complete the look.’

for Christmas of versatile spaces, luxurious textures and funky, playful touches

December 2020 55

Dining area At the centre of the room, a large wooden dining table from Heal’s is paired with lighter, see-through Philippe Stark chairs, which are child-friendly and easy to move. ‘We had a ‘lid’ built for the table to extend it to seat 18 – perfect for our huge extended family, while the statement light helps define the eating area in the open-plan space. This Christmas, the pretty green and aubergine table setting is inspired by the sprout crackers that I spotted from Nancy & Betty Studio. It’s a bit tongue in cheek, as I personally loathe sprouts, but always have ‘one for colour’ on my plate as per my childhood instructions!’

Lou designed the customised LED light, and had it made by Bag & Bones. It sits proudly above the Swoon sideboard that complements the other metallic tones perfectly. ‘This space has come together so well. It represents everything I’m about – beautiful, contemporary style that’s practical and lots of fun,’ explains Lou

My story...

With our second child on the way, we were rapidly outgrowing our three-bedroom cottage, so we started looking for a larger home nearby that had potential to improve and extend. When we first spotted this house, we were impressed by its imposing façade, however inside was another story. The layout was only one room deep, and the rooms felt extremely dark, damp and unloved. My husband hated it, but I could see the huge potential. After some convincing, I finally brought him round to the benefits of being able to do what we wanted to a detached house in a spectacular location.

Two years on, and after an entire year of planning, we embarked on a huge renovation, removing all the floors and walls to expose the foundations and rafters. For a while it looked a bit like a barn! Obviously, we had to move out, so we rented nearby to ensure we could keep an eye on the build and be available for every decision. Being able to replan the entire layout meant we could create a practical, future-proof home that would work for us now, and as our family grows older.

At the heart of house, we wanted a big living space with an open-plan kitchen-diner and connection to the garden, where we could spend time together as a family and have plenty of room to entertain. Although hardwearing finishes and practical surfaces were at the top of our wish list – such as stain-resistant Caesarstone worktops, durable oak chevron flooring, and robust furniture – I was keen to inject some grown-up glamour too, with luxurious textures and edgy designs. We went for brushed gold metallic kitchen units to create a showstopping statement, and complemented them with metallic touches, like the gold globe pendant lights, gold stools and velvet sofas.

At every stage, we’ve wanted to create functional spaces that make our busy family life a little easier but have always ensured they are decorated in a cosy, welcoming way that invites us to relax and have fun.

56 yourhomestyle.uk

Style idea Perspex dining chairs are lightweight and wipe down easily – ideal for kids

Inspiring homes With a large family to cater for, Lou’s house is a buzz of excitement and activity at Christmas, and that’s just the way she likes it. ‘This will be our third Christmas since the renovations were finished, and the house continues to function and flow perfectly for all our needs, making the festive season a breeze,’ says Lou

MAKING Craft a tree ornament on page 64

‘A typical Wolfenden Christmas starts with us opening presents, having scrambled eggs for breakfast, and then welcoming guests with a glass of bubbles,’ says Lou. A pink, green and goldthemed tablescape is laid out for the occasion while sprigs of eucalyptus and berries bring a natural feel

Lou picked up these vintage Japanese Kokeshi dolls in Tokyo, where the couple lived for 18 months before they got married. The marble-effect wrapping paper was picked to complement the kitchen worktop, while the gold ribbons tie in with the other metallic accessories in the kitchen

The seating area in the living space is a cosy mix of inviting textures and warming tones. Lou designed the panelling – which was laser cut on site, stuck on and painted – to fit snugly round the TV slot. The bold walls – painted in Off-Black by Farrow & Ball – are softened by the pink sofa from Loaf and upholstered chairs from HomeSense, while the pink French Connection rug adds a lively pattern

December 2020 57

Steal my style Get Lou’s glam home style with these buys

Bespoke panelling painted in Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue gives the front living room a period look and a completely different vibe to the modern family living space next door. The warm metallic theme is continued in here thanks to the gold pendant light from Debenhams and circular coffee table from MADE.com

Bold Monkey pendant lamp, Cuckooland

90 £69.

Round gold mirror, Home Luxe Co

99 £15.

Gold swivel chair, Next

£250

Expert advice Renovating a family home from scratch Make your space work for the whole crew with these tips

Originally, the entrance door to the kitchen was going to be sited at this spot, but with a rethink of the floorplans, the entrance was relocated, and a nifty corner space was created for an adults-only bar area. The gold units either side of the wine fridge, mirrored in the main part of the kitchen, help bring the party atmosphere

58 yourhomestyle.uk

O Plan the layout so it works for everyone’s needs. Consider how each space will be used, who will be using it and where people gather, so you can be sure of a practical layout with a good flow.

If you have young children, take a forward-thinking approach and future-proof for adolescence, such as adapting a playroom into a teenager hangout.

O Have a clear understanding of the end result so you can make the right decisions throughout

the build. For example, Lou knew exactly where the sofas were going, so she had plug sockets positioned nearby for side lamps to avoid trailing wires.

O Factor in hardwearing finishes and practical surfaces wherever possible. Kitchen worktops and bathroom surfaces that can withstand spills and scratches and can be wiped down in an instant will make cleaning a breeze.

O Plan a place for everything and you’ll make life a little simpler. Coat and shoe storage in the hallway will ensure this spot stays calm and orderly, while a dedicated cupboard in the kitchen for arts and crafts equipment or baking utensils will ensure you can easily tidy up after a busy family activity.

Inspiring homes

Playroom A stroke of genius was positioning the playroom to sit next to the kitchen and fitting sliding doors to close it off. Here, Lou can keep an eye on the children while preparing meals, but can just as easily shut the chaos away once they are in bed. ‘I knew I could have fun with the design of this room, so we painted stripes on the ceiling to depict a circus tent and added a vintage sign that I sourced online,’ says Lou. ‘I then added kids’ furniture from HomeSense, making it practical for them to use, but easy to change up as they grow bigger.’

Lou designed the playroom to sit beside the kitchen so she could keep an eye on her three children, yet any mess can easily be shut off thanks to hidden pocket doors December 2020 59

For a tranquil feel in the bedroom, Lou chose a soothing blue palette.

The statement wall is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Vardo, while the sumptuous navy bed is from Loaf and is layered with more plush textures. The velvet bench from HomeSense provides a handy restful spot at the end of the bed

Style idea Hanging pendant lights either side of the bed frees up space on the bedside table

SHOP Shop buttoned accessories on page 62

‘We gave ourselves an entire year to plan our new home, and as a result the layout is extremely efficient and practical, which makes life a lot easier’ 60 yourhomestyle.uk

Master bedroom The tropical vibe in Lou and Tom’s bedroom is inspired by their time in Dubai, where they lived for a couple of years and had their first child. ‘I’ve tried to recapture the city’s eclectic mix of styles and flamboyant decadence, but with a twist of contemporary chic,’ says Lou. The statement wall is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Vardo, the pendant lights are from eBay and the velvet bench is from HomeSense.

I Inspiring homes The iconic tree light from Rockett St George creates a cosy reading spot in the master bedroom, while the velvet chairs from Dubai and circular rug from IKEA add to the exotic opulence

Kids’ bedroom A funky bed with a slide from Cuckooland makes a wonderful treat for Lou’s middle son, Bas. The cool, vibrant rug is from Rockett St George and Lou has livened up the white walls with stickers from This Modern Life. ‘I’ve kept the kids’ rooms neutral so they can be easily changed and adapted with a more grown-up colour scheme as they get older,’ she says.

Bathroom More clever planning comes into play in the bathroom where Lou designed hidden storage behind the mirrors. ‘Opening the mirrors reveals shelves built into the stud walls, creating a slick, streamlined finish,’ says Lou. A black-painted window frame ties in with the monochrome scheme, while chunky basins from Villeroy & Boch keep the space sleek and contemporary.

White wood flooring is a practical solution for Lou’s son’s bedroom and has been softened with a vibrant rug

What I learned...

O Combining off-the-shelf units with bespoke kitchen cupboards saved a fortune. We went for a plain white design for the base units and splashed out on the tall gold units that would be on show.

O A hidden pantry is brilliant for hiding kitchen chaos when you’re entertaining and also for lighting birthday cake candles at a surprise party!

O Velvet upholstery might seem impractical for young children but in fact it’s extremely robust and wipes down easily. For peace of mind, if you’re worried about marks and stains, stick to darker tones, such as navy or charcoal.

Hexagonal floor tiles from Tons of Tiles add a lively touch to the monochrome scheme, while wall-mounted mirrors expand the sense of space

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes December 2020 61

Relax and enjoy the sumptuous style of Louise’s home on page 54

PUSH THE

BUTTON Sink into softness, like Louise, with deep-buttoned and tufted pieces that create a luxe laid-back look

£200 John Lewis & Partners

£15.99 per roll Wayfair

Snuggle down with a cotton velvet throw

Give your room an antiquated feel with leather-look paper

£359 Cult Furniture Get the mid-century look with the sleek Penelope sofa

£239.97 Furniture123

Feature Hannah Tribe

The Safina storage bench has hidden storage too

£139 Hemming & Wills Clear away clutter into this luxe velvet ottoman

62 yourhomestyle.uk

£299 Dunelm The Charley chair has a classic look with a modern edge

£25 Aufora Keep plants cosy in this cushion-effect pot

Shop the look

£10 per roll Wilko Create the look of a padded headboard with this wallpaper

£795 Habitat Channel the Seventies revival with the bold Hendricks chair

£419 DFS The oversized Windsor footstool doubles up as a table

from £379 Dunelm Slip into sleep on this Chesterfield sleigh bed

£150 IKEA Tuck into a good book curled up on the REMSTA chair

£375 John Lewis & Partners

from £20 La Redoute

Put your feet up on this timeless Button stool

These plump pink cushions will perk up your sofa

from £149 Very The glam Roya headboard will make your bed royalty ready

December 2020 63

Make the look...

TREE ORNAMENTS Deck the halls, like Lou, with a collection of these mini wooden festive firs, perfect for dotting around your home this Christmas Rust-Oleum Ultra Shimmer glitter, £6; Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch paint, £2.50 per 20ml; Rust-Oleum metallic leafing pen, £6, all B&Q.

Top tip To make a family of trees, make a collection of different-sized triangles, varying the height and width of the shapes.

You will need 4 Paints 4 Metallic leafing paint pen 4 Balsa wood or thin plywood 4 Craft knife or fine saw 4 Fine grit sandpaper 4 Ruler 4 Pencil 4 Paintbrush

1

On your sheet of wood, draw two triangles of the same size. Use a ruler to get straight lines. Use a craft knife or fine saw to cut the triangles out of the wooden sheet.

Now you need to make the slots. Draw a line down the middle of both triangles and make a mark in the centre of this line. On one triangle, saw or cut down to the midway point from the top and on the other triangle, cut up to the midway point from the bottom of the shape.

Sand all the edges smooth.

Paint the triangles with a design of your choice.

Add some festive sparkle with a metallic leaf pen or sprinkle over some glitter.

Once the paint has dried, slot the triangles together to make a tree shape.

Display on your dining table, mantelpiece or shelves.

3

4

64 yourhomestyle.uk

Make and styling Hester’s Handmade Home

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Prize draw

WIN ! A CHILDREN’S PLAYHOUSE BED AND MATTRESS TO ENTER

FROM ROOM TO GROW HomeStyle has partnered with children’s bedroom specialists, Room to Grow, to give away this gorgeous Nordic Playhouse bed along with a luxury Sleeptight pocket mattress to one lucky reader, in a fabulous bundle worth £1,028!

Perfect for storage and sleepovers, the playhouse bed features two handy drawers to store bedding, toys or clothes, and a trundle pull-out bed for any overnight guests. The solid Scandinavian pine frame comes in contemporary white to seamlessly integrate into any interior and the bed can also split into a standard single continental size, giving you longevity as your little one grows.

The bed’s playhouse design helps little imaginations run wild, resulting in hours of fun and laughter! Will your child dream up a rocket blasting into outer space, or a jeep trundling through a safari? There are endless scenarios to get little minds engaged and make bedtime a positive experience. Combined with the Sleeptight pocket mattress, which houses 600 pocket springs, this prize is sure to give the gift of a good night’s sleep to your child – and you!

Room to Grow offers a full range of children’s beds, furniture, accessories, toys and more!

You can check out the entire range at roomtogrow.co.uk

It’s so easy! Head to yourhomestyle.uk, click on the ‘WIN!’ tab, find the draw you want to enter and fill in your details. Closing date 11:59pm 31st December 2020.

PRIZE WORTH OVER

£1,000

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted.

Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prizes are non-refundable, nontransferable and not for resale. The prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 10 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 31st December 2020. 11 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 12 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days. 13 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 14 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 15 There is one prize in total, comprising a Nordic Playhouse bed in white and a Sleeptight pocket mattress. 16 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). 17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Room to Grow Giveaway, HomeStyle, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

66 yourhomestyle.uk

Style edit

Decorator 's MOODBOARDS 68

70

Fir Green From Nordic pine to evergreen, verdant tones will freshen up your space

Holly Red Fire things up with a sumptuous look based on unexpected colour pairings

December 2020 67

Feature Hannah Tribe

Classic Christmas colours are given a contemporary twist for this month’s looks, for stylish schemes that will cheer your home all year round – and no tinsel in sight!

Clay paint in Hobby Wood, £38.50 per 2.5l, Earthborn

Matt emulsion in Spiced Honey and Minted Glory, both £29.16 for 2.5l, Dulux

Cream speckled pot, £7.45; teardrop tables, £25 for two; green and white vase, £9; green and white small vase, £5; geometric cushion, £10; faux plant in black metal cube, £15; rope doorstop, £10; diamond cushion in Grey, £10, all Homebase

WHY YOU’LL

love this look O Mix bold, blue-toned greens with calming slate grey and sea blues. Choose a variety of similar shades and layer them up for a tonal effect that’s both relaxing and therapeutic.

O Use warm neutrals to balance out the look. Patches of cream and taupe will provide a break from the darker colours and make them appear richer. A dash of pink-toned grey or lilac makes a great contrast and really boosts the vibrancy of the blues and greens.

O Find natural materials to enhance the outdoorsy feel. Linen is a great choice as it has a unique texture that only improves with age. Look out for seagrass too.

68 yourhomestyle.uk

FIR

Style edit

green

This vibrant palette combines elements of nature, Scandi slopes and vivid blue-greens to restore and revive 2 4

3 1

Layer up blues and greens for a soothing and therapeutic look

6

5

7 8

palette

COLOUR

10

9

SHOP THE MOODBOARD Nyong linen-effect single voile panel in Teal, £20, La Redoute 2 Quarry tile in light red, £29.78 per sq m, Topps Tiles 3 Chalk paint in Florence, £21.95 per litre, Annie Sloan 4 RADGRÄS fabric in white/beige, £5 per m, IKEA 5 Village tile in Emerald Green, £29.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain 6 Reclaimed Douglas fir flooring, from £40 per sq m, Lassco 7 Wall mural in Scandinavian Bellewood, £33 per sq m, Rebel Walls 8 Matt emulsion in Aztec Jade, £45 per 2.5l, Claybrook Studio 9 Metro tile in Green Park Gloss, £19.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors 10 Chalky matt paint in White Lilac, £47.50 per 2.5l, M&L Paints 1

December 2020 69

Matt emulsion in Berry Pop, Lost Coral, Terracotta Army and Brave Ground, all £29.16 for 2.5l, Dulux

Walls stencilled using Faux Bone Inlay stencil, £24.95; furniture, floor, baubles and crackers in a selection of Chalk Paint, from £5.95, and finished with Chalk Paint Lacquer, £21.95; wall paint in Emperor’s Silk, £41.95; door panels and gift wrapped with Ticking in Graphite, £34.95 per m, all Annie Sloan

Homebird three-seater sofa, £995; Torrence coffee table, £299; Homebird cuddle chair in Lush Yellow, £895; Connection small fabric hex footstool, £149, all Furniture Village

WHY YOU’LL

love this look O The sizzling heat of rich reds and playful pinks give this look its depth. While tonally similar, the contrast between the two colours means that they are both shown at their absolute best.

O A wash of warm grey or taupe brings the temperature down and prevents a room from feeling too themed or overwhelming.

It’s a balancing effect which makes the scheme much more liveable.

O Jewel-coloured velvets add to the sumptuous feeling, while metallic elements give a luxurious edge.

O Use mustard yellow as a highlight – it’ll add a burst of brightness without taking away any of the richness of the overall look.

70 yourhomestyle.uk

HOLLY

red

Style edit

This bold scheme creates a rich and enveloping look with punchy accent colours and an undeniable sense of retro fun 3 2 1

4

5

6 8

7

palette

COLOUR

The sizzling heatt of rosy reds and playful pinks give this look depth

9

10

SHOP THE MOODBOARD Lovely Branches wallpaper in Red/Pink, 58.95 per roll, Pip Studio 2 Hampton tile in Beige, £22.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain 3 Vinyl flooring in Peace, £59 per sq m, Atrafloor 4 Palm Springs tile in Mustard, £66 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore 5 Bubblegum stripe wallpaper in Pink/ White, £7 per roll, I love Wallpaper 6 Chalk paint in Tilton, £21.95 per litre, Annie Sloan 7 Linoso 2 curtain fabric in Cranberry, £13 per sq m, Terrys Fabrics 8 Pure matt paint in London Bus, £47 per 2.5l, Fenwick & Tillbrook 9 Vallmo curtain fabric in Carnelian, £22 per m, ILIV 10 Flat matt paint in Rocket Fire, £29.16 for 2.5l, Dulux

1

December 2020 71

take care Candles pose a fire risk, so before lighting make sure they’re on a stable surface away from flammable materials, and never leave a lit candle unattended.

CENTREPIECE Rescue glass bottles from the recycling and transform them into elegant candle holders for next to nothing!

Feature Hannah Tribe

BOTANICAL

Upcycling challenge This effortlessly simple project brings the beauty of nature indoors for the festive season. Collect sprigs of foliage during a family walk and you’ll be able to relive those happy memories during Christmas dinner.

Takes 45 mins you will need z Empty, clear glass bottles z Tall candles z Selection of foliage z Secateurs

1 2

Thoroughly clean the glass bottles. Leave to fully dry.

Collect foliage from your garden, forage from a walk with family or buy from a local florist. Holly or bay tree sprigs will give a traditional look, but you could use fern

1

and eucalyptus for an on-trend feel. The woodier the sprigs are, the longer they will last in water before you’ll need to switch them out. Softer cuttings will need to be changed more regularly.

Cut the sprigs to size with the secateurs, measuring them against the outside of the bottle so that they’ll sit neatly in the main body of the bottles.

When you’re happy with the lengths, pop each sprig into the bottles. You might need to poke them down with a knitting needle if they won’t go in smoothly.

Fill the bottles with water to about halfway up the neck.

Push the candles into the neck of the bottle, ensuring they’re a snug fit and stand straight. Use a small knife to carefully shave away part of the base of each candle if they’re too large.

shop the look Get the look with these home buys

3

Christmas placemat, £39 for a set of six, The Braided Rug Company

4 5

2

Gold star bauble place card holders, £6.99 for a set of six, Ginger Ray

Cranberry Napkin Rings, £12 for set of four, John Lewis & Partners

Brass star candle snuffer, £12, National Trust Shop

3

5 Dinner candle in Old Pink, £1.50, The Shop Floor Project

Candle care kit, £35, Wearth London

December 2020 7 73

Shine bright Add a bit of sparkle to your Christmas projects with metallic paints from Mylands. These glittering paints come from a collection of show-stopping shades, originally used by the film, TV and theatre industry, but specially formulated for use at home. A 250ml sample pot costs £8.50 from Mylands.com

LET IT SEW Create a new tradition with Sophie Allport’s Christmas fabric collection.

The 100% cotton fabric costs £26 per metre and would make gorgeous gift sacks, placemats or a festive apron! There’s a range of adorable designs, from woodland creatures to tiny skiers, so whatever you choose to make, you’ll enjoy it year after year.

THOROUGHLY MODERN To celebrate 100 years of producing beautiful paint and wallpapers, Albany have worked in collaboration with Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire at Mini Moderns to create two fabulous new patterns inspired by Albany’s back catalogue. The 50s Atelier and 60s FAB! designs are perfect for giving your home bold, mid-century style. Use Atelier for the inside of a drinks cabinet for a tipple Don Draper would be proud of, and the bold shapes of FAB! will cover desk storage with style. Both designs come in four separate colourways and are available exclusively at wallpaperdirect.com for £45 per roll.

Deck the halls Unleash your creativity with these plain ceramic baubles, £1 each, from Hobbycraft. They’re ready to paint, dip or découpage straight out of the box. They make great presents when personalised with names or initials.

Why not switch out the string for a satin ribbon to create a luxe look?

UPCYCLING NEWS Stay in the know with the latest revamping products and ideas

Animal magic

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PATCH IT UP Take the mess out of sampling paint with the new Colour Patch (£1.50 each) from Craig & Rose. The 20x20cm adhesive patches simply stick to your wall so that you can check out the colour, then peel away cleanly, leaving the wall intact.

When you’ve finished using them to confirm your colour choices, the Colour Patches can be reused in lots of different ways. Cut them into pieces to create colour blocked designs on tiles, or use them as tasteful backgrounds in box frames.

Feature Hannah Tribe

Walk on the wild side with the new Wild Animals wallpaper collection from Boråstapeter. The collection of three designs is inspired by vintage illustrations and the beauty of African wildlife. Serengeti, Madagascar and Samburu are available in variants with or without animals, so you can have a cheeky lemur peeking out from behind a door, while the rest of the room is a lush, botanical scene. These detailed designs are great for lining bookcases, as the pattern will shine through even if you can only see small sections. Visit borastapeter.com to find UK stockists and order samples.

Prize draw

TWO AMAZING PRIZES UP FOR GRABS! TO ENTER

It’s so easy! Head to yourhomestyle.uk, click on the ‘WIN’ tab, find the draw you want to enter and fill in your details.

Closing date 11:59pm 31st December 2020.

2 LUCKY WINNERS

The Screen With Envy Moucharabiya screen design also comes as an outdoor version, as shown here

WIN AN INDOOR SCREEN WORTH £450 FROM SCREEN WITH ENVY Looking for a quick and easy way to transform your interior space? An indoor screen is a clever way to create a new look.

We’ve teamed up with Screen With Envy to offer you the chance to win a choice of decorative indoor screen, worth £450!

Combining a love of beautiful spaces with excellent design, Screen With Envy is a British screen company offering indoor and outdoor aluminium screens to bring discreet screening to any space.

Screen With Envy’s range of indoor screens offer exquisite design as well as practicality – divide up a space to create a cosy reading nook, a hallway and a myriad of other possibilities.

If you live in a smaller apartment a screen can act as both a striking decoration and create the feeling of more rooms in your space. In a larger space, a screen can be used to divide up a room or be placed against a wall as a decorative feature,

transporting you to an Arabic palace or botanical-inspired bedroom!

You can view the entire range of indoor and outdoor screens at screenwithenvy.co.uk Lucky winners can choose from the Moucharabiya (shown), Alhambra, Resilience or Espoir screen.

Screen dimensions: 6.5 ft x 3.9 ft Please note the image here displays an outdoor screen, however the indoor screen design is identical.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted.

Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prizes are non-refundable, nontransferable and not for resale. The prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 10 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 31st December 2020. 11 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 12 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days. 13 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 14 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 15 There are 2 prizes in total, each comprising a decorative indoor screen, worth £450. 16 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/ privacy-policy). 17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Screen With Envy giveaway, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

December 2020 75

6 FABULOUS

Christmas looks Deck your halls with this year’s must-have themes – a spirit-lifting mix of natureinspired, nostalgia and all-out sparkle!

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NATURAL WONDERS Celebrate the beauty of nature by choosing natural, recyclable and renewable materials. You can recreate elements of this look at home for free by making decorations from objects foraged on winter walks.

Fallen fir cones, twigs and leaves will all help to bring the outdoors in.

Check out our upcycling project on page 72 for a make that you can create with bottles rescued from the recycling bin.

1 Bristle reindeer decoration, £8, National Trust Shops 2 Set of six paper decorations, £8, Sainsbury’s Home 3 Make your own cracker kit, £20, The Paper Party Bag Shop 4 Natural wrapping paper, £2 per roll, Flying Tiger Copenhagen 5 Small natural twig string star, £7.49, Gisela Graham 6 Olive leaf metal wreath, £32, Rose & Grey 7 Bristle animal decoration, £6.99, Dobbies 8 Metal holly and mistletoe decorations, £3 for two, B&Q 9 Origami star garland kit, £13.96, Cambridge Imprint 10 Southwold felt stocking in Forest Green, £15, Garden Trading

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3 Wall paint in Old White, £41.95 per 2.5l; tabletop in white chalk paint wax, £21.95 per litre; legs in Olive chalk paint, £21.95 per litre, and clear wax, £54.95 per 2.5l; chairs in Country Grey chalk paint, £21.95 per litre; floor in Old White chalk paint, £21.95 per litre, and matt lacquer, £21.95 per 750ml, all Annie Sloan 76 yourhomestyle.uk

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Christmas trends

SEEING STARS 1

Keep your eyes on the skies to find inspiration for this stellar look. The scheme can be magical, playful or flamboyant, depending on how you mix the elements.

An abundance of silver stars will feel tasteful and ethereal.

Add some iridescent or purple finishes to make the look feel more more fu fun un or go go all out with h floating flfloati astronauts and rocket ships. The sky really iss the limit!

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1 Iridescent pinwheel set, £16.50, Other Letters 2 Iridescent glitter star tree topper, £6, The Contemporary Home 3 Iridescent tinsel, £1.25 for 2m, B&Q 4 Iridescent textured finial bauble, £7, John Lewis & Partners 5 Iridescent sequin cone tree, £5, B&Q 6 White iris shatterproof bauble, £2.99, Dobbies 7 Astronaut bauble, £3, George Home 8 Planet bauble, £4, Sainsbury’s Home 9 Silver star bell, £4, Sainsbury’s Home 10 Iridescent facet bauble, £2, Wilko 11 Star clips string light, £10, Argos

December 2020 77

Glass balloon dog Christmas decorations, £9 for a pack of three; Carnival animal Christmas decorations, £8 for a pack of four; Rainbow decoration, £2; Bristle tree bauble, £3, all Matalan

SWEET SHOP Indulge your sweet tooth with a playful look that’s packed with glamorous sugary treats that look good enough to eat. Combine shimmering glitter with pastel tones, candy stripes and colourful characters. Add a personal touch and DIY charm by baking and decorating your own gingerbread baubles – you’ll just need to make sure they don’t get nibbled before the big day!

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1 Iridescent baubles, £6 for three, Marks & Spencer 2 Light-up gingerbread village decoration, £140, Ella James 3 Alphabet velvet decoration, £6.50, Oliver Bonas 4 Candy cane heart decoration, £3.49, Dobbies 5 DIY gingerbread house, £35, Biscuiteers 6 Sparkly pink doughnut decoration, £1, Poundland 7 6 ft pink cashmere tree, £65, Argos 8 Pink and white glass bauble with sweet bead band, £4.99, Gisela Graham 9 Resin gingerbread

ice cream and lolly decorations, £9.99 for two, The Contemporary Home 10 Pastel macaroon decorations, £3.25 for three, The Contemporary Home

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78 yourhomestyle.uk

Christmas trends 1

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OPULENCE This luxurious look takes the glamour of vintage style and adds some extra sparkle, just because it’s Christmas. Think like a 1930s starlet and pile up peacock feathers, starburst motifs and glittering ribbons to create this deeply textured look. Use plenty of rich tones like burgundy, turquoise and navy blue – they’ll look amazing against the dark green of your Christmas tree – and brighten up the scheme with twinkling gold highlights.

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1 Velvet bauble with jewels, £4.99 for three, Dobbies 2 Kashmiri cat decoration in red, £3.99, Oxfam 3 Turquoise glitter bird, £2.50 each, Daisy Park 4 Turquoise glitter amber jewel chandelier decoration, £7.49, The Contemporary Home 5 Beaded pomegranate decoration, £24 for two, Amara 6 Shatterproof baubles, £6 for 20, Next 7 Velvet baubles, £6 for six, Dunelm 8 Turquoise glass bauble with gold beaded starburst, £4.99, Gisela Graham 9 Peacock bauble, £2, Flying Tiger Copenhagen

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6 ft berry and cone pre-lit tree, £60; wicker tree skirt, £22; dining table, £200; velvet dining chairs, £120 for two; warm white cable lights, £8, all Argos Home. Merry Christmas garland, £10; clip-on butterfly, £3; peacock bauble, £2; gold mistletoe decoration, £3; diamond decoration, £2; gold mirror decoration, £3; glass Santa decoration, £3; gold decoration, £2; gold fruit decorations, £2 each; gold feather decorations, £6 for three; foil speckle bauble, £2; patterned glass bauble £2; crown decoration, £2; gold peacock decoration, £12; gold baubles 60mm, £4 for 24; gold shaker baubles, £5 for 12; decorations, £9 for 75; gold snowflakes, £6 for nine; beaded birds, £6 for three; mercury bauble, £2; crackled bauble, £3; gold star, £4 for three, all Sainsbury’s Home

December 2020 79

MERRY KITSCHMAS Indulge your inner maximalist with this outrageous and eclectic look. You’ll be amazed by the unusual things that have been turned into baubles – fish and chips anyone? Balance your look by building a foundation of smaller baubles in mixed colours before moving on to the larger statement pieces. Look out for neon colours, kitsch characters and lots and lots of glitter.

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Twinkly rainbow pre-lit tree, £599; pop art rainbow large shatterproof baubles, £15 for 10; pop art rainbow medium shatterproof baubles, £10 for 10; neon star light in Pink, £25; neon Christmas tree hanging light in Green, £25; tree decorations, from £4; gift wrap, from £3, all John Lewis & Partners

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7 1 Cody Foster retro mouse with mushroom ornament, £13.99, Oklahoma 2 Knitted shark in santa hat decoration, £9, Natural History Museum 3 Motorbike bauble, £2, Flying Tiger Copenhagen 4 Santa with a surfboard decoration, £8.75, Cream Cornwall 5 Dinosaur decorations, £3 for three, Sainsbury’s Home 6 Prized Spaniel decoration £10.75 each, Raj Tent Club 7 Novelty Christmas duck, £1, Poundland 8 Fish and chips decoration, £5, Paperchase 9 Bottle of ketchup glass shape decoration, £5.99, The Contemporary Home 10 Virgin Mary Christmas tree decoration, £15, Rockett St George 11 Greek goddess bubblegum Christmas tree decoration, £12, Rockett St George

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SCANDI FARMHOUSE Keep it simple with a rustic look that’s as cool as it is cosy. Use a muted grey palette and add plenty of silver elements to keep it bright. Star and stag motifs are style classics at this time of year, and you’ll be able to find them all over the high street. Choose simple, unfussy shapes for a look that will last for years. Touches of greenery and birch give an authentic Scandinavian feel.

1 Full moon personalised bauble, £10, Betsy Benn Designs 2 Silver acorn baubles, £15 for six, Marquis & Dawe 3 Hanging LED paper star, £6.99, Dobbies 4 Southwold star garland, £12, Garden Trading 5 Sun and moon handpainted ceramic baubles, £36 for four (two of each), Laura Nevill 6 Birch indoor outdoor light-up tree, £85, Cox & Cox 7 Faux fur tree skirt, £23, B&Q 8 Pecan brown pine cone stem, £6, B&Q 9 Mixed box of

shatterproof silver baubles, £9.99, Dobbies 10 Chana mango wood star decorations, from £12.95 for four, Nkuku

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8 Oakridge table, £1,100; spindle back chair, £170; ribbed vase, £30; Berkeley carafe, £15; Berkeley wine glasses, £28 for four; Berkeley tumblers, £22 for four; candle holder, £20; table runner, £32; cutlery set, £75 for 16 pieces; Maddox star, £10; Clockhouse console table, £330; Berkeley Champagne flutes, £28 for four; Berkeley cocktail glasses, £28 for four; Curzon mirror tray, £45; Clarendon table lamp, £75; arched wall mirror, £100, all Garden Trading

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Feature Hannah Tribe

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December 2020 81

#myHShome Use the myHShome hashtag on Instagram for your chance to appear on this very page!

Modern spin Our home has gone through a major renovation over the last year, which was mainly done by us. We still have a long way to go but our vision is to take a modern spin on a Victorian style. It’s important to us to be respectful of the period décor and features, which is why we love finding antique items and testing our creativity by upcycling aged furniture. We are hoping to combine vintage with modern to create our perfect home. @homes_and_renovations

Sponsored by...

WIN A VOUCHER! If your picture appears here, you’ll win a £25 voucher to spend at Hemming & Wills!

Use the #myHShome hashtag on Instagram to show us your favourite room and you could win a prize next month.

Golden sunrise This is the first room we have completed since getting the keys back in July. I had a vision and I am lucky that my partner lets me run with all my outlandish ideas, and so grateful to my stepdad for being a DIY enthusiast! This is our take on the bohemian/Scandi style. We both wanted our bedroom to be a warm, cosy space, so we went bold with this orange arch of joy and recycled this original retro headboard – it’s so dreamy. Why buy new when you can snap up fun vintage finds like this? @eclectic.1920s.build

Show us your style!

Upload your home shot to Instagram using myHShome

More is more

Eclectic cottage This is my dining room in our Victorian cottage, which we have been renovating for the last year. I absolutely love colour but I always stay very muted with my shades as they feel cosy and more atmospheric.

Nearly all of the furniture in here is secondhand or upcycled. I have only splashed out on a light and a rug for this room. A lot of my prints on my gallery wall are from a Rifle Paper Co calendar. The chimney breast was recently replastered and I have fallen in love with the plaster colour, so I haven’t painted it back! This room is the ideal entertaining space and, more recently, perfect for those date nights at home. @_itstartedwithacushion 82 yourhomestyle.uk

I’m a maximalist; I love art, plants, taxidermy, antiques, and generally filling my home with quirky things and rescuing furniture to upcycle. I used to live in a studio flat, where every inch of wall (including the sloping ones) was filled with art. The high ceilings in my new flat have given me an even bigger canvas to fill with my favourite gallery wall finds; restyled portraits and bold typography prints. @lessisboreinteriors

Special offer

READER OFFER!

SA VE 20% ON PERSONALISED STATIONERY

To redeem It’s super easy! Simply use the code HOMESTYLE at the checkout to get 20% off your order when you visit Martha Brook at marthabrook.com.

Offer expires 31st December 2020.

PLANNED TO PERFECTION We’ve teamed up with Martha Brook to give you 20% off all their stylish personalised stationery this month. Martha Brook is an award-winning London brand who create inspiring and uplifting paper goods. Their products make it beautifully simple to get organised and live your life with greater

intention. In a digital world, there is nothing quite like putting pen to paper to give yourself space to think, plan and set good intentions for your future self.

With Christmas just around the corner, their stationery would make a brilliant gift to help a loved one balance their

productivity, self-care and positivity in 2021.

Martha Brook’s range includes an extensive selection of personalised notebooks, diaries, planners, writing sets and desk and home office accessories, all thoughtfully created to help you style your workspace and achieve a great mindset – whether at work or home.

Terms and Conditions 1 The promoter of this offer is Martha Brook Ltd (the ‘Promoter’). 2 This offer is for 20% off the entire personalised stationery range. The code can be used online at www.marthabrook.com and must be entered at the checkout. The offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or promotional codes. 3 This offer opens at 00:01am on 10th November 2020 and runs until 23:59pm on 31st December 2020. Offers redeemed outside the offer period will not be accepted. 4 The promotional offer is not for resale, is non-refundable and non-transferable and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. No cash refunds can be given under any circumstances. 5 The Promoter’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 This offer may be amended or withdrawn at any time at the Promoter’s discretion. 7 The terms and conditions www.marthabrook.com/termsconditions will apply to all purchases made from the website. 8 Terms and conditions governed by English Law.

December 2020 83

Style advice

A WARM

WELCOME Be the hostess with the mostest with these extra-special finishing touches.

Your seasonal guests will feel so at home, they might never want to leave!

BEST FOOT FORWARD A cheery doormat will help set the tone for the whole visit. It’ll put a smile on your guests’ faces from the moment they get to your front door, with the added bonus of keeping your hallway free from footprints.

Christmas doormat, £12, Next

HEAVEN SCENT One of the first things you notice when you enter a new space is how it smells.

Using a scented candle or diffuser in the hallway means that the delicious smell is carried throughout the house, and your guests will experience it instantly.

Scent always conjures up memories, so choose something festive to evoke that classic Christmas feeling.

Siberian Fir scented candle, £20; Siberian Fir diffuser, £20, both Cath Kidston

HANG IT ALL These chic, minimalist hooks will hold the extra coats and bags your visitors bring. Then, when you’re ready to have the house back to yourself again, you can remove the hooks cleanly by pulling on their sticky tabs, without causing damage to the wall behind.

They’re so clever!

Command medium matte black hook, £5, Wilko

Keep extra shoes tucked away in a slim-lined storage cabinet to keep the floor clutter-free. You can use the top of the cabinet for displaying Christmas cards, or for placing those all-important festive scents.

Delta shoe cabinet, £135, Dunelm December 2020 85

Feature Hannah Tribe

IT’S A SHOE IN

CARRY ON Save yourself multiple trips to the kitchen with a beautiful serving tray. Not only do they help you carry the load, but the mirrored bottom shows your culinary treats in their best light.

You could also use a selection of trays to help guests identify different types of food, especially if you have a mix of meat, vegetarian and vegan delights.

Mirrored tray, £19.99, H&M Home

BIG CHEESE Central heating and cheese do not make good companions, so save your brie from slumping by using a marble cheeseboard. The marble surface stays cooler than wood or plastic, so cheeses stay fresher for longer. Marble boards are also great for keeping glasses cool – store your tumblers on the board for the ideal temperature for your G&T. Marble cheeseboard, £25, Cox & Cox

SO COOL Keep things chill with this sleek art deco style wine cooler.

The glittering colour scheme makes it perfect for parties, so it’s bound to take pride of place for the whole festive season.

Its neat, compact size is great for summer picnics too.

Barcraft blue and brass finish wine cooler, £26.99, Very

BEAUTY BAR We love a bar cart, and this glitzy offering from Primark hits all the right spots. Perfectly sized to accommodate all your cocktail essentials, it’s still dinky enough for a small room. When the party season is over, it’ll serve as a great portable side table for your living room, hallway or kitchen.

Bar cart, £30, Primark

TOP PICKS Cocktail sticks are an essential item when it comes to serving finger food. This Danishinspired design is deliciously clever and bound to become a talking point.

Hedgehog cocktail stick server, £10, Next 86 yourhomestyle.uk

Style advice

STARRY EYED

STORAGE FIX

Take the Christmas sparkle upstairs too! A few strands of fairy lights in guest bedrooms will help to spread festive joy around the house.

They’ll also double up as reading lights or create a soft mood at bedtime.

Silver wooden garland, £14.99, Lights4fun

Use open shelves to give guests easy access to bathroom items they might need during their stay. The open design means they’ll be able to find things without having to rummage through your cupboards.

RÅGRUND shelving unit, £45, IKEA

SWEET DREAMS When it comes to lighting levels in the bedroom, everyone has a different preference; your guests might prefer a pitch-black room or a soft semi-darkness for the perfect night’s sleep. Let them adapt the amount of light in their room with a blackout blind. You can place it behind your usual curtains to maintain the room’s normal appearance or replace your old window dressing altogether for a sleek look.

Starry Skies blind, from £25.05, Blinds2go

SNUG AS A BUG Another element to consider when making sure that your guests have the best possible night’s sleep is temperature. Layer up plenty of throws and blankets, which they can snuggle up with or kick off if they get too warm.

Brushed cotton bedding, from £29.50, Marks & Spencer

SOAP AND GLORY A fresh bar of soap will make your visitors feel pampered. Bar soap tends to last longer than liquid soap, and you can store it with your towels to give them a gentle scent.

Amyris soap, £5.99, The London Bee Company

YOUR ULTIMATE

GIFT GUIDE Take the chore out of Christmas shopping with our selection of gorgeous gifts for all the family to make present buying a breeze £5

£4.95

Alphabet candle, Debenhams

Lip balm, Neve’s Bees

£4 Festive sprout cat toy collection, Pets at Home

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£4 Monogram make-up pouch, Sainsbury’s

£1.99 Festive socks, British Heart Foundation

love

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UNDER Perfect for pets

£5 Cheeseboard, Wilko

£4 £4 Newstalgia padfolio notepad and clipboard in one, Wilko

Naughty or nice dog bandana, Pets at Home

£5 Cat or dog cracker, John Lewis & Partners

Great stocking filler

£1.43 Toffifee, available in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s

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£3.50 Skull-shaped chilli oil, Tesco

£3.95 Penguin Snowed Under selector slab, Hotel Chocolat

Gift guide £9 Frida hanging planter, Sass & Belle

£10 Elements White Tea and Neroli luxury duo set, Baylis & Harding

£10

Handbag essential

Wooden drawers, George Home

£9.50 Kikkerland monkey tea infuser and drip tray, John Lewis & Partners

£7 3-in-1 sanitiser, HANDiBAC

£6

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Next Adventure money box, Wilko

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£9.95 British Bloom twine in a tin, Annabel James

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UNDER £6.99 Photo snow globe, CEWE

£9.50

Gift yourretrpeetat a festive

£10 Wanderflower Eucalyptus and Verbena hand cream, Wild & Wolf

Reindeer slipper socks, Marks & Spencer

Great foersr garden £10 Geo initial mug, Paperchase

Smash crackle rose gold coffee flask, Sainsbury’s

£8

Treat a teacher

Feature Lara Berry

£8

Festive turkey small pet hideaway, Pets at Home December 2020 89

£20

£16

Our Wonderful World book, Quarto

Snout salve and paw balm dog’s gift box, Neve’s Bees

£20 £19.99

£12.95

Chutneys gift pack, Cheeky Food Co

Fab kfiindds for

Children’s earphones, Planet Buddies

Mini Space Age backpack, Rex London

£20

Personalised timeline print, poster or canvas, Posterhaste

20 love £19.95

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UNDER

Kids activities make and sew suitcase, Rex London

£15 Velvet round jewellery box, Paperchase

£14 Glass storage pot in peach, Oliver Bonas

£11.99 Eden Project bee and bug house, Sourced by Oxfam

£12 Leopard Love plant mister, Sass & Belle

£14 Gin glass gift set, Next

£11.99 Personalised Marmite jar, PrezzyBox

A treat for little ones 90 yourhomestyle.uk

£19.99 Pull along moose, Brio

Gift guide £30

£22

Yellow bee insulated bottle, Ohelo

The Brighton Beard Company Aldington Blues beard care gift set, Amara

£25 Twine basket kit, La Basketry

£25

For fans of a duvet day!

Extra large wood iBed lap desk, Amazon

£24.95 H air balloon wall Hot cclock, Rex London

£30 Personalised leather coin purse, SbriStudio at Etsy

£29.99 Cascade Home Aztec throw, Very.co.uk

£22

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Marble print eye mask, MilleSaisons at Etsy

AND £29.99 Personalised Showtime cushion, WeLoveCushions

UNDER

£25.99 Gold cocktail shaker set, HomeSense

£26 Rosado stemless gin glasses, Oliver Bonas

For vegtaarniaannd vege vers food lo £25 Wild Recipes by Emma Sawko, published by Flammarion

£22 Tully table lamp, BHS

love

£29.95 2 Watering can salt l and pepper set, t Annabel James December 2020 91

£40 Orla Kiely flower print teapot, John Lewis & Partners

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£40

For hom home me lovers

Emile Henry cheese b baker, Amara

£40 Topography leather flask, HORD at Etsy

Unique gifts £31

£35

Porcelain pastel bottles, Not on the High Street

Kip & Co Pink cheetah slippers, Antipodream

£40 Hester gift box containing luxury matches matches, can candle ndle and earrings, Foke

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£35 Gold and glass s mirror jewellery e stand, Oliver Bonass

Treat coffee lovers

AND

UNDER

£39.99 Tassimo by Bosch Happy Pod coffee machine, Argos

£35 Hand-tied bouquet, Interflora

£35 Plant subscription box, Leaf Envy

£38.95 £39.95

£37.50

Luxury watch roll, Annabel James

Winter Edition gin, Rock Rose Gin

£34 Velvet Zhruie Bee embroidery cushion, Oliver Bonas 92 yourhomestyle.uk

GPO Rydell retro radio in pink, GPO and ASOS

£49

Inspire green-fingered friends

Google Nest mini, Google

£48 Valerie swan print pyjama set, Cyberjammies

For him

£45 Paddy money plant, Jazzy copper plant and gift card, Pointless Plants

£46.33 Canvas duffel bag, Amazon Basics

£50 Nogu flower shape rattan mirror, La Redoute

£42.99

£50

DIGITNOW! Three speeds turntable retro record player, Amazon

Moreton plant pot holder, A Place for Everything

For storing plants in style

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UNDER £49.99 Geo throw, Sofology

£50 Perfect Pantry hamper, John Lewis & Partners

£49.99 Gaiam Reversible Mystic Sky yoga mat in Blue, John Lewis & Partners

£45 Luxury gown set: gin and tonic body wash, sloe gin body lotion, mulberry and mistletoe bath soak crystals and luxury dressing gown, Baylis & Harding

For the foodie in your life

£49.50 Layla fabric wall hanging, Oliver Bonas

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DRESSED

to impress

Eat, drink and be merry in style with these affordable table settings rom plates and glassware to accessories and decorations, we’ve scoured the high street and online for the most gorgeous options available this year. So now you can impress your dinner guests with an Insta-worthy table setting!

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Tree felt table runner, £8; tree felt cutlery holder, £3 for four, both Matalan

Forest Dawn dinner plate, £3.50; Forest Dawn side plates, £3 each; both Sainsbury’s Home VINTER 2020 0.5l bottle with stopper, £1.25; VINTER 2020 1l bottle with stopper, £1.75, both IKEA Transform your dining table into a winter wonderland with these gorgeous buys

Planning to go all out with the glitz and glamour this year? You can’t go wrong with this oh-so sparkly range from Dunelm 6ft white lustre-effect tree, £49; Freya dining chairs, £159 per pair; Sparkle tablecloth in Charcoal, from £12; Sparkle and Shine table runner, from £8; silver 16-piece cutlery set, £35; side plate, £3.50; Monaco Champagne flute, £5; pillar candle holders, from £12 each, all Dunelm

Christmas alphabet tumbler, £3.50; snowflake seamless glass, £3.50, both Tesco

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Forest Dawn spot wine glass, £3.50; Forest Dawn spot Prosecco flute, £3.50; Forest Dawn grey blue pasta bowl, £3.50; Forest Dawn grey blue dinner plate, £3.50; assorted leaf wire lights, £8; Forest Dawn animal napkin rings, £6 for two; Winter’s Hibernation snowy trees, £8 for four, Winter’s Hibernation galvanised light-up hanging house, £4; Winter’s Hibernation galvanised light-up tabletop house, £10; Forest Dawn faux crystal single stem, £4, all Sainsbury’s Home. Winter’s Cabin pompom garland, £15; Beni velvet dining chairs in Grey and Blush, £100 per pair; Bistro 16-piece cutlery set, £20, all Argos Home

Style edit Add a touch of charm to the classic white and wood combo with these cute characters Audley 12-piece dinner set, £35; wooden Christmas tree cheeseboard, £16; Audley gin glasses, £16 for two; hedgehog cocktail stick server, £10, all Next

Brush trees napkin rings, £5.50 for four, Cox & Cox

Abstract dinner plate, £3.50; Abstract side plate, £3; Abstract bowl, £3.50, all Matalan

Keep it simple with Dobbies’ understated Enchanted Forest range, which features subtle white crockery teamed with hints of warm wood Wood veneer round coaster, £7.99 for four; MKSA Julie red wine glass, £12.99 for four; frosted star tealight holder, £3.99; wood veneer round place mat, £16.99 for four; white basics rim dinner plate, £2.99; white basics rim side plate, £1.99; Viners Ariel 16-piece cutlery set, £29.99; Menzie small gold plate, £5; 100% recyclable eco crackers, £5.99 for 12, all Dobbies

Star electroplated tumbler, £9; gin glass, hi-ball and coupe, £10 each, all John Lewis & Partners

Santa wine glass, £3, George Home

Feature Lisa Hibberd

These super-cute snowy designs will set the perfect festive scene Day at the Slopes berry runner, £12; side plate, £3; mug, £4.50; nibble bowl, £2.75; serving platter, £10, all Sainsbury’s Home December 2020 95

How to be a savvy SALES SHOPPER

With a little careful planning, you can bag the best bargains and save £££s on everything from big ticket items to towels, bedding and china e’ve all experienced that high when you spot something heavily discounted in the sales, but more often than not, it tends to be a spontaneous purchase. The key to a successful sales season is to take a little time to plan which items for the home you really need – or want – and apply that list to some serious shopping. Here’s how to get the best endof-year deals and save £££s in the process.

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START WITH A PLAN The first thing to do is make a list. Think about items around the home that you’ve been saving up for, putting off as they’re too expensive or anything broken and unrepairable that needs replacing. Go online and check when your preferred stores are advertising their sales and make a note on the calendar. Sign up for newsletters, loyalty schemes and alerts as well as their social media on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook so you’re one of the first to know when the discounts will be applied. Secretsales.com is another handy site to check in with.

Do your homework and consider which kitchen appliance brands you have your eye on. Measure up carefully then check dimensions before you place an order. Indesit has a great range of built-in and freestanding designs 96 yourhomestyle.uk

LOOK FOR BIG TICKET BARGAINS Items for your wish list include large kitchen appliances, small electricals, beds, sofas, carpet and furniture, as well as quality pieces such as towels, bed linen and china. Lindsay Molyneux, Large Appliance Expert at ao.com, is all about the research. ‘Before any large sales period, do your research into the appliances or products you’d like. This will help you see the live price of an item ahead of a sales event and ensure on the day of the sale you’re getting a good deal. Also, look for alternatives in case the product you want isn’t included in the sale to prevent panic buying.’

Sales shopping is going to be a bit different this year, but department stores such as John Lewis will still be offering great sales on all kinds of homewares. Keep an eye out for added value such as price matching, free delivery, discount codes, half price installation or free recycling, which would otherwise all add to the cost.

January sales are the perfect time to consider investment items such as sofas, beds and dining room furniture. Snowdrop button back two and a half seater sofa in Prussian Blue, £1,840, Sofa.com

Expert advice

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS When you buy sale items you still have rights if you change your mind or the item isn’t up to standard but they do differ:

Treat yourself to some fluffy new towels. Brixton hand towel in Saffron, £12 each, Christy

CHOOSE QUALITY BRANDS For smaller goods, you can afford to be less choosy. Sticking to leading brands and quality products will mean that any sale items you buy are a genuine bargain and made to last. Bed linen, for instance, should have a high thread count, pure Egyptian cotton will ensure your towels last and check cookware is oven, dishwasher and microwave safe. Consider timeless pieces too, items you know you’ll love for years to come. Forget fads and fashions for now; successful sale shopping is all about getting your hands on items you would have wanted even if they weren’t discounted.

CONSIDER A NEW LOOK Flooring is something you may not instantly think of as being a sales item but this is a great opportunity to freshen up rooms with a whole new look. ‘As a rule of thumb, it’s worth purchasing the best quality flooring you can afford,’ says David Snazel, Buyer for Hard Flooring at Carpetright. ‘Opting for a cheap, low quality solution can cost more in the long run. Research designs, styles and materials ahead of time. Try to visit a store or order samples to ensure you can confidently purchase online when the sales launch.’

Discounted carpets could save you plenty of money in the sales, especially if you’re buying for multiple rooms. Westex Penultima carpet in Olive Green, £35.99 per sq m, Carpetright

z Retailers must show the original price and it must have been selling at that price for a meaningful period of time. z To return non-faulty goods in-store you will only get an exchange or refund if the seller has a returns policy. Not all stores do, so check before you buy. z Sale items usually have restrictions on them, which you should be told about at point of sale. This tends to be a shorter window for returns than normal. z Anything that turns out to be faulty will be covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, whether you buy it in a sale or not. z If a product is not as described, of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose you have the right to a replacement or repair. If you return it within 30 days you can ask for a full refund. z Many sale items bought online offer additional consumer rights and you can cancel most orders up to 14 days from the day you receive them for a full refund. z Some companies won’t offer the right to cancel so ask first.

There are certain items you’ll want to try before you buy, such as beds, so don’t be afraid to shop around. Rose double bed frame, £745, Button & Sprung

TAKE YOUR TIME Feature Hayley Gilbert

If you’re shopping online, avoid peak internet times and try to browse early morning or late at night. When shopping in-store, give yourself plenty of time as rushing can lead to impulse buying.

Leave the kids at home if you can and keep your strength up with snacks and drinks. And remember the golden rule, never buy anything you don’t really need or genuinely want. If in doubt, walk out!

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‘We opted for a darker palette in the bedroom to create a tranquil space we could escape to after a busy day’

Style idea

Feature and styling Emma Fishman Photos Lizzie Orme

Update a plain headboard with leftover curtain fabric to create an opulent feel

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Bedroom makeover After months of building work on her two-storey extension, Becky got busy designing her brand-new bedroom with a deep blue colour scheme and vibrant floral velvets

I craved a cosy and relaxing space An extension provided Becky Shepherd with enough room to create a brand-new bedroom, which she has decorated with luxe touches and decadent details

My room...

My problem bedroom

A bit about me I’m Becky, 36, and I’m an auditor. I live in a fourbed house in St Albans with my husband, Chris, and our children, Chloe, six, and Alex, four, and our cats, Apple and Mac.

Our old bedroom had peeling woodchip wallpaper on the ceiling and walls, crunchy brown carpet, an entire wall of orange wood wardrobes and crumbling single-glazed windows. The dated décor was an eyesore! The house needed a lot of TLC, but we could see the potential.

How I made it work We just didn’t have enough rooms for our growing family so we decided to build a two-storey extension to include our brandnew bedroom, which meant we could start from scratch. We remodelled our whole house and gave the existing bedrooms to our children and designed a new bedroom for us.

My favourite part

TOTAL

£2,524 Before

I’m so delighted how we’ve managed to revamp our old bed. It was so boring before but now, with a newly upholstered headboard and gorgeous new bedding, it’s the star of the show!

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Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

Make it your own Becky has always lusted after a dressing table but wanted to incorporate a contemporary style to her must-have piece. ‘I loved the chevron inlay detailing in this table and also the brass handles,’ she explains. ‘I paired it with a large round mirror and wall light with brass accents.’ The stand-out feature makes perfect use of the space, with the added mirror bouncing light around the room.

Colour co-ordinate The large window was given a makeover with some soft velvet curtains featuring a tropical print from H&M Home, which ties in perfectly with the rich bluepainted walls. A dark teal velvet blind from Blinds2go has a blackout lining, keeping the early morning sunlight at bay.

‘Choosing luxurious fabrics like velvet was important to create the hotel-chic feel,’ Becky explains. She then picked out the coral, pink and turquoise shades of the fabric with accessories around the room.

Mix up materials ‘Different materials can really enhance a room, and I love the warmth and look of wood,’ says Becky, who chose oak bedside tables with a chevron inlay to store her bedtime reading. Having plenty of storage also means Becky can easily keep her bedroom looking tidy and organised. ‘We ordered this pair of tables from Wayfair as they have such a huge range and they match the dressing table.’

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Plenty of wardrobe space means Becky’s room is always kept neat and tidy. The white Shaker-style doors are finished off with brass handles, which tie in with the other metallic details around the room

Bedroom makeover

Style idea Paint all the walls in a dark shade to create an enveloping feel, making the space feel warm and cosy Recycled scaffold wood is used to create a striking shelf above the bed to display colourful prints, plants and Becky’s favourite accessories. Hanging ceiling pendants are a stylish option for bedside lighting

My experience…

We knew how much work was required when we viewed this house. However, that didn’t put us off and shortly after moving in, we started planning the two-storey extension, which was to include our new bedroom. I knew I wanted a luxurious, hotel-chic feel for the space – somewhere we could really relax in. After doing a bit of research, I decided that a darker colour scheme would fit the bill and create a sumptuous feel. I opted for a deep blue for all the walls and teamed it with a paler carpet to keep it bright.

The next job on the list was dressing the large window to keep out the early morning sunlight. I called in so many fabric samples for the curtains, but the price of making them up, plus the fabric cost, put me off. It was only by pure chance – while I was ordering clothes online at H&M – that I came across some gorgeous velvet curtains. I even ordered an extra pack to cover my old headboard.

Chris and his dad then got busy building a PAX wardrobe from IKEA, which fits snugly at one end of the room. I also loved the idea of having ceiling pendants as bedside lighting, so we ordered a pair of concrete shades from Pooky. For extra storage I also introduced wooden furniture with chevron details. Echoing the curtain fabric, I finished off the room by adding accent colours in coral and turquoise to soften the look. It’s just so tranquil in here now. It’s nicer than any hotel room I’ve stayed in.

My shopping list

‘It’s nicer than any hotel room I’ve stayed in’

Walls in Hicks Blue absolute matt emulsion, £47 for 2.5L, Little Greene.

For similar curtains, try the Layne velvet curtain, from £78, Anthropologie. For a similar mirror, try the Katun brass mirror, £25; for a similar cushion, try the Dutch Glam fringed cushion, £14, both Argos.

Keltner bedside table, £164.99, Wayfair. Annie double duvet cover set, £49, MADE.com. Blossom Pink low stool, £59, Cult Furniture.

Soprano pendant lights, £63 each, Pooky. Plush velvet Roman blind in Teal, from £28.95, Blinds2go. Navy velour cushion, £10, Wilko. V&A Everlasting Bloom throw, £91, Oldrids & Downtown. MOALIE woollen throw, £45; FLÅDIS seagrass basket, £13; PEPPARKORN vase, £6; FEJKA artificial eucalyptus plant, £7; FEJKA artificial string of hearts plant, £9; PAX TYSSEDAL wardrobe, £605, all IKEA. Mantel Echo clock, £30, Newgate. Elaina brass wall light, £19.90, Lights.co.uk. Green glass candle pot, £7.99; pink glass candle jar, £3.99; geo small frame, £5.99, HomeSense. Mikado poster, £12.95; Abstract Sunset poster, £8.95, both Desenio. Lynx velvet bolster cushion, £60, Emma J Shipley.

Brass wardrobe door handles, £9.96 each, The Handle Studio.

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Gothic Bouquets floral wallpaper, from £34 per sq m, Wallsauce

£8.95 Desenio You can never go wrong with a William Morris-inspired print

£269 Cuckooland With its moody colours, fringed trim and dramatic floral pattern, this Bold Monkey rug brings glam and cosy vibes to floors

Get the look

£8 Matalan Keep precious trinkets tidied away in this glass jewellery box

£5 Sainsbury’s Home A scented candle is a must for any winter interior scheme

WINTER FLORALS Let your bedroom bloom into a sumptuous space, like Becky’s, with our pick of this season’s botanical-inspired buys

Feature Catriona Burns

£26.50 Abode Living Hung on the back of a door, this Marimekko tote bag makes a decorative storage option

£205 Homebody Decor This Avanti Mayfair bedside cabinet will become an antique of the future

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£146 Amara Get ready for the day – or night – ahead on this Voyage Maison fringe footstool

Shop the look

ST YLE ADVICE Pick your palette

For an unmistakably winter look, balance out big, blowsy floral patterns with dark colours.

Floral prints with dark greens, navy, purple and mustard shades running through them will create that cocooning, cosy effect we all crave at this time of year.

£29.99 Claire Louise Creative Studio

Make it look and feel good

The best thing about accessories that tie in with the scheme?

You don’t have to tidy them away

For a sumptuous feel, pair floral patterns with luxurious fabrics – velvet cushions, woollen throws or sheepskin rugs will complement the decadent design of the flowers. Adding metallic accents through accessories helps to lift the scheme and make it pop.

Go bold

Winter’s on its way, so if you want to create this style now, go for a few key pieces that will make for a strong look straight away.

A floral duvet cover, headboard or rug will create a quick and easy statement that you can gradually add to.

£16 Sara Miller London Working from home?

Treat yourself to this Swallows stationery box

£6 Primark Swap fresh flowers for dried stems for moody romance

£30 Light Owl It’s what’s on the inside that counts with this lampshade

‘Avoid the style looking delicate by choosing floral designs in a darker colour palette’

£6 George Home We might need more than one of these fruit and floral cushions

Floral bedding set, from £15; Pink and Teal velvet cushion covers, £2.50 each; pink throw, £5, all Primark

From £16 Argos We’d be snug as a bug under this Dutch Glam bed set

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How to box in pipework Conceal ugly pipes with this simple DIY hack

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Measure the distance between the back of each pipe and the wall, taking measurements throughout the length of the pipework. Note the largest measurement – adding a few extra mm on top – and cut a batten equal to or larger in size.

Next, measure the length of the area you want to box in. It should run the whole way along the pipework in one continuous section. Cut battens to the size of the measurements taken.

You will need two identical lengths of battens as these will be fitted either side of the pipework. Secure the battens to either side of the pipework, fitting your battens as close to the pipework as possible.

Now you need to fix a board on top. Measure the space between the two battens at either side of the pipes and cut the board to size. Secure the board in place, fixing along the length of the battens.

Apply filler over the top of the screw heads or nails, and once dry, sand back smooth. For a seamless look, paint or tile your box so that it blends in with the rest of your bathroom scheme.

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Creative colour combos Feature and styling Laurie Davidson Photos Simon Whitmore

Be brave and mix up your paint and tile selections with these on-trend numbers Zesty addition Fes vinyl flooring, £59 per sq m, Atrafloor

Orange 02 emulsion, £38 for 2.5l, Lick Home

Deliciously dark

Pelt modern emulsion, £49.95 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball Cuban White Star tiles, £49.49 per box of 20, CTD Tiles 104 yourhomestyle.uk

An earthy terracotta colour on the walls works perfectly against the blush metro tiles, which have been laid in a vertical formation rather than the usual brickstyle pattern. A rimless loo from B&Q was chosen for its hygienic design, while the sink from BC Designs, mirror from Drench and taps from Crosswater all add a modern, sleek feel to the room. ‘I’m so pleased with how the bathroom has turned out,’ says Riannon. ‘I think the use of colours together makes a change to the standard white tiles and grey grout’

Bathroom makeover

It’s small but full of colour Undaunted by the size of her compact bathroom, Riannon Selcuk used blush pink metro tiles and modern black fittings to turn a dated disaster into a fun, contemporary scheme

My room...

My problem bathroom

A bit about me I’m Riannon Selcuk and I work as a project lead at an interior design agency in London. I bought my one-bedroom 1960s flat in Crystal Palace, south London, in July 2019, and moved in November the same year.

The room was rundown and dated, with old black and white tiles that looked dirty no matter how much I cleaned them – plus, the shower didn’t work, and the basin was coming off of the wall! There was mould from condensation too, as there was no air going into the bathroom.

I couldn’t wait to rip it all out and start from scratch.

How I made it work First of all, I had all the pipework boxed in to create a more streamlined look. I then teamed pale blush tiles with an earthy terracotta paint on the walls, and installed completely new modern black fittings, along with a statement basin and showstopping ceiling light.

My favourite part

TOTAL

£3,778

Before

Definitely the colour palette – pale pink mixed with earthy terracotta and matt black just gives the room a strong feminine vibe, which I love.

The basin comes a close second though, with its curvy shape and gunmetal colour.

December 2020 105

Style idea

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

Plan everything out beforehand Measure and mark furniture and fittings on the floor or walls so you can get a feel for how the space will eventually look.

‘Small bathrooms are difficult because they do limit what you can get in, like the size of the bathtub,’ says Riannon.

‘I found mine at Bathroom Takeaway – they do a smaller design for more compact rooms.’

Add alcoves for storage In a small bathroom, keep the walls as clear as possible – the less you have fixed to the wall, the more spacious your room will feel.

‘I had alcoves built in at the end of the bath as storage for some toiletries,’ says Riannon, ‘but you could have them in your shower or under a sink unit too.’

Experiment with colour and pattern The beauty of having a bathroom with a small footprint is that if you change your mind in the future, it can easily be updated and won’t be as costly – or as big a job – as if you have a larger room.

‘I went for quite a bold floor tile from Fired Earth,’ says Riannon. ‘As it’s a small space the design isn’t too overpowering.’

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A folding or sliding door works well in a small space and has been painted a slightly lighter shade to the walls

Bathroom makeover Riannon chose Tuscan Red emulsion by Little Greene for the walls and Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth for the folding door, to create a slight contrast. The heated towel rail from Drench was chosen for its flat design and to tie in with the black fittings elsewhere

This Estee light by Mitzi at Hudson Valley Lighting adds a luxe feel

Wall-mounted taps from Crosswater keep the scheme sleek and contemporar y

My experience…

I had been renting in London for a while when I started looking for my first flat to buy. I was so excited when I saw this place as it’s in a great location and most of the rooms are spacious and light. The flat had some wear and tear, but mainly it was out-of-date décor and didn’t need much work – except for the bathroom, that is, which was very rundown, dark and small. I worked out from a previous property listing that the bathroom was installed 10 years ago, so it was definitely time for it to go and a new one installed.

Because I work in the interior design sector on high-end projects, I often get to see a lot of inspiring ideas and I wanted to take some of these away and use them on my own home, although on a cheaper price scale to fit in with my budget. While I was looking for tiles, I fell in love with a blush pink metro design from Topps Tiles. I wanted to keep the scheme looking edgy and modern, rather than too ‘pretty’, so I decided to include black bathroom fittings, to sit alongside the tiles. Black fittings are usually quite pricey, but I was amazed at the choice out there. I bought my taps from Crosswater and although they weren’t cheap, they really make the scheme and are great quality – the finishing touches really make this bathroom. I also bought a really cool black heated towel rail and co-ordinating mirror from Drench to bring the look together.

I hired a contractor to fit the new bathroom. When the renovation work was taking place, it was raining heavily and because the flat is on the top floor with a flat ceiling above, the condensation that built up at night-time kept causing the ceiling to fall down. It was installed about three times and, in the end, they had to do it as one of the last things, so it put the sequence of works out slightly.

I decided against having downlights installed in the ceiling and went for a luxelooking light fitting instead, which is one of my favourite parts of the room. I love how contemporary the bathroom looks now. The terracotta walls and pink tiles balance out against the strong fittings and patterned floor perfectly.

My shopping list Kurv basin in Gunmetal, £454, BC Designs. Marvel basin two-hole tap set, £619; Marvel three-hole basin set, £775, both Crosswater. Single-ended bath, £99.97; gold bath waste, £9.97, both Bathroom Takeaway. Orchard Wye black thermostatic bar valve shower system, £179, Victoria Plum. GoodHome Cavally close-coupled rimless toilet, £120; Cusko floating shelves in Black, £7.50 each, both B&Q. Metro blush wall tiles, £30 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Mapei Ultracolor Plus Terra Siena grout, £13.99 per 5kg, Tile Giant. Sorrento Correale floor tiles, £99.80 per sq m, Fired Earth.

Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting Group Estee aged brass ceiling light, £377, Decolight. Phoenix Ascot electric designer heated towel rail, £199.99; Vellamo smoked black glass bath screen, £129.99; Vellamo matt black mirror and shelf, £216, all Drench. Walls in Tuscan Red intelligent matt emulsion, £51.50 for 2.5l, Little Greene. Door in Red Earth modern emulsion, £49.95 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball.

Waffled bath towel in Khaki Green, £12.99, H&M Home.

December 2020 107

Misty Rose Mandala shower curtain, £6; Misty Rose pompom bath mat, £9; Misty Rose textured tassel tile cotton towel, from £4, all George Home

£59 Antipodream The cheeky message on this Sage + Clare bath mat will make you smile every time you get out of the tub

£35 MADE.com Baskets with handles are practical when laundry day calls

£4.30 &keep

Get the look

Swap plastic toothbrushes for bamboo designs

PRETTY IN PINK Whether you want a top-to-toe look, like Riannon, or a more subtle style, you’ll love our pick of accessories in the colour of the moment £35 Oliver Bonas

Feature Catriona Burns

Tickle houseplants pink with this rose-coloured iron planter and stand

£149.95 Victorian Plumbing Add definition to the Arezzo countertop basin with a matt black tap

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£14 MADE.com Practical and compact, the Joss pedal bin is also the prettiest around

Shop the look

£65 Someday Designs Hang one of these Vitamin x pendants at either side of the bathroom mirror

£2.25 Tesco

£20 Rocket Jack

Break it up If you’ve gone for all-over pink, break the look up with different-coloured elements.

Matt black fixtures and fittings, accessories with gold accents and a collection of leafy green houseplants will help lift the scheme, while wall-to-wall pink tiles can be defined with a grout in a slightly darker colour.

Bring back Girl Power with this colour-popping print

Think long-term

£6 Archivist Gallery

Tiling walls and floors is a popular way to tap into this trend, but if you’re unsure about keeping the look long-term, go for paint instead. Paint is easier and cheaper to change when, and if, you want to swap the style out for a different trend.

In addition to walls, consider painting bathroom furniture to tie in with the look.

Keep a posh box of matches handy for candlelit baths Hand wash that smells like pink gin fizz?

Yes please!

Start small

£19.50 Chilli Winter

If you’re not feeling brave enough to go head-to-toe pink, there are plenty of ways to just dip a toe in to the style. Hanging a shower curtain, tiling a splashback or painting a feature wall in a pink-coloured shade are subtle ways of introducing the look while still making an impact.

Bliss out at bathtime with orange, mandarin and bergamot aromas

‘Metallics, wood and lots of greenery give soft pink schemes a grown-up edge’

£3 George Home Glam up the scheme with this pink and gold glazed tumbler

Vernice Bon Bon Pink tiles, £34.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

£19.99 Dotmaison Turn a trinket tray into a cute soap dish

From £16 John Lewis & Partners Accessorise with Orla Kiely’s Linear Stem towel set

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Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos David Giles

The dark walls and copper accessories add glamour to the functional kitchen space, while the bespoke open shelves allow the deep blue paint to shine through. Greer found this second-hand range cooker for a quarter of the price of new. It was 18 months old but in immaculate condition

‘I didn’t want to get it wrong, so I taped out the furniture before we installed it, though it was all a bit of trial and error in the end’ 110 yourhomestyle.uk

Style idea Copper and rose gold accessories add warmth to a monochrome colour palette

Kitchen makeover

We knew one room was better than three By knocking down walls to create one large space, Greer Kelly created a dramatic, hardworking kitchen that’s perfect for her blended family

My room...

My problem kitchen

A bit about me I’m Greer and I live with my husband, Tim, my daughter, Poppy, and son, Ted, and Tim’s son, Carter. We work for Tim’s garden company, TJK Outdoor Living.

The original downstairs actually had too many rooms, including a formal living room, a kitchen and a separate dining room.

We’re a big blended family, which includes my stepson, who is autistic, and we need to keep an eye on him, so we wanted to create a space large and versatile enough to suit the entire family’s needs.

How I made it work We removed the internal walls in the kitchen and dining room, turning it into one big space.

We then upgraded the kitchen cabinets, appliances and flooring and redecorated in a contemporary style.

My favourite part

TOTAL

£5,593 Before

As part of the planning, the breakfast bar was always a nonnegotiable, since I knew this was going to be the main hub of the room, and at different times of the day everyone hangs out here.

December 2020 111

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

Simple styling Greer has combined all the key elements of industrial design to achieve a pared-back, loft living look, choosing an open-plan space and brick architectural features teamed with wood and metal accessories. ‘The brick column actually serves no purpose other than as a space separator, but I like the industrial feel it adds to the room,’ says Greer. The wire noticeboard and large Victorian-style radiator are the perfect nod to the simple, functional features often seen in factories and warehouses, where this look stems from.

Choose the U-shape This horseshoe shape is one of the most practical designs in kitchen planning and conforms to the ‘working triangle’ rule.

‘I wanted to install a wider peninsular island to act as a breakfast bar and help define the space between the kitchen and dining area,’ reveals Greer. ‘It also allows for lots of hidden storage below and provides a place for people to sit and chat while food is being made.’

Keep it in reach ‘I really liked the stretch of empty blue wall when it was painted, so I decided to have shelves made instead of wall units, finishing them with a vintage stain and disguised fixings,’ explains Greer.

Open shelving is a more modern – and often cheaper – option than bulky cabinets, which can make a room feel smaller. It’s also easier to grab items rather than having to open doors and search cupboards. However, it’s a good idea to combine them with cabinets and only store your best-looking kitchenware and glasses on them.

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Style idea Plain white blinds are a classic window dressing; they let light in but still provide privacy

Kitchen makeover The large farmhouse-look dining table adds a rustic touch to the room, which in turn adds some warmth to the simply styled space.

The six matching Eames-style chairs add a designer touch

Greer has piled up inky blue cushions and throws to cosy up the room and complement the dark blue in the kitchen area

My experience…

I have two children from a previous marriage and Tim’s son, Carter, is severely autistic. We like to encourage his independence, but he requires constant supervision.

So, we decided to reconfigure the downstairs space by removing the internal walls to create a large open-plan kitchen and living space.

I wanted an industrial feel in here and fell in love with some deep blue units, but they were £16,000 and I knew if I spent that much costs would start to spiral. So, I tried the blue on the walls instead and then found some grey gloss cabinets in Howdens. I was a bit unsure as grey feels overused, but I got a sample unit and loved the effect against the blue.

We considered putting units up, but I liked the empty stretch of wall so chose open shelves instead. We kept the original kitchen design as moving the plumbing seemed an unnecessary expense. I taped the position of everything out on the floor and mocked up the length of the breakfast bar to check the proportions before the installation began. We then did all the manual work ourselves. We have a busy household so I wanted a space where everyone could relax, and I still come down every morning and know we’ve achieved that.

My shopping list

‘Nothing in here is really expensive but with a bit of research I managed to create a bespoke-looking space on a small budget’

Clerkenwell Gloss Grey units, £2,700; Lamona Grey granite composite single bowl sink and Lamona Chrome Enza Monobloc tap, £333, all Howdens. Boston Concrete laminate worktops, £760, Egger. Spaces Hamble Indoor Vanilla porcelain floor tiles, £51.94 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Baumatic Black cooker hood, £120, DR Electrical.

For similar cooker, try the Belling Farmhouse dual fuel range cooker in Black, £929, Stoves Are Us. For similar Eames-style chairs, try the Brich Scand chair, £24.74, Sklum. Sophia three-seater sofa, £999; Sophia Cuddler chair, £699, both DFS. For similar dining table try the traditional waxed farmhouse table, from £499, Country Life Furniture. For similar bar stools, try the solid wood kitchen stools, £30 for a set of two, Argos. FABRIKÖR glass-door cabinet, £129, IKEA. For similar radiator, try the Keswick cast-iron-style two-column radiator, £189.95, Victorian Plumbing. Eglo Tarbes copper-coloured breakfast bar cage light, £24.48, Dusk Lighting. Aurelia copper wall clock, £29, MADE.com. Mesh memo board, £30, Block Design.

December 2020 113

Brompton utility basket, £26, Garden Trading

£8 Sainsbury’s Home Bring a bit of sparkle to the kitchen table with this Nordic light-up star

£38 Argos This 12-piece tableware set has all that’s needed to take you from breakfast to dinner

Get the look

£145 Cuckooland Office parties might be cancelled but we’re getting ready for a virtual shindig with this Rodando drinks trolley

LOFT LIVING Bring a slice of big city life to your kitchen space, like Greer, with these industrial-style accessories £14 Very

Feature Catriona Burns

Display your five a day in a wire fruit basket

£69.99 HomeSense This magazine rack doubles up as a coffee table

114 yourhomestyle.uk

£49 MADE.com Style up utility spaces with this Hakkan polyrattan laundry basket

Shop the look

£49 Lime Lace

ST YLE ADVICE

Light up a kitchen island with a few of these Orlando Balloon cage pendants

Embrace original fittings Raw architectural elements – like exposed brick and wooden flooring – are synonymous with New York-style lofts and will instantly create that industrial vibe.

If you’re lucky enough to have brick walls in place, leave them as they are. Alternatively, you could reveal existing brickwork hidden behind a drywall or imitate the look with faux brick wallpaper – there are lots of realistic-looking options that seem just like the real thing.

£114.99 My Furniture Short on space? This compact Felix café table is a tidy find

Go minimal For a calm, pared-back aesthetic, don’t overcrowd the space with too much stuff!

Keep furniture to the minimum of what you need – such as Greer’s trio of stools at the kitchen island and her simple dining table and chairs – and choose accessories that are clean and functional. Fruit bowls, storage canisters and magazine racks found in Greer’s kitchen all bring a practical element to her space, as well as being stylish.

‘With its pared-back aesthetic, this modern industrial trend is perfect for small living spaces’

Work with what you’ve got

£22 Dibor

Upcycle features in your kitchen to give it an industrial edge. Paint units – and even your radiator, like Greer – in a dark colour; revamp doors with rustic-looking metal handles and keep kitchenware on exposed storage such as open shelving, reclaimed crates and wire racks, for a trendy warehouse vibe.

Get some windowsill herbs on the go with a trio of plant pots

£8 Wilko

£15 House of Flora

Create an urban vibe with minimalist designs, like this lovely dark wood clock

No room in the cupboards?

Store groceries in a charming crate instead

£50 Cox & Cox Finish this metal tree with your fave decorations

£250 Mink Interiors Velvet terracotta seat covers give this wire bar stool a 70s feel

Distressed metal sign, £75, Cox & Cox December 2020 115

EASY LIVING All the latest products to make home life less complicated KitchenAid’s new cordless range includes a a hand blender, £129; chopper, £129 and hand mixer, £149

CHOP, CHOP If the thought of prepping mounds of veg fills you with dread this festive season, get your hands on this great little chopper from OXO. It comes with an easy-pour opening, so you can quickly chop your vegetables, then pour them out without having to take off the lid. Its stainless-steel grid keeps vegetables in place, while the lid provides the leverage for a clean, safe cut. Your meal prep will be done in no time, freeing you up to spend more time with your loved ones.

Available for £21.99 from johnlewis.com OXO Good Grips Easy Pour Veg Chopper, £21.99, John Lewis

Blend, chop, mix, repeat

If your windows often steam up with condensation, or you’re looking for a quick and efficient way to clean streaky or dirty windowpanes or shower glass, it’s well worth investing in the wireless Vileda Windomatic Power vacuum. Within seconds, the two-in-one cleaner and vacuum will suck up streaks, stains and water droplets. The water tank can be easily detached and emptied and is dishwasher safe too. With just one charge, the window vacuum can clean a staggering 120 windows, and its neat size and ergonomic handle mean it’s comfortable and light to carry, so no elbow grease here! It costs £59.99 from vileda.co.uk Windomatic Power vacuum, £59.99, Vileda 116 yourhomestyle.uk

SCENT SATIONAL Breathe new life into your drawers and cupboards with Vintage & Bespoke’s luxury scented sachets. Each sachet, available in either a floral Tea Rose or woody Warm Oudh fragrance, will fill your drawers and cupboards with a subtle yet luxurious scent and banish any unwanted musty smells. The sachets contain 100% natural, biodegradable grain husks, scented with Vintage & Bespoke’s carefully selected fragrances. Each one is tied with a silk hanging ribbon, dyed with dried petals and leaves – they’re so pretty it’s a shame they have to live in a cupboard!

One sachet costs £11.95 at vintageandbespoke.co.uk

Luxury scented sachets, £11.95 each, Vintage & Bespoke

Feature Katie Dutton

A clean sweep

Don’t get in a twist in the kitchen this Christmas – this brand new range from KitchenAid makes cooking and baking hassle-free thanks to its innovative cordless design. No wires mean no limits, and with a quick charge (just 20 minutes) the appliances will run with the same performance and efficiency as the corded versions. The line includes a hand blender and a five-cup chopper, both £129, and a seven-speed hand mixer, £149. Available in Empire Red or Black Matte, they’re all compact and easy to store away.

Available on 16th November from kitchenaid.co.uk

Tasty recipes

x i f k c Qui

cooking

In need of inspiration? Turn over for easy midweek meals and fabulous ideas for a Christmas feast

p123 Festive Pavlova

p121 Tasty starters

No-fuss meals and easy recipes to try this month

p118 Delicious dinners December 2020 117

Super speedy suppers Break free from the kitchen and reclaim your evenings with our easy

Monday

Tue Tuesday

Wednesday

Harii Harissa lamb burgers with feta burg a Prep and an cook time 20 MINS Serves 2 Ingredients Ingredii ł 11 small red r onion, peeled and halved alved ł 250g 250g lean lea minced lamb ł 1 tbsp p hari harissa issa paste paste ł 110g 11 feta, crumbled ł 3 tbsp finely chopped mint, m plus extra to serve ł Salt Salt and black pepper pepp ł cucumber, diced d ł 3 3 tbsp Greek yogurt yogu ł A few leaves Little e Gem lettuce lettuce ł 2 2 baps, halved and toasted ted

Method

1

Cut a few slices of onion and reserve rve for serving, tthen finely chop the rest. Tip the lamb iinto nto a bowl and a add the chopped onion, on, harissa, hariissa, feta, 2 tbsp mint, m a pinch of salt and plenty enty of black pepper. Mix together t well.

Divide Di ivide iin n half and roll each portion n into into a ball, then flatten flat into a burger patty. Heat at a lightly oiled griddle pan or frying pan and cook the he burgers for 5-7 5 minutes on each side until cooked through. throu Meanwhile, make tzatziki in a small bowl: mix Meanwh the cucumber cuc with the Greek yogurt and remaining mint. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, s place some lettuce on the bottom half of each bap, top with a little torn mint, the patty, then some tzatziki, the reserved sliced onion and the top p of the bap. p

2

Caribbean prawn and mango soup Prep and cook ti time ime 25 MINS S Serves 2 Ingredients ł 2 tsp vegetable oil ł 4 spring onions, on ns, trimmed and chopped ł 15g root ginger, peeled and finely chopped ł 400g g can chopped tomatoes ł 225ml vegetable etable stock ł 1 tsp jerk seasoning ł 150ml 50ml mango juice ł Half 250g microwave ave pack

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Cook’s tip: tiip: If you prefer, you can grill griill the burgers for 10-12 minutes on each side. siide.

Nasii goreng Prep and cook ti time ime 15 MINS Serves 2 Ingredients I dientts ł 4 tsp vegetable oil ł 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced ł 5cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated or thinly sliced ł -1 Thai chilli, deseeded and finely sliced ł 2 tsp tamarind paste ł 250g microwave pack ready-cooked brown basmati rice ł 50g fine green beans, trimmed and cut into short lengths ł 15g fresh co coriander, stalks finely chopped, leaves roughly ch chopped h ł 1 tbsp soy sauce ł Black Black pepper pep ł 2 eggs ł 4 tbsp readymade crispy fried onions ł lime, cut into 2 wedges (optional) (o

Method

ready-cooked basmati and wild rice ice ł 110g cooked peeled prawns ł 75g 75g fresh prepared mango, finely chopped

1

Method

2

Heat the oil in a saucepan and gently ently fry the spring onions and ginger for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomatoes, stock ock and jerk seasoning. Bring to the boil and simmer mer gently for 5 minutes.

Stir in the mango juice and rice and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Stir in thee prawns and heat through, stirring, for 2-3 minutes nutes until untiil piping hot.

Ladle into warmed bowls and sprinkle riinkle with chopped mango.

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3

Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a wok or large frying pan, add the garlic, ginger, chilli and tamarind and fry for 2 minutes. m Cook the rice in the mi microwave. icrowave.

Add the b beans and coriander stalks to the wok and stir-fry for 1 minute. Carefully stir in the hot rice and an soy sauce. Season to taste with black pepper. Remove from the heat and add most of the coriander co leaves.

Heat the rest of the oil in a frying pan over a high heat he until very hot. Add the eggs and fry for a few minutes m until set, with frilly edges.

Di Divide ivide the rice riice between two warmed bowls. Placee an egg on top and garnish with the remaining coriander leav leaves and some crispy fried onions. lime wedges, if you like.

Serve with lim

Cook’s tip: Replace the prawns with diced cooked chicken, beef, pork or tofu if preferred.

Jerk seasoning is a spicy mix of herbs,, allspice and chilli. It can also be used to season chicken, icken, pork, fish or vegetables. For something milder, der, replace with a mild Indian curry powder.

fried onions are sold in 100g Cook’s tips: tiips:: Crispy C tubs; they are useful to have handy to add a crunch to all sorts of dishes. savoury crunc white rice or a flavoured rice if you Use plain whi prefer. You can also cook the rice from scratch, take 20-25 minutes. which will tak

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118 yourhomestyle.uk

Food planning

to whip up this week food plan; these healthy recipes are simple to cook and great to eat

Friday

H Honeyed halloumi mii with golden couscous w scous

Olive oil ł V Vegetable oil ł Vegetable stock ł Red wine wiin vinegar ł Soy sauce ł Salt ł Black pepper pepp ł Ground turmeric ł Ground cumin cumi in ł Ground Gro cinnamon ł Ground ginger ł Garlic Garliic ł Eggs Eg ł Couscous ł Can chopped tom tomatoes ł Can chickpeas

Prep and cook time 30 MINS P Serves S 2 Ingredients In ł 1 red onion, peeled and sliced ł 22 tbsp lemon le juice ł 2 tbsp olive oil ł 100g 00g couscous co ł 200ml boiling water ł 400g 400g can ca cooked chickpeas, drained ł 1 1 tsp g ground turmeric ł 1 tsp ground cumin cumiin ł Salt and black pepper ł 225g halloumi, alloumi, sl sliced ł 2 tsp clear honey ł 2 tbsp p chopped p parsley ł 2 tbsp chopped mint

Shopping Shop p list

Method M

1

Toss the onion in 1 tbsp of the lemon mon juice. juice.

Heat half of the oil in a large frying g pan and gently cook the onion, covered, for 15 minutes, g sstirring occasionally, until softened butt not browned.

Meanwhile, put the couscous in a heatproof bowl and pour over the boiling water. er. Cover and leave to soak for 10 minutes until the water iiss absorbed. Then fork up the grains and stir in the chickpeas, spices and plenty of salt and pepper.

When the onion is cooked, stir in the couscous. Cover and heat through over a very low heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes.

Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a medium to high heat and cook the halloumi on each side for 2-3 minutes until golden. Drain on kitchen paper.

To serve, mix the honey with the remaining lemon juice. Stir the herbs into the couscous and an nd pile into in nto warmed warm med serving bowls. Top with with h the halloumii and drizzle with honey and lemon.

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Cook’s tip: For a gluten-free version, replace the couscous wi with ith cooked whi white ite or brown ririce. ice.

Sto cupboard Store essentials e

Spanish chi chicken icken Prep and cook ti time ime 20 MINS Serves 2 IIngredients di ł 50g membrillo (quince paste) ł 2 tbsp apple juice ł 3 tbsp olive oil ł Pinch of ground cinnamon ł tsp ground ginger ł Salt and black pepper ł 350g pack chicken mini breast fillets ł 4 tomatoes, cut into wedges ł Handful of chives, parsley or basil, torn or chopped ł 1 tsp red wine vinegar ł 250g microwave pack cooked rice, quinoa and vegetables to serve (optional)

Method Met

1

Soften the membrillo in a large bowl with the apple jjuice, u 1 tbsp of olive oil and the spices, salt and pepper. pepp Stir in the chicken pieces and leave to mari inate for fo 10 minutes. marinate Place the tomato wedges on a plate and scatter w with torn or chopped herbs, vinegar and 1 tbsp of olive oil.

Heat a large lar frying pan over a medium heat, add the rremaining olive oil, then put in the pi pieces ieces of chi chicken ic in one layer and fry for about 3 minutes on each side until caramelised and cooked throu through.

Serve on a bed of rice and quinoa and mixed vegetables with the tomato salad. vegetable

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Cook’s tips: tiips:: If you have time, or want to prepare in advance, you can leave the chicken to marinate for up to 4 hours in the fridge. This is also delicious served in hot rolls or with crusty bread and green salad. Membrillo Membr (quince paste) can be found on counter in the supermarket (often sold the cheese co packs). It’s great to accompany cheese or iin n 120g packs for adding addiing to sauces to serve with meat. You could flavoured rice or quinoa of your choosing use any flavou to serve with the chicken.

Tom Tomatoes and cucumber Little Li ittle Gem lettuce Green beans Gree Red onion and spring onions Root ginger and Thai chilli Lime Li ime and a lemon Fresh prepared mango Fresh mint and coriander Fres Fresh Fres s parsley, chives and basil Greek yogurt Gr Feta and halloumi Chicken mini breast fillets Lean minced lamb Cooked peeled prawns Clear honey Harissa paste and tamarind paste Quince paste (membrillo) Jerk seasoning Ready-made crispy fried onions Apple juice and mango juice Microwave packs of cooked basmati and wild rice Fresh baps/rolls These recipes are taken from The Quick After-Work Cookbook, £8.25, published by Dairy Diary. It’s packed with 80 easy-to-follow triple-tested recipes for delicious, nutritious meals that can be on the table in half an hour or less.

Want more inspiration?

For more delicious recipes, head on over to the HomeStyle website! yourhomestyle.uk

December 2020 119

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath Recipes and photos The Quick After-Work Cookbook, £8.25, www.dairydiary.co.uk

Thursday T

A feast for

ALL THE FAMILY Give your Christmas dinner a twist with these delicious dishes everyone can enjoy

Main Christmas turkey with cranberry, chestnut and sage stuffing Prep time 20 MINS Cook time 3HRS 30 MINS Serves 12 Ingredients ¯ 5kg free-range turkey ¯ 1 echalion shallot, halved ¯ 2 bay leaves ¯ 4 celery sticks, halved For the stuffing: ¯ 50g softened butter ¯ 3-4 echalion shallots (about 200g), finely chopped ¯ 75g dried cranberries, roughly chopped ¯ 24 sage leaves, 12 finely chopped and 12 whole ¯ 50g ready-cooked chestnuts, roughly chopped ¯ 350g pack Tesco Finest pork sausagemeat ¯ 75g gluten-free breadcrumbs ¯ 1 orange, finely zested ¯ whole nutmeg, to grate ¯ 110g pack sliced Tesco Finest smoked pancetta For the gravy: ¯ 125ml dry sherry ¯ 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly ¯ gluten-free chicken stock cubes (to make 800ml stock) ¯ 1 bay leaf ¯ squeeze of lemon juice ¯ 3 tbsp cornflour, mixed with 3 tbsp cold water

Method

1

Remove the turkey from the fridge 1 hour before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature. If your turkey has any giblets inside, remove and discard or use to make stock. Pat the skin dry with kitchen paper.

Place the halved shallot and 1 bay leaf inside the main cavity, then tie the turkey legs together with wet kitchen string.

Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Melt 25g butter in a large frying pan, add the shallots and cook

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120 yourhomestyle.uk

over a low heat for 10 minutes, then tip into a bowl and leave to cool. Add the cranberries, sage, chestnuts, sausagemeat, breadcrumbs, half of the orange zest and a generous grating of nutmeg.

Season and mix well to combine.

When you’re ready to stuff the turkey, place it on a large clean board and preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4. Add the remaining orange zest and another grating of nutmeg to the remaining butter in a bowl and mix well. Using your fingers, gently ease the skin away from the turkey breast, being careful not to tear it. Carefully spread the softened butter mixture under the skin and over the breast to thinly cover it.

Place 300g of the stuffing mixture inside the neck cavity, then turn the turkey over so that it’s breast-side down, pull the neck skin flap down over the stuffing to encase it and secure with cocktail sticks or skewers.

Weigh the stuffed turkey to calculate the cooking time based on 20 mins per kg, plus 105 mins. A stuffed 5kg bird should weigh about 5.3kg so should take around 3 hours in the oven.

Arrange the celery in the base of a large roasting tin to make a trivet for the bird to sit on and add the remaining bay leaf. Place the turkey on top of the celery trivet. Loosely cover with lightly buttered foil. Cook in the oven for the calculated time, basting with the juices after the first hour and thereafter, every 45 minutes. Remove the foil for the final 40-45 minutes to allow the skin to turn golden and crisp – do keep an eye on it so it doesn’t darken too much.

Meanwhile, shape the remaining stuffing into 12 equal balls, wrapping each in a slice of pancetta and tucking in a sage leaf. Cover and chill until ready to cook.

To check whether the turkey is cooked through, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest parts of the leg and breast, avoiding the bone. If it reads 75°C or above, it’s cooked.

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Alternatively, insert a metal skewer in the same way and check the juices run clear. If they’re pink or the temperature is below 75°C, roast for 15 minutes more, then retest. Repeat until cooked.

Transfer the bird to a carving board or warmed serving platter, cover loosely with large sheets of foil and clean tea towels. Rest for at least 30 minutes (or up to 1 hours). While the turkey rests, cook the stuffing balls for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

To make the gravy, scoop out the celery and transfer to a medium pan and set aside. Tip the meat juices from the roasting tin into a large jug, allow to settle, then skim off and discard any excess fat. You should have about 400ml of meat juices; don’t worry if you have less, you can just top up with extra stock.

Put the roasting tin over a medium-high heat on the hob. When hot, add the sherry to deglaze the tin – scraping the base of the tin with a wooden spoon to loosen any meaty bits stuck to it. Carefully pour this mixture into the pan with the celery, along with the meat juices, the redcurrant jelly, 800ml chicken stock and the bay leaf (if you had less than 400ml meat juices, then add extra stock here). Slowly bring to the boil, then boil rapidly for 10 minutes until beginning to reduce. Season to taste, adding a little more redcurrant jelly if needed – you can also add a squeeze of lemon juice here if you like.

Strain through a sieve and return to the pan. Off the heat, gradually stir the cornflour mixture into the gravy until thickened.

If it’s still too thin, repeat with 1 tbsp cornflour dissolved in 1 tbsp cold water until the gravy reaches a velvety, pourable thickness. Keep warm over a low heat (don’t let it boil) until ready to serve.

Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy, stuffing balls and your favourite festive vegetable sides. Turn the page to discover our fresh ideas for your spuds and sprouts!

10 11 12

13 14

Chestnut-stuffed mushrooms with walnut crumb

Starter

Prep time 10 MINS Cook time 25 MINS Serves 4 Ingredients ¯ 4 large flat mushrooms ¯ 1 tbsp olive oil ¯ 1 onion, finely chopped ¯ 180g pack whole chestnuts, roughly chopped ¯ 10g fresh thyme, finely chopped, plus extra sprigs to garnish ¯ mixed leaf salad, to serve (optional) For the crumb topping: ¯ 50g roughly chopped bread ¯ 30g walnuts ¯ 2 garlic cloves ¯ 30g pack fresh flat leaf parsley

Method

1

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and set aside. Rub the mushrooms with half the oil. Put in a roasting tin skin-side down and cook for 10 minutes until they begin to soften and turn a pale golden colour.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Chop the reserved mushroom stalks and add to the onions along with the chestnuts and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, until soft and caramelised.

For the crumb topping, add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz together. Spoon the chestnut mixture into each mushroom, then top with the nutty crumbs (there may be some left over).

Bake the stuffed mushrooms for 15 minutes until golden. Serve with a handful of mixed leaf salad, if you like.

2

3 4 Vegan nut roast Prep time 40 MINS Cook time 1HR 10 MINS Serves 8 Ingredients

Main

¯ 1 large butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and diced ¯ 1 head garlic, cloves peeled ¯ 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing ¯ 1 aubergine, diced into 1cm cubes ¯ 8 small shallots, diced ¯ 1 red pepper, diced into 1cm pieces ¯ 400g tin chickpeas, drained ¯ 125g blanched almonds, toasted ¯ 125g shelled pistachios ¯ 15g rosemary, leaves picked ¯ 15g thyme, leaves picked, reserving a few sprigs to garnish ¯ 15g parsley, leaves picked ¯ 100g pitted green olives, roughly chopped ¯ 60g fresh breadcrumbs ¯ lemon, juiced ¯ 40g pomegranate seeds, to serve

Method

1

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Grease a 23cm round deep tin with a little oil and line the base with baking paper. Toss the diced butternut squash with the garlic cloves and 2 tbsp of the oil in a large bowl. Spread out over a large roasting tin and cook for 15-20 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking.

While the squash is cooking, heat a large, heavy frying pan over a medium heat with 1 tbsp oil. Add the aubergine and cook for 10-15 minutes until softened and well browned, then transfer to a large bowl.

Add the remaining oil to the frying pan along with the shallots. Cook for 5-10 minutes until softened, then add the pepper and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add to the bowl with the aubergine and set aside.

Once cooked, add the squash and roasted garlic cloves to a food processor and pulse until you have a chunky purée, then transfer to the bowl with the aubergine mixture.

Add the drained chickpeas, almonds, pistachios (reserving a few to garnish) and herbs to the food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Add to the bowl along with the chopped olives, breadcrumbs and lemon juice. Season well and mix everything together until thoroughly combined.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth over the top. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top is golden. Allow to rest for 5 minutes in the tin, then loosen the edges with a knife and carefully turn out onto a serving plate.

Garnish with the pomegranate seeds, reserved pistachios and thyme sprigs before slicing into wedges, to serve.

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December 2020 121

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath Recipes and photos Roast smashed baby potatoes with festive herbs and spices, seasonalspuds.com; all other recipes courtesy of tesco.com

Delicious ideas

Parmesan-crusted Brussels sprouts Prep time 5 MINS Cook time 15 MINS Serves 4 Ingredients ¯ 300g small Brussels sprouts, halved ¯ 25g melted butter ¯ 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs ¯ 15g Parmesan (or veggie/ vegan alternative), grated ¯ A few sprigs of thyme, plus extra leaves to serve

¯ Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

1

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Place the halved sprouts in a large bowl, pour over the melted butter and toss to coat. Add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, thyme, cayenne pepper (if using) and stir together.

Season to taste.

Tip the sprouts onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the sprouts are cooked through and the crumb coating is a deep golden colour.

2

Sides Kale and cauliflower cheese Prep time 5 MINS Cook time 40 MINS Serves 6 Ingredients ¯ 1 cauliflower, cut into florets ¯ 150g kale ¯ 50g butter ¯ 50g plain flour ¯ 2 tsp mustard powder ¯ 500ml milk ¯ 100g mature Cheddar cheese, grated ¯ 75g Manchego cheese, grated ¯ 50g vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese, grated ¯ 1 tsp wholegrain mustard ¯ tsp ground black pepper

Method

1

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas Mark 7.

Bring a pan of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the cauliflower for 10 minutes. Add the kale to the top of the pan and cook for a further 2 minutes, then drain well and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan, then add the flour and cook over a low heat for 1 minute, stirring continually. Add the mustard powder, stir and remove from the heat. Gradually add the milk a little at a time, stirring well to beat out any lumps.

Return to the heat and bring to a simmer, stirring all the time. Once bubbling, cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.

Stir in two-thirds of the Cheddar, half of the Manchego and half of the vegetarian hard cheese and beat well. Add the mustard and pepper and beat again. Add the drained cauliflower and kale to the sauce and toss well to coat. Transfer to a 2 pint gratin dish.

Mix the remaining cheeses together and scatter over the top. Bake for 20 minutes until golden and cooked through. Serve with roast turkey, chicken, gammon or a nut roast as a delicious side dish.

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122 yourhomestyle.uk

Delicious ideas

Roast smashed baby potatoes with festive herbs and spices Prep time 20 MINS Cook time 35 MINS Serves 4 Ingredients ¯ 600g baby/new salad potatoes, skin on ¯ 2-3 tbsp British rapeseed oil or olive oil For the herb and spice mixture: ¯ 1 tsp sea salt ¯ tsp garlic granules ¯ tsp ground black pepper ¯ tsp dried rosemary (1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary) ¯ tsp smoked paprika

Method

1

Wash and parboil the potatoes for 5-6 minutes in salted water. Drain. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. After 5 minutes, add the oil to a large roasting tray then place in the oven to heat until the oil is very hot.

‘Smash’ the cooked potatoes with the back of a spoon, so the potatoes are split. Add the herb and spice mixture to the potatoes and mix well, coating all the potatoes with it.

Take the roasting tin out of the oven and add the potatoes, turning them over in the hot oil so that they are all coated.

Roast for 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and golden, shaking the roasting tray three or four times during cooking to ensure they cook evenly for an all-over crispness.

2 3 4

Dessert Fig and cardamom Pavlova Prep time 20 MINS Cook time 10 MINS Serves 8 Ingredients ¯ 8 fresh figs, halved ¯ 3 tbsp clear honey ¯ 4 cardamom pods, seeds removed and crushed, pods discarded ¯ 2 tbsp lemon juice ¯ 300ml double cream ¯ 200ml Greekstyle yogurt ¯ 2 oranges, zested ¯ 2 Tesco Finest meringue Pavlovas ¯ 1 tbsp toasted, blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped

¯ pomegranate seeds, to serve

Method

1

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6.

Put the figs in a roasting tin, drizzle over the honey and sprinkle over the cardamom seeds. Bake for 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the figs to a bowl, then stir the lemon juice into the syrup in the tin to taste and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the cream to stiff peaks.

Fold through the yogurt, half the orange zest and half the fig syrup.

To assemble, put a meringue Pavlova on a serving plate. Top with half the cream, then repeat with the remaining meringue and cream. Arrange the figs on top, then scatter over the hazelnuts, remaining orange zest and the pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with the remaining syrup, to serve.

2 3

December 2020 123

Best buy Award-winning British cheese producers, Sharpham, have created a classic Christmas edit. The Essential Devon Cheese Board, £20, celebrates five artisan cheeses and comprises Sharpham Ticklemore Goat, Quickes Mature Cheddar and Devon Blue, plus a ‘Grader’s Choice’ from both Sharpham and Quickes. To order visit sharpham.com.

QUICK FIX Fed up of rich festive food? Give your meals a freshly foraged twist with Sacla’s delicious new Wild Garlic Pesto, £2.50 for 190g. Made with the fragrant green leaves, stems and flowers of wild garlic, fresh Ligurian basil, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino cheese, drizzle on pasta, bruschetta, risottos and more. Buy online at www.sacla.co.uk.

DING DONG MERRILY ON PIE Looking for a vegetarian showstopper for your Christmas dinner? Look no further than Higgidy’s brand-new Very Merry Parsnip Pie with chestnuts and braised red cabbage, £3.75.

Its rich filling and golden crumbly pastry will ensure it’s a hit with veggies and meat-eaters alike. Higgidy’s Christmas range also features bite-sized Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls and Brie and Cranberry Veggie Rolls with crispy kale and quinoa, both £2.65 per pack, which are real party-pleasers. And, for a Boxing Day buffet, look no further than the Brie and Winter Spiced Chutney Quiche with Quinoa and Golden Linseeds, £4.

Available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and Tesco.

Fresh find Finders Spirit of Christmas Pudding Rum, £25 per 70cl bottle, captures all the flavours of Christmas in a glass. This limited-edition festive oak-aged rum is fragrantly spiced with cinnamon, orange and muscovado. Enjoy it over ice or try it as a hot buttered rum to warm you up on a winter night. Available from finders-spirits.com.

FOOD NEWS What’s on our plates and filling our shopping trolleys ready for the festive month ahead

If you’re not sure what condiments to pair with your cheese board this Christmas, look no further than the Rosebud Preserves’ Fruits for Cheese Gift Box, which costs £13.95. The set comprises three unique products that pair perfectly with cheese: a smoky, piquant apple butter made with Bramley apples, cider vinegar, Madagascan vanilla and whisky; a sweet yet sharp damson cheese, and a fresh pear and brandy conserve made with Somerset cider brandy. The beautifully presented box is a fitting gift for a foodie friend or if you’re sharing a festive feast with family and friends. To order visit rosebudpreserves.co.uk.

124 yourhomestyle.uk

TOP OF THE POPS The experts in gourmet popcorn, Joe & Seph’s, have launched a festive range ideal for gifting or decorating your tree. Seasonal flavours include salted caramel, toffee apple and cinnamon, Prosecco, brandy butter, mince pie and eggnog. Count down to the big day with a daily fix from a Classic, Vegan or Tipsy Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar, £25 each.

For Secret Santas and stocking fillers try their mini Gourmet Popcorn gift boxes and pouches, £5 each. Buy Joe & Seph’s Christmas range at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Harrods, Ocado, QVC and Boots, or joeandsephs.co.uk.

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath

Perfectly preserved

COMING NEXT MONTH

Steal ideas from our gorgeous readers’ homes

Easy makes for an instant style update

All features subject to change Main image Katie Lee

Hot décor ideas for stay-home parties

Sweet and savoury celebration bakes

NEW YEAR, NEW STYLE! 4 EASY, AFFORDABLE STYLE UPDATES FOR EVERY ROOM 4 HOW TO USE THE HOTTEST COLOURS FOR 2021 4 REVAMP YOUR RADIATORS 4 COOK YOUR FAVE ‘TAKEAWAYS’ AT HOME 4 INSPIRING MAKEOVERS, BEST BUYS & MUCH MORE!

BE IN HOMESTYLE! For your chance to grace our pages and win a fantastic prize, use the #myHShome hashtag on Instagram and tell us all about you and your stylish home!

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SHOPPING GUIDE

94

Where to buy everything featured in this magazine A Abode Living abodeliving.co.uk Albert & Moo albertandmoo.com Alice in Scandiland aliceinscandiland.com Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Ao.com ao.com Andkeep andkeep.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Antipodream antipodream.co.uk A Place for Everything aplaceforeverything.co.uk Archivist Gallery archivistgallery.com Argos argos.co.uk Arket arket.com Atrafloor atrafloor.com Audenza audenza.com Aufora aufora.com

B B&Q diy.com Bags & Bones bagsandbones.co.uk Baines & Fricker bainesandfricker.net Barista & Co baristaandco.com Bathroom Takeaway bathroomtakeaway.com Baylis & Harding baylisandharding.com BC Designs bcdesigns. co.uk BHS bhs.com Biscuiteers biscuiteers. com Blinds 2go blinds-2go.co.uk Block Design blockdesign.co.uk Bobby Rabbit bobbyrabbit.co.uk British Heart 128 yourhomestyle.uk

Foundation bhf.org.uk Brio brio.uk Brook + Wilde brookandwilde.com Button & Sprung buttonandsprung.com

C Caesarstone caesarstone.co.uk Cambridge Imprint cambridgeimprint.co.uk Carpetright carpetright.co.uk Cath Kidston cathkidston.com Catherine Rowe Designs catherinerosedesigns.com CEWE cewe-photoworld.com Cheeky Food Co cheekyfoodcompany.com Chilli Winter chilliwinter.co.uk Christy christy.co.uk Clair Louise Creative Studio clair-louise.co.uk Claybrook Studio claybrookstudio.co.uk Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Ltd cole-and-son.com Country Life Furniture countrylifefurniture.co.uk Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk Craft Gin Club craftginclub.co.uk Crate and Barrel crateandbarrel.com Cream Cornwall creamcornwall.co.uk Crosswater crosswater.co.uk Crown Paints crownpaints.co.uk Cuckooland cuckooland.com Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com Curated Living Ltd curatedliving.co.uk Cyberjammies cyberjammies.co.uk

D Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk Dar Lighting darlighting.co.uk Debenhams debenhams.com Decolight decolight.co.uk Denby Pottery denbypottery.com Desenio desenio.co.uk Designers Guild designersguild.com DFS dfs.co.uk Dibor dibor.co.uk Divine Savages divinesavages.com Dobbies dobbies.com Drench drench.co.uk DR Electrical drelectrical.co.uk Dulux dulux.co.uk Dunelm dunelm.com DUSK dusk.com Dwell dwell.co.uk

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Ink & Drop inkanddrop.com

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P Paperchase paperchase.com

Stockists

76 EDITORIAL

Editor Kirstie Duhig Features Editor Catriona Burns Staff Writer Hannah Tribe Production Editor Thomas Poad Editorial Assistant Katie Dutton Designers Emily Waite, Libby Parfitt

ADVERTISING Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives Phil Wallington, James Beckett Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts, Alex Armstrong Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike

MARKETING AND PRODUCTION

Pets at Home petsathome.com Pip Studio pipstudio.com Planet Buddies planetbuddies.co.uk Pointless Plants pointlessplants.com Pooky pooky.com Porcelain Superstore porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Posterhaste posterhaste.com Poundland poundland.co.uk PrezzyBox prezzybox.com Primark primark.com ProCook procook.com

R Raj Tent Club rajtentclub.com Rebel Walls rebelwalls.com Red Candy redcandy.co.uk Red Kite Kitchens redkitekitchens.co.uk RE re-foundobjects.com Rex London rexlondon.com River Island Home riverisland.com Rockett St George rockettstgeorge.co.uk Ronseal ronseal.com Rose & Grey roseandgrey.co.uk

S Sainsbury’s Home sainsburys.co.uk Sass & Belle sassandbelle.co.uk Scandi Born scandiborn.co.uk Seb & Charlie sebandcharliedesign.co.uk

SKLUM sklum.com Sofa.com sofa.com Someday Designs somedaydesigns.co.uk Søstrene Grene sostrenegrene.co.uk Stovax stovax.com Switch switch.co.uk Swoon swooneditions.co.uk

T Terrys Fabrics terrysfabrics.co.uk Tesco tesco.com The Contemporary Home tch.net The Handle Studio thehandlestudio.co.uk The London Bee Company thelondonbee.com The Paper Party Bag Shop the paperpartybagshop.com The Range therange.co.uk The Really Solid Furniture Company realsolidfurniture.co.uk This Modern Life thismodernlife.co.uk Tiles Direct tiles-direct.com Tile Giant tilegiant.co.uk Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk Toffifee toffifee.com Tom Dixon tomedixon.net Topps Tiles toppstiles.co.uk

U Urban Outfitters urbanoutfitters.com Urbansize urbansize. co.uk

Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Production Manager Emily Mounter PR Manager Toby Hicks

V Valspar valsparpaint.com Very very.co.uk Victoria Plum victoriaplum.com Victorian Plumbing victorianplumbing. co.uk Vielda vielda.co.uk Villeroy and Bosch villeroy-boch.co.uk Viners viners.co.uk Vintage & Bespoke vintageandbespoke.co.uk

W Wallpaper Direct wallpaperdirect.com Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair wayfair.co.uk WeLoveCushions welovecushions.co.uk West Elm westelm.co.uk Whittard whittard.co.uk Wickes wickes.co.uk Wild & Wolf uk.wildandwolf.com Wilko wilko.com Wonder & Rah wonderandrah.co.uk

X Xavier China xavierchina.com

Z Zara Home zara.com Ziggy & Dot ziggyanddot.com

PUBLISHING Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

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CONTACT HomeStyle at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST Advertising Enquiries: Tel: 0117 300 8805 Subscription enquiries: Email: buysubscriptions.com/contact Tel: UK 03330 162 139; US/Canada: 855 827 8639 (toll free); Rest of the world +44(0)1604 973748 Editorial enquiries Email: Homestyle@immediate.co.uk Tel: 0117 927 9009

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December D b 2020 129

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Flock We talk to Jenny Wingfield, Creative Director and founder of Flock, about her love of pattern and how she promotes young designers How did it all begin?

Flock began as a way of giving young designers a much-needed platform in the interiors market.

It is almost impossible to get started as a designer when you have just graduated and we wanted to make sure that young graduates received a fair royalty and recognition for their work. We started slowly, initially launching one pattern in Liberty and the collection grew from there.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Flock’s wallpapers, furnishings and fabrics feature bold, contemporary patterns in vivid shades. Jenny is particularly drawn to geometric shapes.

Each day is so different but always filled with colour and pattern. I am either hunting down the latest designers that I would like to work with, twiddling away with workin-progress patterns, cutting orders and samples or planning potential collaborations. My favourite part of the job is meeting new stockists or interior designers to introduce them to the Flock collection.

As the patterns are not designed by me, I have none of that typically English humility, which means I am very happy to be shouting about them from the rooftops!

Describe your style

Feature Alison Davidson

I am a fabric pattern gatherer and believe that fabrics from all different eras can be pulled together in an elegant way, without feeling too ‘matchymatchy’, to create a style that is coherent but joyful. The Flock collection generally has geometric handwriting, but my home is filled with patterns 130 yourhomestyle.uk

designed by friends and rather a lot of 1930s Swedish florals – I am particularly obsessed with Josef Frank’s designs. It is also packed to the rafters with plants – another way of bringing in pattern!

Can a home be both stylish and practical?

I certainly hope so! In fact, I think that is often the most pleasing thing about a well-designed space – that it is beautiful but every part is put to work and serves a purpose.

I think William Morris answers this question particularly well: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’.

Who are you stalking on Instagram?

I get inspired by colourful accounts and am in awe of those beautiful profiles that slide from hue to hue across their grid creating a perfect palette. My go-to accounts for interiors and colour inspiration would be @saragaranty and @teklan.

Where do you find your inspiration?

To me, the most inspiring places are graduate degree shows. There are so many amazingly talented designers, and discovering their work in sketchbooks and unfinished forms is inspiring in its potential.

For more from Flock visit www.flock.org.uk or @studioflock

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