Innholdsfortegnelse for Apr-2018 i Ideal Home

There’s always a lot of high-falutin’ talk in interior-design circles about what colours are ‘in’ each season, but it leaves me wondering who, seriously, redecorates twice a year just to be in fashion? Not me! Let’s face it, some colours are easier to live with than others, however trendy they may or may not be. And besides, colour should be chosen for the way it makes a room – and you – feel, because that’s all that really matters. Whether you’re risk-averse when it comes to colour or fearless in the face of fluoro, you’ll see a whole spectrum of ideas in this issue. From black-painted rooms and blue kitchen units to feature walls and accent pieces, it’ll give you the chance to see colour in action before you commit.…

Along-time champion of new designers, Andrew designed ceramics for his own company for 12 years before joining Poole Pottery. He now heads up the in-house design team at Sainsbury’s Home. Andrew lives in a 200-year-old converted post office just outside Leicestershire with his wife Suzanne, daughters Florence and Darcie Mae, and their dog, Willow. Our home is all about mixing old with new. We have old signage from Suzanne’s grandparents’ ribbon and fabric stall (they used to sell lace at local markets). It’s hung on the wall because of the beautiful typography. I also have a passion for hand screen-printed Cuban film posters and, of course, we have a lot of contemporary ceramics. We love anything that has a story behind it. I love to support emerging designers and am…

MY GO-TO STORES… • IKEA Affordable, adaptable basics. • LOODS 5 Great for monochrome pieces. • KWANTUM Industrial-style lighting and beaded hanging lamps. • XENOS Simple tableware in green, white and soft pink. • NIJHOF Big brands and the best Dutch design. STYLIST’S NOTE “Add warmth to a modern look with imperfect finishes such as organic ceramics, textiles and natural wood ” MICHELA COLLING , STYLE EDITOR…

Stylist’s Note ‘The key to a calm look is restricting colour. We stuck to white and aqua, with a couple of yellow touches sneaking in!’ Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor…

Stylist’s note “For a lighter look, go for marine blue upholstery and accessories layered with pale blue walls ” NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR Fresh focus Paint your island unit marine blue to lift a white or wood kitchen and enhance the texture of marble worktops Take the plunge Painting trims and frames the same hue as the walls reduces colour contrasts to create a calming, minimalist effect Stylist’s note “Marine blue is immersive and soothing on bedroom walls. Complement the deep shade with grey-brown furniture and fresh white fabrics ” NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR…

1 Swap in some spring colours Pretty, floral cushions, light curtains and a sunny yellow throw will instantly give a neutral sofa a lift, as well as bringing a touch of spring to your home. Echo the floral prints with bunches of fresh or faux flowers dotted around the room. The Kittisford sofa in house linen in Vintage Grey, from £1,247, Willow & Hall 2 Beautify your bifolds Full-width glass doors are a great way to open up your house to the garden, but privacy can be an issue. Keep things simple with neutral, full-length curtains that can easily be swept back out of the way. 3 PICK PUNCHY LIGHTING Make a feature of your lighting and plump for brightly coloured shades and fancy fittings. To up the style levels…

WHERE TO BUY 1. MIRROR Alana brushed brass mirror, £99, Made.com 2. LIGHT Elias retro pendant, £110, John Lewis 3. FAUX PLANT Faux aloe potted plant, £15, JD Williams 4. ARMCHAIR Galveston Hewlett leather tub chair, £499, Barker & Stonehouse 5. VASE Holmegaard short-neck vase, £59.95, Black by Design 6. TABLE Nestor marble table, £295, Habitat 7. RUG Noble Aztec rug, from £48.99, Carpetright 8. CUSHION Gold velvet cushion, £32, Debenhams…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom detached Twenties house in Epsom, Surrey. WHAT IT COST Units...................£16,850 Worktop...............£3,000 Appliances...........£3,622 Flooring................£1,489 Paint...........................£76 Blind..........................£103 Lighting....................£105 TOTAL...............£25,245 “Taking down walls gave us a huge space that works so well for the way we like to spend our time…

WHERE TO BUY 1. MIRROR Venetian mirror, £195, Maisons du Monde 2. FABRIC Juniper Plains 3421 fabric, £41m, Harlequin 3. VANITY UNIT Camberley satin grey vanity unit, £419, Victoria Plum 4. LAUNDRY BASKET Willow linen hamper, £37, Argos 5. TOWELS Christy Spectrum towels, from £22 each, Very 6. TOWEL HOOKS Connie rail, £50, Laura Ashley 7. TILES Glassworks antique mirror tile, £210sq m, Original Style 8. BATH Rimini cast-iron bath, £996, Aston Matthews…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Victorian semi in Glasgow. WHAT IT COST Bath.............................£3,300 Basin...............................£579 Basin plinth....................£720 Taps..............................£1,800 Loo...................................£585 Bidet...............................£300 Tiling.......................£1,200 Towel radiator...........£353 TOTAL....................£8,837 “I wanted a forever bathroom and I think this simple, ergonomic design is a thing of beauty ”…

THE PROPERTY  A four-bedroom Seventies house in Hampshire. THE VALUE  The house was bought in 2014 for £825,000 and is now worth around £1.5 million. WHAT IT COST Building work and materials...........…£450,000 Windows….......…….£40,500 Weatherboarding.....£4,275 Guttering……..............£2,197 Bathrooms…...........…£4,000 TOTAL...........….£500,972 “This house has such amazing views. From the day we moved in, we’ve loved watching the sunsets ”…

Specialising in storage, lighting and furniture for the home and garden with a beautiful contemporary country aesthetic, Garden Trading combines classic materials with innovative designs for a timeless look that will enhance your house. You’ll love the new looks for this season, such as the clean, urban style of the Bathford and Westonbirt pots from the planter collection, the recycled glass terrariums, vases and jugs to help bring the outdoors in and the lightweight, modern Hampstead all-weather furniture range. This stunning new collection contrasts soft bamboo with coated steel for a subtle Scandinavian style. This month, Ideal Home has teamed up with Garden Trading to offer readers 20 per cent off its range of more than 800 products. See the collection online, or visit the Oxfordshire showroom, and embrace the…

NEWNESS FROM US! Whoop! We’ve added more beautiful buys to our Ideal Home at Very collection. We’re kicking off with our country coastal Oceanic trend (see page 77), but there’s plenty more to add to your wish list. See our favourite pieces on page 16 or check out the range at very.co.uk/ideal-home. Just arrived from New Zealand… Bedlinen brand Wallace Cotton has bowled over the Ideal Home team with duvet cover designs inspired by the Antipodean landscape. Launched by a husband-and-wife team in 1998, they’ve gained a loyal following – but what makes them so special? Alongside power patterns are beautiful basics (the flannel fitted sheet had us oohing and ahhing), they use eco-friendly organic cotton and the collectible Plush Velvet Quilt gets a colour refresh each season. The new…

MID-CENTURY-STYLE WOODEN BENCH FROM HOMESENSE “This beautifully simple bench had us at ‘hello’ even before we saw the price tag! Furniture rarely comes this versatile – dining room, hallway, patio, end of your bed… it’ll look great in all kinds of places and fit into every kind of scheme, whether your style’s Scandi, retro, country, or a little bit of them all” SPOTTED BY… STYLE EDITOR MICHELA COLLING…

“We’re all enjoying the new version of the house, now we’ve finished it. I’ve embraced the fact that I can’t be minimal and need to have things around me ” THE PROPERTY A five-bed Victorian semi in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. VALUE Bought in April 2014 for £425,000; now worth around £575,000. The Allman-Shuttleworths were prepared to take on a project when they started house-hunting for a property that had more space. ‘We were settled in Shrewsbury, but our house was bursting at the seams. We wanted a place we could make our own,’ says Emma. While this semi wasn’t big enough on the ground floor, it had the bedrooms they needed. ‘It’s easier to extend downstairs, but adding bedrooms is more of a problem,’ she says. ‘This house had…

Use colour cleverly A painted chimney breast visually divides the dining and sitting areas. ‘We’ve used different tones of the same colour,’ says Lin. ‘There’s a sweeter green in Miza’s room and a darker one in ours. It gives our home a finished look.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar sofa, try the Essentials Felix sofabed in Shetland Slate, £599, Made.com Start with a strong foundation ‘We kept the background simple,’ says Lin. ‘Choosing pale wall colours and light grey vinyl flooring gave us a fresh backdrop that we can dress with colour and accessories.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar industrial light, try Titan Size 5 pendant with etched glass, £499, Original BTC. About A Chair green chair, £199, Hay at Amara “I wanted to…

MODERN CLASSIC HOW TO… create a calm, uncluttered living room that’s smart in style but practical for everyday family life, and versatile enough to evolve over time COOL SCANDI HOW TO… make your kitchen-diner a stylish as well as functional room, so it can be a hard-working family hub by day and a chic entertainment space by night SIMPLE COUNTRY HOW TO… update your bedroom with a look for all seasons that feels mellow and relaxing at the end of a long day, but bright and uplifting when you wake…

Stylist’s Note ‘Balance out the yellow with a neutral oatmeal tone on flooring and textiles, then add pops of aqua for freshness’ Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor…

 THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian semi-detached house in southeast London, bought in 2003. “We’ve been here for a year now and, while it’s still a work in progress, it really works for us as a family ” VALUE A similar house in the area would cost around £650,000. Back in 2000, Deenie Lee was renting this house with friends and never dreamed it would later become her family home. ‘When the landlord decided to sell it, I persuaded my parents to buy it as an investment,’ says Deenie. She left in 2003, but her parents carried on renting out the house until 2008, when Deenie and her partner Martin Thomas were ready to get on the property ladder. ‘By this time, the house was in a mess and Mum…

WHERE TO BUY 1. PENDANT Fisherman’s pendant light in blue, £34.99, Coastal Home 2. WALL ART Call of the Raven print by Kathy Ramsay Carr, £130 unframed, King & McGaw 3. COFFEE CUP Marimekko Saapaivakirja coffee cup, £15, Cloudberry Living 4. OTTOMAN Three Posts Rotterdam ottoman in blue, £100.11, Wayfair 5. CUSHION Fusion ikat indigo cushion, £15, John Lewis 6. LAMP Maia table lamp, £99, Marks & Spencer 7. PLATE Indigo Rain dinner plate, £18, Amara 8. RUG Stamfrey handwoven rug, £200, Habitat…

 THE PROPERTY A five-bed Georgian semi in Topsham, Devon. “The first time we walked in, we knew it was the one! It was a project, but one that we could manage with young children ” THE VALUE Similar properties in the area sell for around £1 million. When Lottie and Will Hayler left London for Devon, they rented for three years while searching for the right home. ‘We immediately knew it was right for us,’ says Lottie, about their Georgian semi in a quiet street a stone’s throw from the River Exe. They liked the fact they could knock three ground-floor rooms into one to create a kitchen-diner/family area, and the potential to convert the loft and basement. ‘We wanted a manageable project, and this fitted the bill,’ says…

PEARL’S ROOM British fashion and textiles designer Pearl Lowe transformed her room into a pretty boudoir combining her love of pink with all things vintage. ‘I’m obsessed with the Twenties and I love the way the Seventies copied the Twenties,’ explains Pearl when talking about her style inspiration. Key pieces that stand out are her original Twenties mirrored dressing table, the Seventies-style peacock chair and her beautiful four-poster bed dressed with frilly pillows and a 1920s piano shawl. For the windows, Pearl chose floor-to-ceiling curtains, combining style with practicality to get the look she wanted. ‘These wonderful faux-silk curtains are the perfect shade of pink,’ says Pearl. ‘It can be a tricky colour to decorate with but these are spot on.’ Pearl also chose thermal lining. ‘It’s a big, draughty…

WHERE TO BUY 1. STOOLS Bumble stools in Smoked Oak, £320 for two, Loaf 2. LIGHT Billie diner pendant light, £69, Made.com 3. HAMPER Darks and Lights rattan laundry chest, £120, Garden Trading 4. BOWL Emiko glossy grey bowl, £20, Habitat 5. CAFETIERE Classic eight-cup cafetiere in gold, £35, John Lewis 6. SHELVING Natural oak-effect floating L602mm shelf, £8, B&Q 7. FLOORING Cerused chevron tiles, £74.95sq m, Walls and Floors 8. SIDEBOARD Westcote Blue sideboard, £399, The Cotswold Company…

HOW SARAH AND MARK DID IT ‘We didn’t feel like we were losing a bedroom as we had a loft conversion done at the same time to give us a new main bedroom. As well as having the wall removed, we had the old bedroom door filled in as well, to create space for the shower cubicle. I designed the bathroom and sourced the fixtures and fittings myself to keep the costs down. The larger space gave us so much scope. I played around with the layout, doodling the various options until it was the perfect arrangement. Repositioning the bath along the back wall means it’s easy to bathe the girls together – something they love. It cost £600 to have the tub restored, but it was worth it. The…

“The Easy Bathing collection takes everything into consideration, from good looks and clever design ideas to quality and affordability ”JANE AKERS , EXECUTIVE EDITOR, IDEAL HOME With an aging population and multi-generational living on the rise, where larger families with both children and grandparents are living under the same roof, it’s never been a more pertinent time to future-proof our homes. And the bathroom is one of the key spaces to consider. No matter what your age, ability or situation, we all deserve a beautiful room to bathe in, that’s easy to use as well as being a relaxing space to rest and unwind in. STYLE & PRACTICALITY Bathstore’s brilliant, newly launched Easy Bathing collection combines luxurious designs with the functionality you need to create a room that subtly removes…

When designing a bathroom the spotlight is often on the big-ticket items, but taps can have a huge impact. For clean lines and designer style, pick a contemporary choice. Q Why should I go modern? Contemporary brassware is a natural fit in a modern space but sleek, minimalist taps can create dynamic pairings in otherwise classic bathrooms, too. And new designs are easier to clean, with no dirt-trapping nooks. Q Where can I find the hottest designs? Italian and German designer brands tend to lead trends – think Axor, Dornbracht, Gessi and Vola. Key looks – such as waterfall spouts and joystick-style handles – soon filter down into more affordable options from the likes of Bathstore, Crosswater or Ikea. Q Which finishes are best? Chrome is still a safe bet,…

1 IT’S IDEAL FOR A HOME MAKEOVER Weatherboarding changes the outer appearance of a building while protecting it. 2 REGULATIONS MAY APPLY Cladding is often possible without planning permission, but check that no restrictions or building regulations apply. 3 THERE ARE CHOICES FOR ALL BUDGETS Timber is a relatively affordable material, but costlier heat-treated timbers and man-made products are also available. Fibre cement is ideal for the British climate and comes with warranties, won’t warp or twist, and is extremely fire resistant. 4 IT CAN BE FINISHED IN VARIOUS WAYS Oak and cedar can be left untreated, while softwood will need painting or staining. 5 YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH It can go with other cladding, such as render or brickwork.…

If you’re planning on doing up your garden this year, get inspiration for your patio from Bradstone’s brilliant range of paving is this a great way to give your whole garden a fresh look, you’ll love hosting family and friends in the new space. Spring is our favourite time of year: it’s a good reason to revive your interiors with a seasonal clean. It’s also when we start thinking about summer outside. All too often, though, garden renovations get left until last, meaning all you have time for is a quick blitz before the sun comes out. And there’s only so much a stiff brush and garden hose can do… PEP UP YOUR PATIO Creating a stunning outdoor space means getting the basics right. While it’s tempting to cover up…

THE SLIM WALL UNIT Perfect for organising smaller bits and bobs without taking up floor space in the shed. Colworth storage unit, £65, Garden Trading THE POTTING BENCH A work bench that doubles up as seating. Paint, varnish or leave it for a rustic feel. £175, The Posh Shed Company THE WATERPROOF TRUNK Stackable and easy to carry, this container is ideal for storing sports kit indoors and out. £50, Kis at Amazon THE TWO-IN-ONE SHELF Perfect for hanging up power tools, extension leads or the garden hose, these quality storage hooks will also support your own shelf to create even more space to keep paint tins and cleaning fluids out of harm’s way. £28, Store THE GARDEN TOOL TIDY With room for up to eight garden tools, this slimline…

Pâte sucrée (sweet pastry) Takes 20min, plus chilling Makes 12 individual tarts (or 2 large tarts) INGREDIENTS • 1 vanilla pod (or 2tsp vanilla bean paste) • 400g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 35g ground almonds • 75g icing sugar • Pinch of salt • 250g unsalted butter, diced and chilled • 2 egg yolks • 1tbsp ice-cold water 1 Cut the vanilla pod, if using, in half and scrape out the seeds. Put the seeds (or paste) in the bowl of a food processor. Add the flour, almonds, icing sugar and salt, and pulse to combine. 2 Add the diced butter and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolks and pulse until fully combined. 3 If the pastry isn’t coming together into a uniform mass, add 1tbsp of ice-cold water and pulse,…

A A Rum Fellow 020 8245 6779 arumfellow.com Abodian Signs abodiansigns.com Ali Hamilton Interiors alihamiltoninteriors.com Allissias Attic 020 8616 5760 allissiasattic.co.uk Alternative Flooring 01264 335111 alternativeflooring.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Anglepoise 02392 224450 anglepoise.com Anna Cox Cushions annacoxcushions.com Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arlo & Jacob 0333 222 1643 arloandjacob.com Aston Matthews 020 7226 7220 astonmatthews.co.uk Atlantic Shopping 0121 230 1644 atlanticshopping.co.uk Axminster Carpets 01297 32244 axminster-carpets.co.uk Axor axor-design.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Back to Front 01252 820984 backtofrontexteriordesign.com Barbara Genda Bespoke Furniture 020 7978 2349 barbara-genda.com Barker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9321 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore 0800 023 2323 bathstore.com Big Dug 0800 088 6300 bigdug.co.uk Black by Design 01889 502716 black-by-design.co.uk Blinds 2 Go…

We’re always talking about colour and for good reason – adding it to your home can be seriously addictive. It has the power to change your mood and the feel of a space, simply by adding a coat of paint to a wall or by popping a few colourful cushions on your sofa. We’ve chosen 75 of our favourite ways to introduce a new shade to your scheme. Want more? We’re loving the wealth of sunny colour at Debenhams this season. With a clutch of bank holidays coming up, there’s no excuse not to brighten up your home this spring. the team Editor, Ideal Home Vanessa Richmond Editor, 75 Clever Ways To Add Colour Ginevra Benedetti Executive Editor Jane Akers Acting Deputy Editor Heather Young Creative Director Georgia…

A  Amara 0800 587 7645; amara.com Annabel James 0345 548 0210; annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 247296; anniesloan.com Arthouse 01706 230077; arthouse.com Athena 0845 838 6886; athenaart.com B  Benjamin Moore 01753 575756; benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk BlackbyDesign 01889 502716; black-by-design.co.uk British Ceramic Tile 01626 834774; britishceramictile.com C  Camengo 0844 369 0104; camengo.com Carpetright 0330 333 3444; carpetright.co.uk Caselio 0844 369 0102; caselio.fr Christy 0845 758 5252; christy.co.uk Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010; clarke-clarke.com Crown 0330 024 0281; crownpaints.co.uk D  Debenhams 0344 800 8877; debenhams.com Designerpaint.com 01323 430886; designerpaint.com DeVOL 020 38375 900; devolkitchens.co.uk DFS 0808 149 7607; dfs.co.uk Dulux 0844 481 7817 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565; dunelm.com F  Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com Fired Earth 01295 814396; firedearth.com G  Galerie 01892 700730; galeriehome.co.uk H  Habitat 0344 499 4686; habitat.co.uk Harlequin 020…

STYLIST’S NOTE “Carrying the paint onto the ceiling, doors and trim is a great way to make a small space look streamlined and unfussy ” VANESSA RICHMOND , EDITOR, IDEAL HOME Yellow 1 Fill your hallway with sunshine! Create a warm welcome in a gloomy or windowless hallway with a coat of Golden Sands mixing matt emulsion, £27.56 for 2.5L, Dulux. 2 GIVE GREY WALLS A PICK-ME-UP Lots of us are rocking the grey trend, but it can look dreary without an accent colour. In the dining room, all it takes is a tablecloth! 3 LIVEN UP A NEUTRAL SOFA If you love the colour, but can’t commit to an all-yellow sofa, you can still add touches of sunshine to your seating with a few scatter cushions and a cosy…

TONAL scheme DIFFERENT SHADES OF ONE COLOUR Also known as tone on tone, this type of scheme is the simplest of all the colour recipes you can decorate with, as it uses only varying tones (both lighter and darker) of one particular colour – red, for example, as shown here. HARMONIOUS scheme SHADES THAT SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER Choosing adjacent colours on the wheel – blue and green, for instance – is a straightforward way of creating an easy-to-live-with scheme. These harmonious colours are the most widely used group in interior design. CONTRASTING scheme SHADES THAT SIT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER ON THE WHEEL Guaranteed to add drama to any room, these vibrant schemes are based on two colours that sit directly opposite each…

These are the three keywords often used to describe colour. Frequently confused, they’re actually three different things A hue is the purest form of any colour, whether it’s primary, secondary, tertiary or somewhere in between on the spectrum of colours on the wheel. Hues are very intense and probably too strong for most decorating schemes, so they are usually lightened or darkened to create a tint or a shade. TINT & SHADE If you add some black to a hue, you create a shade and go darker. If you add white, you create a tint and go lighter. It’s simply that easy!…

SET OF THREE VINTAGE MIRRORS, £59.99 ‘Looks vintage with its bevelled edge’ Stephanie Durrant, Senior Features Editor QUILTED VELVET CUSHION, £14.99 ‘I just love the sunshine yellow – and who doesn’t like a bit of velvet?’ Georgia Hibberdine, Creative Director HOXTON TABLE LAMP, £31.99 ‘This lamp has designer looks, but a budget-friendly price tag’ Michela Colling, Style Editor NEW LUXOR FABRIC ACCENT CHAIR, £289 ‘Such a classic shape and the quality will surprise you’ Vanessa Richmond, Editor GEO CARVED RUG, FROM £199.99 ‘The pile is so deep and luxurious, it looks far more expensive than it is’ Ginevra Benedetti, Associate Editor KENDAL KNITTED THROW AND CUSHION SET, £49 ‘The pom-poms just make it for me’ Heather Young, Acting Deputy Editor PIPER TABLE LAMP, £29.99 ‘Like something you’d find in Heal’s,…

PETAL POWER Faux hydrangeas in mercury vase, £29.50, Marks & Spencer SUNNY DISPOSITION Faux forsythia in textured pot, £55, Peony PLUMPLY PINK Faux pink peony, £8, Sainsbury’s WILD BUNCH Faux wild autumn arrangement, £655, Fox Flowers ROSY POSY Faux roses and ranunculus flowers in cube, £65, Laura Ashley CLASSIC BEAUTY Cowden faux-flower arrangement, £79, Abigail Ahern range, Amara BLUE HUE Faux hyacinth bunch, £30, Oka BERRY BLOOMS Faux blackberry window box, £24, Next…

MY GO-TO STORES… • IKEA ‘It’s great for picture frames, shelves and cow hides’ • MATALAN ‘Always worth taking a look for a few surprises, like the monochrome baskets in my bathroom’ • EBAY ‘Good for things it’s tricky to find elsewhere, like the wiring and bulbs for my dining room’ STYLIST’S NOTE “Add depth by contrasting cosy faux fur with industrial accents and pops of neon” STEPHANIE DURRANT, SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR…

“The walls were yellow from cigarette smoke and the interior ones were crumbling, but we knew that we could make something really beautiful out of this house ” THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom house in Amersfoort, Netherlands. Interiors stylist Lin Heilijgers lives here with her husband Neal, a facilities manager, and their four-year-old daughter, Miza. This house looks so carefully composed and co-ordinated, it’s hard to believe it isn’t the result of months making mood boards and testing paint samples. ‘Actually, we didn’t have any clear idea about the decor until we’d stripped everything away and renovated the basics,’ says Lin Heilijgers, who lives here with her husband, Neal, and their daughter, Miza. ‘When we bought it two years ago, the house was in bad shape. Our priority was…

Stylist’s Note ‘Yellow is the perfect colour to lift all grey tones. Adding teal or dark turquoise gives depth to the scheme’ Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor…

Modern classic Walls painted in Wattle IV pure matt emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Wool Iconic Bouclé Kelly carpet, £69.30sq m, Alternative Flooring. Forma rug, £450, Habitat. Blinds in Origami GAMI-19-52 in Pigeon/ Saffron, £52m, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Flint four-seater sofa in Dusty Blue, £999, DFS. Oscar armchair in Turmeric clever velvet, £1,055, Loaf. Marble rectangular coffee table, £549; marble-topped side table, £249, both Dwell. Ivar cabinets, £45 each; Capita metal 8cm legs, £9 for a pack of four, Ikea. ON COFFEE TABLE Scandi painted tray, £25, John Lewis. Ocha teapot, £25, Oliver Bonas. Handmade espresso cup, £18; handmade short mug, £22, both Linda Bloomfield. LSA Bangle vase in Melon, £52, Amara. Stoneware textured serving tray in Grey, £15, Murmur. Littala Kivi tea light holder in Water Green,…

IDEAL COLOUR POP Wild & Wolf task desk lamp in Goldfish Orange, £72, Black by Design LUXE LOOK Lorna velvet cushion in Mustard, £20, Made.com MUST-HAVE GEO Ryker cushion in Ochre, £25, Made.com SIMPLE SHAPE Wilmot grey wool-mix buttoned armchair, £695, Habitat PRETTY GREEN Basis jug in Olive, £32, LSA International CUTE FOR KIDS Cross-print teepee with white trim, £135, Wildfire Teepees at The Modern Nursery CURVE APPEAL Tonon Time coffee table, from £856, Houseology ARTISAN APPEAL The Winchester Tile Company Lagoon large brick tile, £99.95sq m, Original Style GREAT DEAL PLUSH FEEL Sanela cushion cover in Golden Brown, £6, Ikea GRAPHIC PRINT Hofdeco yellow chevron cushion cover, £9.99, Handmade at Amazon DESIGNER LOOK Gooseneck orange lamp, £59.99, Dowsing and Reynolds CITRUS HIT Lime green jug, £25.95, Annabel James VERSATILE…

There’s never been a better time to turn your home into an uplifting sanctuary to make you feel fabulous. The new spring/summer collection from MW by Matthew Williamson, part of the popular Designers at Debenhams range, will help you do just that. GO WILD WITH COLOUR Packed with opulent contrasting prints, rich sumptuous textures and dramatic jewel tones, invest in the whole look for a glam take on tropical boho style or create an eclectic feel by combining a few pieces with your current scheme. There’s also a strong sense of fun running through the collection, ‘bird-print lanterns echo rainforests and sunnier climes, while the pineapple lantern casts a fun silhouette,’ says Matthew. Elsewhere birds of paradise adorn bedlinen and wall art, and flamingo candle holders raise the feel-good factor…

THE PROPERTY A three-bed Edwardian end-of-terrace in southwest London. WHAT IT COST Units....................£14,400 Worktops.............£2,850 Appliances..........£5,460 Flooring................£1,650 Shelving..................£700 Lighting...................£350 Tiles...........................£119 TOTAL..............£25,529 “It works so well for modern family life. There’s space for everyone to do their own thing ”…

“Larder cupboards are incredibly flexible – the best examples have a specific place for everything to ensure easy, intuitive use ”KIRAN NOONAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR,JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD The modern equivalent of a walk-in pantry, larder cupboards rank high on kitchen buyers’ most-wanted lists. Q Should I go for a fitted or freestanding larder? Fitted, aka integrated, larders are best bought as part of a new kitchen. Design-wise they work really well in streamlined, modern schemes and, because they fit tightly to adjoining furniture, they save some space. A freestanding larder is a great retro-fit solution to add storage with a more relaxed look. Q Are they space-efficient? Larders give a lot of storage in a relatively small footprint. If space is tight, you can buy narrow pull-out larders at just…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Victorian semi in Ascot, Berkshire. WHAT IT COST Furniture and basin..………………..£1,608 Bath..........................£600 Flooring...................£792 Shower...............….. £479 Blinds.......................£342 Tiles......................……£311 Brassware ..........…..£185 Loo........................... £179 Paint......................…..£25 TOTAL............….. £4,521 “I love the French, shabby-chic look and designed the room with it in mind ”…

THE BARBECUE SCRUBBER Use this dinky brass wire barbecue brush to scrub away last year’s dirt and grease ready for sizzling sausages and burgers come summer. £6.95, The Oxford Brush Company THE LEAF BLOWER Blast away those pesky leaves littering your lawn with the Bosch ALB18LI cordless leaf blower. You’ll have a tidy garden in no time! £62.99, John Lewis THE FURNITURE POLISH Give wooden garden furniture a once-over after a winter hidden away in the shed using this fruity fragranced orange oil polish. £6.99 for 500ml, Lakeland THE PATIO BLASTER When a little more than elbow grease is needed, enter the K4 Full Control Home pressure washer. Its patio cleaner accessory will blast away that bird poo. £279.99, Karcher THE LAWN GROOMER If you only have a small space,…

FOOD WITH FRIENDS: EASTER BAKING WHERE TO BUY 1. SPOONS Measuring spoons, £25, The Contemporary Home 2. CAKE PLATE Blue Arden plate, £10.50, Burleigh 3. CAKE SLICE Metal cake slice, £6.99, H&M Home 4. TARTLET TINS Mini tartlet tins, £7.50 for four, Marks & Spencer 5. TRAY Round tray, £16.50, Garden Trading 6. ROLLING PIN Mason Cash rolling pin, £20, John Lewis 7. CAKE STAND Cake stand, £25, House by John Lewis 8. SUGAR SHAKER Garden Trading Cornbury shaker, £5.95, Amazon 9. PASTRY FORKS Spode Italian pastry forks, £20 for six, Dunelm 10. NAPKINS Centre stripe napkins, £20 for four, West Elm…

Happy snaps Rather than leave them on your phone, bring photos to life by printing them out to create a flexible display – try Inkifi.com for mini prints from 30p each. To fit the picture wire, measure along the front of the picture ledge. Screw a screw eye in at each end of the ledges. Measure your curtain line between the two screw eyes and add 4cm for the length of the curtain hooks. Screw in the hooks to each end of the curtain wire. Hook the curtain wire to the screw eyes, then use mini bulldog clips to hang your pictures. BUY THE KEY PIECES Mosslanda picture ledges in black, W55cm, £4.50 each; frames, Ribba frame 18x24cm in white, £2.75; 13x18cm in white, £2.25; 21x30cm in black, £4; 13x18cm…