Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2015 i Style At Home

Spring is all about new beginnings and fresh starts, so it feels quite fitting that I’m joining the team as editor at this time of year. I’m absolutely delighted to be here and look forward to bringing you many issues packed with inspiration and ideas for you to try at home. Start right now and sweep away the cobwebs of winter with our 100 ideas for decorating with spring greens (page 30). Perk up your kitchen-diner with our 13-page special from page 61, and find out how to colour with confidence, rework your dining space and bring in pretty florals as cover star Victoria has done. If you need quick ideas for an Easter celebration, turn to page 77 for our delicious recipes and be sure to brighten the table…

Staircases are often overlooked when it comes to revamping a home, but we say they’re more than a means of getting from one floor to another. They’re not the easiest of spaces to work with but, with the right preparation and a little vision, a staircase can be transformed into the star of the show as you walk through the door. It’s easier to wallpaper stairs that are already stripped or painted, but if you have carpet, look what’s underneath – they may be perfect for a makeover. Choosing your look Think about the colour scheme around the stairs. For maximum impact, decorate your hall or stairwell in a neutral shade so it won’t detract from the wallpaper you choose. Try geometric or abstract patterns for an eye-catching entrance, or…

My home... ABOUT ME I’m Lara Haynes, 45, and I’m a wedding florist with my own company, Darling & Wild (darlingandwild.com). I live with my daughter, Freja 13, and son Tom, 11, and our Maltipoodle, Sugar. MY HOME A three-bedroom period semi, which I think dates from around the 1890s, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. I bought it in 2007. WHEN I BOUGHT IT The house was charming and decorated in a pretty style, but it felt small. It also had a downstairs bathroom, which wasn’t practical with two young children. AND NOW I knocked down the back wall where the downstairs bathroom used to be and added an extension to create a dining room, with my new bedroom above. Tom’s old room has been used to create a corridor and…

Show off your favourite things in style by displaying them in compartments in a pretty box frame. It’s easy to adapt this project to suit any scheme – why not experiment with several wallpaper designs and different paint effects, such as a two-tone or ombre finish? HOW TO YOU WILL NEED * Sandpaper * Damp cloth * Bamboo cutlery tray, £9.50, Tesco Direct * Paintbrush * White & pink paint * Ruler & pencil * Scissors * Wallpaper samples, Little Greene & Laura Ashley * PVA glue * Wooden frame, £6.99, Dunelm * Strong glue 1 Lightly sand the sides and section dividers of the cutlery tray and wipe down. Paint with white paint and leave to dry. Apply a second coat. 2 Measure and cut out pieces of wallpaper…

Add painterly watercolours Inject a feminine touch with watercolour-print cushions. Look for large-scale floral designs in pinks and purples. For similar, try the Jeanie Floral cushion, £25, Marks & Spencer Brighten the look Pick a pale floor colour to give your room a light and airy feel. Whitewashed floorboards will open up the space and reflect light. For similar, try Whitewashed Oak Effect vinyl plank flooring, £25 per sq m, B&Q Display flowers Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. Make the most of seasonal blooms by arranging your favourites on a simple foam circle. For similar, try the Faux Floral Dried Country wreath, £12, Sainsbury’s Arrange china Lay your table for tea with dainty crockery in pastel shades. Then, fill bowls with chocolate eggs and serve delicious homemade cakes. For similar,…

Clarkenwell White Gloss units, from £56 for 600mm, Howdens. IT Kitchens Basalt Slate laminate worktop, £132 for 3.6m; Astracast Altro stainless-steel 1.5 sink and drainer, £89.99; Cooke & Lewis Dalmuir monobloc mixer tap, £43; Milano oak-effect laminate flooring, £15 per 1.25m; all B&Q. Zanussi ZPVF4130X oven and ceramic hob pack, £312.97; Matrix extractor hood, £74.98; both Appliances Direct. Walls painted in Jasmine White Kitchen+ Matt paint, £24.49 for 2.5 ltr, Dulux. Brighton wallpaper, £46 per roll, Harlequin at Wallpaperdirect. Docksta table, £130; Urban chairs in White, £25 each; Frode folding chairs in Red, £20 each; Iris tea towels, £2.75 for two; all Ikea. De’Longhi Distinta kettle in Bronze, £99.95; Filter coffee machine, £99.95; both John Lewis. Red Spectrum kitchen canisters, £3.99 each; mug tree, £5.99; dotty oven gloves in Red,…

Elderflower drizzle celebration cake TAKES 45 MIN SERVES 12 Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Line and grease 3 x 20cm cake tins. Cream 225g softened butter with 225g caster sugar until soft and light. Gradually add 4 beaten eggs and 2tbsp milk. Fold in 225g self-raising flour. Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 20 min until springy to touch. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 min and turn out on to a wire rack to cool. To make the filling, whip 300ml double cream with 3tbsp elderflower cordial and 2tbsp icing sugar. Put the bottom cake on to a cake stand, spread over 2tbsp gooseberry jam and top with half the cream. Repeat with the next layer. Place the final sponge on top. Mix together…

Simnel cake TAKES 1 HR MAKES 16 175g butter 350g caster sugar 3 eggs 300g self-raising flour 1/4tsp bicarbonate of soda 400ml buttermilk 25g cocoa 50g ground almonds 100g raspberries, squashed 10ml pink food colouring FOR THE FILLING 3tbsp chocolate spread 3tbsp raspberry jam FOR THE FROSTING 3 egg whites 250g caster sugar 200g butter, cubed 200g white chocolate, cubed Pink edible glitter 11 white chocolate truffles 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Grease and line 3 x 20cm round cake tins. Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs. Fold in flour, bicarb and buttermilk. 2 Divide into three bowls, add the cocoa to one and the almonds to the other two. Add the raspberries and pink colouring to one with the almonds. Spoon the mixtures into…

Go for a vintage kitchen feel with pristine tiles and rustic open shelves to display cool white and blue ceramics, plus wooden accessories. Stylistsat Home ‘I love the crisp look of this blue and white china. I like to display my vintage glassware collection on the open shelves in my kitchen.’…

No matter how small or plain your bathroom, well-chosen accessories can transform it in seconds. First, go for towels with striking patterns, then pick out one or two of the accent colours and add pops of these shades throughout your scheme. Finally, choose essentials – such as a bin, tumblers and soap dispensers – in colour-block shades. This look is great for family bathrooms and kids will love it, too.…

My home... ABOUT ME I’m Jolanta Rzadkosz, 27, co-owner of a cleaning company, and I live with my husband, Jan, also 27, a carpenter and partner in kitchen company Staite of the Art (staiteoftheart.co.uk). MY HOME A two-bedroom flat in a new building in south-east London, which we moved into in July 2014. WHEN I BOUGHT IT The flat was unfinished, because we found it early in the process. Jan was keen to build the kitchen and make the wardrobes himself, and we wanted to choose our own bathroom. AND NOW The kitchen has been a huge success; I love the contrast of the dark grey and off-white units. There are oak floors throughout and we have a mixture of furniture given to us or bought in junk shops, along…

Follow Jolanta’s lead and have a go at this simple project to update your bedroom look in a flash. Or why not make a series of cushions to scatter along your sofa? HOWTO YOU WILL NEED Measuring tape Fabric scissors 50cm White cotton fabric, £2.99, Dunelm Black & white photograph Iron Pins Transfer paper, £3.50 for seven A4 sheets, Tesco Direct Sewing machine Cushion pad (30cm x 40cm), £4.50, John Lewis 1 Measure and cut one 30cm x 40cm, and two 25cm x 40cm pieces of white fabric. Set the two smaller pieces aside. Print the photo onto a sheet of transfer paper (if the image has any text on it, flip it before printing). 2 Cut around the edge of the printed photo and place face down onto the…

Be creative with accessible storage Try our clever tips to keep your home neat and tidy Hook up An easy way to keep dressing gowns, towels or aprons organised is by screwing a hook or two into the top of a door and hanging them up. If you don’t want to make a hole in the woodwork, or you live in rented property, an over-the-door hook is a great alternative. Try the Six Shirt Foldable hanger, £15.99, Lakeland. A place for everything Multi-pocket hanging caddies utilise a door to store magazines, shoes or toys, keeping them accessible. Try the Hanging Pocket Tidy in Mahjong Stripe, £30, Deckchairstripes. Simple storage Attach a towel rail (the type usually attached to a bathroom wall) to the back of a door for scarves or…

CARON BURROWS ABOUT ME I’m 51 and I live with my husband, Chris, in a four-bed detached house in Gloucestershire. Having just finished decorating the stairs and landing, the living room and dining area are next on our list. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT… was a small wooden dresser from a local interiors shop, which has been beautifully restored. MY FAVOURITE ROOM IS… my office. It’s filled with piles of fabric! KEELEY EBELTHITE ABOUT ME I’m 41 and I live in a four-bed detached house in Kent with my husband Cliff, and twin sons Connor and James. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT… was a chrome heated towel rail for our downstairs loo, which heats the room brilliantly. MY FAVOURITE ROOM IS… the dining/family room in our extension – it’s a…

My home... ABOUT ME I’m Amy Cope, 36, a part-time healthcare assistant and nursing student. I live with my husband Phil, 37, a training manager for a mobile phone company, and our children, Evie, eight, and Sonny, six, plus dogs Beau and Alfie. MY HOME A four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Darlington, County Durham. We bought it in July 2007. WHEN I BOUGHT IT It had a small kitchen and three bedrooms, bags of character and a large garden with room to extend. Many of the period features were still intact and we couldn’t wait to put our stamp on it. AND NOW It’s light and bright with lots of upcycled pieces. We’ve added an extra bedroom and extended the kitchen but retained the character. STYLE TIP Reuse things that…

Experiment with fabric to create a unique lampshade. Pick up a kit then choose a patterned or plain design to make a shade to suit your scheme, whether for a ceiling light similar to Amy’s or a table lamp like ours. HOW TO YOU WILL NEED Dandelion curtain fabric in Saffron, £11.20 per m, Terrys Fabrics Fabric scissors 30.5cm diameter drum shade kit, £19, Hobbycraft 1 Unpack the lampshade kit –you should have two rings, a self-adhesive lampshade panel, double-sided tape and a lollipop tool. Cut your fabric to the dimensions specified in the kit and lay flat, right side down. 2 Peel away the backing on the panel around 10cm and stick to your fabric, unrolling as you go. Crease and peel off the pre-scored edges along the panel…

Revamp your bedroom now that spring has finally sprung with one of this season’s hottest looks. Whatever your style, we’ve got three gorgeous schemes that will give your bedroom a new lease of life. Turn the page to see our fab ideas that won’t break the bank. Tile print bed linen, £12 for a double duvet set; Bamboo pendant light, £17; Blue glass vase, £12; Ombre cushion, £7; Navy throw, £20; all George Home BY THE SEA Combine crisp white furniture with deep, azure-blue accents and natural textures Stylists at Home ‘I’d accessorise this gorgeous beach house look with rose gold and stone accents. A wool blanket would be ideal for chilly evenings.’ COUNTRY CHIC Go for timeless wood, pretty florals and dusky shades for a modern twist…

Neutral and plain walls are a good starting point from which to build a decorating scheme, but if you ignore the spectrum of colours and patterns available in paint and wallpaper, you could be missing out. Perfect pattern Many brands now produce both wallpaper and paint, so tricky decisions are often already made for you when it comes to creating perfectly co-ordinated combinations. New wallpaper designs come out every season, but when picking a pattern you need to be conscious that you will be living with it for at least a couple of years. Florals and simple geometrics will never go out of style, so are a good choice if you find a design you love. Choose a tonal two-colour pattern if you want to play it safe, and pair…

My room... ABOUT ME I’m Victoria Scott, 43, and I live with my husband Pete and our children, Michael, 15, Henry, 13, and Alexandra, nine, in a six-bedroom Edwardian house in Wanstead, east London. MY CHALLENGE Our kitchen was the smallest room in the house with no windows. It was in totally the wrong place. MY WISH LIST I’ve always wanted a large kitchen that’s big enough for a table and chairs, so the room is full of conversation. I also wanted plenty of storage space so I no longer had cluttered worktops. Cooking in my cramped kitchen was a nightmare – I didn’t even have space for all my appliances,’ says Victoria. ‘The fridge was under the stairs, the cupboard space was practically non-existent and the room had no…

Leek & bacon tartlets TAKES 40 MIN SERVES 6 100g streaky bacon, diced 20g butter 2 leeks, thinly sliced 100ml white wine 6tbsp crème fraiche 500g puff pastry 2 sprigs thyme 1 Preheat oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Fry the bacon for 10 min until crispy. Set aside. Heat the butter in the same pan and fry the sliced leeks for 5 min. Season with salt and pepper. 2 Pour in white wine and bubble for 5 min until the leeks are soft and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in 3tbsp crème fraiche and add the bacon. 3 Roll out the pastry until just thicker than a £1 coin. Cut out 6 x 12cm circles, using a saucer as a guide. Score a 1cm margin around the edge and…

When our grown-up daughter Rosa moved out, my husband and I decided it was the perfect time for a change and that we would downsize from our four-bed house in Hampshire,’ says Paula. ‘We weren’t sure what we wanted exactly, but we prefer older properties and a friend told us about a nearby house that was being converted into two apartments. We fell for this one straightaway, as we could see that we could get in at an early stage and have an input on the design. We sold our house quickly and then rented a flat on a short lease while our new home was being finished to our specifications. Starting work The house that our apartment is in had been empty for a while and was very old-fashioned.…

Our magazine... Find us on the newsstand Easy to download for iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, Nook, Google Play, Readr and Zinio PLUS DON’T MISS 4 brand-new essential planning guides available at the App Store Online... News, ideas, video and more at kitchensourcebook.co.uk Sign up for our new weekly e-mail newsletter, delivering great ideas to your inbox On Facebook and Twitter, plus creating mood boards at Pinterest/LoveKitchens A world of ideas, inspiration and advice at your fingertips right now…

Whether you want to add drama with elegant emerald or soften the look with marvellous mint, we’ve compiled a handy guide to decorating with the season’s hottest hue. With green available in a whole host of shades, it’s easy to find one to suit your taste and update your scheme. Search for paint, furniture and tiles in glorious greens or, if a full makeover isn’t for you, then a few well-chosen accessories will inject colour into a neutral setting and give your room a whole new look in next to no time. 1 Begin by deciding which shade, or shades, of green you want to incorporate into your space. Different tones each create their own mood, so think about this when choosing. 2 Consider painting your walls for a permanent,…

We spend a lot of time and money giving our much-used bathrooms a makeover, and it’s important to pick a vanity unit or washstand that’s practical for you and your family. Whether you chose an enclosed design to create plenty of storage or give your bathroom a country vibe by making your own with a vintage table, a vanity unit can provide a charming focal point in your room. Build or buy? The first thing to decide is whether you are going to choose a ready-made unit or get hands-on and make your own from a table, or even from scratch. It may be best to create a customised unit if you have a tricky space to fill or want an interesting look. In a cottage, for example, you could…

Whether it’s a gift for family or a decorative touch for your own home, these simple projects are sure to add to the celebratory mood this Easter. Introduce florals for a feminine touch and bring natural textures, such as moss and hessian, into your styling for a rustic finish. Easter nest Pretty up your dining table with this cute display YOU WILL NEED * Twigs or raffia * Clothes pegs * Thin wire * Scissors * Moss & plant bulbs 1 Take a handful of twigs or raffia around 35cm long. Bend them into a wreath shape and secure in place with pegs. Cut several pieces of thin wire and wrap at intervals around the wreath to hold it together. Remove pegs. 2 Trim away any loose ends until you’re…

My room... ABOUT ME I’m Emma Cullen, 34, and live with my husband Charles, and six-year-old daughter Emily, in a bungalow in Cambridgeshire. MY CHALLENGE The kitchen was at the front of the bungalow looking out on to the road and it was really small. As the cost of a new kitchen was so high we decided to change the layout at the same time and create a room we could enjoy as a family. MY WISHLIST I wanted a bright, modern kitchen that would have room for a dining table so we could enjoy meals together. Charles and I were living in north London but had to commute to Bedfordshire for our veterinary business, and travelling was a bit of a nightmare,’ says Emma. ‘We’d been looking to buy…

Audley kitchen units in Bone, £4,290; Schock sink, £229; single-lever tap, £159; Walnut laminate flooring, £9.50 per sq m; Laura Ashley wall tiles in White, Amethyst, Cobblestone, Duck Egg and Eau de Nil, £12.99 per sq m (all sale prices); all Homebase. White Quartz Omega Gloss worktop, £189 for a 4,100mm x 600mm length, Kitchen Worktops Online. Bosch dishwasher, £349.99, Currys. Alba dining table, £375; Alba dining chairs, £99 each; all John Lewis. Roman blind in Panama, £94, Direct Blinds. Countess clock, £30, Newgate. Dandelion Clocks table runner, £7.99; Cream jug, £7.99; cushions, from £6.39 each; Sage Dotty oven glove, £4.49; all Dunelm. Bella Dots kettle, £39.99, BHS. Heritage four-piece dinner set, £30; Small Heritage Orchard jug, £21; all Denby. Camper cutlery, £10 for a 16-piece set; Camper chalkboard jars,…

Spicy noodle fritters TAKES 15 MIN SERVES 6 1tbsp medium curry powder 3tbsp cornflour mixed with 1tbsp cold water 3 eggs, beaten 1 red chilli, finely sliced 300g ready-to-wok fine rice noodles, roughly chopped Bunch spring onions, finely sliced 2tbsp sunflower oil FOR THE DIP 4tbsp redcurrant jelly 1/2tsp five-spice powder 1tbsp water 1 garlic clove 1tbsp soy sauce 1 Mix together the curry powder, cornflour and eggs. Add the chilli, noodles and onion and toss well to mix everything together. 2 Heat a splash of oil in a large frying pan and cook the noodle mix in spoonfuls on a medium heat for 2 min each side. Cook in batches and keep warm while you cook the rest. Heat all the dip ingredients gently in a pan for 5…

Open avocado sandwich TAKES 15 MIN SERVES 2 100ml balsamic vinegar Pinch sugar Sourdough bread 2tbsp olive oil 1 avocado 4 slices prosciutto ham 1 First, make a balsamic glaze by gently heating 100ml balsamic vinegar and a large pinch sugar in a saucepan until reduced and syrupy. It should coat the back of a spoon. 2 Heat a griddle pan on high. Cut 2 thick slices of sourdough bread and brush with 1tbsp of olive oil. Then griddle on both sides until charred and crisp. 3 Slice the avocado in half, remove the stone and cut the flesh into slices. Top the toasts with the avocado and prosciutto ham then drizzle over a little balsamic glaze and the remaining oil. The remaining balsamic glaze can be kept in the…

Stylish shelving Use pretty paper to revamp plain shelves YOU WILL NEED Small wooden shelf, £1.99, charity shop Chalk paint tester pot in Napoleonic Blue, £5.95, Annie Sloan Soft clear wax, £8.95 for 500ml, Annie Sloan Hardboard, £5.79 per sheet, local DIY shop Pepin Floral Premium Paper Booklet, £10 for a book of 12, Hobbycraft PVA glue, £2.50 for 500ml, Hobbycraft Fine pin nails & sandpaper Metal ruler & craft knife 1 Lightly sand the surface of the shelf and wipe clean. Paint with two coats of the chalk paint. Once completely dry, use sandpaper to lightly distress the paintwork. Wipe clean then coat with clear wax and buff with a cloth once dry. 2 Place the shelf on the hardboard, matching the top and side edges, then draw around…

1 Making plans We decide to downsize after our daughter moves out, so we rent a flat while our new home is being renovated. The bathroom is the first room we tackle because the layout in the rest of the property is still being altered. The apartment starts to feel more like home now I’m making decorating decisions. 2 Choosing a style I want the bathroom to suit the style of the apartment and settle on a monochrome scheme. I love the crisp black-and-white look and the tiles are the key to my look. I don’t want anything too glossy or small, so after looking at what’s available I’m thrilled to find this Tones design from Johnson Tiles in various sizes. I go for large rectangular ones. 3 Handy cabinets…

Style at Home has teamed up with Heathcote & Ivory so you can fill your home with fresh, welcoming scents and gorgeous pampering products that won’t break the bank. Take a look at the tempting ranges and choose from room sprays and diffusers, or treat yourself to body essentials, such as shower gel, hand cream and soap. The beautifully designed packaging will make a delightful focal point on your dressing table or in your bathroom – a perfect styling moment! Plenty of choice With a wide range of lovely fragrances to choose from, including Sweet Pea & Honeysuckle and Wild English Lavender, you’re sure to find a scent to suit your mood. Plus, there’s the Gardeners range – a great gift that will revive the hands of a green-fingered friend.…

Buying a home before it has been built is nothing new, but the latest rise in house prices means it’s an attractive route to finding your dream home. Not only can you secure the plot of your choice if, for example, you want a large garden for the children, but if you buy first in a scheme, it’s likely that you’ll get your home for a great price. What’s more, you’ll usually be given the opportunity to choose your own fixtures, fittings and finishes from the ranges available before you move in. Once you’ve secured your new home, you’ll have plenty of time to arrange your mortgage, book removals, get the family ready to move and save up for any extra items, all while work is being completed. Then enjoy…

mail order available ABC Alexander & Pearl 020 8508 0411; alexanderandpearl.co.uk An Angel At My Table 0845 200 0723; anangelatmytable.com Annie Sloan 01865 803168; anniesloan.com Ao.com 0344 324 9222; ao.com Appliances Direct 0871 984 4416; appliancesdirect.co.uk Ardingly Antiques Fair 01636 702326; iacf.co.uk Argos 0345 640 3030 Atkin & Thyme 0844 409 9834; atkinandthyme.co.uk Avenue Floors avenuefloors.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3098; diy.com Barker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9133; barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathroom Village 0844 774 6666; bathroomvillage.com Bathstore 0800 023 2323; bathstore.com Baumatic 0844 692 3605; baumatic.co.uk Beaumont Cast Iron 01788 899100; beaumontcastiron.com Belling 0844 815 3746; belling.co.uk BHS 0344 411 6000; bhs.co.uk Bombay Duck 020 8749 3000 Boots 0345 609 0055; boots.com British Ceramic Tile 01626 834774; britishceramictile.com Cath Kidston 0845 026 2440 Chairs & Upholstery Shop (The) 01892 614122; chairsdesign.co.uk Contemporary…