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WIN! UK MINI BREAKS, VACUUM CLEANERS, PAINTING TOOLS + FESTIVE GIFT HAMPERS! yourhomestyle.uk

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HUNDREDS OF GREAT-VALUE IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM

£2.49

NOVEMBER 2020

639

CREATIVE IDEAS

YH

ES LOV

Easy comfort food for breakfast, lunch & dinner

Snuggle up with these serene bedroom schemes

HOW TO... @ Tile your own

kitchen splashback @ Measure for blinds @ Get ahead with Christmas crafts

Affordable bathroom makeovers + dream tubs

B illiant HOMES

READER

WITH TRICKS TO STEAL

IZTOETASL OF PRR TH A

WO

£5,084 TO BE

WON

All the updates you need!

Discover the latest trends Transform your front door Stay toasty & save ££ with Magical mirrors b M for every room Fill your kitchen with colour

& SMART FINDS GET LUXE FOR LESS

Unique, beautifully crafted furniture and accessories sourced from around the world

www.atkinandthyme.co.uk t: 01727 227 500

EDITOR’S LETTER

Fill your kitchen with colour! p50

Welcome SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Sign up today to save 27% and receive an Orla Kiely mug set! See page 94 for details.

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Our style-savvy readers’ homes are full of fabulous ideas to steal

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Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Production Editor Thomas Poad Staff Writer Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistant Ella Rhys-Jones Designers Sally Bufton, Beth Charlton Lucas Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Editorial Assistant Thea Jeffreys Thanks also to Rob Banino, Carolyn Bunt, Louise Stevens Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives Phil Wallington, Aileen Booth, James Beckett, Kayla Rose, Baylee Sowter-Halling

PINTEREST

Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Assistant Gemma Balding Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Junior Production Co-Ordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions: yourhome@buysubscriptions.com UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2020, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

Editor’s portrait Philip Sowels

This time of year is often overlooked – after all, it’s too early to start looking forward to Christmas – but I think there’s a magic to it. It’s the perfect time to hunker down in our beautiful homes, and indulge in a bit of Scandinavian hygge. And this issue is all about just that!

First up, transform your bedroom into a snug sanctuary from page 36, then learn how to make the most of the daylight with mirrors great and small from page 42. In Home Improvement Extra, we reveal the best portable heaters and flue stoves to keep you toasty – since I’ve started working from home more, I definitely feel the need for one of these! And, of course, there’s Your Essential Guide to Cosy Living – full of tips and tricks to keep you warm all winter.

It might be too soon to get excited about 25th December, but it’s just the right time to start planning for it. We’ve sprinkled a few festive ideas in this issue – all of which should help you get a head start on the preparations. Sew stockings so beautiful that they double as decorations (p66), make up some simple Christmas cards (p62), and get your front door ready for its beautiful wreath (p114). Then grab a mug of cocoa or a glass of wine and relax – we’ll help with the rest of the celebrations next month!

Contents 104

76

Discover how Eniko Kirkwood used rich hues to bring drama into her home

Bake a delicious and versatile batch of granola

36

Create a cosy bedroom

56

20

Give your bathroom a revamp with our top tips

Stay on-trend with the new neutral and metallic craze

November at home 8

8 This month we love Discover our pick of the best buys and top events taking place in November

11 Household hints Get your home ready for the holiday season and choose from our selection of top-value slow cookers 15 Smarter shopper Find the best food and drink subscription services

36 Soothing sanctuary Bring comfort to your bedroom with our cosy ideas 42 Mirror image Make your rooms feel lighter and more spacious

Makeovers

24

24 A ruined floor kick-started our revamp Liz Nagle turned her bathroom into a Scandi-style haven 28 We swapped rooms for a familyfriendly space Laura Harris has created a spacious family bathroom

16 Consumer news Make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with our essential advice 46 Buyer’s guide Keep your home feeling fresh with an air purifier

32 It’s all change in my compact bathroom Lisa Bennett transformed her bathroom into a walk-in wonder

Decorating

Kitchens & bathrooms

20 Trend alert The new neutrals are en vogue for autumn

54 We used every bit of space in the best way Morgen Sneezum renovated the ground floor of her house to create a spacious open-plan kitchen

21

50 Cook in colour Give your kitchen a vibrant and stylish update

56 Soak stars Clean up your act with expert tips for choosing the right bath

Reader homes

75 76 I experimented with dark hues and it paid off Eniko Kirkwood has added theatricality to her cottage with a mix of dark colours 82 We could see huge potential in this space Jade Severs turned her Edwardian property into a modern family home

49

88 I injected personality into my newbuild Elaine Verdon gave her home a makeover to inject it with of bags of colourful character

P12l-uPAsG!E

MAKE IT EASY!

GUIDE

Update your space with homemade projects and new skills

64

Turn a tired vase into a vibrant statement piece

66 Food & Entertaining

97 98 A flavour of southeast Asia Punchy flavours, zesty citrus kicks and a touch of heat are on the menu 104 Make-ahead meals Cook one batch of good-for-you granola and use it for three other delicious recipes

Home Improvement

Don’t miss out!

10 Your letters We check out what you’ve been up to this month 60 Win! Three lucky winners will each win a £500 voucher to spend at Blinds 2go 94 Subscribe to Your Home Save 27% on the shop price and receive Orla Kiely mugs

109

110 Create more space with a loft conversion Extend your home upwards and turn your unused attic space into another bedroom or a home office 114 Revive your front door First impressions count and a bit of TLC is all it takes to make your entrance excellent 116 Heat up your home Invest in a flue fire or portable heater to keep your home feeling warm and cosy

Sew a stocking in time for Christmas

120 Giveaways Enter online for a chance to win luxury breaks, Christmas hampers and much, much more…

123 Shopping guide Find out where you can purchase everything in this issue

68

Learn how to tile a kitchen splashback

Plus, check out…

62 Make, do & craft Create a set of Christmas cards and decorations 70 Ask the experts Your home improvement questions answered

130 Eco news Save money and the planet

Have you missed an issue?

Call 0330 1358962 to order back copies

72 Craft stash must-haves Discover this month’s best creative classes and buys

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

Go all out Are you a fan of bold colours, in-your-face patterns and all things clashing? If the answer is yes, then this book is for you.

Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide by interior designer Abigail Ahern details everything you need to know to take your home from drab to fab. With every turn of the page, you’ll build your confidence to adopt dramatic colours, experimental prints and lavish layering. You’ll learn how to combine vintage and modern pieces and even get a sneak peek into Abigail’s own home where maximalism is very much the motto.

THIS MONTH

FOR STOCKISTS SEE P120

Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide, published by Pavilion for £30

we love…

Make the most of November with the best things to do, see and buy this month

Hidden Gem:

PRIOR, B istol For sustainable pieces with special stories behind them, take a trip to PRIOR in Bristol’s Old Market. Forget frivolous purchases and throwaway culture, the co-op shop prides itself on stocking products that are made to last.

PRIOR showcases work from 28 local makers, all of whom offer bespoke commissions so there’s plenty of choice, from geometric pots (right), to boho macramé wall hangings. As well as homewares, there’s also organic, vegan skincare on offer, and handmade jewellery you won’t see on anybody else.

Visit the shop at 58 West Street, St Phillips, Bristol, BS2 0BL or online at priorshop.uk

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CRAFT & CREATE Get your creative juices flowing with a Curious House minibreak at The Bell in Ticehurst. The artist-led courses offer expert guidance and the opportunity to let your imagination run wild, which makes the classes spot-on for craft lovers. Unleash your inner Matisse at the mixed media printing and collage course (2nd3rd November) where you’ll experiment with printing techniques including lino and Chine-collé. November’s offerings also include a painted lampshade workshop (14th) and a meditative drawing course (23rd-24th).

The courses are £95 a day and guests can enjoy breakfast and accommodation at The Bell from £110. Visit curioushouse. net for more information.

THIS MONTH WE LOVE Wonderwall A feature wall is an easy way to dip your toe into pattern and detail without committing to a full room makeover.

For playful yet sophisticated wallpaper designs that are worth the investment, look no further than Annika Reed Studio. Annika uses the traditional reduction woodblock process, hand carving her wallpaper designs before digitally printing them on high-quality paper. The Climbing Vine print (pictured) combines calming green with a pop of yellow – it’s our top pick for standout dining room décor. For a fun-loving update in a nursery, opt for Tyger Tyger, an eye-catching pink and orange wild cat design.

All wallpapers cost £165 a roll, annikareed.com.

GREAT IDEAS FOR… World Kindness Day 13th November Put a smile on a loved one’s face (or your own) Forn Studio print abstract rainbow, £45, Rose & Grey

Rainbow hanging planter, £9, Home Luxe Co

LETTERBOX LOVE Wanderflower travel hand care kit, £20, Wild & Wolf

Personalised pink yoga mat, £34.99, Getting Personal

UNBE-LEAF-ABLE We love the excitement of a subscription box – and what could be better than a surprise plant every month? That’s where Leaf Envy comes in. Its latest offering is a subscription box that will enable you to create your own indoor botanical haven without the need to step foot in a garden centre. Expect a thoughtfully curated selection of plants, full care instructions and an optional stylish pot to house your new friend. A plant-only subscription starts at £20 a month for a minimum of three months. Go on, you’ll be greenfingered in no time!

Sunny flowers cushion, £29.95, Mint & May

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Designed to fit safely through the letterbox, these cute gifts from Chalk and Cheese are filled with a fragrant selection of hand-poured soy candles and wax melts – they’re a thoughtful pickme-up for a friend or loved one. You can choose from an array of enticing scents such as Lemon Meringue, Parma Violet and Tropical Coconut Twist. Whether it’s a birthday gift or a small gesture to say thank you, you can personalise each box to suit the occasion. Every present is sent in environmentally-friendly packaging with a custom gift note, too. The ‘Sending you a huge hug’ Letterbox Gift (pictured) costs £12.95 from chalkandcheese.biz.

Amazon Handmade Octo candle, £19, Amazon

Visit leafenvy.co.uk for more details.

November 2020

9

GET IN TOUCH

Your Home needs you!

We love to hear what you’ve been up to, so send us your letters, tips, projects and photos.

This month’s prizes are provided by ARRAN Sense of Scotland.

Letter of th monthe

ART ATTACK All the rooms in our new build are white so I felt I needed to add a bit of life to them.

I decided to do something a little different and make a feature of the walls in the downstairs toilet. I painted the wildflowers freehand using various tester pots – I love how they’ve turned out!

Hannah Rollinson, by email Your Home says Your bathroom looks stunning, Hannah! This is such a creative idea and your painting skills are incredible.

+ Hannah’s letter has won her a bespoke ARRAN gift box, worth £75!

Shelfie goals

Blue is the hue

I got this shelving for my birthday, and I decided to upcycle it with a bit of colour as we already had a lot of wood in our kitchen. I drink a lot of coffee, so after a month or two I had enough used coffee jars to store my cupboard essentials and display them on the shelves! Caroline Richards, by email

During lockdown, I wanted to do something productive and keep my mind occupied, so I decided to revamp my kitchen on a budget. I bought new, heavily discounted flooring, then sanded and primed the cupboards before adding a few coats of paint to create a bright and modern space. The copper handles are from Brighton-based shop, Proper Copper – I absolutely love them! It feels like I have a new kitchen from just a couple of weeks of effort and at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. Sarah Daykin, by email

Your Home says Caroline, your shelving looks amazing. The perfect way to keep everything organised – and reuse old coffee jars!

Get crafty Since being at home more, I’ve made DIY textured art – it’s so simple and affordable to create. I used various sized canvases from Home Bargains, a cheap pot of filler, a wallpaper scraper, masking tape and tester paint pots and this was the outcome.

Stacey Thacker, by email

Your Home says What a transformation!

Blue is definitely the kitchen colour of the moment and we love how you’ve combined it with copper accents.

Your Home says Your creations are gorgeous, Stacey! Such imaginative pieces of art and of course, it’s a productive way to spend your time during lockdown.

EMAIL YOUR TIPS, PHOTOS AND LETTERS TO: yourhome@immediate.co.uk. Letters can be posted to Your Letters, Your Home magazine, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST, but we may not see them for some time as we are currently working remotely. Letters may be edited. We apologise but photos cannot be returned. yourhomestyle.uk 10

Courtesy of ARRAN Sense of Scotland, this issue’s letter of the month winner will receive a bespoke gift box worth £75. The three runners-up will each receive an After the Rain Discovery Set worth £10. Learn more about ARRAN Sense of Scotland at arran.com.

Get Online Tweet us your pictures and comments @your_home or like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/yourhomemag

The kitc hen will see a lot of use du ring the holidays A pre-C . hristma s clean will mak e it a nic er place to be

Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks

How to… Get your home ready for the holiday season

Organisation is key. Before you begin, make a detailed list of everything that needs to be cleaned, fixed or prepared. Start with a strict declutter. Donate anything you no longer use to charity and put everything back in its rightful place, especially before you bring out any Christmas decorations.

Now it’s time for a deep clean. Wipe, disinfect and dust all surfaces including those hard-to-reach corners where dust may have gathered. Move any large furniture, such as sofas, to vacuum underneath and spot-clean the carpet if there are any lingering stains you need to get rid of.

As it’s the heart of the home (especially at Christmas), it’s important to check that all your kitchen appliances are working properly. Check the oven temperature and efficiency, and make sure your fridge is in tip-top shape. To save any stress on the big day, it’s also a good idea to check you have the right amount of crockery and cutlery for your guests.

If you have any family staying over, make sure to freshen up the guest bedrooms. Dust the surfaces, run the Hoover around and swap the bedding for a clean set. Leave a bundle of fresh towels on the bed and make some space in the wardrobe for your guests’ belongings.

Q&A I have sensitive skin. Are there any plant-based, gentle alternatives to regular laundry detergent?

Designed to be gentle enough for babies’ skin, Nimble’s Laundry Lover uses natural ingredients, such as coconut, to offer a gentle, but effective clean. With no harsh chemicals, allergens or dyes, it won’t aggravate sensitive skin and it’s also an absolute steal at £2.99 for 100ml. Visit nimblebabies.com for more information.

Editor’s Choice If you need a strong coffee to start your day, the Breville Barista Mini could be just what you need. An at-home substitute for that daily takeaway coffee, the Barista Mini is compact enough for a small kitchen and even comes with the a milk frother to give your cappuccino a \Z]Ta XZWNM[[QWVIT ÅVQ[P 1\ KW[\[ £299 and is available at Currys.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

The most wonderful time of the year is rapidly approaching. There are parties to host, marshmallows to toast and friends and family to welcome into your home (Covid-permitting)! So now is a great time to get ahead with a big winter clean before you open up the advent calendar. It can be a busy few weeks, but these tips and tricks will make life that little bit easier…

November 2020

11

G eat Buy What to look out for

THIS MONTH

Forget plastic shampoo bottles, cubes are the way forward Beauty Kubes plastic-free shampoo cubes, £9.50, Bower Collective

Keep your fruit and veg fresher for longer with Beko’s new HarvestFresh cooling technology. Installed in the crisper drawers of selected fridges, it uses coloured lights to mimic the natural sunlight cycle from dawn to dusk, which can lengthen the life of vitamins A and C in fresh produce. It should help you cut down your food waste and shop less frequently. Available in a variety of Beko’s fridge freezer models, prices start at £749. Visit beko.co.uk to find out more.

A shower puff that’s kind to your skin and the environment Eco-friendly shower puff, £9.99, Wearth London

Swap your plastic toothbrush for a biodegradable bamboo alternative Eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes (multicolour), £25.49 for 12, Bamboo Diaries Fight against tooth decay and discolouration with this vegan toothpaste

With ingredients such as cocoa butter and sweet almond oil, this soap is made to deeply nourish your skin Superfly Soaps cool lemons soap bar, £4, The Eco Friendly Living Co

Ben & Anna natural white toothpaste, £8.95, Bower Collective

WE TEST… Slow cookers We tried out a selection of slow cookers – here’s what we found…

SWAN RETRO 1.5 LITRE SLOW COOKER £25 AO.COM Effective at cooking meat, fish and veg dishes, this slow cooker is a great all-rounder. Its small size is ideal if you’re only cooking for one or two, and it can be stored easily in bijoux kitchens. It’s easy to use, thanks to a simple dial system and the removable pot makes cleaning a breeze. The retro design looks gorgeous in neutral and colourful kitchens alike (we’re big fans of the baby blue).

7/10

9/10

12

JUDGE ELECTRICALS 1.5 LITRE SLOW COOKER £23 HORWOOD This compact cooker couldn’t be easier to use – simply plug it in and turn the dial. Its easy-to-clean ceramic pot is deep and narrow, so it has a good capacity without taking up much counter space. But it also means that, when cooking stews or similar, quite a bit of food tends to sit high above the liquid – we had to stir frequently to prevent dry morsels. It would also benefit from a light to indicate when it’s in use, and a timer, too.

yourhomestyle.uk

THINGS WE CONSIDERED O Does it cook food well?

O How simple is it to set up?

O How easy is it to clean?

3.5 LITRE DIGITAL SLOW COOKER £39.99 LAKELAND Ideal for families, this slow cooker is a joy to use and can be cleaned quickly. The large capacity is great for preparing big batch meals to freeze for later. There are three cooking settings as well as preset cooking times that are easily adjustable via the LED screen. It cooked food beautifully, especially fish, and we found the ‘WARM’ setting very useful – it keeps the food it’s just cooked warm until you’re ready to serve.

10/10

OPEN KITCHEN 3.5 LITRE COPPER SLOW COOKER £19.99 HOME BARGAINS Definitely one for the fashionistas, this copper-effect slow cooker is pretty enough to leave out on display. The simple design makes it easy to use – you just twist the dial to one of the three temperature settings.

A timer would make a handy addition to this slow cooker, but it cooked food well under a watchful eye. For a no-fuss, affordable option, this is the one!

8/10

Find perfect gift ideas for your loved ones as well as decorative inspiration for the most beautiful time of the year in the Posterlounge online shop. www.posterlounge.co.uk

THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

Savvy ways to…

In a survey of 2,000 homeowners, 40% said they were looking for more eco-friendly ways to carry out home improvements, with over a third buying pre-owned home goods for environmental reasons.

Source Used Kitchen Exchange

YH Fab find Already known for its budget-friendly prices, Lidl is offering shoppers even more ways to save on the weekly grocery run with its new rewards app, Lidl Plus. As well as storing handy digital copies of your receipts, the app will feature a new single-use coupon every week, with discounts of up to 25 per cent on selected products, along with the chance to win prizes when you shop with its scratchcard feature. Download it for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Subscribe to food and drink If you are stuck in a cooking rut, then a food or drink subscription box might be just what you need to shake up suppertime. It’s a great way to get top-quality fare delivered to your door, and most offer introductory deals for new customers.

From seasonal fruit and veg to speedy recipe kits, there are boxes for most lifestyles and budgets – which one will suit you?

Q Best for fresh fruit and veg: mix things up in the kitchen with a varied veg box. Eversfield Organic’s boxes feature a seasonal selection of fruit and veg, and you can expect to pay around £14.95 for a week’s worth for two people.

Q Best for families: priced at £2.98 per serving, Gousto’s four-recipe box is a good-value option for families. There are over 50 recipe options to choose from, including 10-minute meals for when you need to feed the family fast.

SMART SAVINGS Make these simple changes to lower your heating bill: install a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves, so you heat only the areas of your home that need it. This could save around £75 annually. And if you turn down your thermostat by one degree, it could save £60 a year. That’s enough for this wool rug, £130, Amara.

(Find more winter tips inside Your Essential Guide to Cosy Living.)

Q Best for vegans: Mindful Chef delivers the exact amount of premium vegan ingredients for zero-waste cooking. The boxes are flexible, with options for one person, a couple or a family.

Q Best for comfort food: give a hearty staple an upgrade with Pasta Evangelists’ boxes. They include everything you need to make restaurantquality pasta in minutes, from £6.35 per portion.

Q Best for wine: starting at £29.95 for two bottles from independent vineyards, Savage Wines’ monthly box also includes a wine map, tasting notes with food pairings, and a podcast.

Q Best for beer: craft beer connoisseurs can discover new varieties every month with Beer52’s Discovery Club. From £24 a month, subscribers receive a variety of beers from around the world.

Q Best for coffee: get an eco caffeine fix from Extract Coffee, who recycle coffee waste into renewable energy. Subscriptions start at £6.95.

tech news If patchy wi-fi and lagging video calls are familiar issues when you’re working, playing and schooling at home, your router could be in need of an upgrade. Amazon’s eero mesh wi-fi router is designed to bring your existing connection to every corner of your home.

It routes traffic to avoid congestion and buffering, and you can boost coverage further by placing several eero routers around your home.

Find it on Amazon, from £99.

November 2020

Feature Michelle Grady Photo Getty Images

FACT FILE

15

THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

FIND THE BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS This year it’s on Friday 27 November…

F

Q You can find bargains in-store and online, as Black Friday covers both.

Q Do your research so you know which products you want beforehand. Check reviews and pricerunner.com to see how much the items you’re interested in sell for normally.

Q Look for early discounts. Many retailers will be offering pre-Black Friday deals around two weeks ahead of the actual day.

Q Find out if certain retailers will pricematch others. John Lewis for example will match prices on Black Friday deals,

orget the January sales – savvy shoppers will be bagging bargains in this month’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Originating in the US, Black Friday is the shopping day Black Friday is the best time after Thanksgiving and is to buy big-ticket items, especially in-store, while so-called because so much Cyber Monday is known for trade is done that retailers’ its tech deals and smaller accounts often go from being products with better discounts online. in the red to the black. With Friday the day for hitting the high street, Cyber Monday is for shopping online.

Everything from laptops to tablets and TVs to Are returns policies the same if I buy kitchen appliances will be available at knockon Black Friday or Cyber Monday? down prices. Here’s how to shop sensibly and Helen Barnes, Richmond not get carried away…

Take it back

GET ONLINE FOR CYBER MONDAY You’ll find plenty of bargains online on Monday 30 November Q This is a great time to buy electricals so make a list and check price histories.

Q Download a price comparison app and set up price alerts so you can stay one step ahead of other shoppers.

Q Some online retailers let you make a wish list, which will make it easier to see at a glance when the price drops.

Q Be ready by setting up your online account ahead of time and sign up for any free newsletters and alerts too.

Q Follow and like retailers’ social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter so you get all the latest info.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Buying online tends to give you more rights, as you have 14 days from date of delivery to declare that you would like to cancel an order and a further 14 days to return it for a full refund. Shops’ policies vary, though, so check if you’ll get the money back or store credit if you wish to return a non-faulty item.

SHOP BIG OR STAY LOCAL Not all of the best deals can be found in shopping centres or by searching online The retail giants – John Lewis, Argos, Currys and Amazon – will have some of the best deals. But smaller, local stores will also have plenty of good deals. So if you can’t face the hectic high street and don’t want to shop online, see what your local shops have to offer.

but not with online-only stores, such as Amazon or AO.com.

Q Plan where you want to shop and if you’re hitting the high street, check opening times as they may be earlier than usual.

Q Check out ads and apps ahead of sale time, compare prices and make a list of shops selling the same product in case one runs out of stock.

Q Stick to well-known brands and avoid unusual or unheard-of names – the price may be good, but the quality may leave a lot to be desired.

EARN CASHBACK You can even make a little money while you’re spending: Q If you’re buying a big item, it’s worth seeing if you could get cashback at the same time.

Q Online sites such as quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk both have deals at more than 4,000 retailers and let you sign up for free.

Q Another way is to pay with a credit card that rewards you with air miles, retail vouchers or money back. Just remember to pay the bill off in full every month to avoid interest.

Useful contac ts

Search for products and compare prices from different retailers at pricerunner.com.

Visit finder.com to search by brand for this year’s discounts.

To hear about Black Friday deals on tech and electricals, head to box.co.uk.

For information on Cyber Monday at Am azon, check out cyber-mo nday.deals/uk.

Sign up for cashback at quidco.com or topcashback.co.uk .

Feature Hayley Gilbert Photo Getty Images

Bag a bargain in the preChristmas sales with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

We Are Iconic We are here to inspire you with the latest, upcoming lighting trends and season must haves. Iconic Lights helps \RX WUDQVIRUP \RXU KRPH ZLWK RXU KXJH UDQJH R QVSLUDWLRQDO \HW D RUGDEOH OLJKWLQJ ZLWK D YDULHW\ RI FROOHFWLRQV WR VXLW individual tastes. We’ve curated a huge lighting range for you WR GLVFRYHU ZKLFK ZLOO VSDUN LQWHULRU LQVSLUDWLRQ VR \RX FDQ QG the perfect mood and light for your space.

Discover lighting makeover at www.iconiclights.co.uk Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration: @iconic_lights

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

Decorating Be inspired by the 1970s with retro prints and check out autumn’s crop of style offerings

Mini trend: Retro graphics You’ll be stepping into the 1970s with this mini trend.

The decade was all about a riot of colour and bold geometric patterns covering pretty much every surface.

We’re not suggesting you should go quite as far as decorating your floors, walls and furniture with a retro eruption, but adding a splash of warm colour and funky pattern here and there with an Orla Kiely-esque design or two is an excellent way to update the bygone look.

Marimekko Kaivo cushion, £79, Abode Living

Orla Kiely Fern two-seater sofa in Multi, £1,189, Amara

Autumn glow Who says wreaths are just for Christmas?

Use this string of LED lights from Annabel James to brighten up your front door and bring an inviting autumnal touch to your home. The leaves come in seasonal hues including russet, orange and yellow, and the batteryoperated LEDs can be set to last for a specific time. You can purchase the Autumn leaves LED lights for £37.95 from annabel james.co.uk.

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Orla Kiely butterfly stem nesting cake tins, £40 for a set of three, Amara

Graphic 1 multi-coloured print, £45, Habitat

NEW PLANETFRIENDLY PAINTS Linda Barker has released a new range of paints that use the finest natural ingredients to make them better for the planet and your health. The paints come in matte, eggshell and satin finishes, use a water-based formula that’s virtually odourless and has a low VOC content. Plus, they’re made to order so each pot is produced just for you.

What’s more, all of the colours are part of a mix and match palette, so they’re guaranteed to complement each other. Prices start from £28 per litre and you can buy pots from lindabarkerpaints.com.

November 2020

19

STYLE FILE

TREND ALERT…

New Neutrals Warm tones and soft metallics will turn your home into a cosy yet elegant haven

W

hen you think of neutral colours your mind probably jumps to beige and magnolia – shades that might have left you cold in the past.

But it’s time to change the way you see these hues, as Dulux’s colour of the year 2021 – Brave Ground – proves, these new neutrals are here to stay! In this edit, we focus on the warmer tones: russet orange, soft blush, butter biscuit, spicy cinnamon and copper auburn. It is a palette that works well with gentle bronze and gold accents in the form of plant pots, lamps, mirrors and tiles.

Not only does this scheme blend comfort and luxury in terms of colour, it combines them with texture, too. Think cosy blankets, wood flooring, faux fur rugs and snuggly cushions alongside plush velvet, brushed brass and matte gold finishes.

These anything-but-bland neutrals will create a calm space while upholding a sense of sophistication. To ramp up the glam effect while maintaining the cosy vibe, use striking copper pendants for mood lighting, bring in oatmeal and rust tones with faux fur and woollen textures, and polish off the look by adding rustic timber touches.

Mikasa Cheers metallic gold stemless wine glasses, £32 for a set of four, KitchenCraft

William Morris Tree of Life cushion, £45, Thatch

Brave Ground matt paint, £29.16 for 2.5L, Dulux

Blend comfort and luxury with velvet, brass and charcoal grey textures and tones.

Heather velvet-upholstered dining chair in Grey with Brass metal legs, £109, Cult Furniture

Beaten gold plant pots, £69.95 for a set of three, Audenza

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STYLE FILE Keep the living room relaxed with soft, woollen furnishings and glowing candles.

Moodboard

Bee vase, £10; House tealights, £12 for a set of three; check throw, £17; linear Berber rug, from £40, all George Home

Clockwise from top left: Country Grey chalk paint, £21.95 per litre, Annie Sloan; Octo large pink cotton rug, £75, Habitat; Elation textured gold ore hexagon tiles, £32.95 per sq m, Walls & Floors; Country plaid tapestry square cushion, £45, Thatch

Add a nod to autumn with a light-up pumpkin on a coffee table or shelf.

Small mottled rose gold pumpkin battery light, £24.99, Lights4fun

Add a touch of class to your dining table with shiny, metallic cutlery.

Gold cutlery place set, £25 for a pack of four, Cielshop OYOY square mirror in Natural, £58, Amara Japandi style gold teapot, £54, Cielshop Feature Sophie Demetriades

Lloyd table lamp, £28, Next

November 2020

21

STYLE FILE Set the mood with soft-glow lighting.

Pleated shade pendant light, £79.99, H&M

Taupe snug rug, £60, Mint & May

English mustard, Lime White, and Chocolate Brownie merino throws, £132 each, Tolly McRae Matte gold finishes will give your home the luxe feel.

Soft gold leaf dish, £40, Cox & Cox

Twist natural wood cutlery set, from £29, Rebecca Udall

Bring cosiness and vintage vibes to your home with industrial copper pendant lights.

Dixie pendant light in Antique Copper, £49, Atkin and Thyme

Moodboard

Clockwise from top left: Thalia brass round patterned mirror, £95, Habitat; Lorena Canals Bereber washable rug in Burgundy, £217, Amara; Miners brass candle lantern with TruGlow candles, £47.99, Lights4fun; Lomasi metallic tones brown bronze Portuguese medallion pattern fabric, £36.99 per metre, Yorkshire Fabric Shop

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yourhomestyle.uk

STYLE FILE To create a table with understated elegance, opt for neutral-coloured stoneware plates and wooden cutlery.

Country Kitchen mug pack in Natural, £10; Country Kitchen dinner set in Natural, £40; Wood-effect cutlery set, £13, all George Home

SEE THE LIGHT Set the tone for this scheme with the warm glow of a lamp

Albert table lamp in Brushed Brass and Light Wood, £49, MADE

Beige impression poster, from £14.95, Desenio

Tub grey spun bamboo table lamp with fabric shade in Grey, £35, Habitat

A wooden floor will give this scheme a cosy finish.

Royal oak plank wood-effect tiles, £21.95 per sq m, Walls & Floors

Wooden desk lamp in Blue, £49, The Grey Works

Brass leather cuff table lamp, £124.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Liva pouffe in Natural, £224.40, Sweetpea & Willow

Spend vs Save

Get the look for less with a woven pouffe

Elian pouffe in Natural, £99, MADE

Oslo touch lamp, £38, Next MasterClass five-piece brass-coloured stainlesssteel knife set and block, £59.99, KitchenCraft

November 2020

23

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

A ruined floor kick-started our revamp A leak gave Liz and Jay Nagle a chance to rework their bathroom layout and create a Scandi monochrome sanctuary

W

hen Liz and Jay Nagle had their first child, they were keen to sell their two-up two-down in Stockport and find a forever home. It wasn’t long before they found a three-bedroom Victorian semi nearby with a cellar where Liz could keep stock for her online interiors shop, Echo Designs. Now that the couple have two children, Isla, eight, and Teddy, five, they’re glad the previous owners enlarged the bathroom with a side extension, even though the décor wasn’t exactly to their taste. ‘The day we moved in we ripped out the carpet and pink stripy wallpaper,’ says Liz. ‘And, to make it more liveable, we re-painted the wood panelling, added grey trellis wallpaper and put down wood-effect lino. It suited us for a few years while we renovated the rest of the house and did a loft extension.’

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tical budg Vinyl is a prac warm underfoot. d is for flooring an fore the bathroom be id la Have it aving to cut suite to avoid h ar y ware. around sanit

STEP ONE The impetus for revamping the bathroom came after Liz returned from the theatre to find her bathroom floor on the driveway! ‘The toilet cistern had leaked and ruined the floor,’ she remembers. ‘Jay always had aspirations to change the bathroom, even though we quite liked the old one, so this was a great excuse to completely change the layout, strip everything back to brick and move pipes around to create our dream space.’

A friend recommended tradesperson Mike McLoughlin who was in high demand, but the couple were happy to wait six months for him and take their time mulling over deciding on a new layout.

Liz painted the window sill black to match the door, and has a simple plank as a bath shelf for a rustic look Although they toyed with putting the vanity unit in this angled corner, the couple felt it would work better on the opposite wall.

Instead, they’ve moved the toilet further away from the bath and added a black mesh rack for storing towels

Before

24

yourhomestyle.uk

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

Feature Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

The previous room layout featured both a bath and cramped shower along the back wall with partition in-between.

Moving the bath under the window has unlocked the space’s potential

total cost ÂŁ2,975 November 2020

25

BATHROOM MAKEOVER STEP TWO While Liz enjoys a bath every other day, Jay was keen on a large walk-in shower. Squeezing in both fixtures meant moving the sink from under the window and shifting the toilet further down the wall to make way for a free-standing bath. A false wall, which previously housed a cramped shower, was also knocked out to make more room for Jay’s spacious new walk-in cubicle. ‘We were going to have the vanity unit on an angled corner wall where there used to be a fake fireplace, but Mike thought it would look better opposite the bath and next to the shower,’ says Liz. ‘Although the original bathroom was big, everything was quite scrunched together, so spreading things out more has made it look loads better.’

Quirky doodle motif tiles highlight the petite niche shelf, which is now Liz’s favourite part of the bathroom A false wall was built out so Liz could have an inset shelf in the shower and a ledge behind the sink for toiletries.

The bold black beaded chandelier – just seen in the mirror – pulls the room’s scheme together

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Don’t sc need to wrimp on taps, as th tear of ev ithstand the wear ey er yday u se. Ask y and plumber our wh they reco ich brands mmend.

STEP THREE Choosing the colour scheme was easy, as Liz loves a monochrome, Scandi look. However, after the room was plastered, she took a shine to the plaster colour and persuaded Jay to have the walls painted a delicate terracotta pink hue. ‘As everything else was quite masculine, especially the strong lines of the shower, it softened things without looking too girly,’ says Liz. ‘And because we’ve gone for a botanical look with lots of greenery, the pink isn’t overpowering.’ When it came to the flooring, Liz debated between patterned ceramic tiles or vinyl, before choosing the latter for safety and practicality.

‘I would’ve loved tiles as there’s more choice, but I worried about the kids slipping,’ she says. ‘And since we’d had a leak, I knew vinyl was easier to rip up if there was a problem.’

After getting lots of tile samples, the pair picked a textured, matt subway design for the walls. Then Liz fell for some black and white doodle-print tiles. ‘I needed to have them somewhere, so we added a strip behind the sink and inside the niche shelf in the shower,’ she says. ‘They add character and break up the plain white ones.’

26

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BATHROOM MAKEOVER

Good idkeeepapl!ants

ROOM PLAN

If you struggle to faux designs for alive like Liz, opt tanical feel. bo sh lu a d to ad ies for Pick trailing variet . ds en shelf

3.65M

2.44M

THE DETAILS £100

PAINT

£1,410

BATHROOM SUITE

Brass accessories warm up the monochrome scheme. Liz couldn’t resist the print, which bears a strong resemblance to her own bathroom

TAPS

£845

WALL TILES

£360

FLOORING

£100

LIGHT

£160

TOTAL Stylist Liz loves spending time rearranging her shelves with different vases, plants and prints to keep the scheme looking fresh

STEP FOUR A few months after the project was finished, Liz found the perfect black beaded chandelier to complete the look.

‘I really wanted a show-stopping design as it’s a big space,’ she says. ‘But we kept it in the same place to save money.’ Liz’s friend Jennie of Fern & Thistle made some wooden shelves, stools and a bath board to add a rustic edge.

‘The shelves probably get re-arranged every two weeks,’ laughs Liz. ‘I’m all about the styling – that’s my favourite part.’ Since Liz’s

business includes virtual styling consultations and workshops, she is adept at creating pretty vignettes, and is always switching them up for a subtle scheme update. ‘I love clusters and groupings – little wow areas – rather than spreading everything out,’ she says. ‘I always go for a mixture of heights and I love a draping faux plant as it gives a nice eyeline on a shelf rather than having everything on the same level. The whole house is evolving. It never stops, it’s just on a loop!’

3 OF THE BEST... monochrome vases £6 from Next Two classics combine with this timeless rosebud-shape vase in a black-and-white polka-dot print.

£39

£19

£19 from Rose & Grey How to add personality to a shelf? This quirky, friendlyfaced vase will do the trick.

£39 from Ella James Play with proportions and display petite pots with taller vases like this abstract zebra design.

£6

£2,975

shopping list Costa oval countertop basin, £59.95; Arezzo 1700x800 grid wet room with screen, side panel and tray, £499.95; Arezzo round thermostatic shower pack with head and handset, £289.95; Nova 1750 modern double-ended slipper bath, £600.95; Arezzo freestanding bath tap with shower mixer, £349.95, is similar; Keswick cast iron column radiator, £179.95, is similar; Mileto brick white ceramic wall tiles, £35.47 per sq m, all Victorian Plumbing. Rustic chunky bathroom unit, £250, Bespoke Rustic Furniture on eBay. Lusso Giro single lever mixer basin tap, £145, Lusso Stone, is similar. Walls painted in Setting Plaster, £47.95 per 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. Woodwork painted in Lamp Black Intelligent Satinwood, £73.50 per 2.5l, Little Greene. Lifestyle Baroque Lisbon 909D vinyl flooring, £9.99 per sq m, Vinyl Flooring UK, is comparable. Doodles Decor tiles, £44.76 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Tahlia chandelier, £160, Next. Diva black heated towel rail, £47, The Heating Boutique, is similar. Try Tamworth accent mirror, £65.83, Wayfair. Rustic bath board, £38, The Crafty Couple, is comparable. Wooden shelves, £92; Rustic stool, £50, both Fern & Thistle. Twopack guest towels in light pink, £3.99; light pink bathmat, £12.99, both H&M. Metal wire three-tier rack, £34.99, La Maison Chic, is similar. Guth mirror, £19.73, Sklum, is similar. Try Rasymatto towel, £11, Nordic Nest. Rattan tripod planter, £18, Matalan.

Similar faux plants and art prints, from £5; planters, from £7.95; set of tree bamboo baskets, £42; bamboo lantern, from £18; face vase, £32; ceramic woman vase, £42, all Echo Designs. Bequai wall-hung cabinet, £59.95, Nkuku. All the Ways to Say Bathroom poster, £13.99, Trouva.

November 2020

27

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

We swapped rooms for a family-friendly space Fed up with a small bathroom, Laura Harris turned an under-used bedroom into a modern, spacious washroom, complete with ample storage

B

uying a renovation project can be a great way to upgrade to a larger property. And that’s exactly what Laura and Graham Harris did when they moved into their semi-detached, Berkshire home, with their daughters, Jess and Katy.

‘As well as requiring a serious update, the house had four bedrooms, but just one cramped bathroom and I think this deterred a lot of buyers,’ says Laura. But the couple were convinced they could re-work the upstairs layout to create a more usable space.

STEP ONE Unfortunately, with more pressing renovations a priority, it was to be another two years before the couple could finally put their plan into action. The delay gave them plenty of time to ensure their idea of moving the bathroom into a bigger room was the right thing to do. ‘In the end, years of squeezing four of us into a bathroom with no separate shower outweighed any objections to losing a large but rarely used room,’ says Laura. Plus, the old bathroom would become a reasonable-sized office and bedroom, resulting in a more family-friendly, but still four-bedroom, home.

STEP TWO Luckily, the bedroom earmarked for conversion was right next to the original bathroom, so re-routing pipework

Before 28

yourhomestyle.uk

total cost £5,482

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

Laura chose fitted units that not only offered plenty of storage and display space, but also allowed for the toilet cistern to be seamlessly integrated

The bath has been cleverly tied into the new scheme using ready-made panels finished in the same smart grey paint as the Shaker-style fitted units

and connecting to external wastes proved straightforward. ‘We decided to replace a rather draughty sash window with a warmer, double-glazed alternative and re-plaster throughout,’ recalls Laura. The couple also took the decision to the keep the original fireplace that was in the room and Laura spent many hours stripping and polishing it.

‘Quite a few people suggested we remove it, but even though we had to work around it for our fixtures and fittings, I think it was worth the effort, as it adds real character to the room,’ says Laura.

STEP THREE While a generous bath, separate shower and plenty of storage were top of the couple’s wish list, Laura was also adamant the new room needed to be both stylish and as maintenance-free as possible.

‘It took ages to clean the old bathroom so, after speaking to a designer at our local Bathstore, we agreed that teaming

November 2020

29

Feature Paula Woods Styling Jo Rigg Photos Sussie Bell

Moving rooms enabled Laura and Graham to install a shower enclosure, while the addition of a vanity unit with generous storage, mirror and plenty of work-surface, has also proved a winning combination in this busy family bathroom

BATHROOM MAKEOVER A collection of holiday souvenirs and second-hand finds add a personal touch to this much-used room

streamlined, fitted units with a large, sleek shower enclosure and a panelled bath was the best option,’ she explains. It’s a look that, although modern, works well in this Victorian home, thanks to the couple’s choice of timeless Shaker units and a fresh blue, grey and white scheme. ‘The classic, glossy-blue, brick tiles were chosen to add warmth and light, while easy-clean, woodeffect vinyl flooring offers a nod to the period floorboards still found in other parts of the house,’ says Laura.

Good -midaientaen!ance

Practical, low ill prove softer lw cushioned viny erfoot than tiles nd u and warmer tive and easy and is an effec e the look way to replicat d. of real woo Laura was determined to keep the room’s original fireplace, while the addition of a vintage stool provides a handy spot to store clothes and magazines Laura wisely teamed her fixed overhead shower with a secondary hand-held model to ensure the enclosure can be easily washed down – an idea she repeated for the bath

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yourhomestyle.uk

STEP FOUR The couple wisely chose a fitter they had worked with before and he was happy to help when they decided to make a few changes to the initial design.

‘You’d think we’d have ample storage with all those units, but I couldn’t resist building an extra shelf behind the basin and adding handy storage niches within the stud walls for all our toiletries!’ laughs Laura. Their growing confidence also resulted in the basin being switched at the last minute for a larger, more family-friendly, £47 sale bargain. Now that the room swap is finished, Laura couldn’t be happier.

‘I definitely don’t regret our decision to change rooms, as we all love the extra space and having a shower. Plus the girls now use the smaller spare room for sleepovers and homework, so we no longer have rooms going to waste!’

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

Good ide a!

The c

summe ouple fitted a r s so that heating kit to imple, ever yon a radiat e ca or dr y tow els even n enjoy fresh, wh heating is turne en the d off.

ROOM PLAN

3M

3M

THE DETAILS PAINT

£51

TILES

£364 £1,613

UNITS & WORKTOPS SANITARYWARE

£197

BATH & PANELS

£565

TAPS

£300 £1,924

SHOWERS & ENCLOSURE FLOORING

£198

HEATING

£270

TOTAL

£5,482

shopping list

3 OF THE BEST... wooden stools £29 from Boutique Camping Add a vintage touch to your bathroom with this wooden stool. Its black and cream woven details would complement a monochrome scheme beautifully.

£29

£89 from The Find Store Scandi interior enthusiasts will love this minimalist wooden stool. A subtle way to bring some natural warmth to the home.

£150 from Garden Trading Crafted from honey-hued teak, the St Mawes stool looks at home in farmhouse and midcentury modern spaces alike.

£150 £89

Walls in Loft White Intelligent matt emulsion, £51.50 per 2.5L, Little Greene.

Portfolio Classic fitted bathroom furniture in Thistle with solid surface worktops, £1,612.80; Portfolio Classic bath panels, from £170; Thermostatic deck-mounted dual-function bath and shower valve, £190; Metro shower handset kits, £75 each; Piano 250 round shower head with wall arm, £120; Round thermostatic three outlet shower valve, £290; Madeira singleended straight bath, from £145; 1,400 x 900 Everstone shower tray, £320; Glasshouse shower door, £645; side panel, £395; Soho back-to-wall toilet, £150; Portfolio aluminium mirror, £150; Scuro radiator in Grey, from £120; Summer heating kit, from £50, all Bathstore. Tre Mercati Charleston mono basin mixer with pop-up waste, £115.45; Lloyd Pascal Bamboo Maze duckboard, £29.95, both Victorian Plumbing.

Prismatics gloss tiles in Harebell, from £25.99 per sq m, Johnson Tiles. Camargue cushioned vinyl flooring, £22 per sq m, Leoline. Milano Windsor traditional triplecolumn radiator, £99.95, Best Heating. Wallmounted extending bathroom mirror, £99; Croft Collection cotton knitted basket, £22, both John Lewis & Partners. Diamond Geo towels, from £6; Plain Egyptian cotton towels, from £5, both Next. Havern bath rack, £9; Flådis wicker belly basket, £13, both IKEA. Vintage bench, £35; Vintageeffect mirror, £30, both eBay. Wooden body brush, £2.99, Tesco.

November 2020

31

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

It’s all change in my compact bathroom Lisa Bennett was more than happy to sacrifice the bath in favour of a generous walk-in shower when transforming her cramped and dated bathroom

W

hen Lisa and Derek Bennett, and their children Oscar and Scarlett, moved into their three-bedroom London home, they inherited a run-down bathroom. As well as an ageing turquoise suite and unsightly décor, the bathroom was also on the small side for a family so the couple were understandably desperate to renovate it. But rather than try and squeeze updated fittings in to the space, Lisa wanted the key feature of the room to be a modern, spacious showering area.

Use panelling to disguise less-thanperfect walls. The couple made their own from MDF sheets and timber, but you can find kits, try The English Panelling Company

STEP ONE Despite their plumber’s attempts to persuade the couple to upgrade to an over-bath shower, Lisa was adamant that the tub had to go. ‘Being a family of shower fans meant it was too much of a compromise and I was also convinced that removing the bath would help open up the room,’ she says.

Although, as the couple soon realised, having opted to work with the existing layout and pipework, the new shower tray was actually destined to sit on much the same footprint as the old bath, meaning a bath could be reinstated in future, if required.

STEP TWO In terms of design, Lisa was keen to inject some industrial styling into her Edwardian home. ‘It’s a look I believe works well in an older home, thanks to its

Before 32

yourhomestyle.uk

Metallic, vintage-look furniture and accessories add an industrial touch to Lisa’s sleek, contemporary bathroom scheme

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ti Decorative floor ld pattern without bo e uc od tr hoose way to in small rooms. C overpowering palette so they’re a monochrome k with future likely to wor décor updates. modern, yet eclectic finish,’ she explains. So, when the couple spotted a low-level, walkin shower tray, complete with Crittall-style screens, Lisa just had to have it. ‘It did mean increasing our budget a little, but it was worth the investment, as it really is a statement piece,’ says Lisa. She matched it with a classic shower, plus modern, wall-hung fixtures to help open up the room and aid cleaning.

‘I love mixing styles as I think it helps inject character,’ she continues. ‘The double vanity units and mirrors are designed to cater for the morning bathroom rush, as well as add a touch of luxury.’

total cost £4,852

November 2020

Feature Paula Woods Styling Jo Rigg Photos Sussie Bell

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

33

BATHROOM MAKEOVER STEP THREE Installing wall-hung fixtures, including a new radiator, inevitably took its toll on the couple’s already crumbling walls, as did extending the necessary pipe work and electrics. It didn’t deter Lisa, however, who came up with the ingenious solution of simply covering them with homemade panelling fashioned from MDF sheets and timber battens. ‘Now that it’s all painted a rich, period-inspired green, I can’t quite believe how good it looks and, at under £145, it was far cheaper than re-plastering throughout,’ she says. The shower also benefits from a handy inset shelf. While the bold green has been offset with square, white wall tiles, designed to echo the screens and monochrome floor tiles that add a welcome touch of pattern underfoot.

To keep the look clean and simple, Lisa opted for affordable privacy film at the window, which was pre-cut to size then simply fixed in place

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By simply opening up a section of existing stud wall, the couple were able to create a handy recessed storage shelf – perfect for all those showering essentials

The family’s dated bath has been replaced with a generous walk-in shower area, while smart, space-saving sanitaryware and sleek double vanity units help maximise space in this compact but characterful room To keep the look clean and simple, Lisa opted for affordable privacy film at the window, which was pre-cut to size then fixed in place

34

yourhomestyle.uk

Good idea!

Crit

tall-sty touch of ind le screens bring a u bathroom. strial styling to a If pattern dig possible, get the itally screens are printed so the smoo easy to clea th and n.

BATHROOM MAKEOVER

ROOM PLAN

2.8M

Good idea!

Double sinks ofte n bonus in busy bath prove a real ro wall-hung units ca oms, while enlarge a room by n visually opening up the floor area.

1.8M

THE DETAILS SHOWER & ENCLOSURE

£1,668

VANITIES & TAPS

£1,856

W/C

£406

PAINT

£117

PANELLING

£143

TILES

£124

HEATING

£190

LIGHTING

£314 £34

PRIVACY FILM

TOTAL STEP FOUR As the bathroom isn’t overlooked, Lisa opted to keep things clean and uncluttered at the window by ditching fussy treatments in favour of inexpensive window film, which was easy to fit herself.

‘We had the film cut to size and simply fixed it in place using washing-up liquid,’ she says. But the couple did invest in a

pair of industrial-style wall lights, which, although not cheap, are specifically designed for bathroom use. A quick trip to the high street also saw the addition of some geoprint towels and monochrome accessories to complete, what is now, a very stylish and functional, family shower room. ‘I’m so glad we banished that bath,’ concludes Lisa.

3 OF THE BEST... geometric tiles £17.99 per sq m from Tons of Tiles

£32.95

Create a statement floor that will stand the test of time with a classic design.

£24.99 from Tile Mountain Contrast a modern bathroom with rustic tiles for an eclectic feel.

£24.99

£32.95 per sq m from Walls and Floors Can’t decide on a paint colour?

Pick out a shade from a multi-tone tile for a pulled-together scheme.

£17.99

£4,852

shopping list 1000mm framed wet room screen, £338; 8; 800mm framed wet room screen, £311; 1400 x 800 walk-in shower tray, £365; Victorian Grand rigid riser shower kit, £654; Coast white wall-hung 500mm cabinets with basin, £787 each; Willow mono basin mixer taps, £141 each; Luna wall-hung pan and seat, £406, all Hudson Reed. Panelling in Hopper Green intelligent eggshell, from £32 per litre, and walls in Shirting intelligent matt emulsion, 26 per litre, Little Greene. Melia Charcoal patterned ceramic floor tiles, £28 per sq m; white ceramic wall tiles, £5.75 per sq m; 2.4 x 1.2m MDF sheets, from £4.54 per sq m; 2.4m pine stripwood moulding, from £2.10 per m, all Wickes. Flat panel designer radiator in Anthracite, £190.62, Victorian Plumbing.

Made-to-measure Plain Silver Etch frosted window film, £19 per panel, Brume. Bo Vintage bathroom wall lights, £157 each, Furnish.co.uk. Metal frame round mirrors, £60 each, John Lewis & Partners. Striped spa towels, from £9.50; Striped spa face cloths, £3.50 each, Marks & Spencer. Kinen towels, from £5; Ekoln soap dispensers, £4.50 each; Kallna glasses, £4 for six, all IKEA. DKNY spot towel, £4.50, TK Maxx. Metal First Aid box, £19, Hema. Dog Person wall art, £48, Oliver Bonas. For a similar stool, try Tolix-Style Metal Low Stool, £45, Cult Furniture.

November 2020

35

STYLE ADVICE

Upgrade your bedroom to a

STYLISH SANCTUARY Give your slumber space a cosy and on-trend update

A

s the nights draw in, our bedrooms become more important as a place to retreat to and snuggle up in. But the building blocks of a beautiful bedroom go beyond wall colours and duvet covers; creating a restful atmosphere requires mood lighting, fluffy throws, soft rugs, comfy pillows and soothing scents, all blended together with a touch of style. So, whether it’s a luxurious boutique chamber you dream of or a calm and comfortable haven, we’ve got a gallery of bedroom inspiration to help you transform your sleeping space.

Give yourself acres of space to relax and unwind in with this king-size bed frame.

Alva king-size bed, £1,295, Graham & Green

STYLE ADVICE Furnish your bedroom with woolly rugs, plump pillows, thick throws and macramé decorations to create a cosy retreat.

Macramé hanger, £5; Macramé cushion, £10; Floral texture cushion, £7; Pink tassel trim cushion, £7; Tufted spot throw, £20; Pink throw, £20; Simplicity duvet set, from £10; Hoop battery lamp, £7; Polka dot tassel rug, from £40; Berber rug, from £30, all George Home

New Boys Murphy pink mango wood sideboard, £575, Oliver Bonas Helgar sheepskin dusky pink rug, from £59, MADE

The transition into autumn means it’s time to switch up your lightweight window dressings for something a little heavier and in-keeping with the season’s colours, like this set of ombré curtains.

Dill ochre curtains, from £45.75, Blinds 2go

Gold terrazzo double jewellery stand, £18, Mint & May

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Kimball wooden frame, £3.50, Primark

November 2020

37

STYLE ADVICE Snuggle up in your safe space with one (or both!) of these cosy blankets.

Luxurious pom throw in Oatmeal, £40; Cable knit throw, £28, both Next

Create a serene space ‘Your bedroom is your sanctuary; a place to relax and seek calm away from everyday life.

Updating your bedroom with reversible bedding is an easy way to keep things interesting, as you get two designs in one.

The addition of simple touches, such as cuddly throws and cushions, will really transform your bedroom too, as will adding faux or real greenery for colour, texture and serenity.’

Natalie Jones-Senior, Buying Manager at George Home

Novelty face vase, £12, Argos

Matisse inspired floral poster, £8.95, Desenio

Podevache sunset woman cushion, £55, Amara

For an alternative to the standard wooden bed frame, opt for this gorgeous velvet yellow version – it’s great if you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your room.

Invite a hint of autumn into the bedroom with an enchanting forest-print duvet set.

Wilson bed in Opulent Velvet Ochre, from £350, Next

Reversible woodland print duvet cover, from £15, Matalan

Large celestial boxed candle pot, £11.99, The Contemporary Home

Faux fur luxury throw, from £89, Marks & Spencer

Grey hide buckled magazine agazine basket, £169, Life of Riley

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STYLE ADVICE You can’t avoid falling in love with these cosy, autumn harvest-inspired bedsheets.

Fat Face Harvest Floral bedding set, £75, Terrys Fabrics

Stella chunky knit throw in Pink, £105, Sweetpea and Willow

Mini diffuser set, £9.50, Marks & Spencer

Dark, chilly mornings and early sunsets mean we’ll be eager to get into bed and reluctant to get out. So keep your bedroom feeling light, airy and relaxed with comfy furnishings and warm colours, such as blush pink and mustard yellow.

Calypso ottoman bed frame, £999; Edna nest of tables, £229; Halston large hexagonal side table, £49; Soho small fabric footstool, £225, all Furniture Village

Tech-Free Zone diamond dust wall art, £79.50, Oliver Bonas

Pure wool Mongolian cushion in Pink, £45, Marks & Spencer

Illmington plant pot in Pumpkin Mix Jute, £8, Garden Trading

Table talk

Bedside tables aren’t just for lamps and alarm clocks ‘Bedside tables are practical, functional and help to add character and charm to a space. Arranging a table on either side of the bed will create a symmetrical and balanced style. When it comes to accessorising a bedside table, less is more so choose a few personal pieces, such as photographs and jewellery holders. If you see clutter building up, opt for a bedside table with storage to allow you to hide items without sacrificing easy access.’

Suzy McMahon, Buying Director at Sofology November 2020

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STYLE ADVICE Cotton wall hanger decoration, £24, The Find Store

Shallot vermilion table lamp, £60, John Lewis & Partners

Novelty alarm clock, £10, Argos

Get the light right ‘Think about what feel you want to create in your bedroom: calming and pared back, warm and cosy or something with more of a sense of opulence?

Whatever it is, centre your lighting around that. In general, keep bulbs shaded with material as opposed to glass, unless you want to use the light source for reading. If you’re a book lover, directional wall or desk lights are more effective than lamps and lampshades, although they’re not as good at generating a warm, ambient light.’

Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky

To ensure you’re sleeping in the lap of luxury, choose bed linen with a high thread count.

Ligne 800 embroidered white bed linen set, from £95, The French Bedroom Company

If you’re doing up your spare room, then this light grey sofa bed is a style-worthy choice.

Its multi-purpose function also makes it easy to change the space from a bedroom into a relaxed living area when your guests are gone.

Orion textured weave fabric three-seater sofa bed, £599.99, Oak Furnitureland

A side table is always a handy feature in the bedroom.

This one, from John Lewis & Partners, has a drawer that will help you hide clutter, too.

Show-wood upholstered bed in Topaz Pink, £699; Washed linen duvet cover in Loch Blue, £80; Washed linen pillowcase in Forest Green, £15; Washed cotton bedspread in Thyme, £80; Washed cotton bedspread in Plaster, £80; Show-wood bedside table in Nougat, £199; LSA International Gio Gem highball glasses in Amber, £40 for a set of four, all John Lewis & Partners

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DECORATING IDEAS

Is your gallery wall a touch on the dark side? Reconsider the layout and dot small mirrors among the artworks to maximise the light in the area Ferm Living pond mirror, £119, Nest

MIRROR IMAGE Use mirrors to magic up the feeling of a lighter, brighter, larger space in every room ot just a functional necessity, mirrors are a key element in a decorator’s box of tricks, used to create the illusion of more space and light. Narrow hallways, gloomy corners and small spaces can all be transformed with the clever addition of a looking glass – think an oversized mirror positioned at the top of a staircase, or a decorative one placed opposite a window to reflect light.

Whatever the room size, shape and light level you’re working with, here’s how to use reflections to enhance your home.

DECORATING IDEAS Use traditional mirrors alongside other reflective surfaces, such as this luxe mirrored radiator cover, for a smooth flow of light around a room, particularly in large or open-plan spaces Anastasia radiator cover, £349.99, My Furniture

EXPERTS ON REFLECTION Conjure up the perfect mirror scheme with these pro tips for choosing and using them ‘Use larger mirrors in small rooms to give the illusion of more space, or place a mirror perpendicular to, or opposite, a window. This will bounce natural light around the room, creating a much brighter and more spacious feel, reducing the need for artificial lighting.’

Laura O’Connell, Interior Expert and Product Manager for Hillarys ‘In terms of placement, think about what you want to reflect. By using a mirror you can spot your favourite artwork from an unforeseen corner of the room, bring the outside in by hanging one opposite a window, or place in a passageway as a keyhole for what the next room has in store.

Bigger is always better to instil more light and space in a room. Spend more on a mirror as it can make a space feel more luxurious.’

Even a small decorative mirror can bring light to a dark and moody sideboard display. Team with gilt accessories to up the glam factor Golden Perching Parrot Mirror, £46, Audenza

Hung vertically or horizontally, a longer mirror can draw the eye across or up for a sense of depth or height Lozenge wall mirror, £45, Dunelm

Martin Waller, Founder of Andrew Martin ‘Fixed mirrors on a long wall will double the illusion of space. Floorstanding mirrors can be moved around to create different moods within the room – and bigger is always better. A small mirror in a large space will look skimpy, upsetting the balance of the whole room. However, wall mirrors should never be wider than the piece of furniture below.’

Juliette Thomas, Founder and Director of Juliettes Interiors ‘The oldest trick in the book to make a dark space feel lighter and larger is using the art of reflection.

Reflective surfaces and materials such as glass and polished metals will encourage both natural or artificial light to bounce around the room. For those struggling with a dark, small hallway, place two mirrors of the same size opposite each other to create the illusion that your hallway is wider.’

Matthew Currington, Technical Director at The Lighting Superstore

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DECORATING IDEAS

Slimline designs will make the most of a narrow wall space that might otherwise go unused OYOY Renga oval mirror, £80, Amara

Display mirrors at right angles to each other to bounce more light around the room. Choose matching mirrors for a cohesive look, or contrast styles for an eclectic vibe Woodcroft round mirror, £750, Sweetpea & Willow

This mirror’s 3D effect will direct light in different directions for an even spread Verner panelled 3D mirror, £179, MADE

Group a set of smaller mirrors to reflect and highlight your favourite design details in a room, such as a print, ornament or a bright window Langly round bamboo mirrors, £110 for three, Modish Living

Mirrors with natural frames, like rattan and bamboo, give a warming, boho vibe as well as extra light Yuma mirror, £25, Habitat

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Hang a mirror at head height alongside the dining table for a bright, airy feel at mealtimes Landon mirror, £149, Furniture Village

DECORATING IDEAS

GLASSY ACCENTS Add shine to every corner with these mirrored finishing touches

This rainbow-hued lightning bolt mirror will bring Bowie vibes to a gallery wall Bride & Wolfe lightning bolt mirror, £65, Antipodream

Group ornaments on a mirrored tray to style up a coffee table Forest Dawn mirror tray, £15, Argos

Go Gatsby with a glam mirror and gold side table Gold side table, £59.99, Homesense

Alice wooden mirror, £169, Benatti London

Illuminate a small bathroom with a feature wall of mirrored tiles. These have an antique finish for a subtle sheen that won’t overpower the room Foxed mirror tiles, £4.95 per tile, Walls and Floors

Maximise light in a compact bathroom with a large arched mirror Fulbrook mirror, £200, Garden Trading An ornate design will add a sense of grandeur and spaciousness Miss Lala’s gold mirror, £399, The French Bedroom Company

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Feature Michelle Grady

Free-standing mirrors can easily be moved around the house and lend a laidback, romantic air

BUYER’S GUIDE

CLEANSE YOUR HOME

with an air purifier We introduce you to the tools you need to refresh the air in your abode

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e tend to spend more time at home during the chillier months, so at this time of year purifying the air to keep general house dust, unwanted bacteria and pollution at bay is more important than ever. Air purifiers are useful for a multitude of other reasons, too; aside from clearing dust particles and mould spores from the air, they can also help those who suffer from hay fever, allergies and asthma. Here, we take you through the different models and functions, from quiet modes to smart app systems.

G eat for large spaces

Easyto-use model

The Blue Pure 411 purifier can provide clean air for rooms of up to 15 square metres, and it can refresh it five times per hour. The air in the room will be filtered every 12 minutes to effectively lower particle levels and create a cleansed home environment. It can also remove odours and pollutants from a space, and you can easily replace the filter with the touch of a button, so there’s no need to play around with settings.

With the amazing ability to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, this purifier is more than capable of cleansing the air in your home. Plus, it has five handy speed functions, a timer that can be set from one to eight hours, a sleep mode, and a filterchange reminder. What’s more, it’s able to refresh the air in large rooms of up to 120 square metres.

Vax ACAMV101 Pure Air 300 air purifier, £249, John Lewis & Partners

Blue Pure 411 in Saffron Red, from £135, Blueair

If you want to purify the air in your home office or a small room, then this model is for you. The clever oscillating function helps to circulate clean air over a wide area and the purifier can even be controlled remotely from a smartphone app. Plus, this Dyson purifier has a HEPA filter, which means that it can remove 99.95 per cent of allergens and pollutants in the home.

Dyson Pure cool desk air purifier, £399, AO.com

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Remote control

Keep allergies at bay

This air purifier has a three-layer filter system that will get rid of dust, pollutants and odours, and it even has a night mode so you can breathe easy while you sleep, too. On top of that, it has an ionic cleaning function to clear the air of smaller particles, which makes it a superb choice for people with allergies.

Beurer compact air purifier with three-layer filtration LR200-66003, £149.99, Lakeland

BUYER’S GUIDE

To stave off dust particles and refresh the air indoors, choose the Bionaire purifier. Suitable for rooms of up to 30 square metres, the model has a 33 Watt power output and HEPA filters to provide even better purification. Plus, there are three speed settings to choose from and you’ll have a two-year warranty for peace of mind.

Bionaire air purifier, £79, AO.com

For large rooms

Smart and simple

This easy-to-control purifier can be monitored from anywhere using the Air Matters app which is compatible with smartphones. The intelligent purification system also automatically monitors and purifies the air and is able to remove 99.97 per cent of ultrafine particles, allergens, gases and bacteria. Plus, it has the ability to cover huge rooms of up to 95 square metres, and it features a night mode so the air can be cleaned while your sleep is undisturbed.

Philips Series 3000i connected air purifier, £369.99, Amazon

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR? Small Appliances Expert at AO.com, Victoria Miller, reveals exactly how air purifiers can help in your home and what to look out for when choosing the one that’s right for you…

Air purifiers are brilliant for keeping allergies at bay within the home. While restricting particles in the air using a HEPA filtration system, they also release cleaner, cooler air back into the room like a fan.

Certain models also feature an ioniser, which reduces allergens floating around, making them easier to dust or vacuum away. This is great for removing pollen, dust, mould, pet dander and pollution, which makes it a useful appliance in your home all year round.

When purchasing an air purifier, look at the size of the room you want the product to reside in and work out how much space you want it to cover. Small models, which are around 30 square metres and below, are suitable for bedrooms; large models are better for big, open-plan spaces.

Quiet tech

Set your speed

Keep your space fresh 24/7 with the Blue Pure 221 purifier. By drawing in air through its filtration system, the purifier can quietly and efficiently clean a room up to five times every hour.

If you also want to use the purifier through the night then this model can also be set to a low noise level to ensure that you will enjoy a peaceful slumber.

Blue Pure 221, from £355, Blueair

Highly efficient filter

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Take control of the air you breathe with the Beurer purifier from Lakeland. It is able to capture and filter up to 99.5 per cent of particles floating in the air thanks to its three-layer filter system. It also offers a fine dust particle sensor, a UV-C light function to eliminate germs and odours, and a timer that can be set to operate for two, four or eight hours.

As well as being easy to use and extremely quiet, this air purifier has a HEPA filter that captures 99.97 per cent of airborne bacteria, household dust, pet dander, mould spores and pollutants. It’s also a go-to choice for people who suffer with hay fever, and is super simple to clean as the replacement indicator will let you know when you need to change the long-lasting filter.

PureMate five-in-one multiple technologies air purifier with ioniser, £89.99, Amazon

Beurer large room air purifier LR310-66019, £199.99, Lakeland

November 2020

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Kitchens

Be inspired by traditional touches and sustainable swaps

& BATHROOMS Go for gloss Bring a dose of classic elegance to your kitchen or bathroom with the new Zellica tiles from Topps Tiles. The jewel tones and high-gloss finish are inspired by 18thcentury majolica pottery. Each tile is fired at a specific temperature and slower speed to imitate the rustic charm of relics from times gone by, so you can create a traditional feel without the antique price tag. Natural variations in colour and texture enhance this sense of a handcrafted finish. Choose from six rich colours, including liquorice, ochre and bronze, an opulent metallic that blends beautifully with forest green.

DRESS TO IMPRESS Storage solutions shouldn’t be purely functional. If you choose wisely, they can double up as pretty display shelves for your favourite kitchen finery. The Canterbury Dresser and Sideboard from Nöa & Nani ticks all the boxes. Combining a traditional silhouette with a contemporary white paint shade, the dresser is a stylish option for a farmhouse kitchen. The bronze handles bring an industrial edge to the solid pine dresser and the three glass cupboards offer plenty of potential for decorative displays.

Zellica bronze tile, 99p per tile, Topps Tiles

Canterbury dresser and sideboard with solid doors, £399, Nöa & Nani

Freshen up your kitchen with the multi-use Colour Pop enamel frying pan and serving dish from Sous Chef. A slick way to serve up food straight from the oven or hob, the dish is made from durable enamelware that can be heated up to 250°C. It’s also a stylish addition to the dining table thanks to the contrasting colour and monochrome flecked print.

There are five lively shades to pick from – the yellow is our favourite for a splash of sunshine!

Each pan costs £27.50 from souschef.co.uk.

SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB If you’re making the switch from bottled handwash to bar soap, get your hands on the Solid Cedar soap dish by Pete Hill Design. A sleek and sustainable home for your no-waste soap, the dish is created from a single piece of British grown cedar that’ll look striking in modern and traditional bathrooms alike.

There’s no need to worry about water damage as the high resin content of cedar gives it a natural resistance, and the wood is finished with two coats of hard wax oil. Each dish is £20, from Wearth London.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

B ight and beautiful

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KITCHEN IDEAS

Cook in

COLOUR Make your kitchen stand out with vibrant cabinets, bright accessories and high-impact walls and floors

F

or a truly unique kitchen packed with personality, go for a multi-coloured design that can be as subtle or as daring as you desire. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary or classic, industrial or eclectic style, a colourful palette lends itself to many tastes. From a few statement pieces such as decorative flooring, a contrasting island or a brightly finished fridge to a fullon burst of boldness with cabinets in tones of pink, blue or green, the choice is endless.

So, embrace your creative side, pick a palette and make your kitchen space sing.

Metro wall tiles never go out of style and by choosing a classic shade, such as a deep green or blue, you’ll create a feature area or splashback that will stand the test of time. Iridescent finishes also reflect light back into the room, helping to make a small space feel larger Seaton tiles in Sea Grass, £79.20 per sq m, Ca’ Pietra

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KITCHEN IDEAS Colour doesn’t have to mean a bright, primary palette. You can go for a more subtle approach with pale pastel tones, adding further interest by combining two different shades Milano Contour kitchen in Rose and Jelly Bean with Gold profile, from £3,525, Wren Kitchens

Invest in small appliances that complement your scheme.

The Scandi look is always on trend and will work with both modern and classic kitchens

rt

Sowden kettle, £95, Nest

ti p

Ep e

‘Find your happy shade by spending some time thinking about the colours you like. Look around your home and consider the colour choices you’ve made already. The average household replaces their kitchen every 13 years so your kitchen colour will be with you for a long time.’

Darren Watts, Design Director at Wren Kitchens

Kitchen Pantry utensil holder, £15.95, Sak Home

Add abstract prints for an artisanal feel Nomad Splash tea towel, £12.95, Ruth Holly

Window dressings are a quick and easy way of adding a bold hue to the kitchen and you can always pick the colour up with matching accessories and textiles Yellow full-height shutters, from £299 per sq m, Shutterly Fabulous

Paint small areas in contrasting tones then anchor the look with dramatic black units and an on-trend terrazzo worktop.

Walls can quickly, easily and inexpensively be repainted when you fancy a change Spiced Rum (left wall) and Renaissance Fresco (right wall) Valspar Blend v500 Kitchen & Bathroom emulsion, £27 for 2.5L, B&Q

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Feature Hayley Gilbert

Keep essentials close to hand and pop a storage pot next to the hob. Fill with bright utensils for bonus colour points!

KITCHEN IDEAS Island units are so versatile, as you can use them for storage, food prep and as somewhere to sit and chat. Make a statement with yours by opting for a coordinating colour for a two-tone look Midsomer kitchen in Lavender and Rose, from £10,000, Crown Imperial

Appliances can be fun as well as functional!

Think fridgefreezers, range cookers and extractor hoods in vibrant shades or pastel tones for a retro look FAB50RPG fridgefreezer in Pastel Green, £1,999, Smeg

If you want to go for neutral cabinets and walls, decorative flooring is a great way to introduce colour without it feeling overwhelming. A traditional navy blue goes with pretty much anything Check Blue luxury vinyl floor tiles, £49.99 per sq m, Harvey Maria

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Splashback panels are low maintenance as they are easier to clean than tiles. Look for a purpose-designed sheet that is heat resistant and antibacterial. This version is eco-friendly too, as it’s made from aluminium, and it’s really quick to install Bluebird splashback, £109 per 90 x 60cm panel, AluSplash

KITCHEN IDEAS Hang a bright pendant shade over the kitchen table or a row of three over an island or breakfast bar for task lighting during food prep or dining Pascal red vintage pendant light, £29.99, My Furniture

A free-standing larder unit can be added to an existing kitchen to introduce a daring hue Shaker larder unit, from £4,000, Harvey Jones

Even an old sink can be jazzed up with a new tap. This design features a hygienic Santoprene rubber-effect hose that comes in a choice of 11 optional extra colour finishes so you can change your tap’s look in an instant Essence mixer tap with black hose, £503.05; additional green hose, £118.14, Grohe Add a rainbow of colour to your worktop with nesting utensils in five fun shades

E

Joseph Joseph Nest Plus utensils, £30 for five, Marks & Spencer

t ti p r e p ‘We are

definitely seeing a growing interest in our more colourful products and ranges. Colour in the kitchen, whether this is on cabinets, doors or accessories, is a 2020 go-to trend and one I believe is here to stay.’

Mark Mills, Managing Director, Trend Interiors

Colourful doesn’t have to mean bold and bright. You can go for a more muted look with darker tones and mix with natural materials such as stone and wood Profile Jupiter Slab and Profile Fjord Green Matt Slab kitchen, from £14,552, Trend Interiors

Swap neutral cookware for a colourful alternative to display on open shelving Green cast iron 20cm casserole dish, £49, ProCook

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KITCHEN PROBLEM ROOM

We’ve used every bit of Morgen and Pete Sneezum renovated the ground floor of their home

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INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE? Morgen, 33, is a senior manager at a local estate agent and lives in a two-bedroom cottage in Long Melford with her husband Pete, 40, their daughter Mable, five, and their two Labradors, Franklyn and Fynn.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE NEW ROOM? ‘The open-plan kitchen works so well with our family life – it’s such a light and social space. But, most of all, I love all the small details we’ve been able to add, such as the faux living walls. It’s been so much fun to really push the design boundaries.’

hen Morgen and Pete moved into their two-bedroom cottage three years ago, they immediately started to plan how they’d re-build the property’s small, dated kitchen. ‘We wanted an open-plan space with plenty of storage, which is something the original kitchen lacked,’ says Morgen.

In order to create their dream kitchen, the couple needed to embark on a complete renovation of the ground floor of their home and the lean-to extension at the back. ‘First we ripped out the chimney and had the staircase that ran alongside the old kitchen removed. It was such a messy and timeconsuming job; I’ve never seen quite so much dust! After we completed that, we lived with a huge hole in the ceiling for months.’

Next, they transferred the old kitchen units to the dining room temporarily so that the lean-to could come down. ‘This happened in January and the only thing protecting us from the elements was plywood. I remember working late into the night to get the kitchen sorted as quickly as possible – it was so dark and freezing cold,’ says Morgen. Once the old

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS? ‘Go for it! Anything that you love or that brings a smile to your face, buy it, make it, add it, paint it. Don’t be afraid to have what you want, even if you think it doesn’t work together. My go-to quote is from worldrenowned interior designer Bunny Williams: “If you love something, it’ll work. That’s the only rule.“’

The couple complemented the dark navyblue units with natural oak worktops and flooring

LIGHT FANTASTIC Morgen sprayed some inexpensive ceiling lights gold and black to complement the deco-style kitchen

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KITCHEN PROBLEM ROOM

space in the best way Feature Suzie Attaway Photos Simon Whitmore

to create a spacious open-plan kitchen

ALMOST-LIVING WALLS Morgen decided to add sheets of faux foliage to the walls for a quirky feature

DRINKS AND DOODLES Pete built the bespoke wine rack and also created a blackboard for Morgen and Mable to doodle on

Shopping list Södermalm Indigo kitchen units and Caple sink and tap, £4,380, Gaddesby. Oak worktops, £570, Worktop Express. Vinyl wood flooring, £3,000, LG Hausys. Ginger Ray foliage wall tiles, £59.94; Leopard head wall vase, £26.95, both Not On The High Street. Bamboo roller blinds, £21, B&Q. Lomond table and bench set, £449, MADE. Jazz fringe pendants, £75; Torcello bar stools, £178, both Dunelm. Metro Blush tiles, £30 per sq m, Topps Tiles.

total cost:

£8,753.89

bricks and rubble were gone, the foundations were laid for the new extension. After that, it wasn’t long before the walls were built and the new roof was secured.

With the extension built, the interior walls were removed and the new supporting steels went in. ‘One of them had to go bang in the middle of the kitchen, which messed up our original design plans,’ says Morgen.

The couple had spent months planning the kitchen layout to make sure the new space would be used in the best possible way. ‘It became a running joke, because we’d go to bed happy, with a final layout agreed between us, then I’d wake Pete up in the morning with a whole new design that I’d thought about in the middle of the night.

I lost count of how many times I did that.’

After finally agreeing on a design, the new windows and doors were installed, and the kitchen units were bought and fitted. ‘Pete installed and decorated the kitchen himself, which meant we could create bespoke elements, such as the floor-to-ceiling wine rack and the chalkboard, which is filled with Mable’s drawings. He also ‘wrapped’ our fridge-freezer in matte gold at work, which makes it so different to anything else we’ve seen. I also love that we have faux foliage running along the back of the whole kitchen and that the steel is covered in metro blushpink tiles – it’s the perfect way to make a feature of such an eyesore.’

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BATHROOM IDEAS

SOAK STARS Clean up your act with expert tips and choose the right bathtub for bathrooms of all shapes and sizes

A

s your bathroom’s focal point and one of its most important elements, the tub has to tick a lot of boxes. It needs to fit the room’s size and shape and complement its style, as well as being comfortable and practical to use. Whether you’re buying a new bath as part of a refit or want to replace a dated model with a statement piece, start by measuring up, then take your pick from classic free-standing tubs, sleek corner baths and more.

Whether you sit on it while the tub fills or use it to keep towels off the floor, this birch wood stool is a handy addition Kyrre stool, from £10, IKEA

No room for a free-standing tub? A backto-wall model provides maximum impact with a minimal footprint, and the slimline profile is a further spacesaving feature River backto-wall bath, from £1,695, Waters Baths of Ashbourne Finding a bath that’s functional for all the family doesn’t mean sacrificing style, as demonstrated by this contemporary free-standing bath in stain- and scuffresistant Lucite acrylic. It’s double-ended, so the kids won’t fight over who’s at the tap end, and has rounded edges rather than sharp angles Milano Irwell oval free-standing bath, £629.99, Big Bathroom Shop

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BATHROOM IDEAS Bring the room up to date with a bold black free-standing bath teamed with a tall tap. Also available in white, this acrylic bath is warm to the touch and lightweight, so you won’t have to reinforce the floor to take its weight

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY ‘Don’t be scared to test the bath out in the showroom. You wouldn’t buy a mattress without laying on it, so it would be crazy not to get into the bath and see how comfortable it is. Each will offer a completely different bathing experience.’

Sally Cutchie, Marketing Manager, BC Designs

Harlesden bath, £1,095, Bathrooms To Love

Forget ugly 70s suites – today’s corner baths have had a design overhaul and are now streamlined, shapely and maximise legroom when space is tight Milano offset corner bath, £319.99, Big Bathroom Shop

‘Think about your family dynamics and if they are likely to change over the next few years.

Make sure the size and style of your bath is both timeless and functional. Free-standing and curved D-shaped baths are great for young kids for the practical access and smooth, unobtrusive corners.’

Jessica Steele, eCommerce Executive, Big Bathroom Shop

Inject a blast of colour by opting for a bath with a panel that can be personalised. This inset bath fits the bill beautifully as you can tile the outer panel and, being enclosed by three walls, it’s ideal for compact or narrow layouts Lambert double-ended bath, from £389, BC Designs

If you love a long soak, go for a deep tub that retains heat. This one is made from Iso-enamel, which keeps the water hotter for longer just like cast iron, but is less than half its weight and can be painted in virtually any shade Geminus plinth free-standing bath in Burnished Iron, from £1,917, The Albion Bath Company

Guaranteed to keep you toasty while you dry off, these supersoft cotton towels go with every colour scheme and have excellent eco-credentials as they’re made from recycled cotton Feature Andrea Dean

PLAN AHEAD

Zante striped towels, from £7, Habitat

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BATHROOM IDEAS For a bath that stands out from the crowd, try this modern square rolltop, which can be paired with floor or wall-mounted taps and is deep enough for a satisfying soak Arezzo Modern Square rolltop bath, £599.95, Victorian Plumbing

With one long and one short side fitted flush to the wall, a straight, built-in singleended bath is extremely versatile and ideal for small bathrooms or when you want to free up space for a separate shower cubicle Belfry Bathroom Pool bathtub, £226.99, Wayfair

Positioned in the centre of the room or by the window, a classic clawfooted rolltop bath adds a sense of grandeur to a big bathroom. Being doubleended, with the taps in the middle, this design is made for comfort as well as style Decadent double-ended rolltop bath, £425, Wickes

In fashionable brushed brass, matt black or chrome, this floor-standing bath-shower mixer boasts a slim profile and complements a contemporary free-standing tub Hoxton mono bath-shower mixer, from £649, Britton Bathrooms

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BATHROOM IDEAS

THE LUXE CHOICE ‘Free-standing baths are one of the easiest ways to make a splash and they don’t have to burst your budget. Style your statement bathroom with a bold wallpaper and plants aplenty for the ultimate boutique hotel vibe.’

Nadia McCowan Hill, Resident Style Advisor, Wayfair

A variation on a free-standing claw-foot design, a slipper bath is raised at one end to support your back and shoulders for the ultimate bathing experience Astoria rolltop slipper bath, from £369.95, Victorian Plumbing

Save space with this metal-framed mirror, which includes a cute shelf for Instagrammable storage

TIP TOP TAPS

Almost Square mirror with shelf, £95, Rockett St George

‘A tap and shower combo is the top solution for people on a budget or with a difficult plumbing setup. We always advise that they speak to installers or retailers and get a system that works for them and sits within their budget.’

Faye Froy, Marketing Manager, Burlington

Keeping the bathroom tidy is a cinch with this three-shelf wooden unit that has been treated to prevent the growth of bacteria and mould Oakley storage shelves, £70, Next

Clean lines and a cutting-edge design make an L-shaped shower bath an inspired choice for a compact room Veroli left-hand shower bath, £210, Wickes

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COMPETITION

WIN! £500 WORTH OF WINDOW DRESSINGS FROM BLINDS 2GO Choose from a broad selection of styles and coverings, from conservatory blinds to curtains

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he stylish online blinds and curtains retailer, Blinds 2go, is giving three Your Home readers the chance to win £500 worth of window dressings.

THE PRIZE The three winners will get to choose from the wide variety of made-to-measure blinds offered by Blinds 2go, which includes Venetian, vertical, roller, Roman and pleated, as well as curtains, conservatory coverings and shutters.

There’s also an array of eye-catching fabric designs available from renowned brands, such as the beautiful William Morris collection, which has been created in collaboration with the V&A, as well as others from Clarissa Hulse, Cath Kidston, Voyage Maison, Emma Bridgewater, Orla Kiely, Harlequin, Sanderson and Scion. Whether you’re one of the competition winners or a Blinds 2go customer, you’re sure to find the perfect window dressing for any room.

Cover your windows with designer fabrics, such as William Morris Fruit Primrose

THREE LU C KY WINNER S

FIND OUT MORE For free samples, easy measuring guides and window dressing inspiration, visit blinds-2go.co.uk.

TO ENTER, follow @blinds2go on Instagram and tag a friend in the comments of the competition post. The competition closes 15th November 2020 at 11.59pm.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. The promoter is Blinds 2go Limited. 2. One entry per person. 3. Ages 18 and over only. 4. Entries from UK only.

5. The competition closes 15th November 2020 at 11.59pm. 6. Full terms and conditions can be found at blinds-2go.co.uk/competitions.htm

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Get the low-down on the latest craft news and course s

festive season

DIY MASTERCLASS

Sew your stockings for the

SEW SIMPLE

REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE

Pull-out guide

MAKE, DO & CRAFT

y s a e T MAKE I

YOUR HANDY

Jazz up an old vase with a lick of paint

W

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Learn how to tile a kitchen splashback

hen it comes to Christmas, all crafters know that getting a head start is essential. So what better time than the present to get going with a few fun, festive projects? Begin on page 62 with a super simple set of cards, candles and decorations, then take a break from seasonal crafts and try your hand at upcycling a tired vase with a splash of colour. Next up, prepare for presents by stitching a yuletide stocking, then learn how to tile a splashback on page 68 – we promise, it’s easier than you think!

ASK THE EXPERTS

Make Christmas candles, cards and decorations

MAKE, DO & Get a head start on Christmas décor and gifting with these festive crafts

RUSTIC SIGN Upcycle bright scraps of seasonal fabrics and transform an offcut of wood to make this festive greeting

SHOPPING LIST Old piece of wood or an old floorboard Chalk paint in white Brush Cloth or kitchen towel Fabric scraps (the size of a fat quarter) Papier-mâché letters in J, O and Y PVA glue Strong glue

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Before you begin, protect your worktop and the area you’re working in. Clean the floorboard with a dry paintbrush to remove any dirt and dust. Apply paint to the floorboard with light strokes. To get the effect, you should only have a little paint on the brush, so if it’s overloaded with paint sweep it over kitchen roll a few times to remove the excess.

Once you’ve applied the paint, use a dry cloth or piece of kitchen roll to rub over the paint to work it into the grain of the wood and also to remove any excess. This will ensure the grain of the wood will be visible through the paint. Leave it to dry completely.

Arrange the fabrics in the order you would like them to appear. Once you’re happy with the look, coat the face of the first letter with PVA glue, then stick the fabric in place. Work around the letter, sticking and clipping the fabric to the sides and on the reverse. Repeat for the remaining letters, then go over the fabric with PVA glue to seal the edges. Arrange the letters down the length of the floorboard, then attach in place using strong glue to finish.

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Project by Claire Watkins

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top tip Play around with the position of the letters – different board shapes will suit other arrangements.

MAKE, DO & CRAFT

3D TREE CARD Reuse last year’s wrapping paper for this thrifty 3D tree card

SHOPPING LIST Wrapping paper White card Red felt heart Buttons in pearl, red and blue Jewelled brads or flat-backed gems Pencil PVA glue Foam pads Double-sided tape

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Cut a piece of white card measuring 24 x 17cm. Score down the middle and fold in half to make a base card. Cut 14 strips of papers in varying lengths; the longest 9cm long and the shortest 1.5cm. Roll the strips of paper around a pencil or large knitting needle and secure the end with glue or double-sided tape.

Arrange the paper rolls on the base card in a tree shape, with the longest at the bottom and the shortest at the top. To perfect the length of each roll, lightly flatten the ends to give a straight edge and trim. Stick in place with double-sided tape.

Decorate the tree with buttons and brads, securing with glue. Add a felt heart to the top of the tree with a foam pad, to finish.

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top tip Once you’ve mastered the technique with the tree motif, use it to create cards with other shapes too, such as a heart.

Project by Vicky Sheridan

Make painted tealight lanterns for a cosy glow

SHOPPING LIST Glass jars of various sizes 5cm wide professional-quality masking tape Surface primer Red enamel spray paint Old cardboard box Various ribbons Precision craft knife Cutting mat Baking paper Pencil Strong glue

top tip These jars can get very hot when used with real tealights, so use a battery-operated tealight instead.

Stick a piece of masking tape lightly onto baking paper. Draw a heart or star template to fit your jar (you could also find a template online to print out). Put the baking paper sheet over the template and trace around the motif. Use a craft knife and cutting mat to cut around the motif.

Remove the baking paper.

Clean and dry the jar. Stick your masking tape motif onto the side of the jar in your preferred position. Attach a piece of masking tape behind the motif on the inside of the jar to prevent any overspray settling on the clear motif area.

Place the jar inside an old cardboard box and give it a coat of primer. Leave to dry for about 20 minutes, then repeat if necessary.

Once dry, apply your first coat of colour in the same way. Leave to dry, then repeat, building up layers of colour.

Once dry, remove the masked motif from the front of the jar and the masking tape from inside. Cut a length of decorative ribbon and tie in a bow around the rim of the jar, and dab some strong glue underneath to hold it in place.

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Project by Claire Watkins

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If using real tealights, never leave them unattended when lit.

LANTERN JARS

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REVAMP, REPAIR,

Rec cle Upgrade a plain vase with masking tape and a coat of paint

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ring a splash of colour to your home with this speedy upcycling project.

Unleash your creativity with this vase revamp and transform a lacklustre piece of homeware into a statement accessory that will brighten up whatever space you put it in. All you need is a dash of paint, some masking tape and a simple design to get started.

YOU WILL NEED Vase Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Lemon, Light Grey, Gold and Black Paint brushes Masking tape

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Begin by taping a large triangle shape onto the vase. Create a clean line by smoothing the tape down, ensuring you have no gaps. Paint the first colour within the taped section. The colour used is Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Lemon.

If needed, apply a second coat. Remove the tape. Leave the vase to dry overnight before applying a smaller taped triangle.

Within the smaller taped section, apply Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Light Grey. Allow this to dry and apply a second coat if needed. Remove the tape.

With a small paint brush, apply random dots and strokes of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Gold. Add dots and strokes to both of the painted areas of the vase.

Do the same with the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Black – you want the marks to be irregular, so don’t think about it too much. Once all the paint is fully dry, fill the vase with a beautiful bouquet of dried grasses and wildflowers.

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Project by Hester van Overbeek for Rust-Oleum.

For more upcycling ideas, visit makeityours.co.uk

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Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch multi-purpose paint, £2.50 for 0.02L, B&Q

top tip You don’t need to fork out a fortune to buy a large pot of paint for this project.

A small tin such as RustOleum’s Painter’s Touch, or a sample pot will be enough to do the trick.

November 2020

REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE

We used Painter’s Touch paint, which can be applied to wood, metal and ceramic.

It’s also suitable for interior and exterior use, and we love the idea of sprucing up a planter in a similar way next summer

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Sew all the family stockings ahead of Santa’s arrival with

this simple design

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o Christmas mantelpiece would be complete without stockings and a matching set is sure to impress Santa!

You can bring this classic design out every year and, if you start now, you’ll have time to make one for every family member. It’s a great skillsbooster too – you’ll learn how to sew neat curves, and add a cuff and hanging loop. Let the kids pick the fabrics for festive family fun.

YOU WILL NEED Main cotton fabric, 50 x 112cm Contrast cotton fabric, 20 x 40cm Pins Matching thread Scissors Iron Sewing machine

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Download, print and cut out the stocking template from yourhomestyle.uk. From the main cotton fabric, cut two pairs using the stocking template and two strips measuring 31 x 5cm each. From the contrast cotton fabric, cut one 35.5 x 17cm rectangle for the cuff.

Pin two mirror-image stocking pieces right sides (RS) together. Sew them together all the way around, but leave the top straight edge open. Carefully clip into the curved edges at regular intervals, being very careful to cut up to, but not through, your stitching – this will help the stocking sit flat when it is turned RS out. Turn the stocking RS out and press.

Repeat this process with the other two stocking pieces to make the lining for the stocking, but also leave a 10cm turning gap along the centre of one side.

Fold the hanging loop piece in half lengthways and stitch it together down the length. Turn the loop RS out and press. Fold the loop in half and pin the raw ends together, ensuring the loop isn’t twisted.

Fold one cuff piece in half widthways, RS together. Pin and stitch down the short edges to create a tube. Repeat with the other cuff piece.

Take the outer stocking and one cuff tube. Slip the cuff over the outer stocking with RS together, matching the seam on the cuff with the heel-side seam of the stocking and pin it together.

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Sew all the way around. Pull the cuff RS out so it extends above the stocking outer and press. Repeat to join the other cuff to the stocking lining, but slip the hanging loop in between the cuff and lining, centring the loop on the heel-side seam and aligning the raw edges so that the hanging loop hangs downwards.

Turn the assembled stocking lining and cuff wrong sides (WS) out and slip the assembled outer and cuff inside it so they’re RS facing. Pin and sew them together all around the top of the cuff. Turn the stocking RS out through the

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turning gap, then slip stitch the gap closed. Push the lining inside the stocking outer, press and topstitch all the way around the top edge of the cuff to neaten.

Fold the cuff out to the RS of the stocking, but leave approx 2cm of cuff at the inside of the stocking and press. Fold the hanging loop upwards and slip stitch it to the inside of the cuff up both sides of the loop to hold it in place.

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Project by Michelle Grady for Simply Sewing.

Find more Christmas projects at gathered.how

top tip

Photo Philip Sowels

SEW SIMPLE

Personalise your stocking with an appliquĂŠ or embroidered initial by printing out a letter to use as a template.

November 2020

67

DIY ma e class How to tile a kitchen splashback

How to cut tiles

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t’s easier than you might think to tile a kitchen splashback. The key is taking time to plan in advance. When you plan where you want your tiles to go, you will see where your tiles end up sitting around windows, sockets and where your worktop ends. You can change the pattern, or possibly even the shape, to avoid the trickiest areas – you can also avoid being left with any tricky 5mm cuts, for instance. This splashback uses a running bond (bricklaying pattern) with sleek metro tiles – the result is neat, stylish, and no one will ever believe it was a DIY job!

With a manual cutter Measure the space you need your tile to fill, and deduct a 2mm tile spacer gap. Transfer your measurement to the tile, then line up the mark to the top of the tile cutter. Starting from the bottom, gently push the handle down while moving forward to score the tile.

Once you’ve got to the top, make sure the metal pressure piece is resting on the top edge of the tile.

Then gently push down the handle until it cuts in half. Practice makes perfect, and these metro tiles are inexpensive, so if you make a cut you’re not happy with, simply repeat until you get it right.

YOU WILL NEED Metro white ceramic tiles Tile adhesive Tile adhesive trowel Spirit level 2mm tile spacers BAL primer Paintbrush Manual tile cutter Wet tile cutter with diamond blade (if you need to cut awkward shapes) 10mm plastic square edge trim Plastic sheet with masking tape on roll Tape measure Mini mitre block Junior hacksaw Grout (we used Ultra Tile Flex ProGrout Flexible) Squeegee Blu Tack Bostik Fix & Flash Scourer Grouting sponge White silicone sealant and gun Spray bottle with diluted washing up liquid Credit card (or a plastic card with curved corners) Stone sealer Microfibre cloth

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Spread the tile adhesive Make sure your

walls are sound, level and with no loose bits.

Here, we will be tiling directly onto plasterboard and wood. To prep, brush the surface with a BAL primer when tiling a porous area, like plaster or wood, if suggested on the tile adhesive (some are self-priming). Protect your worktop and sink using a plastic sheet secured with masking tape.

Measure out the centre point of your splashback and draw a vertical centre line in pencil. Using a tile adhesive trowel, spread adhesive out from the centre and base of your splashback area, making sure you only use just enough. The adhesive sets after around 30 minutes. (If you do spread too much, you’ll need to scrape it off and prime again.)

Lay your rows Place spacers along the bottom edge of your tiling area (optional),

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With a wet tile cutter If you need to take a section out of a tile, then using a wet tile cutter with a diamond blade is the quickest. Measure and mark the notch to cut out, pour water into the cutter and, wearing goggles, cut carefully. It may feel a little intimidating at first, but it gets much easier with practice.

then line your first tile up with your centre line, leaving a slight gap for the spacer, and press firmly onto the wall. Place spacers on either side of the tile and press a second tile snugly alongside. Continue to lay the rest of the row, and check that the row is level. On this splashback, the left-hand edge stops partway along a wall – this needs tiles cut to size and a tile trim to finish off that vertical edge. If your splashback is like this, then don’t tile to the very end of the exposed side just yet.

To begin the second row of the running bond, measure and mark the centre point of a tile and line this up with a vertical gap between two tiles on the wall. Continue to adhere tiles as before.

P ep the tile trim Now it’s time to mitre the vertical and horizontal lengths of tile trim, if needed. Place your trim in the mitre block

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and cut towards the end with a hacksaw. Gently sand the raw edge with 240 grit sandpaper. Trim roughly down to size, leaving 1-2cm extra. Lay your new cut on top of another length of trim (as pictured) and draw along it for a visual guide.

Place the newly marked trim in the mitre block, line it up with the correct angle and saw again.

Tack out tricky sections With any small, awkward sections of your splashback – such as the left-hand edge of this project – you can use Blu Tack to temporarily attach tiles, trim and spacers to the wall. Arrange your design on the wall and make accurate markings before you cut any tiles to fit. Place, mark and cut your lengths of trim, as well.

Tile and trim Carefully take down your arranged section, and cut any tiles as needed. Continue tiling as before and, when

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Get Inspired

This project was created by blogger Vikkie Lee, a DIY & Home Improvement blogger – check out her blog thecarpentersdaughter.co.uk for many more inspiring DIY projects, and to see how they all come together in her home.

an as you go Cle Tile

adhesive is messy stuff so clean up as you go with a sponge or cloth. Keep the 2mm gaps between the tiles clear especially, as it’s tricky to remove the adhesive from the cracks once it’s dry.

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Tidy c

If your mitred trim join doesn’t sit neatly, use Bostik Fix & Flash resin glue, or a contact adhesive, to fill the gap.

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DIY MASTERCLASS

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you get to an edge that requires trim, add your adhesive first, place the trim on top, then lay the tiles in place last.

Once you have laid the last tile and trim section, leave overnight.

P ep for grout After leaving the tiles and trim to dry overnight, remove the spacers between the tiles and the plastic sheet. You may need a pair of pliers to remove any spacers that are tricky to pull out by hand.

Using a damp plastic scourer, scrub away any adhesive that is stuck to the tiles and any excess between the tiles, as this will show up after grouting – essential if you are using a contrasting grout colour.

Mixing grout Recover your worktop and sink with a fresh length of plastic sheet.

Wearing gloves and eye protection and with

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good ventilation, pour 300ml water into a clean bucket, then slowly stir in 1kg of grout (or follow packet instructions if you’re using a different product). It sets within 30 minutes, so work in small batches.

Apply the grout using a hard rubber VTXHHJHH ,W·V EHVW WR DSSO\ XVLQJ D DQJOH to really press and pack the grout into all of the 2mm gaps. Leave each section to set for 15 minutes, then remove the excess with a damp grouting sponge, rubbing away from the gaps and not with them.

Repeat until the whole splashback is grouted.

After a few hours, buff the remaining grout off the surface of the tiles with a clean microfibre cloth for a shiny finish.

Seal your splashback Remove the plastic sheet and run masking tape along the

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back edge of your worktop, a few millimetres away from the tiles. Take your silicone sealant and apply as consistent a bead as possible – practise on a scrap surface first to get a feel for it. (Your bead of silicone should not sit over your masking tape, otherwise it will form a lip.)

Now, spray the silicone with diluted washingup liquid and smoothly run along it with the corner of a credit card. This also spreads any excess for you as you go. Try not to contaminate it with your fingers. Carefully pull up the protective tape.

After your silicone has set, take a brush and apply a stone sealer all over the grout and leave to dry. Remove any excess with a clean cloth and repeat three times. This will ensure your grout is completely waterproof and will help to prevent stains.

November 2020

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Ask the

EXPERTS

Our team of experts answers all your home improvement questions

Q

My bath panel has broken and I can’t find a new one that suits anywhere. As an alternative, I’d like to try wood panelling, but I don’t know what type I need. Can you advise?

Mrs K Haines, via email

A

George Holland, junior marketing executive at Victorian Plumbing, has this advice…

Although it’s not as straightforward as simply replacing an old PVC panel, you can create your own wooden bath panel using tongue and groove cladding. These clever strips of wood slot neatly together and can be painted to seamlessly blend in with your bathroom’s colour scheme.

Feature Hayley Gilbert

Chatsworth Blue Traditional Bath Panel Pack, £164.95, Victorian Plumbing

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Usually used outside to improve the look of a home’s exterior, they’re quite capable of being used in the wet and warm environment of the bathroom.

You’ll find cladding in many different types of timber at your local DIY store, however, we recommend opting for oak if you can, as it’s substantially more dense and durable than most alternatives. Be sure to check the quality of the wood before purchasing – avoid any panels that have a lot of knots as these can weaken the wood and lead to splits over time. Then it’s just a case of carefully measuring and cutting to fit.

If that sounds like too much work, you could always try our on-trend Chatsworth bath panels, available in four of the most popular bath sizes. Visit victorianplumbing.co.uk for more information.

Q

How many different types of light should I have in my kitchen? It’s not a massive space, but it’s being renovated and I feel like I want spotlights, pendant lights over the breakfast bar and then countertop lights. Is that too many?

Ann Schofield, Bristol

A

Mark Mills, managing director at Trend Interiors, has this to say…

It’s not really a question of how many lights is right, but how you want to light your space. Positioning lights to mix ambient and task lighting in different ways can create depth and a greater illusion of space, especially in a smaller kitchen. Bright task lighting in key areas, such as where you’ll be prepping food, the kitchen sink and above the hob is a must, whereas a breakfast bar is perfect for pendant lighting.

Along with ensuring that there’s adequate task and ambient lighting, try to make them as versatile as possible by having lights that are controlled separately.

For maximum flexibility, factor in dimmer switches so that you have the option of creating a softer ambient glow when needed.

Profile light grey gloss and anthracite gloss slab kitchen, from £13,000, Trend Interiors

Q

I’ve just gone back to uni and moved into a rented shared house. My bedroom is pretty drab so I want to cheer it up with lots of colour, but nothing too overpowering as I need to study in there too.

Sara Preston, Chester

A

Interior designer Linda Barker has these suggestions…

If you’re studying and sleeping in the same space, and you have permission to paint the walls, I’d use natural colours on walls and ceilings that harmonise and are restful to sleep with. But also add furnishings and accessories in uplifting colours that are stimulating. You could use Borrowdale, from my range of paints, on the lower third of the wall and skirting boards – it’s a calming mix of green and grey that will hide scuffs and marks more easily than a lighter colour.

For the upper two thirds and ceiling, try Little Voice, an uplifting grey that works with Borrowdale, but won’t distract you from studies.

Try painting the headboard for your bed in my Kissing Gate blush pink shade or use it to upcycle a desk and chair. When you leave, it’s easy to turn this colour to white, if necessary. Paints cost £33.99 per litre and can be bought from lindabarkerpaints.com.

Q

I’d like to freshen up my living room, and maybe the bedroom and bathroom too. I’m thinking about roller blinds for all three. How do I go about measuring up, as I always get confused with measuring inside or outside the recess. Any tips?

Suzanne Dunstan, Cardiff

A

Leah Brandwood, head of design at Blinds 2go, has these top tips…

Measuring for your own blinds is a simple way to save money.

First decide whether you want your new blind to fit inside the recess of the window (recess fitting) or to be positioned on the wall above it (exact fitting).

For recess blinds, we recommend you measure in three different

places for the width and height of the recess and use the narrowest measurement for your order. The width for roller blinds is slightly different (to allow for the size of the brackets), so it’s a good idea to take the measurement at the top of the recess for the best fit. If you have tiles partway up your recess, you’ll also need to measure the space between the tiled walls, as it’s usually the narrowest.

For exact-fitting blinds, measure the recess, as before, but add at least 70mm at the top and 50mm each side to minimise light leakage.

You can choose how much overlap you’d like at the bottom, but don’t forget to allow for obstacles, such as radiators. My other top tip is to use a metal tape measure – it’ll give you a more accurate measurement than a cloth one.

If you’re replacing an existing blind, all you need to do is take

the measurements from that one (including fittings) so we can make your new blind to the same dimensions. For more details, or if you have a more unusual style of window, such as a bay, have a read of our easy-to-follow measuring guide at blinds-2go.co.uk.

Blowing Grasses Blue roller blind from the Clarissa Hulse collection, from £33.65, Blinds 2go

Q

We’ve bought a Victorian terrace and the first job on our renovation list is the windows. We don’t have a big budget, but want glazing that will keep the heat in. What do we need?

Heather Cartwright, Dundee

A

Find out more about your glazing options at MyGlazing.com

When h it i comes to energy efficiency, there’s not a simple or easy answer: you have many options – double glazing, triple glazing, secondary glazing and/or installing low-emissivity glass, for example.

Window film and coated glass can also improve energy efficiency and may be a less-expensive alternative.

If you have local authority restrictions on double or triple glazing, you could consider secondary glazing, which isn’t under any local authority directives.

Double and triple glazing are more expensive because they involve replacing whole units, but they’re better at keeping heat in and

improving thermal i i h l performance f than secondary glazing.

The best thing to do is to contact your three nearest glaziers who are members of the Glass and Glazing Federation (they’ll be listed on MyGlazing.com) and discuss your options with them. Get quotes and make the decision that’s best for you and your home.

ASK THE EXPERTS

James Lee, MyGlazing. com’s director of communications, recommends the following…

The first thing to check is the planning permission and what you can actually install.

A Victorian building could be within a conservation area and there may be local authority restrictions on installing modern, energy-efficient glazing. Your local council building control department may be fine about the kind of windows you want to replace so long as they look similar, but some councils insist on replica/identical materials being used. The type and style of window replacement could also come under scrutiny if your building is listed. The specifications do vary from council to council, so please check the Planning Portal at planningportal.co.uk.

If you have a DIY or maintenance question, write to Ask the Experts, Your Home, Immediate Media, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST or email asktheexperts@yhmag.co.uk

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CRAFT STASH Find the latest crafting news, workshops and brilliant buys

FABRIC FOCUS Brand new for autumn/ winter 2020, Sophie Allport has created a beautiful fabric collection, which includes Speedy Dogs, Sheep and Woodland.

The latter range was made in collaboration with The National Trust and it features all kinds of forest wildlife including red squirrels, deer, pheasants, hedgehogs and owls.

You can purchase a metre of these gorgeous fabrics for only £26.

Feature Sophie Demetriades

LEARN A SKILL Calling all newbie stitchers

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

How to Cross Stitch by Sian Hamilton is the perfect starting point if you’ve always fancied taking up this mindful hobby. It takes you through all of the basic cross stitch techniques and each one is accompanied with a stylish project so you can put your newfound stitching know-how into practice straight away. The projects include a huge variety of designs such as snowy stitched buttons, rainbow hearts, alphabet coasters and beeinspired jewellery. Grab your copy from GMC Books for £7.99.

must haves

WORKSHOP

Make your own Situated in the heart of south-east London, M.Y.O is a space which allows adults to explore their creative side with a huge range of workshops. As well as classes taking place in the shop, there are now virtual courses available too, including lino printing, macramé plant hanger and brush lettering workshops. All you need to do is order a kit for £35, follow the online how-to video, and away you go.

Soothing scents Curious about candle-making? This compact DIY kit contains all you need to get started.

The Rose Geranium package will allow you to create two small votive candles with a rich floral aroma, each of which will burn for around 15 hours. Inside you’ll also find soy wax flakes, fragrance oil, glass jars, wicks and super simple instructions. Buy a kit for just £18 from Of Cabbages and Kings.

RIP IT UP AND ART AGAIN Papercraft is incredibly easy to do from the comfort of your home and it’s extremely therapeutic, too. This delicate rosette paper wreath kit has everything you need to create a pretty papercraft decoration. It includes book pages to make the bulk of the wreath, a mini glue gun, glue sticks, craft scissors, a pencil, a ruler, cardboard, jute and instructions.

You can purchase a kit for £22 from A Twist of Somerset.

Next month in…

ALL ED WRAPP UP!

YH

LOV ES

, Gif ts for aollne y r e and ev of them is! unde r £5 0

Step into Christmas with our gorgeous reader homes!

Celebrate with this winter’s most stylish trends

Discover yuletide fare to suit every cook and lifestyle

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Reader homes Peek inside properties packed with fresh ideas for decorating updates

Show off your hard work in Your Home Have your just finished decorating your home? If so we’d love to see your photos and, who knows, they may even be featured in a future issue. You can share them on Instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine, or email them to yourhome@immediate.co.uk

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A renovation from the ground up brought character to Elaine’s new build

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Eniko injected theatricality into her home with dark hues and sumptuous textures

AL

TE PLUS IDEAS TO S

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erty a dramatic Jade gave her Edwardian prop ern family home update to create her fresh, mod

November 2020

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REAL HOME

I experimented with rich hues, and it paid off!

Intent on adding impact and a little bit of theatricality to her cottage, Eniko Kirkwood made some bold decorating decisions

A

lthough this Belfast cottage has a fascinating history – the Andrews family, local landowners and the owners of the firm that designed the Titanic, built it for farmhands – it was the property’s location that first drew in Eniko and Michael Kirkwood. ‘It’s just outside the city and surrounded by woods and fields,’ Eniko explains. ‘We spotted it for sale while out on a drive. Michael’s family live nearby as well, which is an added bonus, and it’s an easy journey into the centre of town for work too.’

They bought it in 2015 and got started on transforming its bland interior, working from the ground up. ‘It was magnolia with

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green carpets when we moved in,’ Eniko recalls. ‘It was plain to the extreme. We found some reclaimed wooden floorboards for the living room – salvaged from a local stately home – and laid practical engineered wood flooring in the snug room and neutral, cream carpets upstairs. It was a great start to the improvements, as flooring is the basis of everything,’ Eniko believes. ‘I would still like to lift the carpets upstairs as well, actually; maybe paint the upstairs floorboards white,’ she reflects. ‘I do enjoy changing things up!’

When Eniko moved on to the rest of the décor, she found herself making bolder and bolder choices with paint colours,

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

Good idea !

Group together framed pictures t collects p o tell a stor y. Enik rint o hangs th s by artists and em toget her.

WE ARE Eniko and Michael Kirkwood. I Changing the wall colour is an easy way to refresh a space, as Eniko discovered here. ‘I painted this room dark at first but recently updated it by painting it in Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball, which is a lovely warm putty colour. I love it now it is brighter.

It gives the room a French feel.’

am Hungarian and work as an interpreter, and Michael is a civil servant. We have three rescue dogs, Penny, Alfie and Hugo.

OUR HOME IS a three-bedroom cottage on the outskirts of Belfast, built in the late 19th century.

MY TOP TIP is don’t be afraid to experiment – take a chance!

MY ADVICE is to go for something different. If you don’t like how it looks at first, you can always change it.

MY DECORATING STYLE is dark, moody, eclectic and evolving. I love sharing my ideas on Instagram at @mydarkhome_

Dining room

A drinks trolley from Oliver Bonas often takes a starring role on Eniko’s Instagram.

‘I love styling it up for a photo!’ The faux plants are from a selection at IKEA

‘I post my efforts on Instagram and I have quickly grown a large following: I think people want to know what I will do next!’

Kitchen

Bathroom

FIRST FLOOR

Utility room

Living room Snug

SECOND FLOOR

Roof terrace

Feature Alison Gibb Photos Douglas Gibb

Eniko with Hugo, her first rescue dog, a beagleLabrador cross. ‘I was inspired to buy the green sofa from MADE by the Instagrammer, Girl With The Green Sofa,’ Eniko shares.

‘We are friends now!’

Dressing room

Bathroom Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2

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REAL HOME ‘This is where we watch movies. We have a projector and snuggle up with the dogs with the shutters closed and the fire on,’ Eniko shares. ‘The engineered wood flooring laid in chevrons is practical for the dogs, as they do scratch sometimes.’ It’s finished with walls painted in Basalt by Little Greene, a round mirror from IKEA and a pencil-drawn portrait from Desenio

‘I visualise in advance and am quite bold: I am not scared of trying out radical colours and love layering with interesting textures as well’

Eniko has created a classic study-inspired look with a modern twist, with a leather wing chair and glass pendant from Laura Ashley, faux fur throws from Dunelm and a tropical palm trees wall hanging from Love Frankie

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tiles and eye-catching wallpapers. ‘I love experimenting. I do follow fashion, but not slavishly. I would rather do something original if I’m honest.’ Her husband, Michael, is totally on board with her bold decorating decisions. ‘We discuss everything, and we are both willing to turn our hand to anything involving DIY,’ Eniko explains.

Once she started to experiment with quirky colours and boho décor, Eniko found she had an eye for unusual furniture and design details. ‘I posted my efforts on Instagram, and I don’t know why but I quickly grew a large following. I think people want to know what I will do next!’ she laughs.

The cottage is constantly updated with on-trend accessories from Eniko’s favourite high street stores: H&M and a Northern Irish store called Dunnes Stores. She also developed something of a Gumtree habit. ‘I found I could buy so many beautiful pieces

of vintage furniture locally. Belfast is such a historic city and has become very culturally vibrant recently. Many people are updating their homes so there are always amazing things for sale. I bought too much and had to stop – I only buy what I need now!’

Discovering her talent for styling has led to a new career direction for Eniko, and these days she is often asked to photograph products in her home for design companies.

‘I enjoyed art at school and remember doing well at it, but never studied formally or expected to work in the arts,’ she admits. ‘I am delighted, though.’

Eniko collects fine art prints and photographs, framing and hanging them in carefully curated groups. She also arranges objects into beautiful vignettes. ‘I visualise in advance and am quite bold about putting things together. I’m not scared to try out radical colours and I love to layer textures

REAL HOME

Good idea !

Paint kit ch open she en cabinets and a lv d rails for a ing with hanging d n easy up a budget date on .

The vintage dining table was salvaged from the set of Game of Thrones. ‘Filming the series was a big industry here in Northern Ireland,’ Eniko explains. ‘The main studios were in Belfast harbour. It was fun to see and we all benefit in many ways.’ The floor tiles were here already: ‘I would love to renovate the kitchen. It’s next on my list.’

The cabinets were already here, and Eniko gave them a new look by painting them in Marine Blue

by Little Greene. The dark brown walls are painted in Mole emulsion

by Abigail Ahern. ‘I removed the wall cabinets and replaced them with open shelving. Blackboard walls are great for styling up Instagram moments!’

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REAL HOME

Eniko isn’t afraid to try something different: ‘I really experimented with paint in here and created two-tone walls. I painted a chalky grey halfway up and used lilac above, with a lime paint by Bauwerk Paint. It looks like a wash once it has dried.’

The mural is from a Californian company called Rocky Mountains Decal. Eniko created the ombré walls using Green Smoke estate emulsion by Farrow & Ball. The velvet pillows are from H&M, and the fluffy yellow throw and emerald quilt are from The Conran Shop. Eniko bought the vintage-style metal bed on Amazon.

The Wayfair bedside tables are styled with lamps from Laura Ashley

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‘Michael made the hanging rail from copper piping. I got the idea from Pinterest,’ Eniko shares. The walls are painted in Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball, and the teal sofa is from MADE, brightened up with accessories in rainbow hues

REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL

Good idea !

For

Show your arty side with a contemporary monochrome splatter print

small versatile er bathrooms, go st fo into unus orage that can slo r ed space t ladder un , like this it.

Glow print, from £80, Lime Lace

Go for versatile storage with a ladder-style unit Rustic ladder shelves, £385, Vincent and Barn

Add subtle celestial motifs for a dreamy boho vibe Star and moon hanging embellished mirror, £28, Oliver Bonas

Layer fluffy throws and cushions for maximum cosiness Soft Mongolian lambswool cushion in Grey, £50, Mint & May

Eniko mixed modern and traditional in the bathroom, with Moroccan-style patterned tiles by British Ceramic Tile, a classic bath by Victoria Plum, and a ladder shelving unit from Amazon. The wooden bath rack is by The Wolf & The Fox, which specialises in sustainable products

as well,’ she adds. Every corner of the house is filled with a uniquely styled, eye-catching installations, but without losing that allimportant essence of cosiness, which Eniko believes is crucial. ‘My aim is to create a beautiful home, not a stage set,’ she asserts.

When Eniko arrived in Belfast from Hungary to learn English, at the age of 19, she thought it would just be for a summer. But she ended up staying. ‘It quickly felt like home to me. I met my husband and my mother came to live here for a while as well.’ Not only did Eniko make a home here, but she found her creative calling, too.

Light up a dark corner with a weird and wonderful floor lamp Dutchbone Falcon floor lamp, £219, Cuckooland

Recline in luxury and comfort on a velvet sofa Gwyneth sofa, from £1,005, Sweetpea & Willow

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123

November 2020

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REAL HOME

We could see huge potential in this space Desperate for more space for their growing family, Jade and Jon Severs took a dated Edwardian home, and made it a cosy, modern marvel

W

ith a creeping suspicion that they were starting to outgrow the property the were living in, Jade and Jon Severs decided it was time to find a new home with a little more space.

They wanted a bigger garden for their two boys, Finley and Eliot, to play in, plus a bit of breathing room for everyone. During a routine perusal of the latest properties on Rightmove, Jon came across a house that more than met their needs when it came to space – both inside and outside – and suggested they take a look.

‘Having never owned a period property before, I was hesitant,’ says Jade. ‘I was convinced it would be cold and damp. But the moment I walked through the front door, I was won over by the amount of space and huge potential the property had.’ The couple put in an offer that was accepted shortly after.

‘You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful home.’

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Despite being able to see past the property’s flaws to the potential that lay beneath, its interior left a lot to be desired when the couple and their children moved in. The décor was dated and almost everything was in need of a refresh. ‘The living room had yellow walls, the hallway and staircase had a salmon pink carpet, and even the bathroom was carpeted,’ Jade recalls. ‘The downstairs Second-hand stores and sites are high Jade’s hit list for affordable homewares.

The cast-iron fireplace was an eBay buy, while the floor lamp was found on Gumtree, and the nest of tables cost just for £3 from a charity shop

consisted of a rabbit warren of rooms – you had to go through lots of doors to reach the kitchen at the back of the house and there wasn’t much natural light in the dining room.’

In order to transform it into something more suitable for the whole family, the house needed a complete overhaul, including new wiring and plumbing, new gas pipes, new windows and new floor joists.

REAL HOME

COME ON IN… ‘The living room was previously yellow, with a gas fireplace inside the marble surround,’ says Jade. ‘We removed the gas fireplace, replacing it with a traditional cast-iron one, bought for £100 from a seller on eBay, that was in-keeping with the period of the property.’

‘The staircase and large hallway are what sold the house to me, so I wanted to keep them light and bright to emphasise the space,’ says Jade.

‘The pink sideboard is one of my favourite pieces of furniture. It cost £30 on Gumtree and then I upcycled it.’

WE ARE Jade Severs, 36, Home Design Stylist at John Lewis & Partners, husband Jon, 37, and children Finley, seven, Eliot, five, and twins Eva and Mae, four

OUR HOME IS A four-bedroom semidetached Edwardian property in Hampshire.

We’ve lived here for four and a half years.

MY TOP TIP IS To prioritise storage – it’s so important in a family home. Think carefully where you’ll keep every item if you don’t like the idea of clutter and plan accordingly.

FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful interior design inspiration at work, but I also like to scroll Instagram for ideas. I share snaps of my own home on @jade.lisa.home.

GROUND FLOOR

Utility

Playroom

Kitchen/ dining room

FIRST FLOOR Living room

Hall

Spare bedroom

Bathroom

Master bedroom

Bedroom

November 2020

Landing

Bedroom

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Feature Abbi Henderson Photos Jade Severs

‘We wanted to change just about everything!’

REAL HOME ‘We were keen to get started straight away,’ says Jade. ‘We’ve never really been ones to live in a house first to get a feel for how we use it. Plus, within a week of moving into the property I found out I was pregnant with our third baby. Then, fast forward eight weeks and we discovered we were, in fact, having twins, so there was an added rush to get the property renovated before their arrival.’

Within weeks of moving in, the couple had the house assessed by a builder and had made plans to makeover their home in record time.

They decided to open up the kitchen, dining room and breakfast room to create a large, open-plan space, and relocate the kitchen to the middle of the house. There it would be next to a family-cum-play room, so that Jade could keep an eye on the children while cooking dinner.

‘Upstairs, we moved the bathroom from the back of the house into the middle, so that it would be easily accessible from the three main bedrooms located at the front of the house.

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‘Previously, the kitchen was very small and closed off from the rest of the house – not very practical for family living,’ Jade recalls.

‘Moving it to the middle of the house made more sense, as we could have a large, open-plan space with an island and lots of storage.’

‘Being northfacing, the dining room was very dark and we always had to have the light on in here,’ says Jade.

‘We knocked down the walls to open up the space out and uncovered a fireplace that was hidden behind panelling.’

REAL HOME Keen to make a feature of the fireplace, Jade sourced a beautiful surround from a salvage yard for £50. The hearth tiles are, in fact, tile stickers, bought from eBay

‘Don’t rush decisions. If we hadn’t had the pressure of the twins’ arrival, I would’ve thought more carefully about design choices.’

‘This part of the house was originally a cold and damp outhouse,’ Jade says.

‘We chose a hidden cistern so I could display items on the shelf and added a wall-hung sink. The patterned floor tiles are part of the Mr Jones range from Laura Ashley.’

Good ishdelevaing!and

Ladder-style ideal for desks are s. narrow space

‘The main bedroom was full of fitted furniture when we moved in, which we ripped out before reinstalling the picture rail,’ says Jade. ‘We already had the wardrobes, chests of drawers and the bed frame, so this influenced the style of the room.’

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REAL HOME

‘It is unrecognisable from when we first moved in.’

‘The boys love Lego, so recently I revamped their bedroom to incorporate some Lego prints I found on Etsy and space to store their figures,’ says Jade

Good idea!

Cre

ate a cosy for childre reading nook cushions ton with floor curl up on .

The old bathroom was then converted into a spare room,’ Jade says.

Fortunately, as the couple wasn’t extending the house, they didn’t need planning permission for the works, which gave them a bit of headway time-wise. The renovation would take a total of three months so the family moved in with relatives while the work took place and the dust, quite literally, settled, as there was a few hiccups along the way.

‘When the builders were laying the new pipework, they discovered that all the ground floor joists were completely rotten and would need to be replaced, which was a bit of a setback,’ Jade says. ‘Otherwise, the renovation went fairly smoothly. But despite our builders’ best efforts, the house wasn’t ready for the twins’ arrival. I was still juggling tile orders and sorting last-minute fixtures in the days after they were born. It was a very testing time and not one I’d like to repeat!’

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‘The boys’ bedroom is an awkward shape, so we had to think carefully about furniture and layout,’ Jade says.

‘In the end, we decided on bunk beds to maximise floor space.’

The chest of drawers, which Jade lime waxed, painted, and replaced the handles of, were free from a local page on Facebook. The IKEA beds were both sourced second-hand on Facebook Marketplace

The hanging canopy in Mae and Eve’s reading corner was a £20 eBay bargain

REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL Industrial-style furnishings give a modern edge to classic or pared-back interiors.

Frama Adam stool, £249, Nest

Incorporate greenery and natural textures for a freshfeeling scheme.

Potted plant in basket, £30, Sainsbury’s Home

Ladder desks, like Jade’s, are ideal when floor space is at a premium.

Ladder desk, £199, Marks & Spencer

Upcycle your tired furniture with a lick of chalk paint.

Chalky finish furniture paint, £10 for 750ml, Wilko

‘I definitely embraced a pink colour scheme in the girls’ bedroom,’ says Jade. ‘The Scion Kelda wallpaper in Pewter was a recent addition and I think it really finishes off the room.’

Jade describes her style as ‘a little bit Scandi, mixed with coastal,’ which is evident in her décor choices. Throughout the house, pared-back palettes are teamed with pastels and rustic trim, such as the vintage stools in the kitchen, and the old printer’s tray hanging in the boys’ bedroom. Her styling celebrates both classic and contemporary interiors, while remaining sympathetic to the character of the period property. It has completely transformed the house.

‘It’s unrecognisable from what it once was,’ Jade says. ‘It’s light and airy now, and accommodates all of us so well. But although we love living here, Jon and I are looking to move sometime in the near future. Our friends and family love our home, and think we’re crazy to want to move and do it all again! Watch this space, I suppose…’

Recreate Jade’s reading corners with plush floor cushions.

Sahara floor cushion, £35, Argos

Add comfort, warmth and pattern with a decorative, deep-pile rug.

Royal Nomadic rug, £89, Furniture Village

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123

November 2020

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REAL HOME

I injected personality into my new-build Elaine Verdon felt her home lacked character, so she decided to do what she does best: give it the mother of all makeovers

K

een to get on the property ladder, Elaine Verdon and her sister decided to team up, pool their resources and invest in a property together. Having grown up beside the sea, the sisters set out to find a home where lapping waves would be just a short walk away. The search brought them to a house in an area just north of Dublin, close to their childhood home. But the lure of the coast wasn’t the only appealing aspect. ‘A lot of people we’d grown up with were moving here, so it felt young and buzzy,’ Elaine says.

‘In fact, two of our best friends ended up buying the house next door, so it was quite the party street for a time!’

‘Our location is the best; I have to be by the coast!’

Not only did the house they’d found tick the location and social life boxes, it also and had plenty of space for them to live comfortably together, so was an opportunity not to be missed. And after their offer was accepted in 2008, they moved in.

But despite the house’s many merits, the interior left a lot to be desired. ‘It was a newbuild, so it lacked all the lovely features you get with a period property,’ Elaine says. ‘It was essentially a bland, empty box. Bar the kitchen and bathrooms, which were already in situ, the house was void of all décor.

We were quite particular about having it feel homey straight away, so we did all the decorating before moving in.’

Good idorieaes!to take

Allow art and access tures, centre stage by painting fea and ls nte ma such as radiators, as shelving, in the same hue d. hin be ll the wa ‘The brocade rocking chair was by far my best buy,’ says Elaine. ‘It was an indulgent purchase many years ago, but has stood the test of time. I love it as much now as the day I bought it.’

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Dark walls together with heavy drapes, brightly coloured accessories and hints of brass create the ultimate cosy living room scheme

‘Originally, the living room was all white,’ says Elaine. ‘It’s had a few different colour palettes over the years, but is currently painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings.

I love it!’

REAL HOME

COME ON IN… Texture is key for Elaine when she approaches a makeover.

In the living room, she has layered wood, metals and fabrics for well-rounded and multi-dimensional scheme

WE ARE Elaine Verdon, interior designer and stylist at Leo + Cici, my husband, Simon, a salesman and drummer, our son, Arthur, who’s two, and our dog, Daisy.

OUR HOME Is a three-bedroom new-build in Dublin, Ireland. It was built in 2007, and I moved in 12 years ago.

MY TOP TIP IS Don’t be too proud to hire professionals if it’ll save you time, stress, and result in a higher quality finish. Be sure to get three quotes before committing to tradespeople, though.

FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I mainly look to peers, magazines and the fashion world for interior ideas, but I’m generally inspired by everything.

FIRST FLOOR Living room

Toilet Hall

Feature Abbi Henderson Photos Georgia Burns

Kitchen

SECOND FLOOR Study/ guest room

Bathroom

Master bedroom Hall

Bedroom 1

November 2020

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REAL HOME Elaine took on the task of giving the property a vibrant makeover, with the intention of injecting some personality into it to make up for its lack of character. And, to begin with, she succeeded. What she hadn’t bargained for, however, was the huge repair work needed on the foundations.

‘Around two months after moving into the property we found out that the building had a defective mineral – pyrite – in the foundations, which hadn’t been detected by the quarry when they made the materials,’ Elaine remembers. ‘This meant that our foundations were likely to expand, crack or crumble over time. We had to wait almost five years and go through a mass litigation case to have it repaired, by which time my sister had emigrated to New York for work and my now-husband Simon had moved in.

We both had to relocate for six weeks while repair work took place. It was a nuisance, but really important to have it fixed.’

After a lot of stress, struggle and false starts, Elaine finally started to settle into her home. Once the repairs were finished, the redecorating could begin and Elaine could explore her personal interior style – something she’s been experimenting with ever since. ‘My home has had a number of interior schemes over the years,’ she says.

‘I like to play around with colour and texture and, when inspiration strikes, I act, so the décor constantly evolving.’ One look around Elaine’s home and her love of colour and commitment to clever interior styling immediately becomes clear. She isn’t afraid of getting creative and doesn’t shy away from bold colours or patterns.

In the kitchen, pastels give the grey and white scheme a cheery and playful edge

‘The kitchen cupboards and countertops are the originals that came with the property,’ says Elaine. ‘I’ve layered as much colour and texture as I can to try and soften the starkness of the white.’

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‘A few years ago, I ripped up the carpet on the stairs and landing, painted the staircase and laid a monochrome, patterned vinyl on the landing,’ Elaine shares. ‘I love the end result and, as we have a large dog, it’s much more practical than carpet.’

Good idea! er

REAL HOME ‘I painted our wardrobe and chest of drawers in Off-Black, by Farrow & Ball’ Elaine reveals

‘Before, the master was inky blue. After we had Arthur it became a bit of a tip, piled high with baby paraphernalia, so when he moved into his own room we were quick to restore it into a more grown-up bedroom,’ says Elaine. ‘I went for a calming scheme using Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster paint and Lotus wallpaper for contrast.’

ap Use patterned wallp draw to t ar and detailed wall parts of attention away from like. n’t do u a space yo

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REAL HOME ‘This used to be Simon’s studio, but he had to vacate it when it was time for Arthur to have his own room,’ says Elaine. ‘I painted the whole room in Farrow & Ball’s Dix Blue, then created a cool effect on the ceiling using Oval Room Blue and a white gloss.’

‘My family all love our home!’

‘The chest of drawers was a bargain from IKEA, while the chair belonged to my grandmother, so it’s very special to me,’ Elaine shares ‘Before Simon moved in, this used to be my bedroom,’ Elaine says. ‘Last year, when Arthur moved into his own room, we revamped this space to accommodate both my work area and Simon’s music. We added a day bed for overnight guests.’

ea! re Gooddid features a

Where perio ted ceiling lacking, a pain -needed can add much . character

‘Before, this room had Matthew Williamson wallpaper and a brass bed,’ Elaine remembers. ‘I painted the ceiling in Confetti and the walls in Ho Ho Green by Little Greene.’

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REAL HOME ‘The tiles were original and definitely wouldn’t have been my first choice,’ Elaine reveals. ‘I added the palm print wallpaper and wooden wares in an attempt to tone down the harshness.’

IDEAS TO STEAL Spruce up plain plant pots with a patterned basket.

Woven basket, £10, George Home

Perk up your dining table with pastel pink chairs.

Bugsy plastic dining chair, £49, Cult Furniture

Layer cushions in varying shapes and sizes for improved sofa aesthetics.

Pom pom cushion, £14, Next

Guess who’s behind the colourful and abundant flowers?

Frida Floral, from £8.95, Desenio

The house may have lacked character when Elaine bought it 12 years ago, but it’s full of personal touches now. Colourful walls and accessories throughout add vibrancy and whimsy, while the use of darker hues, such as black, dark grey and forest green, give a grown-up, sophisticated touch.

The original kitchen and bathrooms are still in place, meaning extra care and thought has gone into the surrounding décor to draw attention away from the features, such as the tiles in the bathroom, that Elaine hasn’t yet been able to change. She’s also used a couple of clever and daring paint techniques to further amplify her home’s character. The painted staircase creates a stand-out feature in the hallway, which lacks the history that comes with period properties. Modern radiators have been given the same colour treatment as the walls behind so that they

don’t steal unwanted focus and ceilings void of cornicing have been given cool colour updates. ‘My motto is: be bold and go for it,’ says Elaine. ‘It’s my home, so if I like it, that’s all that matters.’

Elaine’s continuing experiments with interiors have not only helped her create a beautiful home for her family, they’ve also inspired her to start an interior design and styling business, Leo + Cici, which she established in 2016. But that doesn’t mean she’s finished tweaking the style of the home she lives in. ‘I’d love to give the bathrooms a new look,’ she says. ‘The two en-suites and the family bathroom all need a total overhaul, but I reckon I need to win the lottery first. All in all, though, I’m so proud of my home. It’s the cosy family abode I wanted, and we all feel so happy and settled here, which is what matters most.’

Stash your tipples of choice on an industrial style unit.

Caro low trolley shelving unit

by Woood, £145, Cuckooland

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 126

November 2020

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Food & drink Our favourite foodie finds this month and turn over for seasonal recipes

3 ways with… Parsnips Bring some sweetness to your savoury dishes For mouth-watering honey-roast parsnips, peel, top and tail 500g parsnips.

Cut lengthways, then put them in a pan of boiling water. Cook for 5 mins, then drain and tip them into a roasting tin. Sprinkle them with 1 tbsp each of flour and honey, then toss to coat. Pour over 2 tbsp sunflower oil, 2 tbsp butter and season, then place them in a 200°C oven for 35 mins or until golden.

Use leftover roast parsnips to make a delicious soup. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan then add 2 chopped cloves of garlic and 1 chopped onion, and fry for 2 mins.

Stir in 500g roast parsnips and 800ml vegetable stock and simmer for 5 mins.

Remove the soup from the heat and blend until smooth. Return to the heat, stir in 150ml double cream and heat through. Season and serve with croutons.

For a creamy parsnip gratin, pour 400ml double cream and 250ml milk into a pan over a medium heat. Add 1 tbsp honey, grated nutmeg, a few sprigs of thyme and a pinch of salt, and simmer for 10 mins, then remove the thyme. Slice 1kg parsnips into strips, then stir them into the pan and simmer for 2-3 mins. Pour the gratin into an ovenproof dish and bake in a 200°C oven for 40 mins until browned.

If you do one thing this month…

Create impressive meals with the simple squeeze of a pipette, thanks to Holy Lama Spice Drops. Forget the fuss of peeling and prepping, this range of concentrated herb, spice, fruit and flower extracts provides instant seasoning with Give your breakfast a boost with Lizi’s new Super Muesli range. Packed full of just a few drops. The fine-tuned extraction vitamins and minerals, as well as healthprocess ensures that Spice Drops retain the boosting ingredients such as hemp and natural goodness of quinoa, this good-for-you muesli will set the raw ingredients you up for the day ahead. It’s also very tasty. as well as their We enjoyed crunching our way through flavour for up to three the Hazelnut, Pecan & Maca variety, years. Choose from 36 but preferred the Mango, Papaya & extracts including garam Turmeric combo for a breakfast masala spices, lemon and that transports you to the tropics. lavender. Priced from £5 per bottle at holylama.co.uk.

this month we love…

Try me…

Eat me…

Buy me…

Is jam on toast part of your morning ritual? Give your traditional strawberry flavour an autumnal spin with Tracklements’ English Hedgerow Jelly, £3.60. The slight tartness of damsons combines with sweet blackberries for a burst of flavour you’ll crave morning and night.

Keep the kids’ sweet tooths at bay with Graze Super Snackers, a new range of high-fibre, reduced-sugar cereal bars. They come in chocolate, strawberry and toffee apple flavours to make for more wholesome indulgences. Priced at £2 for a pack of four from major supermarkets.

Still or sparkling, water is all you need to accompany Vita, a premium Mediterranean vodka. Triple distilled with citrus notes, Vita is made using all-natural ingredients for a simple, refreshing drink that’ll impress your dinner party guests. It costs £27 for 70cl on Amazon.

November 2020

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Available from Ocado for £4

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FOOD & DRINK

A FLAVOUR OF SOUTHEAST ASIA From Vietnam to Thailand, punchy flavours, zesty citrus and a touch of heat are the course of action

Big red peanut noodles YOU WILL NEED 1 large aubergine pinch of salt ¼ red cabbage handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped handful of fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped 50g roasted and salted peanuts 1 lime, halved 1 red chilli (optional) 100g flat rice noodles 1 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil 1 garlic clove thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger For the sauce 1 lime 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 tbsp water

DIRECTIONS Q Chop the aubergine into 1.5cm cubes and add to a hot frying pan with a pinch of salt.

Dry fry for 5-7 minutes, tossing regularly, until they’re charred and collapsing. Finely slice the red cabbage, chop the peanuts and slice the chilli, if using, and set aside.

Q Put the noodles in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Leave them to soak according to the packet instructions until they’re tender. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water, then set aside.

Q Return to the aubergine. Add the coriander and red cabbage to the pan along with the oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the cabbage has softened.

Q To make the sauce, halve the lime and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Add all the other sauce ingredients and whisk together.

Season with salt and pepper.

Q Peel the garlic then grate it directly into the pan along with the ginger. Cook, while stirring, for 1 minute. Add the noodles, sauce and most of the herbs to the pan along with a splash of water. Cook for 1 minute, tossing well so everything is covered in the sauce.

Q To serve, split the mixture between 2 bowls, top with the remaining herbs, chopped peanuts and sliced red chilli. Serve with the lime halves for squeezing over.

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 2

FOOD & DRINK

Tofu satay kebabs with fresh herbs and lettuce wraps YOU WILL NEED 280g firm tofu ½ lime 2 tbsp tamari/dark soy sauce 2 tbsp sriracha 4 tbsp cornflour 2 tbsp coconut oil For the satay sauce 2 tbsp water 1 lime 3 tbsp crunchy peanut butter 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp sriracha 1 tsp Chinese vinegar To serve 2 limes 2 heads of little gem lettuce 4 spring onions small handful of fresh coriander small handful of fresh mint small handful of fresh Thai basil Handful of dry roasted peanuts 1 red chilli

DIRECTIONS Q Slice the tofu into 12 fingers and place in a bowl. Squeeze the lime half over the tofu, then sprinkle over the tamari or soy sauce, sriracha and cornflour and toss to coat. Add the coconut oil to a hot frying pan. Transfer the tofu fingers to the pan and fry on all sides until golden. Remove and drain the tofu fingers on some kitchen paper.

Q To make the satay sauce, cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice into a food processor. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and blitz until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Q Prepare the wraps and garnishes. Cut the limes into small wedges, separate the lettuce leaves and arrange them on a serving platter. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lime from one of the wedges. Snip the spring onions over the lettuce and arrange the fresh herbs and lime wedges around the platter. Bash the peanuts in a pestle and mortar or with a rolling pin and put them in a serving bowl. Transfer the tofu to a serving plate, finely chop the chilli and scatter it over the tofu.

Q To serve, bring everything to the table and let everyone assemble their wraps as they like.

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 4

Peanut iced coffee YOU WILL NEED 40ml hot espresso coffee (strong) 115ml oat milk 2 tbsp maple or golden syrup 30g smooth peanut butter ½ tsp vanilla extract 2 handfuls of ice 30g dairy-free ice cream To garnish A few roasted peanuts A coffee bean and cocoa powder (optional)

DIRECTIONS Q While you’re brewing the coffee, add 100ml of the oat milk, the syrup, peanut butter and vanilla extract to a blender. Blend until smooth and foamy. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the blended peanut milk. Add the ice cream to the blender along with the remaining tablespoon of oat milk and blend until the mix is smooth.

Q To finish the coffee, pour the hot coffee into the glass and top with the ice cream mixture. Chop the peanuts, if using, and sprinkle them over the top with a coffee bean and a dusting of cocoa powder.

Recipes extracted from Speedy BOSH!

by Henry Firth & Ian Theasby (£22, HQ, HarperCollins)

November 2020

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Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes SERVES 1

FOOD & DRINK

Beef panang curry YOU WILL NEED 1 shallot, chopped 4 garlic cloves, For the panang paste 1 red chilli, halved and deseeded 2 sticks roughly chopped lemongrass, trimmed and roughly chopped 1 tsp chilli flakes 1 whole star anise 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander seeds ½ tsp ground cinnamon 2 green cardamom pods, crushed to release inner black seeds 1 tsp salt ½ tsp ground white pepper 4 dry kaffir lime leaves 1 lime, juice only For the curry 100g unsalted peanuts, shelled 1 tbsp groundnut oil 400ml tin coconut milk 4 dried kaffir lime leaves 2 tbsp 2-3 tbsp fish sauce 500g sirloin steak, trimmed of palm sugar obvious fat and finely sliced 1 lime, juice only handful Thai basil 1 red chilli, finely sliced steamed rice, to serve leaves

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 4

DIRECTIONS Q To make the panang paste, pound all the ingredients together in a large pestle and mortar for at least 5 minutes to form a paste.

Alternatively, pulse everything in a food processor until a relatively smooth paste forms.

Q To make the curry, put the peanuts in a dry frying pan and toast them over a low heat for a few minutes, shaking the pan often, until golden and fragrant. Let them cool, then roughly chop.

Q Put the oil in a wok or large, deep-sided frying pan and set on a low-medium heat. Add the panang paste and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes until fragrant and sizzling. Add the coconut milk and lime leaves and increase the heat. Bubble down for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in the sugar and 2 tbsp fish sauce and continue to simmer for 5 minutes to reduce the sauce.

Q Add the steak and cook for 2-3 minutes or until it no longer looks pink and raw. Add the lime juice, then taste the curry and add a further tbsp of fish sauce if it needs more salt. Remove the curry from the heat and scatter with the peanuts, basil leaves and sliced chilli. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood.tesco.com

Green Thai prawn stir fry YOU WILL NEED Salt 150g jasmine rice oil 1 green pepper, thinly sliced 150g king prawns 1 bok choy, sliced widthways 1 garlic clove, peeled and grated 1 tbsp Thai green curry paste 1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped 50g salted peanuts, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 20 minutes SERVES 2

Q Pour 300ml water into a pan and bring to the boil. When boiling, add ¼ tbsp salt. Stir in the rice, lower the heat to medium and pop a lid on the pan. Leave it to cook for 10 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and leave the rice to steam for another 10 minutes or until ready to serve.

Q Meanwhile, heat a splash of oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. When hot, add the green pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes until starting to soften and brown. Add the prawns and bok choy and cook for a further 3-5 minutes.

Q Add the garlic and green Thai curry paste and stir well to combine.

Cook for 1 minute stirring frequently until everything is well coated in the curry paste.

Q Fluff up the rice with a fork. Stir in half of the chopped coriander then divide between plates. Top with the green Thai prawn mix and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and remaining coriander.

Recipe and image courtesy of Hello Fresh, hellofresh.co.uk November 2020

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FOOD & DRINK

Thai Massaman rice YOU WILL NEED 150g basmati rice 1 aubergine, chopped into 3cm chunks olive oil 25g cashew nuts 200ml coconut milk 1 tbsp Massaman curry paste 300g mushrooms, chopped 100g green beans, chopped into thirds 1.5 tbsp peanut butter ½ bunch coriander, roughly chopped ½ lime

DIRECTIONS Q Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Put 300ml water into a pan and bring to the boil with a pinch of salt. Add the basmati rice and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the rice to steam with the lid on for 10 minutes.

Q Put the aubergine on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle over a pinch of salt and pepper, then roast on the top shelf of the oven for 10-12 minutes until it’s golden and slightly crisp.

Q Put a frying pan on medium high heat and add the cashew nuts.

Cook for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan constantly until the nuts are lightly browned. Place them in a bowl and set aside.

Q Turn the heat down to medium and add the coconut milk and curry paste to the frying pan. Stir the milk and paste to combine them, then add the mushrooms. Bring to the boil and add the green beans and peanut butter. Stir and turn the heat to low, then gently simmer the curry for 10 minutes. Once the aubergine is cooked, remove it from the oven and add to the curry.

Q Fluff up the rice with a fork and add it to the curry along with ¾ of the coriander. Add a squeeze of lime juice then serve the curry in bowls, garnished with the cashews and remaining coriander.

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 2

Recipe and image courtesy of Hello Fresh, hellofresh.co.uk

Gado gado YOU WILL NEED 400g Charlotte potatoes, halved For the tofu 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp oyster sauce ½ tsp sugar 396g pack tofu, cut into 2 tbsp cornflour 1 tsp vegetable oil cubes Dressing 20g demerara sugar 75g peanut butter 1 tsp chilli flakes 1 lime, juiced 1 tsp fish sauce 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 eggs, boiled and halved 1 Chinese leaf cabbage, To serve finely sliced 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered 8 radishes, quartered ½ cucumber, sliced Prawn crackers, to serve Pinch chilli flakes

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes SERVES 4

Q Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside to cool.

Q In a bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and 2 tbsp water. Coat the tofu cubes in the cornflour. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan, then add the tofu and cook for 2 minutes on each side until crisp and golden. Pour the sauce into the pan and cook for 30 seconds, turning to coat once.

Q Meanwhile, dissolve the demerara sugar in 2 tbsp boiled water in a small bowl, then add the other dressing ingredients. The mixture will curdle initially, but keep mixing and it’ll come back together. Loosen up the sauce with a little more water, if necessary, for a creamier consistency. Set aside in a bowl.

Q Arrange the eggs, cabbage, tomatoes, radishes and cucumber on 4 plates or a large platter. Serve the tofu and sauce with the salad and prawn crackers. Sprinkle over a pinch of chilli flakes and serve with the peanut dressing on the side.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood.tesco.com.

November 2020

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MAKE-AHEAD MEALS

Good-for-you granola With this energy-boosting morning classic you can dish up breakfasts, brunches and on-the-go snacks

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FOOD & DRINK

YOUR BASE RECIPE

Maple and honey granola

PREP 10 minutes COOK 35 minutes SERVES 15

YOU WILL NEED 2 tbsp sunflower oil 100ml maple syrup 3 tbsp clear honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 300g rolled oats 100g mixed seeds Pinch of salt Handful chocolate, nuts or fruit (all optional) 1 Heat the oven to 150°C/ Gas Mark 2. Pour the sunflower oil, maple syrup, honey and vanilla into a large bowl. Add the oats, seeds and a pinch of salt, then mix everything together so it’s evenly coated.

2 Line one large or two small trays with non-stick baking paper. Pour in the granola mixture and spread it out in an even layer.

3 Bake for 35 minutes. If you’re adding any chocolate, nuts and fruit, stir these in after 20 minutes. Then leave it to cool in the tray; the granola will crisp as it cools.

Sav e

For other delicious recipes, visit realfood.tesco.com

later or f Granola

is quick and easy to prepare and just as simple to store, too. You can keep this maple and honey granola fresh in an airtight container for up to one month.

RECIPE ONE

Mocha granola

PREP 15 minutes COOK 30-40 minutes SERVES 8

YOU WILL NEED 8 portions of the base recipe 1 tbsp instant coffee granules 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tbsp rapeseed or sunflower oil 4 tbsp maple syrup 3 tbsp sunflower seeds 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds 50g dried cranberries 50g blanched almonds, roughly chopped Yogurt and banana, to serve

Or, to make the granola fresh 175g rolled oats 50g ground almonds 1 tsp vanilla extract All of the ingredients above except the base-recipe granola 1 Pre-heat the oven to 150°C/Gas Mark 2.

Pour the coffee, cocoa and 2 tbsps of boiling water into a mug and whisk with a fork. Stir in the oil and maple syrup. Add the vanilla in at this stage too if you’re making it fresh.

2 Stir the coffee mix into the base-recipe granola or, if you’re making it fresh, mix the

oats and ground almonds in a bowl, then stir in the coffee mix. Spread the mixture on a tray and cook on a low shelf for 20 minutes. Stir and bake for another 5 minutes.

3 Stir in the seeds, cranberries and blanched almonds, then bake for another 5-10 minutes until it’s crisp around the edges.

4 Scrape the granola onto a tray lined with non-stick baking paper to cool. Serve with yogurt and sliced banana, if you like.

Recipe and image courtesy of realfood.tesco.com

November 2020

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Save

FOOD & DRINK

lat forThese er

snack bars will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to five days.

RECIPE TWO

F uity granola bars PREP 30 minutes COOK 25 minutes SERVES 10

YOU WILL NEED 10 portions of the base recipe 150g pitted dates 3 tbsp clear honey 2 tbsp flaxseed 1 tsp ground cinnamon Or, to make the granola fresh 50g rolled oats 50g hazelnuts 50g almonds 150g dried fruit mix, chopped into bite-

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sized pieces 2 tbsp flaxseed 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 Put the dates in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Leave them for 30 minutes until they’ve softened, then drain and reserve the water. Place the dates in a food processor with the honey and 3 tbsps of the reserved date water, then blitz until smooth.

2 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4.

Add the date mixture, flaxseed and cinnamon to the base-recipe granola or the rolled

oats and the remaining ingredients if you’re making it fresh, then stir until the mix holds together. Add a little extra water if necessary.

Line a 20 x 20cm tray with baking paper and press the granola into the tray.

3 Bake for 20-25 minutes until it’s firm and golden. Leave it to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then remove and use a sharp knife to cut the granola into 10 bars.

Recipe and image courtesy of realfood.tesco.com

FOOD & DRINK

RECIPE THREE

Oaty coconut granola with yogurt and raspberries

PREP 10 minutes COOK 30 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED 4 portions of the base recipe 120g mixed seeds 60g flaked almonds 60g desiccated coconut 2 tbsp rapeseed oil 2 tbsp clear honey 2 tbsp apple juice Yogurt, banana and raspberries, to serve Or, to make the granola fresh 300g organic jumbo rolled oats 100ml maple syrup All of the ingredients above except the base-recipe granola

Feature Sophie Demetriades

1 Preheat the oven to 150°C/Gas Mark 2 and line 2 large trays with baking paper. If you’re using the base-recipe granola, mix the seeds, almonds and coconut into the granola.

If you’re making this recipe fresh, mix the specified amounts with the oats.

2 Heat the oil, syrup (if using), honey and apple juice in a small saucepan. Pour the mix over the granola and stir until combined.

3 Divide the mixture between the baking trays and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown. Leave the granola to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container.

4 To serve, layer the yogurt, banana, raspberries and 200g of granola in glasses.

Recipe and image courtesy of waitrose.com

Photos Getty Images

WITH THIS ENERGY-BOOSTING GRANOLA, YOU CAN ALSO TRY…

Stir it into melted white chocolate, with hazelnuts, for a granola bark

Bake it up with oats to make hearty granola flapjacks

Mix it in with dried cranberries and oats for granola energy balls

November 2020

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Home

Turn over to discover everything you need to know about converting your loft

IMPROVEMENT Fireside dwelling Now’s the time to start making your home cosy for winter and nothing says ‘cosy’ more than a wood-burning stove. If you love the way their flickering flames create a homely vibe, but are concerned about their efficiency or impact on air quality, take a look at Arada’s Farringdon range. Each stove comes with the ‘EcoDesign Ready’ label, indicating that they exceed European regulations for heat efficiency and emissions when burning wood. Choose from seven elegant colours including a statement red, although we adore the classic matte black. Visit aradastoves.com to see the full collection. Find out more about the ‘EcoDesign Ready’ label in the Your Essential Guide to Cosy Living supplement (free with this issue).

Made to last Farringdon with log store, from £1,427, Arada Stoves

A lick of paint can make a world of difference if your home is lacking a bit of je ne sais quoi. The French-made Saphyr paints from 4MURS are suitable for an extensive range of surfaces, including walls, woodwork and radiators, and work well both indoors and out. But perhaps the pièce de résistance is that when you’re finished applying these multi-tasking paints, your brushes can easily be washed in water. Our pick of the palette is this blush pink shade for a subtle statement with a romantic finish.

PREPARATION IS KEY A spare key is always handy, but finding a safe place to keep it can be tricky. Unlike the not-so-secure plant pot or doormat, the Universal Key Lock Box Select Access from Master Lock offers robust and reliable security with a customisable combination key. The adjustable shackle means the box can be attached to most door handles with ease and eliminates the need for drilling. No more stress about forgetting your key – just make sure to remember your four-digit code! Available to buy from Amazon for £39.90.

Visit masterlock.eu for more information.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Multisurface magique

In busy households, it’s always best to opt for a hard-wearing floor that’ll stand the test of time. The new Ultra range from Havwoods is designed to do just that. Durable and scratch resistant, Ultra is intended to be as beautiful as it is practical. Consisting of seven layers, the planks are three times harder than average wood flooring. Available in four neutral shades (Transparent, Natural, Grey or White), there’s an Ultra plank to complement most interior styles. Prices start at £51.95 per sq m. Visit havwoods.co.uk to find out more.

Multi-surface paint Saphyr pink blush satin, £33.99 for 2.5L, 4MURS

November 2020

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HOME IMPROVEMENT A loft conversion makes an ideal space for a study or home office. Neville Johnson can equip your loft office with contemporary fitted furniture for £3,600

Vinyl flooring – like VIVO Click Vinyl in Huntsville Oak, from £20 per sq m, Leoline – is easy to install in hard-to-access rooms

CREATE MORE SPACE WITH A LOFT CONVERSION Add an extra bedroom, study or play area to your home by extending upwards into the attic FIND OUT IF IT’S DO-ABLE

1

The first job is to check if your loft space is suitable for converting.

Look at your neighbours’ properties and see if anyone else has done it – this is a quick and easy way to see if it’s likely to be a possibility.

Next, measure the available head height. The minimum required is 2.2m so run a tape measure from the floor to the ceiling at the tallest part. This is where a lot of period properties fall short. You also need to check the roof pitch and structure – whether it has trusses or rafters. If it has trusses or supports that run through its cross-section, it’s possible, but you’ll need extra structural support, which bumps up the cost. Also, check for chimney stacks, water tanks and where the staircase could go.

Make the lighting a feature in an attic bedroom.

Sleek Large Edison pendant, £39, Industville

Even a redundant space on top of a maisonette flat could be used to create extra room, subject to the appropriate permissions.

Find out more at ungararchitects.com

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Photo @oakappledecor

Feature Hayley Gilbert

L

oft conversions are one of the most common home improvements and the perfect solution if you need more space but don’t want to move. With prices starting at around £15,000 for a single room design leading up to £35,000-plus for a full master bedroom with en-suite, it can be cheaper than selling up and moving somewhere larger. Loft conversions can be used for a bedroom, a playroom for younger children or an office for home working.

Before you start, ask a few local estate agents to value your home with and without a conversion, to make sure you’d get your money back if you did sell up in the future. As a rough guide, a typical project adds around 20 per cent to the value of your property.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started…

HOME IMPROVEMENT

This dormer loft conversion by DJ Moore Lofts took around six weeks to build and includes a bedroom, en suite and dressing area.

A similar design would cost around £35,000 Select some cosy fabrics and prints to make the space inviting. Kelling Designs can create something like this from around £6,000, including furniture

GET PERMISSION

SET A BUDGET

Many homes will have an allowance for permitted development so you won’t need planning permission. But you will need it if you live in a listed building, a conservation area or you want to alter the roof height or shape. Rooflights and dormer windows can be fitted as part of permitted development so long as they don’t protrude from the roof plane on the principal elevation and aren’t higher than the existing roof. All loft conversions need to adhere to building regulations and a building control surveyor will need to inspect the project at different stages as well as issue a completion certificate at the end. You’ll also need to notify your neighbours of your plans if they fall under the Party Wall Act for semi-detached and terraced homes. Contact your local planning office before you do anything.

Prices vary considerably depending on the work that needs doing and where you live, but you can expect to pay at least £15,000 for a basic oneroom design. As a bare minimum you’ll need to consider reinforcing the floor, installing skylights, adding insulation, a staircase, electrics, heating and lighting as well as fire safety measures. Don’t forget the furnishings and fixtures too.

Once you start adding dormer windows to increase the floor space and head height, prices rise from around £20,000 to £35,000-£45,000 for a master bedroom with en suite. Anything more complicated that involves changing the roof structure will push the price upwards of £40,000. Work out your budget and stick to it. Allocate around 10 per cent as contingency for any emergencies and use spreadsheets to keep an eye on costs.

2

Photo the-loftroom.com

When extending outwards isn’t an option, upwards is often the best way to create more space

3

Dormer windows can be added to listed buildings, provided planning permission is in place. Timber alternative windows from £500, Thames Valley Window Company

CHOOSE A BUILDER OR ARCHITECT Even a basic build will require professional help. Ask anyone you know who’s had a loft conversion for recommendations. Once you have a few in mind, look at examples of their work, either as photos or home visits to their customers. Get at least three quotes that break down costs as well as timescales, but don’t automatically choose the cheapest. You should get a feel for the tradesperson or company and go with someone you feel you’d be happy working with. Some people also use the services of an architect whereas others will engage a specialist loft conversion company. Architects can help you find the best builder as well as project manage the whole works and keep within your budget so it’s worth considering, especially if it’s a big or complicated job.

4

A master suite with bathroom will make your conversion a lot more usable and appealing to future buyers. Especially with this Eden dualcontrol diverter shower (£315, Triton Showers)

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Make the most of every inch of space with a bespoke furniture solution, like these Langham wardrobe doors in Beige Silk and drawers in Mayfair Bronze, £7,200, Daval Furniture

EXPERT ADVICE

THINK ABOUT LIGHTING

5

Make your new loft conversion as light as possible with a good mix of skylights and artificial illumination. The easiest and cheapest glazing option is to use rooflights that follow the pitch line of the roof. This involves removing the tiles and battens where the rooflight will be fitted, cutting the rafters to make way for the window and then reinforcing the remaining rafters. Dormer windows on the other hand, not only add light, but also space to your new room.

These are installed by opening up the roof and cutting the timbers to size on site. For other lighting, use a mix of task lights for reading or working, ambient light for good, all-round illumination and accent lights for atmosphere.

Think outside the box and turn your loft into a sauna with Finnmark Sauna

‘To maximise floor space, tuck cupboards underneath the eaves and invest in a corner unit, which can create a convenient place for storage.

Custom-made wardrobes can also be fitted to the entire length of the wall, using every inch of available space. Mix cupboards and drawers with open shelves to have storage moulded to your every need.

Another tip is to opt for folding or sliding doors.

They tuck away easily and can even be arranged so they slide into the wall.’

Rich Conlin, Managing Director of The Loft Room

Visit planningporta l.co.uk for information on plann ing permission and building regulations.

Find an architect at architecture.com, a builder at fmb.org .uk and a structural engineer at istructe. org.

Choose a pay-as-you -go architect ser vice at architect-yourh ome.com.

Don’t forget to get the right insurance in place during and after your conversio n.

Compare prices at co mparethemarket. com, confused.co m or gocompare.co m.

CONSIDER HEATING AND INSULATION

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The new loft should be warm and cosy in winter, and nice and cool in summer, so think carefully about its heating and insulation. You could install underfloor heating although, as it’s likely to be a smallish area, most people have just a radiator or two, which is more than enough in most cases. If you’re adding an en suite, a heated towel rail is handy for drying towels and you may need to upgrade the boiler to cope with the extra hot water required – a plumber or heating engineer will be able to advise you on this. The roof structure can be insulated either with a cold-roof method, which is the simplest, or warm-roof insulation, which is usually chosen with a dormer or flat roof. The floor will also need to be insulated as well as party walls if you live in a semi-detached or terraced house.

Eye-catching flooring, such as this Goldie vinyl (£19 per sq m) from Avenue floors, makes a loft conversion’s en suite feel more personal

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USEFUL CONTACTS

CASE STUDY ‘We converted the loft to make more space for three-generation family gatherings’

Jackie Kirvan, who has plenty of experience doing up houses, is justifiably proud of her latest project – turning a traditional seaside cottage into a spacious threegeneration family home designed for modern living

Originally built for the local coastguard, the white weather-boarded house with its distinctive castellated wall is packed full of character and original features

Jackie and Peter Kirvan moved to Devon with their two young daughters over 20 years ago. The family home suited them well when the girls were growing up, but fast forward to 2020 and, now that the girls are both married with young children, the house is frequently pushed for space when the whole family gets together. ‘We had four bedrooms, but one was just big enough for bunk beds and the fourth was a poky room tucked under the eaves with only a steep and slightly unsafe staircase for access,’ explains Jackie.

Two years ago, when the old slate roof of the 18thcentury coastguard’s cottage needed replacing, the

Kirvans took the opportunity to re-model the upstairs accommodation at the same time. Their plan, to convert the existing loft room into a spacious en suite bedroom, involved obtaining planning permission for a new gable window to create more headroom. They also wanted to remove a redundant chimney breast in order to change the angle of the stairs and double the size of the bedroom at the rear of the house.

As with many structural projects, this one was not without its problems. ‘The work started during the worst winter when the village was snowed in and the builders couldn’t get their vehicles in or out,’ recalls Jackie. ‘Then when the snow melted, it leaked through the tarpaulin covering the exposed roof, flooding the bedroom and kitchen beneath.’

As the couple weren’t living in the house at the time, it was a while before the extent of the damage was discovered and the building work could resume.

By that time, the layout of the loft conversion had been decided with a portion of the room allocated to an en suite shower. To one side, there’s space for a double bed, complete with bedside tables and builtin shelving, while the other side is just the right size for a child’s cot. The walls and ceiling are panelled to contain a high level of insulation and create a seaside feel, which fits well with the pretty blue and white colour scheme.

With the family now living in London, Bantham House is available as a holiday let through Compass Quay. Contact compassquay.uk or 01548 560910.

Feature and photos Gill Rothwell

A new gable window, installed to improve headroom in the loft conversion, mirrors the style of the original facade, creating a seamless blend of old and new

plenty of The new window lets hemed e-t sid sea the o light int ensive views bedroom and gives ext ntr yside cou ng ndi rou sur the of

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REVIVE YOUR

F ont door

Give your entrance a welcoming look for winter

T

he first thing anyone sees when they approach your home is your front door and a smart, inviting entrance will help make a good first impression. A simple paint job and a few new hardware pieces is often all it takes to freshen up a tired doorway and just before Christmas is the perfect time to do it – so you can be sure it’s in tip-top condition for displaying a wreath and welcoming your nearest and dearest. To help you make your front door dazzle, we’ve put together six of the best ways to embellish your entrance.

Lick of paint

1 2

A fresh coat of paint is the number one way to renew the entrance to your home. This forest green shade from Annie Sloan is a bold colour that will add drama to your front door.

If you’re not into dark and moody shades however, then a pastel or classic tone, such as lavender or dove grey, will look just as smart.

Amsterdam Green chalk paint, £21.95 per 1L, Annie Sloan

Knock, knock…

Choosing a decorative door knocker can really amp up the glam factor. We think this quirky brass owl design from Cox & Cox is bound to bring a smile to you and your guests’ faces.

Owl door knocker in Solid Brass, £60, Cox & Cox

Artsy Oh Hello doormat, £24.95, Cuckooland

3

Warm welcome Make your doorway inviting with a stylish outdoor mat that has a friendly phrase printed onto it. Not only will it provide a warm welcome, but it’ll also help you keep your hallway clean.

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If a matt black front door isn’t for you, narrow down your colour choice with the help of Sadolin and Sandtex’s Technical Consultant, Matthew Brown…

Pick a number Is your house number looking a little worse for wear?

Refresh it with a colourful Art Deco stained-glasseffect window.

Kyanite house number, £15.50, Purlfrost

‘When it comes to front doors, homeowners often pick shades they wouldn’t choose for their internal scheme, as front doors offer a great opportunity to express a craving for colour without affecting the mood of a scheme.

‘Statement doors have become very popular recently, with people opting for a bright blue, vibrant yellow or soft pastel shades. These colours can really make your property stand out and give it a more modern feel.

‘But classic colours, such as deep grey and off-white remain a popular choice for front doors. Neutral shades are timeless, elegant and, most importantly, suit every exterior.

‘Before you begin repainting your front door, the most important thing to do is to prime it. Begin by sanding it down and wiping away the dust and dirt. Always apply primer before painting as this will provide a good foundation for the paint to sit on while giving it more opacity and longevity. Apply two to three coasts of paint for maximum protection.’

Instead of stainedglass, you could opt for these gorgeous sleek house numbers from Brisant Secure’s Sweet range Sweet rose-gold door furniture, from £19, Brisant Secure

5

Wonderful wreaths A cheerful wreath is the best way to add a finishing touch to your front door, especially with the seasonal festivities just around the corner.

Sweet matt black door furniture, from £19, Brisant Secure

B ight idea

6

Place a set of lights either side of your doorway to brighten up the entrance and bathe your guests in a welcoming glow when they arrive.

Traditional Christmas oversized red berry wreath, £94.99; Malvern outdoor lantern bundle, £84.99; TruGlow waterproof outdoor candle trio, £26.99, all Lights4fun

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Strand wall light, £50, Garden Trading

Farringdon heart, £18; St Ives ships light, £50, both Garden Trading

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA

Heat up

YOUR HOME Keep your house warm and cosy with portable heaters and flue stoves

T

he chilly weather has taken hold outside but that doesn’t mean you should put up with the cold indoors. Keep the freezing forecast out of your home by using a flue fire or portable heater to warm it up. Can’t decide which one is best for you?

Not to worry, we’ve got experts on board to help you choose which heater or fire will be best suited to your space.

This sleek and stylish convection stove will fit comfortably into a snug winter living room, but it doesn’t just have a pretty face. It features an automatic self-closing door for ease of use, with a rounded-off top plate in solid cast iron, and an elegant handle that will stay cool when lit. This model boasts a log storage base too, so you can have a rustic wood pile on display.

6843 stove with log storage, £1,799, Morsø

OUR EXPERT SAYS… Before making a purchase, there are a few things that you should consider, such as the cost, space and environment. A wood-burning stove can be pretty costly – up to £1,000 or more depending on installation costs. Portable heating options are much cheaper to buy and the running costs are generally quite low as well. Think about how big the space is that you need to heat up, too.

For small rooms, portable heaters are ideal, but a radiant wood or circulating stove is best for larger rooms as they distribute heat more efficiently.

There isn’t much difference between the environmental impact of a portable heater and a wood-burning stove, but some will use more energy than others.

Jonny Baylis, owner of LogsNearMe.co.uk

The Wychwood wood-burning stove has a Sterling Grey paint finish to give it a contemporary look and features a glass door so you can admire the flames from the comfort of a cosy armchair or sofa. It also has a 5kW output, which makes it ideal for small- to medium-sized rooms, and an A+ rating for eco energy efficiency.

Wychwood wood-burner, £1,150, ACR Stoves

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This log-burning fireplace has a large viewing window, which is kept spotless with a built-in air-wash system. The smart air-flow function will also provide you with mesmerising flame patterns, plus it will help to minimise emissions. What’s more, this model has touch handles for opening the door and a removable ashpan to make it easy to maintain.

KNOW YOUR FLUES Managing Director at Morsø, Declan Kingsley-Walsh, reveals the points to consider when getting a flue fire installed If you want to have a new indoor flue stove fitted, then you will need to have a flue pipe installed at the same time. A professional installer should survey the property and assess where the stove would be best placed, then they can supply you with all the correct parts for installation.

With a wide range of free-standing stoves available, there are many options in the home for positioning your stove. By putting your flue against a wall, in an existing fireplace, or in the centre of an open-plan room, it can be fitted through a wall or ceiling. The flue system must be independently secured and must not rely on the stove for support. Insert stoves can be fitted flush to a solid or dividing wall, or an old fireplace opening in your room.

Multi-fuel stoves can burn wood, natural smokeless fuel and manufactured smokeless fuel, whereas wood-burning stoves exclusively burn wood logs and briquettes. There are various points to consider when deciding between a multi-fuel stove and a wood-burning stove.

For example, manufactured smokeless fuel produces much more CO2 so it’s less environmentally friendly and not all multi-fuel stoves will be able to burn every type of fuel, so it’s important to double check this.

Ideally, a flue should be checked and swept twice a year. To help cut down on maintenance, I’d recommend lining the flue. The use of a liner is not likely to improve the operation and performance of the stove, but it can dramatically reduce the risk of condensation and the build-up of tar or creosote in the chimney.

Aire wood-burning stove, £1,350, Ludlow Stoves & Renewables

This state-of-the-art wood-burning combustion chamber design has the latest air-wash technology to help keep the inside spick and span, as well as a huge glass window for views of the flames. The fact that it’s a free-standing stove also makes it easy to place wherever you like in your home.

Purevision Heritage stove, £1,149, Ludlow Stoves & Renewables

Function and design go hand in hand with this contemporary flue fire. Although it’s a little pricier than some stoves, its ultra-sleek look and practical features make it a worthy investment. It’s made from black steel with black-edged glass sections and has a slender matt-steel handle, as well as an automatic closing system. The glass door also gives a view to the flames from all angles, including the front and sides.

Bring warmth, cosiness and cutting-edge style to your home with the Le Feu fireplace. You’ll be able to choose from a selection of colours for the legs and you can decide between a metal, tripod or hanging base. This portable fire is able to give out 2-3.5kW of heat in a room of around 20 square metres and has been designed with the environment in mind; it’s built from recycled cast iron and powered by bio-ethanol fuel, which emits no smoke, plus there’s no need for a flue.

Le Feu Bio-Ethanol fireplace, £1,499, Cuckooland

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Feature Sophie Demetriades

4340 stove, £2,499, Morsø

HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA

CHOOSE YOUR PORTABLE HEATER There are numerous types of heaters that you can buy to warm up your home. So, we’ve got Jonny Baylis, owner of LogsNearMe.co.uk, on board to give his expert advice on the pros and cons for each type of heater

FAN

These are ideal if you have a small room to heat up. They work by using an electric coil to create heat, which is circulated around the room with a fan. These portable heaters are one of the most economical ways to warm up a small space, but the heat won’t last long if there’s a draught.

Stave off the cold weather with this electric radiant heater. It features a 1,000- to 2,500W radiator with 11 oil-filled fins and simple controls to make it easy for you to turn down the temperature and maintain a lower setting, which will save energy and money. Plus, it comes with a built-in 24-hour timer and it can heat up to 25 square metres of space.

1500W electric radiant heater, £46.99, Wayfair

OIL-FILLED Another fairly inexpensive way to heat up a small room is with an oil-filled heater; this uses oil with an electric current to generate heat. The downside is that they can take a while to warm up – around 20 to 30 minutes in most cases – however, the oil doesn’t need to be replaced, which is a mess-free bonus.

CONVECTOR

These portable heaters are ideal for distributing heat evenly throughout a room. They work by using convection currents to heat up the air and then circulating it. While they can take a while to warm up, they do a better job at warming the room than fan heaters.

HALOGEN These portable heaters use halogen bulbs or lamps to provide warmth. They aren’t great for large spaces as the heat is generally pinpointed in one area, but they are cheap to run.

For a heater/cooler combo that you can use all year round, choose this smarttech Dyson model. The intelligent thermostat monitors the surrounding environment then projects a warm airflow throughout the space and maintains that temperature for as long as you need. It also offers a built-in timer so you can set it for a specified amount of time – this is ideal for use at night to ensure a comfortable sleep.

Dyson AM09 white/silver hot and cool fan heater, £399.99, Argos

Make your home feel warm and cosy with an electric stove heater. It has the classy look of a non-electric stove but is more convenient and easier to use with its two heat settings – 925W and 1850W – and its realistic flame effect. It’s also able to heat up a large space of 53 square metres and has a log fire-effect display.

1850W portable electric stove heater, £69.99, VonHaus

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For small spaces, pick a portable ceramic fan heater. This one is light enough to be used on a tabletop or desk in a home office and the PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) element makes for fast, efficient heating. This heater also has two power options, an adjustable thermostat and overheat and tip-over protection function for safety and peace of mind.

ANSIO heater ceramic 2000W mini electric PTC fan heater, £49.99, Mano Mano

HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA With this heater to hand, you’ll be able to warm up your home in no time. The adjustable thermostat offers two heat settings with a digital display and touch controls, which allows the temperature to be regulated between 15-35 degrees. The oscillation will also provide heat coverage over an 80-degree angle.

Oscillating 2000W electric fan heater, £128.99, Wayfair

This gas-fuelled heater uses infrared technology to generate air flow and has an adjustable thermostat so you can play around with three heat settings. It’s able to heat up to 105 square metres, so it’s more than capable of keeping your toes warm and toasty. i4,200W gas infrared heater with wheels, £74.99, Wayfair

Finished in a stylish black colourway, this oilfilled heater will not only be able to warm up to 25 square metres of space, but it will look the part, too. It has three helpful heat settings and a 24hour programmable timer so you can set the radiator to coincide with your daily routine. It also features glide castors and a cable tidy so you’ll be able to easily move it around your home.

Dimplex 2kW oil-filled radiator, £94.99, Argos

If you want the look of a wood-burner but the price of an electric stove then this one is for you. The Malvern offers contemporary styling, is made from highquality, lightweight steel and has a cast aluminium construction with a traditional black powder-coat finish. The realistic 3D holographic flame projection has four settings, including high, medium and low, as well as smouldering embers. Plus, there’s a blue flame option to create greater ambiance and a whisperquiet flame effect.

Malvern electric stove, £695, ACR Stoves

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8 AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER

We have fabulous goodies up for grabs this month!

Win one of five security kits, worth £99.99 each

Five lucky winners

Two luxury York Festive Hampers up for grabs

Prize worth over £250 each

Thanks to home-schooling, working from home and keeping everyone entertained, UK families are spending more time than ever online. According digital security experts, Kaspersky, 81 per cent of UK households have at least one device that’s continuously connected to the internet, while over 50 per cent have multiple devices that are always online. As such, internet security has never been more important, which is why Kaspersky is offering Your Home readers a chance to win one of five Security Cloud kits, worth £99.99.

Kaspersky’s Family Security Cloud provides year-round digital and internet security for up to 20 devices. It safeguards all your private data and provides toprated anti-virus and anti-phishing software as well as password management and parental controls.

For more about the Kaspersky Security Cloud, visit kaspersky.com

Each luxurious hamper from Cartwright & Butler is packed with a generous selection of mouth-watering sweet and savoury bites and beverages. One of these showstopping baskets would make an ideal Christmas present, but if you’re one of the two lucky winners of this giveaway, you could be receiving a Cartwright & Butler York Festive hamper yourself.

The York Festive Hamper is the ultimate luxury gift. Worth over £250, each one is crammed full of festive goodies and arrives in a 24-inch painted basket that’s beautiful enough to be a gift in its own right.

As well as luxury hampers, Cartwright & Butler also has a wide range of other gifts and gift boxes to make this Christmas even more special.

For more information, visit cartwright andbutler.co.uk

Win one of four Gtech HyLite vacuums, worth £130 each

Win a £50 voucher for Protek woodcare products

Your Home has teamed up Gtech to offer you the chance to win one of four lightweight, high-performance, upright, cordless HyLite vacuum cleaners.

The Gtech HyLite is ideal for homes where space is limited.

With its retractable handle collapsed, the vacuum cleaner is small enough to fit in a drawer, but when fully extended the handle allows the HyLite to easily clean underneath sofas and beds. You can even remove the handle completely and convert the HyLite’s head unit into a hand-held vacuum that will make light work of stairs, armchairs and upholstered furniture.

The Gtech HyLite weighs just 1.5kg, takes two hours to reach a full charge, has a 20-minute run time and also uses environmentally friendly bags so you don’t have to worry about cleaning filters. Find out more about all the products in the Gtech range at gtech.co.uk

Protek is offering Your Home readers the chance to win 10 vouchers, worth £50 each, to spend at protekwoodstain.co.uk.* Protek’s range of wood protection products have been formulated to shield any exterior timber from the worst winter weather and keep your garden looking gorgeous. But they’re not just for protection, Protek’s surface treatments come in a wide spectrum of colours so they serve as decoration too. Add a new colour to your fences, decking, shed or summerhouse and you can instantly give your outdoor space a stylish new look. Protek products also are water-based and made with environmentally considerate raw materials and processes so they’re safe for any plants, pets and wildlife that share your garden. Find our more at protekwoodstain.co.uk

Four lucky winners

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*Winners must pay for delivery of the product when ordering online.

10 lucky winners

8 AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER Win over £100 of Harris painting tools

Five lucky winners

Win one of three Indulgent Escapes by Red Letter Days

Get your home looking fantastic for the festive season with the help of painting tools from top decorating brand, Harris. Your Home has five prize bundles of Harris painting tools, each worth over £100, to give away this month.

Whether you’re just covering up scuffs and marks or redecorating entire rooms, a fresh lick of paint makes a world of difference. And with the paintbrushes, rollers, and preparation and cleaning tools from Harris, good coverage and a professional finish can be achieved quickly and easily. The lightweight rollers and brushes have been cleverly designed to fit into tricky grooves and corners so you can expect quality results even when tackling awkward areas. For more information about Harris interior decorating, plus useful hints and tips, visit harrisbrushes.com

Indulge a loved one this Christmas with a luxury escape in the UK. Your Home has teamed up with Red Letter Days to offer three Indulgent Escape Gift Boxes, worth £159.99 each.

Choose from a wide range of stylish and exclusive venues all across the UK. Visit the popular seaside town of Brighton; take a trip to the bustling capital; or enjoy a calming country break away from the city. With an Indulgent Escape Gift Box, you’ll have plenty of experiences to choose from, all of which offer the opportunity to unwind and escape. Whether you fancy a spa break, a busy weekend in the city or a stay in a country manor house, the choice is yours. For more information and to view the full list of experiences on offer, visit redletterdays.co.uk

Win Sweet door hardware worth over £100

Win a year’s supply of Black Cow Vodka

Your Home has teamed up with Sweet to offer five lucky readers a complete set of front door hardware, including a door handle, a knocker, numerals and a round letter plate.

Sweet makes sleek and stylish front door furniture that will not only increase your home’s kerb appeal, but also improve its security. Each piece combines cutting-edge features that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

The curved edges on the Sweet door handle, for example, look great and prevent would-be burglars from latching on to it with a mole grip – the most common means of breaking and entering in the UK. All Sweet’s pieces are corrosion resistant and available in six finishes, including rose gold and gloss black.

For more on Sweet and its products, visit sweet-doors.co.uk

Based in the rolling hills of West Dorset, Black Cow makes vodka out of milk. Yes, milk. It’s a unique process and one that gives the vodka a distinctively smooth and creamy character. Black Cow knows that milk is precious, so they don’t waste a drop. The milk of grass-grazed cows is separated into curds and whey. The curds are used to make Black Cow Deluxe Cheddar and the whey makes Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka.

Your Home is teaming up with Black Cow to offer two lucky readers a year’s supply of Pure Milk Vodka. Each winner will receive six bottles of Black Cow’s original Pure Milk Vodka and six of its English Strawberries variety.

Black Cow + English Strawberries has the same creamy character as Black Cow’s original vodka, with a refreshing hint of strawberry.

For more information visit blackcow.co.uk

Five lucky winners

Prize worth £159.99 each

Two lucky winners

T enter, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d To like l to enter and fill in your details. Closing date 30th November 2020 at 11.59pm 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, non-transferable 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 30th November 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 The prizes are as stated above. 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 Your Home November 2020 Giveaways, 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.

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A BIG

THANKS TO OUR

To donate to the NHS please go to

nhscharitiestogether.co.uk

Shopping guide Where to buy everything in this issue

A

Abigail Ahern 020 7354 8181 abigailahern.com Abode Living 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk ACR Stoves 0121 706 8266 acrheatproducts.com Alusplash alusplash.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk Andrew Martin 020 3887 6113 andrewmartin.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 713089 anniesloan.com Annika Reed Studio 07595 182179 annikareed.com Antipodream 07391 514622 antipodream.co.uk AO.com 0161 470 1200 ao.com Arada Stoves 01297 632050 aradastoves.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk ASDA 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com Atkin and Thyme 01727 227500 atkinandthyme.co.uk A Twist of Somerset 01278 734539 twistofsomerset.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com Avenue Floors avenuefloors.co.uk

B

B&Q 0333 014 3357 diy.com Bamboo Diaries bambooecodiaries.com.au Bathrooms to Love 0800 877 8899 bathroomstolove.co.uk Bathstore 0333 241 2701 bathstore.com BC Designs 01206 827100 bcdesigns.co.uk Bedfolk bedfolk.com Beer52 0131 285 2684 beer52.com Beko beko.co.uk Benatti London 01923 914670 benatti-london.com Best Heating 0344 417 2563 bestheating.com Big Bathroom Shop 0345 122 7569 bigbathroomshop.co.uk Blinds 2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Blueair +46 8 679 45 00 blueair.com/gb Bohemia 0131 555 2485 bohemiadesign.co.uk Bower Collective bowercollective.com Britton Bathrooms 01322 473222 brittonbathrooms.com Brume 01364 73090 brume.co.uk Button & Sprung 03333 201801 buttonandsprung.com

C

Ca’ Pietra 01380 735885 capietra.com Chalk and Cheese 01256 780491 chalkandcheese.biz

Cielshop 01273 443837 cielshopinteriors.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Crown Imperial 01227 742424 crown-imperial.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curious House curioushouse.net Currys 0344 561 1234 currys.co.uk

D

Daval Furniture 01484 848500 daval-furniture.co.uk Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk DJ Moore Lofts 01234 984076 djmoorelofts.co.uk Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com

E

eBay 0345 355 3229 ebay.co.uk Echo Designs echodesigns.co.uk Ella James 01572 759190 ellajames.co.uk Etsy etsy.com Eversfield Organic 01837 871400 eversfieldorganic.co.uk Extract Coffee Roasters 0117 955 4976 extractcoffee.co.uk

F

Farrow and Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Fern & Thistle 07834 187711 fernandthistle.co.uk Finnmark Sauna 020 8050 2895 finnmarksauna.com Flying Tiger uk.flyingtiger.com Furnish.co.uk 0345 544 4044 furnish.co.uk Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk

G

Gaddesby Kitchens gaddesbykitchens.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Gousto gousto.co.uk Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Graze graze.com Grohe 020 8283 2840 grohe.co.uk Gumtree gumtree.com

H

H&M 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat habitat.co.uk Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com Harvey Maria 0330 330 1231 harveymaria.com Havwoods 01524 737000 havwoods.co.uk Hello Fresh 020 7138 9055

20 hellofresh.co.uk HEMA hema.com/en-gb Hillarys 0800 916 1094 hillarys.co.uk Holy Lama 07762 657277 holylama.co.uk Home Bargains homebargains.co.uk Home Luxe Co homeluxeco.com Homesense 01923 473561 homesense.com Horwood 0117 940 0000 horwood.co.uk Hudson Reed 01422 417100 hudsonreed.co.uk

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Icon Wall Stickers 0191 303 7885 iconwallstickers.co.uk IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.com/gb

Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk Island Press islandpress.org

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John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com Johnson Tiles 01782 524000 johnson-tiles.com Juliettes Interiors 020 7870 7415 juliettesinteriors.co.uk

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Kelling Designs 020 3866 4430 kellingdesigns.com Kinfolk DĂŠcor kinfolkdecor.co.uk KitchenCraft 0121 785 4149 kitchencraft.co.uk Know & Love knowandlove.co.uk

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Lakeland 015394 88100 lakeland.co.uk La Maison Chic 0800 133 7828 la-maison-chic.co.uk La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Leaf Envy leafenvy.co.uk Leoline leoline.co.uk LG Hausys lghausys.com Lidl 0800 977 7766 lidl.co.uk Life of Riley 01799 551813 lifeofrileyonline.co.uk Lifestyle Kitchens lifestylekitchens.com Lights4fun 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk Lime Lace 0330 058 4158 limelace.co.uk Limited Abode 0116 277 8897 limitedabode.co.uk Linda Barker Paints lindabarkerpaints.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com LochAnna Kitchens 01204 328720 lochannakitchens.co.uk Louis De Poortere louisdepoortere.com Love Frankie 01803 866399 lovefrankie.com Ludlow Stoves & Renewables 01584 878552 ludlowstoves.co.uk Lusso Stone 020 3370 4057 lussostone.com

M

MADE 0845 557 6888 made.com Made Below 07970 530965 madebelow.co.uk Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Mindful Chef 020 3950 0455 mindfulchef.com Mint & May 020 3637 7969 mintandmay.co.uk Modish Living 01273 499057 modishliving.co.uk Morsø 01788 554410 morsoe.com 4MURS 4murs.co.uk My Furniture 0800 092 1636 my-furniture.co.uk MyGlazing.com myglazing.com M.Y.O 07780 661787 myo.place

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Nest 0114 243 3000 nest.co.uk Neville Johnson 0161 873 8333 nevillejohnson.co.uk Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nimble 020 39731 460 nimblebabies.com Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nöa & Nani noaandnani.co.uk Nordic Nest 020 3002 1196 nordicnest.com Not on the High Street 020 3318 5115 notonthehighstreet.com

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Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Ocado 0345 656 1234 ocado.com Of Cabbages and Kings 020 7998 3282 ofcabbagesandkings.co.uk Old Fashioned Milk Paint 01799 219001 oldfashionedmilkpaint.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com

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Panoroof 0808 178 9163 panoroof.co.uk Pasta Evangelists 020 3828 7042 pastaevangelists.com Pooky 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Porcelain Superstore 0330 094 0304 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Primark primark.com PRIOR priorshop.uk Purlfrost 020 8992 4024 purlfrost.com

Q R

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Rebecca Udall 01653 229176 rebeccaudall.com Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Rocky Mountain Decals rockymountaindecals.ca Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk Rust-Oleum 0191 410 6611 makeityours.co.uk Ruth Holly ruthholly.co.uk

The Albion Bath Company 01255 831605 albionbathco.com The Contemporary Home tch.net The Crafty Couple 07714 631599 thecraftycouple.co.uk The Eco Friendly Living Co 07368 604283 theecofriendlylivingco.co.uk The Find Store 020 8850 5210 thefindstore.co.uk The French Bedroom Company frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Grey Works 01444 456161 thegreyworks.com The Heating Boutique 020 3319 6401 theheatingboutique.co.uk The Lighting Superstore 01225 704442 thelightingsuperstore.co.uk The Wolf & The Fox Co thewolfthefox.com TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Tolly McRae tollymcrae.co.uk Tons of Tiles 02477 500004 tonsoftiles.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Tracklements 01666 827044 tracklements.co.uk Trend Interiors 0800 028 4466 trendinteriors.co.uk

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Sainsbury’s 0800 636 262 sainsburys.co.uk Sak Home 0800 285 1989 sakhome.co.uk Savage Vines 020 3603 1150 savagevines.co.uk Shutterly Fabulous 0800 9700 800 shutterlyfabulous.com Simply Cook simplycook.com Sklum 020 3769 2694 sklum.com/uk Smeg 0344 557 9907 smeguk.com Sofology 03444 818181 sofology.co.uk Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com Sous Chef souschef.co.uk Sweet 01924 410200 sweet-doors.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com

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Terrys Fabrics 01782 566666 terrysfabrics.co.uk Tesco 0800 505555 tesco.com Thames Valley Window Company 0800 181 698 www.tvwindows.com Thatch thatchliving.co

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Valspar 0344 736 9174 valsparpaint.co.uk Vaunt Design vauntdesign.com Velux 01592 778225 velux.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk Victoria Plumb victoriaplumb.com Vincent and Barn 0118 328 7088 vincentandbarn.co.uk Vinyl Flooring UK 0113 887 9393 vinylflooringuk.co.uk VonHaus vonhaus.com

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Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair 0800 756 4912 wayfair.co.uk Wearth London wearthlondon.com Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Wild & Wolf uk.wildandwolf.com Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Worktop Express 0345 22 22 644 worktop-express.co.uk Wren Kitchens wrenkitchens.com

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Yorkshire Fabric Shop 01924 728753 yorkshirefabricshop.com

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Each one is available as a 1000 piece or 400 piece puzzle.

Taken from the legendary Cityscape Maps, there are an amazing 98 UK towns and cities available in the series to collect. Each different jigsaw features a stunningly illustrated map of the area and is an impressive 47cm x 32cm (400 piece) and 66cm x 50cm (1,000 piece) when built. All 98 are available either as a 1,000 piece or a 400 piece jigsaw (ages 8 to adult).

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£4.95

Grand Total Title

Initial

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Daytime Telephone Number

I enclose a cheque / postal order, payable to THPC Q Value £ Or please debit my credit / debit card Q Card No.

Please allow 14 days for delivery. Please note that as these puzzles are made to order individually, they are not refundable, unless there is a fault.

Remember to quote YH20A to get your SPECIAL OFFER price

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Offer ends 11.59pm 31st March 2021!

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SCUMBLE

ECO NEWS

Old-school pigments

news Save money and the planet with our best buys

TAKE A SEAT AND SAVE THE PLANET If you want to reduce your impact on the planet then, next time you need some new furniture, be sure to choose longlasting products built from sustainably sourced materials, like those from Made Below. The Manchester-based start-up has just released its first collection of footstools, benches, ottomans and baywindow seats. Each piece is hand-crafted from FSC regulated wood and wool from one of England’s oldest mills. The collection comes in two varieties: Go Solo pieces are upholstered in bright, blockcolour fabric while Go Graphic furniture combines colours and bold patterns.

Visit madebelow.co.uk to find out more.

Learn to look after your stuff Sandra Goldmark has written Fixation to help you ditch the throwaway culture that’s driving the overconsumption behind so many of the world’s problems.

The book isn’t simply a demand for better, less-disposable stuff, it’s also a guide to help you choose and care for the things you do buy, and how they can be repaired, reused and repurposed.

Grab a copy now for just £19.99 from islandpress.org.

3 OF THE BEST Indoor plant pots Rachel Rogers medium crochet basket, £28, Know & Love

Go Solo Bench, £395, Made Below

130

yourhomestyle.uk

Large 3D geometric planter, £30, Of Cabbages & Kings

Recycled glass hanging planter, £18, National Trust Shop

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Eco

For paints that are free from toxic chemicals and made from eco-friendly ingredients, opt for Old Fashioned Milk Paint.

There are over 50 colours available and each one is created from a natural mix of milk, protein, lime and clay. The paints come as a powder that you mix with water – so you only make what you need – then you can start applying fast-drying, non-fading paint to your walls. You can buy a 170g bag for £16.95 or a sample pot for only £3.95, from oldfashionedmilk paint.co.uk.

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Your Essential Guide to Cosy Living All the advice and inspiration you need to make your home warm and inviting this winter WIN!

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www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk May 2019 701 N N Trends N accessories N heating N lighting flooring recipes

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome p Sowels Photo Phili

I’ll admit, it was a good while ago that I swapped out my summer duvet for one with a hefty tog count (much to the delight of my cat, who has eschewed the cool tiles that she dozed on through August in favour of the plump eiderdown). Chilly nights – we’re ready for you!

There are many practical things we can do to make our homes warmer and more inviting at this time of year – discover stylish, efficient heating solutions on page 8, and read advice from the experts on page 12.

What I love most though is looking at ways to cosy up our interiors while simultaneously upping the style stakes. If you’re short on time, flick straight to page 4 where there are 20 quick and chic tricks that don’t cost the earth. And to perfect the ambiance of a room, see our lighting edit on page 14.

I do look forward to the food as the seasons change, as well. Autumn is a veritable feast! Tuck into one of our hearty dinners to help keep you healthy (p25) and stock up your larder (p28) as the nights draw in. Between the tasty fare and the toasty home improvements, you’ll be snug as a bug until spring!

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yourhomestyle.uk omemag facebook.com/yourh @Your_Home memagazine instagram.com/yourho memag pinterest.com/yourho

Contents 4

20 cosy updates for your home Quick and simple ideas to up the snug-factor 8 Hot trends New heating solutions that sizzle with style 10 Make the most of your mantelpiece Easy ways to transform your fireplace

12 Ask the experts: heating Smarten up your home’s heating solutions with advice from the professionals 14 Let it glow Golden hues and soft diffusion is what this season’s lighting is all about 18 5 fabulous flooring trends Discover the musthave looks, including an update on classic parquet

20 Revive your home with rugs A floor covering can add so much more than warmth to a room...

22 Ask the experts: flooring Industry oracles offer readers help on underfloor heating and more 24 Win Moduleo flooring!

We’ve teamed up with Moduleo to offer a prize of £1,000 worth of LVT flooring

25 One-pot wonders Effortless dinners that are hearty and healthy (and completely delicious!)

28 Love your larder Use autumn’s bounty to make delicious treats for seasons to come, plus get ahead for Christmas…

30 Shopping directory Where to buy every beautiful item you find in these pages

November 2020

3

DECORATING IDEAS

Treat yourself to new bedlinen to make bedtime all that more appealing. Layer with throws and cushions, and add a rug on the floor to keep things warm underfoot when you step out Fruit cushion, £6; floral duvet set, from £10; purple pinsonic throw, £15; multi distressed rug, from £35, all George Home

Enjoy a cup of your favourite hot brew in one of these comforting mugs Pale pink mug, £12; mustard glaze mug, £10; blue glaze mug, £16, all Oliver Bonas

Place a textural basket filled with blankets in your lounge, so you can add another layer whenever you need it Large blonde woven storage basket, £26, Next

20 cosy updates for your home Be inspired by these fab finds and ideas to give your home a snug feeling in an instant 4

yourhomestyle.co.uk

DECORATING IDEAS

Table and floor lamps are key to keeping lighting warm; place them at different levels to create the perfect welcoming ambiance Bamboozle floor lamp, £330; 40cm Posh Pink Velvet shade, £65, both Pooky

Give your windows a new treatment for the season by decking them out with curtains in rich hues and patterns. Layering voiles behind thicker fabrics will make sure draughts are kept at bay Curtains in Forbidden Forest Sapphire, RRP £27.50 per m, Journey Beyond Collection at Prestigious Textiles

While away dark evenings cooking up delicious fare at home, then serve it on beautiful tableware in rich, dark hues. Goldcoloured cutlery and bowls will help bounce warm light around your dining room.

Feature Lara Berry

Electroplated nibble bowl, £2.75; gold cutlery, £25 for a 16 pack; floral side plates, £3; Midnight dinner plate, £4.25; Dutch Glam napkin, £4 for two, all Sainsbury’s Home

Update floors with something soft underfoot. Nothing says cosy quite like a chunky knit, so this rug ticks all the right boxes Fusion plain modern wool chunky knit rug in Oyster, from £138, The Rug Seller

Want to spice up your neutral décor?

Choose Dulux’s Spiced Honey to colour block your walls – it’s perfect for turning up the temperature quickly and easily Spiced Honey emulsion, £20 per 2.5l, Dulux

The nights are getting longer so keep your feet off the chilly floor with a handcrafted stool Go Solo Foot stool, £375, Made Below

Layer up!

‘The best way to cosy up for winter is to introduce layers of soft furnishings in your home. On the sofa, mix as many different textures as possible – wool bouclé, linen, faux furs and knits are perfect for colder months. You can even TIaMZ ]X WV \PM ÆWWZ \WW UQ`QVO different rugs in one space. Knotted loop textures are the cosiest, and a sheepskin is always a good choice as the non-angular shape makes it MI[a \W \PZW_ WV \PM ÆWWZ \W OQ^M IV MNNWZ\TM[[ QVRMK\QWV WN \M`\]ZM Wil Law, Partner & Home Design Stylist at John Lewis & Partners

November 2020

705

DECORATING IDEAS

Transform the feel of your home with candlelight – the golden glow instantly warms.

Look out for lanterns so you can achieve the effect in a safe and stylish way

Combine different fabrics for a sumptuous feel – knit, chenille, fleece, velvet and silks layered together are a luxurious, tactile update Red plain wool throw, £75; waffle bedspread, £90; Soft & Silky 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bedding in white, from £15; velvet cushion in Paprika, Boutique bed Opulence Teal, £699 for a double, all John Lewis & Partners

Triple hurricane lantern £15, Havisham eyelet curtain, from £35; Caprice side table, £79; small matt grey ceramic vase, £8; Arkin chair, £229; Havisham cushion, £12; ochre Clara velvet cushion, £12; Eloise rug, £75; Santos drum ochre shade, £18, all Dunelm

Scents of style ‘Fragrance is such an easy way to update your space and designing the »IUJQIVKM WN I ZWWU \PZW]OP Q\[ [UMTT Q[ I[ QUXWZ\IV\ I[ \PM ^Q[]IT IVL \IK\QTM MTMUMV\[ +MTMJZI\M \PM ZMN]OM aW]Z PWUM JZQVO[ _Q\P W]Z _IZUM[\ NZIOZIVKM[" [XQKML IXXTM _Q\P KQVVIUWV IVL KTW^M# IVL M`W\QK \IJIK IUJMZ _Q\P _WWLa \WJIKKW JI[M ÆWZIT IVL [XQKa UQLLTM IVL NZM[P \WX VW\M[ WN JMZOIUW\ IVL [INNZWV Francesca Scott, Co-Founder, Vintage & Bespoke

6

yourhomestyle.co.uk

Look for candles in autumnal shades, boasting warming, inviting fragrances Fox & Ivy Tribal scented amber glass rattan candle, £6, Tesco

Snuggle your toes into this super-soft bath mat when you step out of a hot bath or shower Pure cotton pompom bath mat in Grey, £12.50, M&S

DECORATING IDEAS

It’s all about the textures when giving your home a winter update, and faux fur is a great go-to.

Transform a tired sofa with one of these throws to create a space you’ll never want to leave Strip faux fur cushions in Grey and Pink, £10 each; strip faux fur throw in Grey, £25; luxury faux fur cushions in Grey and Cream, £12 each; luxury faux fur throws in Grey and Cream, £38 each, all Matalan

Decadence doesn’t have to stop in the living areas.

We love hand towels with tassels for the bathroom Floral printed hand towel, £6, Matalan

Top tip! »)T\PW]OP \aXQKITTa KWV[QLMZML \W JM I]\]UVIT [PILM[ _IZU ZQKP \WVM[ KIV ILL IV MTMUMV\ WN KW[QVM[[ \W I [XIKM ITT aMIZ ZW]VL *WTL _Q\PW]\ JMQVO W^MZXW_MZQVO [PILM[ WN [XQKM Z][\ IVL \MZZIKW\\I IZM LM[QOV [\IXTM[ IVL TMVL \PMU[MT^M[ \W I U]T\Q\]LM WN LuKWZ[ ?IZU X]ZXTM[ T]`]ZQW][ OZMMV[ IVL LMMX JT]M[ KIV MVPIVKM I KW[a TWWS )T\PW]OP aW] KIV UQ` IVL UI\KP KWTW]Z[ WX\ NWZ [QUQTIZ \WVM[ QV MIKP [PILM [W WVM LWM[V \ W^MZXW_MZ \PM W\PMZ 1VKT]LQVO I NM_ VM]\ZIT[ IVL VI\]ZIT UI\MZQIT[ _QTT SMMX \PM [XIKM KWV\MUXWZIZa

Ditch the reeds and choose this pretty paper flower diffuser and vintage glass vase to emit a warm and subtle fragrance around your home Flower diffuser and fragrance pack, from £10, Vintage & Bespoke

Suzy McMahon, Buying Director, Sofology

This dramatic pendant light, with its oversized blooms, will add a touch of romance to your bedroom décor

Create your own cosy corner to relax with a book and a hot cup of cocoa – investing in a new armchair is the perfect start. Choose a chair in a finish to ramp up Give light fittings a quickvelvet and easy update the snuggle stakes! with a new shade, the colours, velvet finish and Sunningdale accent chair in tassels are the perfect choice Saffron, £599, Sofology Floral velvet shade, £25, George Home

Pendant light EMMA, £36.50, 4Murs

These throws, with quilting detail and jewel colours, are purse-friendly, too!

Velvet quilted throws in Emerald Green and Steel Blue, £29.99 each, Homescapes Online

Look out for autumnal motifs on soft furnishings, accessories and artwork to help transition nicely into a new season. Use this serving bowl to display fruit, store knick-knacks or as part of an eyecatching display Wooden leaf serving bowl, £20, Rose & Grey

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HEAT YOUR HOME

GO UNDER GLASS It goes without saying that the more efficient your fire, the more money you could save!

So while the latest contemporary glassfronted fires may not be the cheapest to buy, they will seriously maximise fuel efficiency and cut down on those future bills. Whether you opt for flames from gas or solid fuel, these stylish wall and hearth-mounted cassette fires also offer impressive heat outputs, thanks to the use of both convection and radiated heat.

The inbuilt glass front can make them a safer bet in busy homes, too.

Top tip Riva2 400 gas fire, from £1,315, with Verve XS frame module, £410, Gazco Elise 540 Edge steel woodburning or multi-fuel stove, from £1,819, Stovax

‘It is important that, having fitted a woodburner, the logs you burn must have a maximum moisture content of 20 per cent, and wood should ideally be kiln dried.’ Declan Kingsley-Walsh, Morsø Group

Keep toasty this season with the latest, must-have heating solutions

ECO-FRIENDlY FLAMES When it comes to the latest welcoming woodburners, the phrase to know is ‘ecodesign ready’. New European regulations mean stoves bought or installed after January 2022 must meet a higher minimum efficiency and reduction in the maximum permitted level of carbon particle emissions. So, look out for the SIA Ecodesign Ready mark – and also choose a Defra-approved woodburner if you live in a smoke control area. (Find out more about Ecodesign Ready standards on page 12).

Solution 5 Ecodesign Ready, Defra-approved, woodburning and multi-fuel stove, £599, Arada

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HEAT YOUR HOME

SWITCH TO ELECTRIC If you’ve dismissed the idea of an electric stove or fire in the past, then it’s definitely time to take another look. Thanks to advances in technology, you’ll find that many new models now offer the same stylish good looks and effects as the real thing – including authentic 3D flames, smoke and even the sound of crackling logs!

So, if you are warmed by the idea of an instant, hassle-free heating solution, why not simply plug in and relax? Just make sure it is BEAB approved, to guarantee safety standards.

Vetro glass InfraRed electric radiator, in White, from £695, Frontline Auberry Opti-myst remote control electric stove, £583, Dimplex

MAKE IT METALLIC Radiators are an oftenoverlooked way of introducing colour and design into the home, so if you’re looking to dress up your walls this winter, forget standard white and make a statement with on-trend metallics. You’ll find the latest rich, warming rose gold, bronze and copper finishes work well with both modern and traditional designs; and really ramp up the style with the latest sculptural shapes.

Radiate style Sleek, stylish and highly energy efficient, infrared heating panels work by heating the people and objects in a room, rather than the air, so you can say goodbye to those annoying cold spots, while also cutting running costs. Great for allergy sufferers (as they don’t circulate dust particles), and fitted with smart control technology, these eco-friendly panels simply plug into your electricity supply, so you can even take them with you if you move!

Top tip ‘Gas, wood and solid fuel fires or stoves should be fitted by a qualified Gas Safe or HETAS-registered installer – and don’t forget a carbon monoxide detector.’

Annabelle Carvell, Stovax Group

Feature Paula Woods

Milano Windsor traditional column radiator in Metallic Copper, from £259, BestHeating

Quadrate towel warmer in Rose Gold, from £361.20, Vogue UK

November 2020

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HEAT YOUR HOME

make the most of your

mantelpiece As the fireplace comes into its own this season, give yours a mini makeover to make it take centre stage

A Painting your fireplace the same shade as the wall, as done here in a bold teal, gives a stunning effect. Your eye is naturally drawn to the fire, and to the blend of contrasting and coordinating accessories above Ecoburn Plus 5 Widescreen, from £1,171, Arada

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yourhomestyl yourhomestyle.co.uk estyle.co.uk

lthough often the main focal point in living spaces, fireplaces can get neglected. But as we move into the cooler months, they become a source of heat, comfort and a place to gather with family and friends, so it’s the ideal time to give them a bit of attention.

Whether it’s a coat of paint, a new mirror or artwork to hang above, or a floral display or collection of personal possessions to stand on the mantel, we’ve got some great ideas to help you give your fireplace a fresh new look you’ll love.

For elegant and refined style, create a classic neutral display around a sleek cast-iron woodburner. Fill a few simple pieces of glassware with candles and update foliage with the seasons Badger 3112 stove, £1,099, Morsø

Top tip ‘Make your mantelpiece Insta-worthy by pulling out accents from your room décor – colours or textures – and find unique pieces to display that echo your scheme.’

Georgina Dennis, Interior Designer at Stovax & Gazco

Experiment with real or faux flowers and foliage. Display your blooms in jam jars, vintage-style bottles and single-stem vases, playing with height and scale as you go. Try suspending a few mini bottles, too LSA mini vase trio, £16; LSA column vase, £26; small perfect arranger, £25; roses, from £30 for 12, all The Real Flower Company

A large mirror propped on your mantelpiece gives a casual look while bouncing light around the room. Soften the lines with sprigs of foliage, such as ivy and eucalyptus Fulbrook mirror 90 x 90cm, £125; black Bretforton firescreen, from £50; Filkins fireside tool set, £40; fireside bucket, £25; cement candle holders, £15 for two, all Garden Trading

Top tip

Chesterfield 5 Wide multi-fuel stove, from £1,489, Stovax

To continue a bold monochrome look – like this one, inspired by a classic carpet – paint your mantel matt black and adorn it with metal barn stars.

Don’t be afraid to overlap accessories as it adds depth to the display Gleneagles pattern carpet in Grey Plaid, £29.99 per sq m, Carpetright

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Feature Lara Berry

A classic beam mantel oozes character.

Enhance its simplicity and rustic appeal with carefully chosen pieces to display at either end, and add handcrafted wooden accessories to flank the stove

‘An overmantel mirror is an effective way to enhance natural light and give the illusion of a larger room. Some candlesticks, come evening, create an enchanting atmosphere when reflected in a mirror.’

Laura Dadswell, Westland London

HEAT YOUR HOME

Ask the experts Our panel of professionals is here to solve all your heating queries

Classic radiator, from £368.40, Bisque

Q

What radiator material and design has the best heat output, as I want to make sure my home is nice and cosy this winter.

Also, how can I make sure my heating system runs smoothly in the run-up? Clare Nash, Dorking

Feature Hayley Gilbert

A

David Lorrison, Product Manager at Bisque, has the following advice…

Radiators are generally made from three materials: mild steel, stainless steel or aluminium. All have their pros, but aluminium is a particularly efficient conductor of heat and can heat up and cool down far quicker than a traditional cast iron radiator. In fact, Bisque’s aluminium models heat up in as little as 15 minutes. The material is also far lighter, slimmer and uses less water, making it a costeffective option too. Plus, all Bisque models are made from recycled metal – doing wonders for your eco credentials simultaneously. Generally, panelled radiators – with a flat surface – will radiate a better heat output, with nothing to obstruct them.

When selecting a new radiator, we always recommend conducting a heat-loss calculation. Bisque has a handy tool on its website, whereby customers can input a few simple details before the calculator generates a number of recommended results. From here, you can then make an informed selection.

In terms of ensuring your heating system is running smoothly, ensure you have bled your radiators in advance of the cooler months – there are a number of handy and helpful guides on the Bisque website that advise how to do this. Plus, it’s worth giving your radiator a thorough clean afterwards.

Finally, ensure any radiator bears the now-mandatory CE marking – this guarantees the radiator will perform at the output stated, keeping your home nice and toasty. All Bisque radiators proudly bear this accreditation.

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Q

Can I install a woodburning or multi-fuel stove if I live in the city?

And what about it being ’Ecodesign Ready‘? I’m not sure what that means exactly, but I want to make sure I’m buying the best model.

Emma Stickland, Camden

A

Michael Coke, Senior Development Engineer at Stovax Heating Group, offers this recommendation…

In a nutshell yes, you can install a wood or multi-fuel stove in the city, providing you follow any smoke control area regulations that may be in place.

If you live in a town or city, it’s highly likely that you live in a smoke control area. Smoke control areas were initially created by the UK Government’s Clean Air Act in 1956 in reaction to the Great Smog of 1952 in London. The latest update was published in 1993 to prevent pollution and clean up the air further.

To burn logs in a smoke control area you must have a Defra smoke control exempt stove – a list of these appliances can be found on Defra’s website. It’s important to remember that if you have an open fire, you cannot burn wood fuel in city locations and can only use authorised smokeless mineral fuels.

To improve air quality and to get the most out of your woodburner or multi-fuel stove, Stovax highly recommends looking for ’Ecodesign Ready’ products – these meet forthcoming 2022 regulations by burning with minimal emissions, and are much more efficient than an older stove. Remember to burn quality wood with a moisture content of 15-20 per cent, as the wood you burn has an important role to play in improving air quality.

If it provides better heat output more efficiently, it will therefore reduce the amount of wood fuel you use in total.

Sheraton 5 woodburning stove, £1,179, Limestone Claremont mantel, £1,315, both Stovax

Q

I want a new energy-efficient boiler that really heats up the home, as well as something that will cope easily with two bathrooms and teenagers who are always in the shower! What can you suggest?

Mia Worthington, Eastbourne

A

Victoria Billings, Director of Marketing for Worcester Bosch, says…

We would recommend a Greenstar 8000 Style combi boiler if there is sufficient mains cold water pressure. With outputs ranging from 30-50kW, these boilers can deliver instantaneous hot water with a great flow rate, and also deliver 30kW on central heating. All in all, our Style boiler would provide more than enough heating and hot water for most large family homes – even those with teenagers hogging the bathrooms! The range is also fully compatible with the Bosch EasyContol, a smart thermostat that gives you full control over your home heating and helps to improve energy efficiency.

If the water pressure is lower however, an alternative solution would be stored hot water with a Greenstar System boiler and cylinder. In this case, an accurate assessment of the heating demand for your house would be necessary before we can recommend a specific output for your system. It is always best to ask an installer to come to your home for a survey, which will ensure that the boiler you choose is correctly specified.

Q

What are the benefits of having smart heating and what’s involved in getting it set up? Is it reliable and efficient? I’m not sure whether to take the leap. Sarah Morris, Liverpool

A

Americo Lenza, Portfolio Director of Services and Solutions at Hive, advises…

Just like a regular thermostat, a smart thermostat is a device that controls the heating in your home. The one major difference is that smart thermostats (or internet thermostats as they’re sometimes called) can be controlled using an app on your smartphone, tablet or Apple Watch. Some, such as our Hive Active Heating, can even be controlled with your voice.

Smart thermostats essentially link your central heating boiler with your app. This means that as long as you have an internet connection, you can use your smartphone as a remote control for your heating and control it from wherever you are.

Smart heating with Hive is compatible and reliable, working with most heating systems and your existing energy supplier, saving you the stress of having to make any unnecessary changes. You can get it professionally installed or you can Hive Active even install it yourself. And we have Heating, £179 plenty of helpful hints in the app and on our website to assist you.

By having a smart thermostat, it will not only reduce your impact on the environment, but it can also help to save money – our Hive Active Heating is shown to save up to £120 a year by never having to heat an empty home. Also, smart thermostats aren’t the only way of saving energy and money. Hive smart radiator valves connect straight to your radiator so you can control the heating in individual rooms remotely.

Greenstar 8000 Style 35kW combi boiler, up to £2,900 including installation, Worcester Bosch

Q

I’m torn between getting a gas or an electric fire for the winter – what are the pros and cons of each and what about maintenance and repair? Any help is appreciated. Judith Dunstan, Swansea

A

Paul Chesney, Managing Director of Chesneys, explains…

A glass-fronted gas fire would be best, as they are typically very efficient and have the effect of a real flame so are the most realistic. Added benefits include: instant lighting; variable control, including home automation on some models; quiet operation; in some cases, heat that can be ducted around the house; and a massive range of styles. You will require a gas supply, a flue route out of the building and a completely fireproof structure to sit it in.

Electric fires, on the other hand, are generally easier to work with. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and some have moving backdrops to enhance the flame effect.

Advantages include: instant operation; variable control; a wide range of coloured light options; simple installation with just an electrical outlet required; minimal local heat proofing; and multiple landscape and portrait options. The disadvantages are that: there is no real flame; heat is generated by an element and fan so there is some noise; and it Soho Fire Basket for Dogs with provides local heat only.

Olympus electric fire, £1,070; Spherical Steel Fire Dogs, £425; Devonshire limestone fireplace, £1,600, all Chesneys

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BRIGHT BUYS These festoon lights emit a diffused glow that will add a touch of magic to shelves or gloomy alcoves

Drift off ensconced in a golden glow with this pretty bedside lamp Khaleesi table lamp, £80, Debenhams

Grey fluted festoon lights, £40, Cox & Cox

Let et it

Glow

Create a space that’s oh-so cosy with warm and welcoming lighting options…

Glass vases, like these ambercoloured beauties, soften the flicker of candlelight and evoke a warm, fireside feel Amber large retro vase, £8; Red small retro vase, £6, both Dunelm

A

s the weather turns colder and the nights draw in, we’re all looking to hunker down in the evenings with a good book or the latest TV box set! Good lighting is key to creating a cosy, warm atmosphere in your home, and whether you’re looking for a beautiful lampshade to diffuse an overhead light, a quirky table lamp to add some character, or a string of twinkling fairy lights for the ultimate atmospheric finish, we’ve tracked down some of the prettiest options from the high street. Plus, we’ve picked the brain of an industry expert for their top lighting tips to give you something to start with. Read on, it’s time to shine!

Wilderness Monkey table lamp in Brass, £30, Argos

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Though it’s a little on the pricey side, this glittering bar light would look enchanting suspended over a dining table or kitchen island Foliage gold leaves bar, £395, John Lewis & Partners

BRIGHT BUYS

5 of the best fringed lampshades Ero velvet and tassel drum pendant lampshade, £59.50, Oliver Bonas

Brooklyn dome pendant in Brass, £69 each, Industville

For lighting with a playful edge, there’s nothing better than a neon. And this shapely script will bring bags of personality to a bedroom wall or shelf Oh Yeah neon wall light, £59.99, Lights4fun

Top tip

Mustard floral lampshade with fringing, £60, Mint & Mayy

‘Embrace the whole range of light sources available – from pendant lights to table lamps. Varying them in a room creates little pockets and pools of light.’

Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director Industville

Zulu fringe easy fit lamp shade, £25, Matalan

Natural materials such as wood bring warmth and texture to a space.

The turned base of this floor lamp works well with traditional schemes Horton floor lamp, £145, Sweetpea & Willow

Position nautical-style lamps like these either side of a bathroom mirror From left: Big Steve bulkhead light, from £129.99; Dave bulkhead light, from £74.99, both Dowsing & Reynolds

These backto-basics table lights allow the edgy filament bulbs to shine Brooklyn table lamp in Pink and Ochre, £38 each, Next

This bell jar lamp is full of twinkling fairy lights, which easily lend sparkle to a shelf or sideboard

Floral velvet shade (available from November), £25, George at Asda

Velvet tassel cylinder shade, £39, La Redoute

Copper-toned Bell Jar Light, £8, George at Asda

November 2020

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Feature Sophie Hannam

Bid farewell to stark and clinical kitchen lighting with this trio of bronze beauties

BRIGHT BUYS

How much fun is this wooden pineapple shade?

The golden light it gives off is perfect for creating a cosy ambience above your dining area

The natural rattan of this woven shade is ever so boho and a simple way to diffuse light from an overhead bulb

Pasha Pineapple lamp shade, £50, Homebase

Bella Jr. pendant light, £79, Housecosy

Throw light onto displays of family photographs, prints or ornaments on a sideboard or console table using a theatrical standing lamp Orbital floor lamp, £120, Very

The retro style of this Sputnik ceiling lamp would make a plain living room or hallway look out of this world Artis extra large Sputnik lamp, £189, Lights&Lamps

Crafted from eco-friendly jute, the curve of these stone coloured lampshades will create subtle pools of light. They come in four different sizes Dia jute lampshade in Stone, from £22.95, Nkuku

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For a neat little lamp that packs a punch, you can’t beat this concrete table number with exposed bulb Eva Pink & Gold foil table lamp, £39.50, Oliver Bonas

BRIGHT BUYS Embrace maximalism and be inspired by the bold patterns and quirky shapes on show in this alluring bedside scene, shot at fashion and interior designer Matthew Williamson’s Majorca home

Expert advice: 3 lighting tips that only the pros know Kate Butler, Head of Design for Habitat, on the things to consider when lighting your home…

Matthew Williamson leopard love shade in blue and red, from £35, Pooky x Matthew Williamson

1

The main starting point when purchasing lighting is budget. Anything involving an electrician is going to require more expense, so you need to consider what your electrical options are within the space. For example, where are the plug sockets located? Could you create a lighting scheme using just plug-in lamps or using lampshades on existing light fittings?

Top tip Create a cosy reading nook in a living room or hallway with this vintagestyle floor lamp

‘Dimmable lamps create a cocooning feel that you can easily control. The turned-down light has a soft glow, casting beautiful shadows.’

Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-owner at Dowsing & Reynolds

Lincoln Salvage floor lamp, £129, Marks & Spencer

2

Think about what the room is used for and the atmosphere you want to create. If you want a cosy, relaxing environment, then dimmer switches combined with warm white light bulbs and diffused lighting – such as opal glass globes and lamp shades – will create soft light. In contrast, for rooms that are working environments, such as the kitchen or office, bright light bulbs and good task lighting – such as downlighters or desk lamps – are needed.

3

Lighting can be used to enhance the décor scheme of a room. If you want a glamorous, luxe feel, then add a metallic contemporary chandelier. Or if you want a mid-century vibe, add a walnut floor lamp with a velvet shade.

Lighting can also change the perceived size of the room – add up and down wall lights to a room with a low ceiling to give an illusion of height, or use a floor lamp to illuminate dark corners and make a room seem bigger.

For rooms with very high ceilings, add a large dramatic pendant to fill the space.

The earliest form of lampshade was created from paper, and these quirky origami examples emit a heavenly glow Orange and red paper lampshades, £34.99 each, both Ian Snow

For lighting on the go, this wireless table lamp from HAY is completely portable. So, you can add a compact glow wherever you need it PC Portable table lamp

by HAY, £69, Nest

Ideal as a bedside light, or for enhancing a reading alcove, the rustic finish of this wooden wall light oozes Scandinavian simplicity Wooden wall light, £25, Matalan

Boast floor lamp, £180, Habitat TOP RIGHT: Boule Japonaise Aria shade £6; and Boule Japonaise Penny shade, £6, both Habitat

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FLOORING IDEAS

MAKE IT COLOURFUL From spicy yellows to bright blues, bold block colour is big news this year, so now’s the time to get creative with that perfect plain. One of the easiest ways to incorporate your favourite hot hue into a room is by rolling out a cosy carpet or cushioned vinyl – both offer comfort and warmth underfoot. Those worried about wear and tear should look for stain- and fade-resistant finishes.

Valentine stain-resistant carpet in Clyde, £23.95 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors Firework stain-resistant carpet in Fizz, £10.49 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors

5 fabulous

underfoot trends Transform your floors and create a feeling of warmth with the latest plains, patterns and textural coverings

Top tip ‘Flooring is the perfect place to inject colour and create a base that can be built upon.

Style it with a few considered accessories to create a look you’ll love for years.’

Jemma Dayman, Carpetright

PICK UP ON PARQUET A firm favourite in the fashion stakes, warm and tactile parquet has been around for a while, but 2020 has seen it get a serious makeover. Alongside traditional timber blocks, a whole host of easy-lay, low-maintenance tiles, laminates and vinyls have emerged, making it suitable to lay in any room. You can have a lot of fun with these decorative geometrics – mix things up both in terms of pattern and colour.

Tribeca vinyl flooring in Grey Oak, £21.95 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors

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FLOORING IDEAS

GO ECO UNDERFOOT There is a growing focus on sustainable yet stylish flooring, so check out natural finishes that have green credentials. For snugness and comfort, look to soft yet durable, 100 per cent wool carpets, or robust and warming, sustainably sourced FSC timber. For a practical, hardwearing option in busier homes, try highly textured plant fibres, such as sisal and coir. Or, softer, fuss-free, linoleum and cork are warm underfoot.

Harlech Raw Oak engineered wood flooring, from £80 per sq m, Woodpecker Flooring Southwold carpet in Fairhaven Flax, from £30 per sq m, Cormar Carpets

PERFECT PATTERNS If you’re after a truly original look, then consider on-trend, patterned floors. The latest decorative Moroccan motifs, florals, geometrics, spots and stripes are available across most flooring types. They have the added advantage of being practical underfoot as they tend to be more forgiving on everyday marks than their plainer counterparts. Choose a bold pattern to cosy up a larger room or hallway.

SUPERSIZE THOSE FAUXS

Mont Blanc marble effect 600 x 600mm tiles, £16.46 per sq m, Tile Giant

Top tip

Condo Wilton carpet in Mineral Polka Dot and Teal Polka Dot, £39.99 per sq m, both Carpetright

‘To prolong your carpet’s life, team it with a quality underlay.

It adds cushioning and comfort underfoot, and improves heat and sound insulation.’

Rupert Anton, The Carpet Foundation

November 2020

Feature Paula Woods

Oozing luxury, the latest low-maintenance, large-format, porcelain tiles bring plenty of tactile texture to a floor. Industrial-style concretes and glamorous marbles lead the way in the design stakes – and thanks to advances in inkjet replication technology we challenge anyone to tell them apart from the real thing! What’s more, these supersized slabs significantly reduce dirt-collecting grout lines, so they are ideal for busy areas.

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FLOORING IDEAS

Revive your home

with rugs A well-placed floor covering can inject a pop of colour and pattern into a room, while adding warmth underfoot. Here’s how to use them to great effect…

Use a rug to distinguish an area of a large room that’s used for a different purpose.

Place one with an eye-catching geometric design beneath a desk to denote a workspace Mohan flatware rug, £170, Habitat

If you’ve kept your décor neutral, introduce pattern and colour with a floor covering.

A bold design in a monochrome colourway makes a stylish statement Ted Baker Loran rug in Navy, from £419, The Rug Seller

F

rom abstract and geometric to floral and fluffy, rugs come in a variety of styles, shapes, colours and patterns. And they can all be used to refresh rooms, hide flooring you’ve fallen out of love with and be that perfect finishing touch to your décor scheme.

But there’s so much more to consider than just popping one down in front of the sofa. In a bold and warming interior, choose one to carry the rich tones to the floor, enhancing the dramatic colour palette.

Where schemes are more neutral, consider layering two rugs – one with a subtle pattern and another plain, but both in complementing hues, to add extra interest and design focus. The possibilities don’t end there, read on for more inspiration on using rugs in your home...

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In a larger space consider layering two or more rugs together create visual interest and comfort underfoot. Stick to a coordinating colour palette, so that even if the pattern differs, they will sit together in harmony Juni rug, from £75; Darcy wool rug, from £80, both Next

FLOORING IDEAS

Expert advice Smart ways to place rugs Daniel Prendergast from The Rug Seller shares his creative advice for bedecking your home...

Layering

‘Using more than one rug in a space creates a strong design feature. Purposefully clashing designs can look fantastic: juxtapose bold bright patterns with UWVWKPZWUM bQO bIO[ WZ ÆWZIT[ _Q\P [\ZQXM[ AW] can also layer rugs, placing the same or similar rug at right angles. A good tip is to look at rugs within the same range – you'll usually be able to opt for two different designs that still complement each W\PMZ QV \M`\]ZM KWTW]Z IVL [\aTM

Zoning

Think outside the box and experiment using a rug you love as wall décor. Hang it above a fireplace, or above the bed in place of a headboard, to create a striking focal point Tipi rug 48907 by Brink & Campman (on wall), from £285, The Rug Seller

Maestro butterfly rug, £49.99, Carpetright

»:]O[ IZM I NIV\I[\QK _Ia WN QV\ZWL]KQVO »bWVM[ into your home – and to tailor these zones to how aW] _IV\ \PM IZMI \W NMMT WZ \W Q\[ X]ZXW[M AW] KIV create a cosy seating or reading space just by adding a rug in one area of the room. Ensure at least one part of the furniture is touching the rug to anchor \PM TIaW]\ <W LMÅVM I TQ^QVO IZMI QV IV WXMV XTIV space, add rugs under a sofa and chair to instantly bring it together with a touch of style, colour and design. It will appear separate to the rest of the ZWWU \WW Consider circular rugs to help soften a room with strong angular lines, or use in a smaller area to create the illusion of space. In this Dunelm room scheme, the woven jute rug complements the natural look of the Dunelm furniture.

For a similar rug, try Zira hand woven round rug, £179.97, Furniture123

Feature Lara Berry

For a dramatic scheme, choose a rug that will carry the look to the floor. Deep pile rugs are great for rooms where comfort is key

November 2020

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FLOORING IDEAS

Ask the experts Our team of experts answer all your flooring questions

%HUNHOH\ &HQWXU\ Pine, £95 per sq m, Woodpecker Flooring

Q

How can I reduce draughts on bare floorboards? I live in a cottage in rural Scotland and we really feel the cold here. I want to be prepared this year. Abigail Burton, Fife

)HDWXUH Hayley Gilbert

A

David Gardiner, Product Manager at Woodpecker Flooring, has the following advice…

I am visualising the scenario – old pine floorboards with big gaps between, supported on floor joists, all with a void below down to the sub-base. Airbricks around the outside walls keep the sub-floor void well ventilated, but unfortunately also feed icy draughts up through the gaps between the boards!

There are many filler products on the market that could be applied to the gaps, but unfortunately most of them don’t last long. Once they have dried out, any small movements in the boards cause the filler to crack and then fall out.

If you are determined to keep the old floorboards visible in order to preserve the character of the property, then one option is to obtain wedge-shaped strips of timber and push them into the gaps as far as they will go, and glue them in place. The protruding edge of these strips is then sanded down to the top of the boards. As a solution to draughts, this works well, but it is really something you would only do if you were renovating the whole floor. And it doesn’t add any insulation.

Laying a floated engineered wood floor on an insulating underlay over the old boards will provide a much better result. :RRGSHFNHU·V %HUNHOH\ &HQWXU\ 3LQH LV GHVLJQHG WR UHSOLFDWH the character of these old pine floorboards, even down to the blacked edges and the double nail marks that characterise the original boards. It’s a practical and sympathetic solution to an age-old problem.

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yourhomestyle.co.uk

Q

What’s the best material for living room and bedroom carpet in a really cold house? I have no idea whether to invest in wool or go for nylon, polyester, acrylic or a mix? Judith Richards, Brighton

A

Lisa Conway, Residential Marketing Manager at Brintons, explains why wool is always a good investment…

At Brintons, we believe that when you are creating an interior space, you should start with the floor and work your way up. Quite often flooring is the last consideration in a room, but as you walk around your home, consider a wool-rich carpet to make it instantly warmer and more inviting. Of course, it serves a practical purpose, but it can also be a thing of great style and make a real statement, while also adding visual warmth.

Wool carpets are known for their quality because they are highly durable, which helps keep their appearance over time. They are the ideal choice to insulate your home for warmth and comfort. Not only that, a plush carpet will provide luxury underfoot as well as absorb sound to give a sense of calm and tranquillity to any space.

At Brintons, wool has been our passion since 1783 when William Brinton opened his first mill in Kidderminster. It remains the perfect choice for flooring and there are many reasons why we are leading the way. We invented the Brintons Blend, for one, which combines 80 per cent wool with 20 per cent nylon, the perfect combination of softness and durability. Brintons uses wool from British sheep – the fleece from one in nine British sheep ends up in a Brintons carpet. Wool is widely acknowledged as the best in the world for carpet and is prized for its springiness. And because it’s a completely natural product, it feels cool in the summer and warm and cosy in winter.

Timorous Beasties Golden Effie, £97.99 per sq m, Brintons

Q

Is underfloor heating really worth the investment? Can it be installed under all types of flooring? I’ve got a mix of different flooring and am wondering whether to splash out to make winters that bit more comfortable. Helen Griffin, Chester

A

Beth Halliday, Flooring Specialist at Flooring Superstore, has this to say…

Underfloor heating is a great way to add more warmth to your home, especially in the cold winter months. Regardless of what flooring it goes under, it adds an extra level of comfort and homeliness.

However, when it comes to compatibility, there are a few types of flooring it doesn't work so easily with. Solid wood may experience damage due to temperature fluctuation, while thick carpet and cork don’t transfer heat well, lessening the effects. While solid wood may not be compatible, its counterpart, engineered wood, is an excellent alternative. The multiple layers are much less affected by fluctuating temperatures. Laminate – providing the total board thickness is no more than 18mm – is another great choice for a similar reason. Its wood composite core means it’s less susceptible to warping.

This type of heating can also be installed under stone and tile.

These materials are efficient conductors of heat, though may not offer as much comfort underfoot as others. One of the more popular options is luxury vinyl tiles, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. The same can be said for regular vinyl roll.

8QGHUIORRU KHDWLQJ LV QR FKDOOHQJH IRU (YR&RUH D EUDQG QHZ flooring type that will work across the whole home. As it doesn’t H[SDQG RU FRQWUDFW (YR&RUH LV WKH SHUIHFW FKRLFH LI \RX·UH thinking of using underfloor heating. It’s important to note, the JHQHUDO UXOH LV WKDW XQGHUIORRU KHDWLQJ VKRXOGQ·W H[FHHG & LQ order to keep your flooring in tip-top shape.

All in all, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to flooring options for underfloor heating, just ensure you stick to temperature and thickness recommendations.

Q

I’m keen on a luxury vinyl tile for the downstairs, but is it durable and long lasting? And what about maintenance? Also, is it good for year-round use, especially in the cold winter months?

Katherine Bartlett, Whitstable

A

Alison Mason, Online Sales and Product Expert at United Carpets, lists the advantages…

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring is a great choice for using in downstairs living areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, as it offers so many benefits for busy homes. It’s highly durable, water and slip resistant, easy to clean, eco-friendly (as it’s 100 per cent recycled) and warm underfoot, so ideal for chilly winter months. With a heavy-duty wear layer, it’s also suitable for underfloor heating at a maximum of & DQG XVXDOO\ FRPHV ZLWK D ORQJ residential warranty. Our Universal :RRG DQG 6WRQH &OLFN DQG )L[ collection is a good option. Part of our Endurance range, it comes in 13 colours in wood and tile effects. We always advise using a high-density underlay on all LVT. This product is ideal for DIY installation, but we can also provide fitting.

8QLYHUVDO &OLFN Wood LVT, £34.99 per sq m, United Carpets

(YR&RUH

,

£38.49 per sq m, Flooring Superstore

Q

What are the alternatives to natural stone in kitchens and bathrooms? I worry that stone will be too cold underfoot. I’m open to any style. Nina Phillipson, Twickenham

A

David Snazel, Buyer for Hard Flooring at Carpetright, has these suggestions…

As an alternative to costly natural stone, vinyl flooring is a great option for a stylish room that won’t blow the budget. In recent years there have been many developments in design and styles, which means that the effects vinyls can create, such as tile or wood, are incredibly realistic. It’s a practical choice for busy families with children as it is highly water-resistant and durable, while being softer and warmer underfoot than laminate.

Alternatively, luxury vinyl is an elegant choice as it effectively emulates more expensive design styles, while being incredibly practical. Just as easy to maintain as vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl is also water resistant and is compatible with underfloor heating, which will resolve any concerns that feet will be cold.

In kitchens and bathrooms, there are three main things to consider: safety, durability and ease of cleaning.

These rooms usually see a lot of traffic, so it’s best to opt for high-quality, durable flooring that is low maintenance and will stand the test of time. Before purchasing, it’s important to see the detail on the material.

Visit a store or order samples to ensure you can view the finish yourself and ensure it is in keeping with the rest of your Olympus Pierrot vinyl, décor and the look you £20.99 per sq m, Carpetright are trying to achieve.

November 2020

23

PRIZE DRAW

WIN! Moduleo luxury vinyl flooring worth £1,000 1 Luc

winnekry !

Versatile Sherman Oak will transform any modern or traditional design scheme

M

oduleo has teamed up with Your Home magazine to offer you the chance to win up to £1,000 worth of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring from its Transform collection. With more than 60 shades, Moduleo Transform LVT suits a huge range of rooms and has a 20-year warranty.

THE PRIZE Combining luxury and elegance, Moduleo Transform flooring is available in either

wood- or stone-effect designs that are scratch-, water- and stain-resistant. Not only is the flooring a design inspiration, but state-of-theart technology is used to create grains, knots and grooves, which mimic the surface of real wood and stone, resulting in a look that boasts authentic structure and depth.

Providing the very best in design, quality and comfort, Moduleo is more durable and easier to maintain than natural alternatives, plus it’s the perfect choice for design-led flooring as it’s

inspired by the latest trends. With a total of 19 designs, new finishes include Hoover Stone – with the cool look of solid worn concrete, timeless Chester Oak, and modern Mexican Ash, alongside popular shades such as Azuriet, Desert Stone and Jura Stone.

FIND OUT MORE For more information about the broad range of flooring options available from Moduleo, visit moduleo.co.uk.

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 30th November 2020 at 11:59pm 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 prize does not include installation. 10 The prizes are non-refundable, non-transferable 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.

11 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 30th November 2020. 12 The winning entry will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 13 The winner will be notified of their win within 28 days via email. 14 The winner 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. 15 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 16 The prizes are as stated above. 17 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). 18 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home October 2020 Giveaways, 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. 19 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

24

yourhomestyle.uk

One-pot

FOOD AND DRINK

wonders Nourishing, nutritious meals don’t have to mean spiralizers and salads – these one-pan suppers are healthy, hearty and fuss-free

PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES COOKING TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 2

Chicken and barley stew A traditional style one-pot dish that’s packed with flavour and makes a great winter warmer

YOU WILL NEED 1 vegetable stock cube to make 400ml stock 1 dried bay leaf 20g dried pearl barley, washed 1 celery stick, chopped 1 medium carrot, chopped 1 medium leek, trimmed and chopped 120g skinless chicken breast, grilled 1 tsp fresh chives

DIRECTIONS Q Put the stock and bay leaf in a lidded pan and bring to the boil. Add the pearl barley, bring back to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the vegetables, return to the boil, then cover and simmer for a further 15 minutes or until the pearl barley is just tender.

Q Shred the chicken breast and add to the pan to warm through for a couple of minutes. Season to taste and serve in large bowls, garnished with chopped chives.

November2020 2020 November

725 25

Prawn laksa soup A delicious Malaysian-style soup with a spicy kick.

Use ready-cooked noodles to keep it really simple

YOU WILL NEED 2 tsp olive oil 5 medium spring onions, chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 inch piece root ginger, chopped 1 green or red chilli, deseeded & chopped 40g Blue Dragon Laksa Curry Paste 150ml can reduced-fat coconut milk 1 vegetable stock cube to make 1 litre stock 1 medium courgette, sliced 1 medium red pepper, sliced 300g raw shelled prawns 100g mangetout, halved 100g peas, fresh or frozen 300g ready-cooked rice noodles, boiled 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp Thai fish sauce 1 sprig fresh coriander to garnish

DIRECTIONS Q Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan and fry the spring onions, garlic, ginger and chilli for 2 minutes.

Q Stir in the laksa paste and fry for 2 minutes, then pour in the coconut milk and the stock.

Q Bring to a gentle simmer, then add the courgette, pepper and prawns. Cook for 4 minutes then add the mangetout, peas and rice noodles. Simmer for a further 2 minutes. Season with the lime juice and soy and fish sauces.

Q Ladle into bowls and serve garnished with the coriander.

PREPARATION TIME 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME 14 MINUTES SERVES 4

Black bean shakshuka Enjoy poached eggs but struggle to cook them?

You’ll love this! The eggs gently poach in a flavourful tomato sauce, without any fuss PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED 4 sprays calorie-controlled cooking spray 1 medium onion, finely diced ½ level tsp fennel seeds ½ level tsp cumin seeds 2 cloves garlic 1 green or red chilli 1 level tsp paprika ¼ level tsp cayenne pepper 2 medium peppers, 1 red & 1 yellow zest of ½ lemon 2 cans tinned tomatoes 1 tin black beans in water, drained 75g spinach 4 medium eggs 30g light feta cheese 3 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS Q Mist a large non-stick frying pan with cooking spray. Set over a medium heat, then add the onion, fennel and cumin seeds and cook for 6-8 minutes until the onion is soft. Add a splash of water if it starts to stick.

Q Add the garlic and chilli and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add the ground spices and peppers, frying until the peppers are just soft. Stir in the grated lemon zest and tomatoes, then simmer for 5 minutes.

Q Add the beans and spinach and season to taste. Bring to the boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat. Create four wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each. Cook for 5 minutes, uncovered, then for 2 minutes, covered, until the whites of the eggs are set but the yolks are still runny.

Q Serve topped with the crumbled feta and chopped parsley.

26

yourhomestyle.co.uk

veggie

Spinach, mushroom & chickpea curry

PREPARATION TIME 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 1

Tasty, fragrant and oh-so simple, this healthy vegetarian one-pot is the perfect curry in a hurry

YOU WILL NEED ½ tbsp mild curry paste ¼ large chopped onion 1 small can tinned tomatoes 50g chestnut mushrooms, sliced ½ can cooked chickpeas, drained 50g spinach 1 mini naan

DIRECTIONS Q Heat the curry paste in a small pan, add the onion and cook for 3 mins. Add the tinned tomatoes and cook for 5 mins. Then add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and spinach to wilt.

Q Garnish with coriander and serve with a warmed mini naan bread.

veggie

Borlotti bean soup with pancetta

PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 10 MINUTES SERVES 4

A twist on classic minestrone, this hearty soup is ideal for using up leftover root vegetables

YOU WILL NEED 4 sprays calorie-controlled cooking spray 1 medium red onion 2 sticks celery 1 medium carrot 150g potatoes 1 bulb fennel 100g pancetta 3 cloves garlic 1 sprig rosemary 1 dried bay leaf 1 can cooked borlotti beans, drained 1 medium courgette 2 chicken stock cubes 30g Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Feature Sophie Hannam

Q Mist a large pan with low fat-spray and sauté all the vegetables (except for the courgette), the pancetta and garlic for 15 minutes or so until it’s softened and golden. Add the herbs, beans, courgette and stock, and simmer slowly for 25 minutes.

Q Using a potato masher, mash the soup up slightly to thicken it. Serve piping hot with plenty of freshly ground black pepper and a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Recipes and images courtesy of WW. For more delicious meals or to start your own weight loss and wellness journey, visit ww.com

November November2020 2020

727 27

FOOD AND DRINK

Love your

larder As the trees and hedgerows are ripe with autumnal fruit, now’s the time to get preserving and stock up your cupboards

MAKES APPROX 6 JARS PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 1 HOUR

Top tip Put two or three small plates or saucers into the fridge when you add the sugar to the jam, so that you have them already chilled for checking the jam has reached the correct setting point.

Plum and blackberry preserve Make the most of autumn’s bounty with a delicious jam made rich with plums and blackberries

YOU WILL NEED 1kg plums, halves and pitted (keep the stones) 300g blackberries 1.3kg preserving sugar

DIRECTIONS Q Put the plums and blackberries into a preserving pan or very large saucepan with 350ml water. Add the plum stones, as the pectin they contain helps the jam

28

yourhomestyle.co.uk

to set. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 25-30 minutes, until the plums are tender.

Q Remove from the heat and add the sugar, stirring gently until dissolved.

Q Return to the heat and gently boil over a medium heat for 20-30 minutes, until setting point is reached. To check, remove the saucepan from the heat, spoon a little preserve onto a fridge-cold plate or saucer and leave for 2 minutes – it should wrinkle softly when your finger is pushed over the surface. If the jam has not yet reached this point, return the saucepan to

the heat and continue to boil for another 2-3 minutes. Test as before (you may need to test several times so be patient – it’s crucial to achieve the correct consistency).

Q Turn off the heat and allow the jam to settle for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, sterilise six 250g clean jam jars by placing them in a low oven at 150°C/gas 2 for 10 minutes.

Q Skim off any scum from the jam and remove as many plum stones as possible.

Stir the jam, then ladle it into the hot sterilised jars. Seal with the lids. Leave to cool, then label. Store in a cool place for up to 1 year.

FOOD AND DRINK

Beetroot and chilli ketchup Ideal for pepping up breakfast sandwiches, this preserve is a doddle to make

YOU WILL NEED

MAKES APPROX 6 BOTTLES PREPARATION TIME 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME 2 HOURS

1kg beetroot 4 tbsp vegetable oil 2 red onions, peeled and finely chopped 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped 1 stick celery, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 tsp smoked paprika 2 chillies, deseeded and finely chopped 1 tsp salt 500ml red wine vinegar 75g soft brown sugar

Get ahead

for Christmas Fine these new tasty recipes for festive fare on our website, yourhomestyle.uk/recipes

DIRECTIONS

Q Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Place a large piece of foil on a baking tray and put the whole, unpeeled beetroots on top. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of the oil and wrap the foil into a parcel around the beetroots. Bake for 1½-2 hours, or until tender and softened. Cool, then peel and cut into small cubes.

Q In a large saucepan, heat the remaining oil. Add the onions, carrot, celery and garlic and cook gently for 10 minutes until softened. Stir in the paprika, chillies, salt, vinegar, sugar and beetroot. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes.

Q Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

Spoon the mixture into a food processor or The ketchup texture is grainy blender and blend for 2-3 minutes, until and may need more blending if smooth. you want a glossy consistency.

Q Pour into the sterilised bottles, seal Unopened, it will keep for three months in a cool, dark place. and label.

Cranberry & pear sauce Be pre-pear-ed with this delicious make-ahead sauce! Store it in a cool place until Boxing Day, then serve it up with leftovers.

Top tip

Once opened, store in the fridge and use within two weeks.

Fruit chutney This hearty and homemade chutney is perfect with cheese and crackers

YOU WILL NEED 1kg apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 800g tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped 2 large onions, coarsely chopped 150g dried apricots, coarsely chopped 140g dried dates, coarsely chopped 160g currants 2cm root ginger, peeled and grated 625ml malt vinegar 440g light brown sugar 2 tsp mixed spice ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Whisky figgy puddings Wrapped in muslin and tied with string, these beautifully boozy mini treats are great for gifting to anyone who likes a sweet treat.

DIRECTIONS Q Place all the ingredients into a large pan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then turn the heat up and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1½ hours or until nicely thickened.

Q Carefully ladle into hot, sterilised jars and seal tightly. Store in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks before opening.

Feature Sophie Hannam

MAKES APPROX 2 LITRES PREPARATION TIME 40 MINUTES COOKING TIME 1.5 HOURS

Sloe gin This recipe is easy as can be. Keep miniature bottles of the delightful festive tipple on standby for when you need an emergency gift!

November 2020

29

Shopping guide A B

Arada 01297 632050 aradastoves.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk

Best Heating 0344 417 2563 bestheating.com Bisque 01276 605800 bisque.co.uk Brintons 0800 505055 brintons.co.uk

C

Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Chesneys 020 7627 1410 chesneys.co.uk Cormar Carpets cormarcarpets.co.uk Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk

D

Debenhams 0344 800 8877 debenhams.com Dimplex dimplex.co.uk Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com

F

Flooring Superstore 03301 028 444 flooringsuperstore.com

Frontline Bathrooms frontlinebathrooms.co.uk Furniture123 0871 984 1924 furniture123.co.uk

G H

Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk George Home 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com

Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Harvey Maria 0330 330 1231 harveymaria.com Hive hivehome.com Homebase homebase.co.uk Homescapes Online 0121 368 0051 homescapesonline.com Housecosy 0333 339 1117 housecosy.com

I J

Ian Snow 01271 858649 iansnow.com Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com

Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Production Editor Thomas Poad Staff Writer Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistant Ella Rhys-Jones Designers Sally Bufton, Beth Charlton Lucas Thanks also to Lisa Duerden, Charlotte Lyon Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Editorial Assistant Thea Jeffreys Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales

K L

R S

M

T

Kersaint Cobb kersaintcobb.co.uk

Lakeland 01539 488100 lakeland.co.uk La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Lifestyle Floors lifestyle-floors.co.uk Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk Lights&Lamps lightsandlamps.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Made Below madebelow.co.uk Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Mind the Gap mindtheg.com/uk Mint & May mintandmay.co.uk Morsø 01788 554410 morsoe.com

N O P

Nest 0114 243 3000 nest.co.uk Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com

Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com

Pooky pooky.com Prestigious Textiles 01274 688448 prestigious.co.uk

Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk

Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636262 sainsburys.co.uk Sofology sofology.co.uk Stovax & Gazco stovax.com Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com

Tesco 0800 323 4060 tesco.com The Carpet Foundation 01562 755568 carpetfoundation.com The Real Flower Company 01730 818300 realflowers.co.uk The Rug Seller therugseller.co.uk Tile Giant tilegiant.co.uk

U V

United Carpets 0330 311 2442 unitedcarpetsandbeds.com

Very 0800 092 3355 very.co.uk Vintage & Bespoke vintageandbespoke.co.uk Vogue UK 01902 387000 vogueuk.co.uk

W

Westland London 0207 739 8094 westlandlondon.com Woodpecker Flooring 02920 888223 woodpeckerflooring.co.uk

Executives Phil Wallington, Aileen Booth, James Beckett, Kayla Rose, Baylee SowterHalling Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Assistant Gemma Balding Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Junior Production Co-Ordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions visit: buysubscriptions.com/contact UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2020, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return.

The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

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