Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Ideal Home

I thought I’d done a big clear-out before we moved house, but as I unpacked box after box, I realised we still have way too much stuff. And so the endless clutter cycle – what to keep, what to hide away, what needs rehoming – has begun all over again. Built-in storage has swiftly moved right up to the top of the projects list for the new house. When it comes to clutter-free living, I never fail to be inspired by the real homes we feature (I fall in love with a different interior style every month and adapt my decorating plans accordingly!). We’d love to find out your thoughts about the homes we feature. Take part in our online survey (see page 85) and you’ll help shape our future…

WHERE TO BUY  1 Simple Leaves print, £35, Monday 2 Kristinelund mirror, £20, Ikea 3 Gingham check lamp, £29.99, Zara Home 4 Striped bowls, £2.99 each, Homesense 5 Kili fringed velvet cushion, £39 for two, Made 6 Malia wooden pot, £35, Hunter & Co 7 Loft Living table, £35, Argos…

Champion craft Beautifully crafted pieces never date, are made to last and mix well with other designs. Plus, they are both functional and decorative when on display. Introduce a washed pastel If sophisticated grey is your thing, avoid bold contrasting accents in favour of a soft wash of pink or lilac on part of a wall and accessories to lift the look without shouting too loud. Layer neutrals Don’t stick to shades of one colour, but mix greys, browns and whites of different weights. Tweak the ratio towards the heavy end for a cocooning feel, or lighter for airiness. Get white right Banish pure brilliant white and go for a mellower feel, with an off-white. Choose a grey tint in a sunny space or a yellower undertone in a shady…

Edited choice Create small groupings of your most treasured possessions and accessories. Displayed against a pure white backdrop, they’ll look like a mini art gallery. Divide into groups Worried that a long run of shelving will look untidy? Separate the shelf into sections by placing items in groups of three or five. Clear clutter Smaller items can look messy, so stash these in attractive storage boxes. For tall shelving units, place large boxes and baskets on lower shelves, and smaller ones up high. Colour coding Choose a palette of two or three colours and stick to it, displaying coordinated vases, picture frames, and even book spines for a fail-safe display. Create contrast Fill a two-tone unit with sculptural vases, books and pots. Place white on white and black on black…

THE EDIT: SUPER SAGE SHADES BEST FOR SOUTH-FACING ROOMS Afternoon Nap, £29 for 2.5ltr, Premium Blend v700, Valspar at B&Q BEST FOR MIXING WITH DUSKY SHADES Slide resistance ultra matt emulsion, £44 for 2.5ltr, Graham & Brown BEST FOR ADDING A SPLASH OF CALM COLOUR Grassy claypaint, £43 for 2.5ltr, Earthborn BEST FOR ADDING DEPTH AND ELEGANCE Green 02, £38 for 2.5ltr, Lick BEST FOR TRADITIONAL FEATURES Soft Fern interior paint, £23 for 1ltr, Benjamin Moore BEST FOR DARKER ROOMS Wood Sage interior matt, from £47.50 for 2.5ltr, M&L Paints NEED HELP WITH YOUR ROOM?  HEAD TO OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP, THE IDEAL HOME ROOM CLINIC…

Hakima el Majdoul, a full-time mum, lives here with her husband Ajid, an assembly technician, and their sons Sammie, nine, Younes, six, and five-year-old Yassier. THE PROPERTY  A three-storey three-bedroom 1990s house in Gouda, The Netherlands. They’ve lived here since 2011. THE VALUE  Similar properties in the area go for around £250,000 to £280,000. “My interior has a pure look. Light pastel colours and natural materials such as wood, bamboo and linen bring warmth” Take a quick tour...…

Soft shade Remove the drawers to paint separately. When using chalk paint, apply two coats directly on to the bureau, allowing time to dry in between. If you’re using eggshell paint, lightly sand then clean the surface first. Paint on the scallop design with a lighter shade, adding dots with a finer brush. For chalk paint, finish with a lacquer or wax for protection.…

Sarah Southwell lives here with her husband Nick and sons Rufus, four, Raffey, three and Rocco, 10 months. THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian terrace house in Balham, London. WHAT IT COST Bath and tap........£4,092 Shower and shower screen....................£1,120 Vanity unit, sinks and taps.......................£1,295 Paint..........................£120 Wall tiles..................£300 Floor tiles..............£1,350 TOTAL.................£8,277 “It’s the perfect escape for me and Nick, away from the chaos of life with three young boys!”…

Kat Timmins lives here with her husband James and their children Freddie, three and Ivy, one. THE PROPERTY A four-bed Victorian house in Dulwich, London, bought in 2019. WHAT IT COST Basin mixer..............£312 WC.............................£311 Wetroom panel.......£424 Bath........................£3,116 White wall tiles........£313 Marble wall tiles...£1,798 Towel rail..............£2,777 TOTAL..................£9,051 “Our style has evolved since having children, but we’ve always put comfort first”…

THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom Victorian semidetached house, in Warsash, Hampshire. VALUE Bought in 2004 for £230,000; now worth approximately £450,000. WHAT IT COST Architectural & construction work......... ........................£140,800 Kitchen...........£34,000 Flooring............£8,000 Staircase.............£4,600 Corten & zinc cladding .............................£7,400 External landscaping..... .............................£5,200 TOTAL...........£200,000 “Opening up the back of the house allows us to sit and enjoy the view as the seasons change”…

Janice Turner lives here with her partner Mike Blackwell and their dogs Queenie, a miniature schnauzer and Mickey, a rescue dog. Janice is a creative director (field-grey.com) and Mike runs Mr4Paws Day Care. THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom Victorian terrace in Walthamstow, London. THE VALUE Bought for £351,000 in 2016; now worth £525,000. WHAT IT COST Planning fees.....£5,000 Foundations......£15,000 Glazing...............£12,000 (including sash windows in the rest of the house) Walls (including steelwork)..........£14,000 Roof......................£7,000 Electrics (including a whole house rewire)...............£10,000 Plumbing (including a new boiler)..........£9,000 Rubber finish......£5,000 Decorating and misc...................£23,000 TOTAL.....£100,000 “An architect can help you make the very best of your space”…

Desk workout Activ5, £169, activ5.co.uk Based on isometric training principles, where you tense muscles without moving joints, this tiny Bluetoothconnected pad measures your effort as you squeeze, before creating five-minute, app-based training sessions you can do on the sofa. If you think it looks easy, try the Butt Burner workout. THE BEST BIT It feels a bit like playing a fun computer game, which will keep you coming back for more. Smart treadmill Peloton Tread, £2,295, plus £39 a month, onepeloton.co.uk With thousands of live and on-demand classes from some of the world’s finest fitness instructors, this Wi-Fi treadmill with 23.8” HD screen gives runners a chance to get fitter, faster, from home. THE BEST BIT The Peloton app has a lifetime’s worth of fitness classes…

IDEAL HOME TIP If you prefer a mash topping, simply replace the filo with a Cheddar cheese mash Spanish chicken bake SERVES Nut 4 , seed and READY IN winter 1 hr 30 mins INGREDIENTS • 250g cherry tomatoes • 2 shallots sliced into wedges • 2 red peppers, roughly chopped • 8 chicken thighs • 1 bunch each of thyme and oregano • 2tbsp sweet smoked paprika • 4tbsp olive oil • 1 glass of white wine • 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled • 100g green olives • Slices of crusty bread, to serve 1 Heat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Toss the tomatoes, shallots, peppers, chicken, thyme and oregano with the paprika and olive oil in a large roasting tin. 2 Pour over the wine and bake for 45 mins. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 mins…

WHERE TO BUY Rowan linen duvet cover set, £90; Ragan throw, £35; Henry one-drawer oak bedside table, £99; wicker tiered easy fit pendant in Natural, £40; Edited Life jute triangles rug, £75; Ecomix table lamp, £25; recycled glass vase, £8, all Dunelm…

MID-CENTURY LINES Inspired by Parisian galleries, hand-drawn shapes in a sophisticated colourway echo the trend for linear art. Atelier in Sage, £45 a roll, Albany x Mini Moderns at Wallpaper Direct RENAISSANCE REVISITED Reminiscent of classical still life paintings, delicate blooms in moody shades bring depth and drama. Superfresco multicolour floral, £16 a roll, Graham & Brown at B&Q MAXIMAL DESIGN Lush illustrations of rainforest flora and fauna are set on a cool silver backdrop for statement style on a budget. Belgravia decor animal garden, £12 a roll, Homebase SCANDI NOIR A bold botanical repeat bursting with detail, tropical leaves and flowers in deep shades stand proud on a black background. Hope, £40.50 a roll, Caselio at Wallpaper Direct SKETCHY STYLE Bring a naive charm to walls with this hand-drawn…

Living room ‘We used a specialist company to create the distressed concrete paint effect on the walls.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Concrete wall texture mural, £26m, Photowall, as an alternative. Velvet pouffes, £195 each, Graham and Green, would work Although we loved living in our apartment in central Copenhagen, when our daughter Zoe came along we wanted to be closer to the forest and the sea. We found a house with a garden, just 15 minutes out of the city. Our main challenge was navigating the government restrictions on what we could change. Luckily, my husband owns a construction company and had worked with architects on Copenhagen’s popular Nyhavn street, famous for its colourful old houses. He was the driving force in our project and made sure the existing…

“Aside from being a perfect colour for an office, this calming hue would work on any wall, kitchen cupboard or even an upcycled chair”NATASHA BRADLEY , INTERIOR AND COLOUR EXPERT, LICK ‘It’s important to make your home a place where you feel safe and comfortable, and sage green promotes that feeling – it’s reassuring yet uplifting and invigorating,’ says Judy Smith, Crown colour consultant. ‘It creates a space that’s full of life while still being relaxing and easy to live with.’ Green is at the centre of the colour wheel, so you can combine it with both warm and cool hues. ‘To create a calming effect, marry sage green with cool grey-whites to create a soft Scandi look,’ says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore UK. ‘Or, for an earthier,…

MY GO-TO STORES… EL RAMLA HAMRA I love the gorgeous vintage and handmade accessories and rugs. DILLE & KAMILLE Great for kitchen supplies, tableware and wooden chopping boards. TIERLANTIJN For Dutch-made furniture and accessories, as well as art deco-style lighting. STYLIST’S NOTE “Use varied tile designs to zone an open-plan kitchen. A trim will provide a neat segue” MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR…

Open-plan spaces, where we can entertain, keep an eye on the kids and relax, take a lot of planning and insider know-how to get right. We asked a property expert, an interior designer and an architect how they would do open plan… OPEN-PLAN AREAS ARE GREAT FOR FAMILY TIME, BUT WHAT IF WE WANT OUR OWN SPACE? ‘That’s always the big challenge,’ says property expert Kunle Barker. ‘Open plan looks great in magazines and TV shows, but you are all in one space, with noise, cooking smells and everything else going on. The key is to design a space that has the ability to be transformed into different zones by some kind of barrier.’ Clare Pascoe of Pascoe Interiors agrees: ‘Take the time to plan the space to determine how…

Tamsin and her husband Robert live here with their daughter Siena, 16. THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, 250-year-old thatched cottage in Alresford, Hampshire. WHAT IT COST Kitchen cupboards.......... ............................£23,000 Appliances..........£3,500 Sink..........................£475 Tap...........................£596 Worktop...............£3,000 Lighting...................£550 TOTAL.................£31,121 “I love having the wooden farmhouse table instead of an island – it’s where we hang out ”…

There’s a growing trend towards more discreet extractors – subtle designs that work behind the scenes to keep the air clear, without disrupting your kitchen. Q What are the options? The two most common solutions are flush-fit in-ceiling extractors, or downdraft designs that fit into the worktop. Many specialists argue that, since hot air rises, an in-ceiling extractor will be better than a downdraft, which sucks steam closer to source. If you’re concerned, a downdraft that rises up from the worktop to the top of pans will ensure nothing escapes suction. Q Why should I get one? Hood-style extractors can interrupt your line of sight above an island or in an open-plan kitchen, while a hidden extractor doesn’t impede on the room in design or use. Q What are the…

WHERE TO BUY 1 Kudos Carrara marble countertop basin, £295, Lusso 2 Bold as Brass wall light, £70, Spark & Bell 3 Charcoal copper bateau bath, from £3,800, Witt & Berg 4 Black Pradena tiles, £165sq m, Bert & May 5 Philippe Starck for Kartell Masters chair in Black, £177, John Lewis & Partners 6 Kagera bathroom tap in Black, £119.99, Dowsing & Reynolds 7 Bistro bath soap dish, £14, Anthropologie IDEAL GREAT DEAL GO LARGE WITH A SIMPLE BLACK-EDGED MIRROR…

Raised off the floor, wall-hung sanitaryware is sleek and modern, and is easier to clean than floor-standing designs. Q How is it installed? Wall-hung sanitaryware is designed to be bolted to a steel frame behind a stud wall. Once the wall is plastered and tiled or painted, all you’ll see is glorious sanitaryware. You can also buy furniture designed for wall-hung fittings if a new wall isn’t needed. Q What height should fittings hang at? There are no set heights, so if you’re tall go for a higher washbasin. In general, 80-85cm is considered a good height for basins and standard loos sit 40cm from the floor. Q Does wall-hanging take up more space? Building out a new wall, in front of an existing wall, will reduce the width of…

1 THEY’RE GOOD LOOKING Sedum roofs look great externally, but they can also visually extend the garden and provide immediate green space to the upper floors, something a normal grey roof doesn’t do. 2 THEY ADD INSULATION Heat loss through the roof can be reduced as the sedum roof provides additional insulation. However, bear in mind the additional weight this layer imposes on the roof’s structure. 3 THEY’RE GOOD FOR DRAINAGE Rainwater is held before being released back into the atmosphere over time. This improves a project’s sustainability credentials and helps reduce the risk of local flooding. 4 THEY IMPROVE AIR QUALITY Airborne pollutants and CO2 are captured by the plants of a sedum roof. This contributes to air purification. 5 THEY PROTECT THE ROOF The…

1 IT’S A SPECIALIST PRODUCT Make sure you approach one of the specialist installers of this material – for example, we used ESW (esw.company) since they have a wealth of knowledge on the product. 2 IT’S QUICK TO INSTALL The material is sprayed on directly from a tanker (make sure you check access requirements) and cools in a fraction of a second. This extension took a day to prime, a day to waterproof and a day to do the finish coat. 3 YOU MANY NOT NEED PLANNING PERMISSION If you are using it on an existing house, cladding may be carried out without having to apply for planning permission, provided the materials are of a similar appearance to those already in place. There is an exception if…

Sound asleep Kokoon headphones, £314.99, Kokoon Kokoon are the comfiest headphones you’ll ever wear, even when lying on your side, and they boast active noise cancelling technology to block out background noise – like snoring - and can play meditations and relaxation exercises to help you sleep better. THE BEST BIT There is an EEG sensor (Electroencephalography) in the earcup that tracks how you sleep, which feeds back each morning via smartphone app. Stay asleep SleepHub, £599.99, SleepHub Designed to help retrain your brain to sleep better and longer, these small speakers with easy-to-follow touchscreen controls sit either side of the bed and play a series of soundscapes to help your brain relax during each phase of rest, helping you, the inventors say, to wake reinvigorated. THE BEST BIT Sleephub…

A  Adroit Workshops adroitworkshops.co.uk Aga 0800 111 6477 agaliving.com Aga Living agaliving.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon.co.uk And So To Bed 0808 144 4343 andsotobed.co.uk Andrew Martin 020 7225 5100 andrewmartin.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com AO.com 01614 701100 Appliance City 01159 651937 appliancecity.co.uk Aquavision aquavision.tv Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Barker and Stonehouse 0333 920 1119 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Beaumonde 01202 707770 beaumonde.co.uk Beliani 0870 495 2749 beliani.co.uk Bella Bathrooms 01913 037771 bellabathrooms.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Beut 01225 292088 beut.co.uk BHS 0344 411 6000 bhs.co.uk Bisley 03333 583856 bisley.com Bloomingville 004 596 264 645 bloomingville.com Bora bora.com Bosch…

“My first thought – how do you find a book?! But,  looking at my own collection, it’s mostly books I’ve already read and won’t be picking up again for some time – so actually, for an ordered, neutral and aesthetically pleasing arrangement (or to hide any guilty pleasures), it’s not as crazy as it seems.” MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR “Seeing my favourite books on show is a satisfying  reminder of my reading journey, I actually enjoy arranging them by colour – pages out looks too bland for me. I also want to encourage my daughter to browse and pick one up. How do you nosy into other people’s collections if you can’t see the titles?!” LISA FAZZANI, ACTING FEATURES EDITOR…

HABITAT IS MOVING! It’s a new era for this great British brand. Although the flagship London stores have closed, its new home is now at Sainsbury’s and Argos, as well as online. Browse the bigger pieces and place orders at Habitat’s three showrooms. With new launches from just £1.50, we’re excited to see that Habitat is still making quality design accessible. Surprise in store Paint at Poundland Poundland has just added paint to its newly launched Pep & Co homeware range, so now you can splash on a feature wall without splashing out. The capsule paint collection includes on-trend shades Totally Teal, English Mustard, Green Velvet or a mellow Pebble Grey, all £3 for 1L – about the average price of a paint tester pot. There’s also Magnolia and Brilliant…

MY GO-TO STORES 1STDIBS For sourcing antiques and unique pieces. NEW CRAFTSMEN My favourite for discovering bright talent. WILLIAM YEOWARD Always worth a visit for accessories. GUINEVERE ANTIQUES A wonderful source of global antiques. STYLIST’S NOTE “Dress windows with blinds and curtains in the same fabric for a chic, seamless finish ” MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR…

STYLIST’S NOTE “Go big with supersized pieces in open-plan spaces, whether it’s a grand chandelier or a statement table. Small furniture can look lost in very large rooms” LISA FAZZANI, ACTING FEATURES EDITOR…

Despite the demands of a busy family life, Hakima and Ajid el Majdoul have created a light, organised and neat home for their family in a child-friendly part of Gouda, South Holland. ‘I grew up in Holland but am originally from Morocco, so the house is a mix of Scandinavian simplicity and Moroccan influences,’ says Hakima. ‘I’ve always been inspired by the beautiful stories told by my mother, as well as old photos. Those vintage Arabic styles, like Berber rugs, pottery and old teapots, really appeal to me. I don’t want to overdo it though, as my house could become too heavy with too many frills if the balance isn’t quite right. For me, a nice quiet white base is the best way to show off a few eye-catching pieces…

1 STORE LIVING ROOM ESSENTIALS OUT OF SIGHT Choose stowaway storage options so you can stash spare cushions, bulky blankets and cosy throws within easy grabbing distance. 2 SLOT IN A SLIMLINE LARDER Make use of an empty alcove or recess in a kitchen by adding a built-in larder cupboard. Shallow shelves are great for storing jars and packets; just add a couple of crates for loose items. 3 GO FOR A MINI WARDROBE Sized for jackets and shirts, rather than longer-length items, this mid-height wardrobe has combined hanging, shelf and drawer space, so is ideal for a guest room or child’s bedroom. 4 SQUEEZE IN A SIDE TABLE Free up floor space in your bedroom by opting for wall-hung units instead of regular bedside tables.…

CRAIG MARSTON, DIRECTOR OF KE-DESIGN (KE-DESIGN.CO.UK). Based in Shropshire, Craig has created a small, design-focused architectural studio offering traditional, modern, contemporary design backed up with good construction knowledge. CLARE PASCOE, DIRECTOR OF PASCOE INTERIORS (PASCOEINTERIORS.COM) A BIID-registered interior designer, Clare has been delivering ahead-of-the-trend, award-winning interiors, championing mid-century style, the best of British and sustainable design, since 2000. She’s based in West Sussex. KUNLE BARKER, PROPERTY EXPERT, WRITER AND BROADCASTER (KUNLEBARKER.COM) In 2004 Kunle set up Illustrious Homes, an award-winning construction and design management company, specialising in delivering high-profile projects, on time, on budget and of quality. He’s also a brand ambassador for InFrame Space.…

IDEAL GREAT DEAL BRING IN A MODERN TWIST WITH A SET OF BLACK WIRE CHAIRS…

Having lived in their characterful Victorian home since 2004, the couple wanted to make changes that would enhance their connection with the garden. ‘I’m a keen gardener and we both love the outdoors,’ says Donna. ‘Our main goal was to transform the house in a way that allowed us to bring the outside in.’ DESIGN AIMS The couple wanted to flip the interior layout so that the main living space was at the back of the house, rather than the front. Architect Daniel Masterman (adamknibbarchitects.com) came up with a design that was in tune with the couple’s vision – a double-storey extension with an open-plan kitchen-living-dining area on the ground floor and a snug above. END RESULT ‘We wanted to push the boundaries when it came to the materials we…

Build a sofa to suit your space Swyft’s latest addition to its self-assembly sofa range, Model 03, has a modular design allowing customers to create a custom configuration. What’s more, it comes delivered in a box, so navigating doorways and staircases is easy – all within 48 hours of ordering. Model 03 modular sofa, from £330 for an ottoman, Swyft Improve your bedtime routine Nod off in no time by setting a calming mood in your bedroom. Essential oils have been blended in this M&S range to promote relaxation. Apothecary sleep room spray, £6; three-wick candle, £15, both M&S Hide your boiler out of view Say goodbye to unsightly boilers on show and go for the ecoFIT Pure combi model, which fits inside a kitchen cupboard. ecoFIT Pure combi boiler,…