Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Style At Home

I’m busy putting together my garden ‘to do’ list and its spin-off, the B&Q hit list, ready for my traditional May bank holiday Big Garden Sort-out. Not that I have a big garden, or am particularly green-fingered, but I just get a bit over-excited about summer coming! Even if you only have a balcony or window sill to green up, you’ll find loads of ideas in this issue. Flip to the back to find our favourite barbecues, dining sets and planters. Plus we’ve got tips for hanging baskets (I plant mine with herbs for salads and drinks), and a gorgeous reader garden where the owners have created areas for cooking, eating and lounging. Bringing the outside in is a huge trend, so to continue the green-and-pleasant feel indoors, turn to…

GEORGE HOME Havana daze Brighten your abode with exotic forms and gold accents JD WILLIAMS Cool coastal Let your creativity set sail with tranquil blues and maritime influences NEXT Mellow yellow Create a relaxed, retro vibe with shades of grey and sunny hues HABITAT Neo-geo Build a scheme with geometric forms and a Mid-Century-inspired palette Stylist at Home HAYLEY SAYS ‘I love how easy it is to update a room with high-street buys – you can get a whole new look on a budget.’…

BROWSE BOOT SALES Try to see the potential in a piece you spot; could it be transformed with a good clean or a new coat of paint? MAKE A STATEMENT Mix and match prints and patterns but stick to a palette of three or four shades and keep walls neutral to make it work. SEW CRAFTY If you have fabric left over from making curtains, make coordinating cushions. MAKE A PHOTO GALLERY For instant nostalgia, why not ask an older relative if you can look through their albums and borrow any pics you love to scan and print? Then arrange them in vintage-style frames. PUT ON A SHOW Displaying your own handmade items at home is truly satisfying. Consider taking a course at a local craft workshop – you’ll have…

PIN IT, LOVE IT, DO IT! Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration and we’ve all spent ages pinning interior projects galore, but how often do we actually carry them out? Don’t be afraid to actually give a few of them a go – and add some hand-made touches to your home. MIX IT UP Florals of all shapes and sizes will work for this look – in fact, mixing up small ditsy prints with larger graphic patterns adds to the relaxed, shabby vibe. So don’t worry if your tableware doesn’t match – variety is the key. KEEP COLOURS FRESH While your accessories and soft furnishings can be a way to add vibrant hues to your scheme, pick soft, fresh whites, creams and pale pinks for walls and…

Don't fancy the faff of tiling the bathroom? Fake it! Create a mock tile effect by painting simple lines in Dulux's hard-wearing, steam-resistant paint – no need to scrub discoloured grout ever again. Use a spirit level, fine paintbrush, and a steady hand!…

When my husband Joe and I bought this house, we knew we were taking on a huge project,’ says Zoe. ‘It had been lived in by the same family since the 1950s and hadn’t been touched in all that time. But what made the whole thing worthwhile was the view over miles of open land, even though we’re in the middle of southeast London. We decided to tackle the kitchen by completely gutting it and building an extension to create an open-plan area. As our budget was tight we planned to do as much work as we could ourselves. Joe is quite handy and was doing a carpentry course at night school. He became friends with his tutor and asked him to carry out the building work, while a family…

‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO LAY VINYL FLOORING ON A SMOOTH, LEVEL SURFACE –INSTALLING A NEW SUBFLOOR IS OFTEN THE BEST OPTION’ Alice Dunbar, Interiors Specialist, Harvey Maria Compared with solid flooring like stone or ceramic, vinyl is softer and warmer underfoot, with better sound insulation. Best of all, it’s seriously easy to clean, making it a great choice in busy rooms. Q What is vinyl flooring? The core material is a man-made synthetic called polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). Modern vinyls can be recycled, and the harmful volatile ingredients that once gave vinyl a bad name have been removed, or reduced to safe levels. Q How is it supplied? It comes in sheets or tiles. Sheet vinyl is a continuous piece that’s cut to the size and usually has a cushioned back.…

Ready, steady, sort! TIDY THE COOKWARE CUPBOARD Neatly pile pots and pans and keep lids in order using a smart stacker. (Try the Storemore, £14.99, Lakeland) CHECK YOUR SOCKS Empty then refill your sock drawers tidily (better still, use dividers), binning any odd socks or those with holes CLEAR THE GARDEN CLUTTER Clear away old potting or gardening materials and cut back any dead plants to create as much space for alfresco entertaining as possible…

‘USE A CLEAN PLASTIC CONTAINER IF YOU DECANT EMULSION,AND A METAL ONE FOR OIL-BASED PAINT’ Andy Greenall, head of design, Little Greene Make walls magnetic Get your life in order and tame your paperwork by skimming an entire wall with Magnetic Plaster and turning it into a giant memo board. Magnetic Plaster is fixed to the walls exactly the same way as standard plaster (minimum 3mm thick), and can be applied to a pre-plastered wall or new plasterboard. You can decorate this versatile surface with paint or wallpaper, or create individual sections by painting squares with tester pots or chalkboard paint. Use strong, colourful magnets to keep an office area and family kitchen super-organised, or to display your kids’ artwork. Fake a lush lawn Want a well-kept garden but don’t…

Andrea Smedley ABOUT ME I’m 43 and I’m doing up my four-bed period detached house in Scarborough – I blog about it at thecreativecoastalhome.com. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM? My living room is a good size, with a period fireplace that’s calling out for a woodburner, and there’s scope for statement lighting, too. It needs work, but it has plenty of potential! Cat Lowe-Acton ABOUT ME I’m 33 and I live with my boyfriend Giles, 36, and our Jack Russell, Mabel, in a modern, two-bed coach house in Somerset. WHAT’S YOUR BEST MONEY-SAVING TIP? Go to auction houses if you’re looking for large pieces of furniture – it’s a great day out, and you can pick up some really solid pieces at bargain prices! Kate Insley ABOUT ME I’m 36 and…

Kelly Hoppen’s latest hits Design diva Kelly Hoppen has again teamed up with Graham & Brown to produce their third wallpaper collaboration, which incorporates the interior designer’s love of geometric pattern and texture. There are seven trend-led papers on offer, each costing £23 per roll. In muted colourways, including Geo Taupe and Khaki (shown), with subtle metallic accents, they’ll create a luxurious backdrop. Britain’s got (design) talent Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has added a new string to her bow by designing an exclusive range of homeware for QVC. BundleBerry is a quirky and colourful collection of vintage-inspired pieces. And what’s more, each item features a hidden gold ladybird for you to find. See more at qvcuk.com. Did you know…? We think of Amazon as the go-to for books…

After my husband Darren and I sold our previous home, we moved in with my parents, who lived nearby, to be in the best position when we began house hunting,’ says Debbie. ‘A friend of ours lived on this road, just three doors down, and had renovated her home, so we jumped at the chance when she told us that this house was about to go on the market. As soon as I walked in, I could see this place had great potential, despite the 1970s decor and granny annex taking up an entire side of the ground floor. We offered the asking price and, as we were chain free and cash buyers, the estate agent advised the owners to accept our offer and take the property off the market.…

‘COLOUR REFLECTS YOUR STYLE SO CHOOSE CAREFULLY.FOR A BOLD, MODERN LOOK IN A KITCHEN,PAIR YELLOW WITH A PALE GREY’ JUDY SMITH, CROWN COLOUR CONSULTANT Decorating with colour is a great way to stamp your personality on your home. But it can also be slightly nerve-racking if you’ve been used to neutrals! Luckily the colour experts at Crown love inspiring homeowners to get creative. Crown has been producing paint for more than 200 years and offers countless colour options for every decorating project. Make walls sing Liven up your kitchen with energising blocks of colour, or bring forgotten alcoves into focus with an eye-catching shade. You could even introduce geometric shapes to walls by painting circles or triangles in contrasting colours. Want to refresh a room without painting the walls?…

HANG PRINTS AND POSTERS Artwork always adds reams of personality to your property. Keep your eyes peeled on holiday or in charity shops for the perfect piece. KEEP IT UNCLUTTERED It’s important to keep the scheme streamlined to avoid your space looking too busy. COLLECT WHAT YOU LOVE Dig out those prints you rescued from an art sale and that kooky vase you’ve kept hidden and rejoice in their mismatched glory. MIX AND MATCH Be savvy and revamp your dining chairs with contrasting paint for an eclectic feel. RETHINK THE FIREPLACE Like Kate, display candles and lanterns on the inner ledge of your fire surround as a cheap alternative to a fire that’s just as cosy.…

the STYLE RULES Leafy greens and ferns can refresh a space Take inspiration from country walks and create your own ‘nature trail’ scheme, with pretty leaf and wildflower patterns. PICK AND MIX This style works best when different florals in a similar colour palette are mixed together. BE BOLD Update upholstery with a statement piece in an eye-catching leafy print. FRESHEN UP Accessorise with house plants placed in ceramic pots, or fill teal and aqua-coloured ceramic vases with freshly picked flowers and leafy stems. Wild flower GARDEN Mix hand-drawn prints with sky blue and leafy green shades the STYLE RULES Mix patterns and colours for an eclectic look Add bohemian tree-house style to a compact bedroom or living room with woodland scene prints and nostalgic-style…

TAKES 40MIN, PLUS CHILLING SERVES 8-10 FOR BASE 175g digestives, finely crushed 75g butter, melted FOR FILLING 225g strawberries 75g caster sugar 2 gelatine leaves, softened in cold water 300g cream cheese 150ml double cream 150ml natural Greek yoghurt FOR SAUCE 450g strawberries 75g caster sugar Juice of 1/2 lemon Strawberries to serve 1 Place biscuits and butter in a bowl, mix well and press into the base of a 20cm springform cake tin, lined in the base with baking parchment. Put in the fridge to chill. 2 To make the filling, hull and halve the strawberries and place in a saucepan with 25g of the caster sugar and 2tbsp water. Cook on a moderate heat until strawberries are very soft. 3 Purée mixture in a blender then push through…

AVAILABLE FLOOR AREA Measure your space to work out what size table and how many chairs will fit without feeling crammed. Leave enough room for back doors to open fully and for everyone to move around. METAL FURNITURE This needs little maintenance. Cast iron is heavy and will rust; lighter-weight aluminium has an anti-rust coating. Clean with non-abrasive liquid and rinse with a hose. Clear car wax will protect the surface. STURDY WOOD It looks good in most settings – tropical hardwoods have a high oil content so they’re naturally weather resistant, but annual treatment is recommended. Clean with soapy water and rinse. ALL-WEATHER WEAVES This is made from polyethylene woven on to an aluminium frame. It looks like rattan but is lighter, more robust and weather resistant. It can…

SWEET POTATO CURRY TAKES 30MIN SERVES 4 800g sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into chunks 1tbsp black mustard seeds 3 red chillies, sliced lengthways 2tbsp sunflower oil 2 onions, sliced 1tbsp garam masala 500g tomatoes, quartered 500ml natural yogurt 75g desiccated coconut 100g spinach coriander and lime wedges, to garnish 1 Microwave potatoes on high for 5 mins. Fry the mustard seeds and the chilli in oil until the seeds begin to pop. 2 Add the onion and fry until soft and starting to brown. Stir in the garam masala and tomatoes and fry for 5 mins. 3 Add the sweet potato to the tomato mix; stir to coat. Pour in yogurt with 200ml water and the coconut. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until potatoes…

A Alexander & Pearl 020 8508 0411, alexanderandpearl.co.uk Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 713089, anniesloan.com Architectural Bronze Casements 0845 6000660, bronzecasements.com Argos 0345 640 3030, argos.co.uk Atkin & Thyme 0844 409 9834, atkinandthyme.co.uk Avenue Floors avenuefloors.co.uk B B&Q 0333 014 3098, diy.com Baked Tile Company (The) 02920 358409, bakedtiles.co.uk Bemz bemz.com Berry Red berryred.co.uk Bill Beaumont Textiles 01257 263065, billbeaumont.co.uk Bombay Duck bombayduck.com Brintons 0800 505055, brintons.co.uk British Ceramic Tile 01626 834774, britishceramictile.com Burgon & Ball 0114 233 8262, burgonandball.com Burts 0333 772 0294, burts.co.uk C Candle & Cake 01508 489361, candleandcake.co.uk CarpetRight 0330 333 3444, carpetright.co.uk Cath Kidston 0845 026 2440, cathkidston.com Christy christy-towels.com Contemporary Home (The) 0845 1308 229, tch.net Creative Tops 01536 207710, creative-tops.com Crown crownpaint.co.uk Cuckooland.com 01305 231231 Currys 0344 561 0000, currys.co.uk D…

Ashley Thomas's new range of melamine tableware has us yearning for the first alfresco lunch of the year! Adorned with flowers and painterly polka dots, it's perfectly practical. Just add Pimm's! 3 of the best… OUTDOOR DINING ESSENTIALS…

Give a room a girly update with these butterfly-inspired buys, for a look that’ll remind you of summer all year round. Keep it subtle with a butterfly-embellished accessory or two, or go big on the trend with a statement wallpaper or rug. They’ll look great with pretty pastels for a feminine, vintage-inspired look with country-style furniture, or you could use them to soften a glam look with blocks of deep colour, luxe textures and touches of polished metal.…

Having lived for a while in south London, my partner Richard and I wanted to make the next step up size-wise after having our children, Isabella and Joe,’ says Kate. ‘The problem was, we couldn’t find anything in the area that we could afford. We needed more space, but still wanted to be well connected to central London by public transport. We were pleased to find an area on the border of Surrey and London that seemed leafy and more village like. Many of the houses had gardens, too, which was a very important factor in our house-hunt. Room to move Before we viewed this house, the estate agent told us she didn’t think it would be large enough for our needs. But as we walked inside, we were totally…

1 Fall for florals Give a living room a summery lift with bright florals. Switch drab sofa cushions for colourful prints, ditsy motifs and plain pastels. Then accessorise with framed prints and fresh flowers. Sew floral slipcovers or try Bemz’s made-to-order range to fit Ikea sofas. 2 Refresh the sofa Put life back into sagging sofa cushions. Wait for a sunny day and take cushions out into the garden. Leave them in the sun for two or three hours, flipping them over halfway. It’ll dry out any moisture and plump them up again. 3 EASY MAKE Make a memory box to fill with keepsakes. Buy a deep box frame with enough space for your items (try Wilko display frames, from £6) and line the back with giftwrap to create a…

After extending our kitchen and adding bifold doors leading outside to a new patio area, we wanted to make the entire garden feel like a part of the house,’ says Jane. ‘We had tweaked things here and there, but it never felt quite finished, so by midsummer we thought it was about time we did something about it. The priority was to create an outdoor seating area. Starting point The brick wall at the rear of the garden had always been a favourite feature and it struck me that this area would work really well as an outdoor room. We decided that decking would be the best option, as Paul could fit it himself, so we sourced an affordable decking kit online. Our existing trellis was looking tired, so it…

1 CLEAR OUT ANY DEBRIS An overgrown garden looks tatty and untidy and it's hard to keep clean. Using shears or secateurs, strip away any loose or dead branches and trim back overgrown plants or trees. Then rake or sweep up all those dead leaves, twigs and general detritus from your lawn, patio or decking. 2 WORK FROM THE GROUND UP For decking, apply a mild, all-purpose cleaner or decking-specific solution to the surface. On patios or paths, use a diluted bleach or washing-up liquid solution. If you have pets, choose a specialised, natural patio cleaner instead to avoid allergic reactions. Once the cleaning solution is down, give the surface a good scrub, removing dirt and moss build-up using a hard-bristled brush. Alternatively, give your back a break and use…

TRY GROWING STRAWBERRY OR TOMATO PLANTS – THEY THRIVE IN HANGING BASKETS AND WILL LAST ALL SUMMER 1 PICK BEDDING PLANTS Choose summer bedding plants such as pansies, begonias, pelargoniums, lobelia, salvias and petunias. Decide on a colour theme, then choose blooms in the same hue, to avoid a multicoloured jumble. Include a mix of lush foliage, big blooms and small, space-filling flowers. 2 OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT… Be creative! The plants will only last a few months, so it’s a great chance to experiment and try something new. If cocktails are your thing, plant mint and strawberries for a daiquiri-themed basket so your guests can pimp up their drinks straight from the garden. Or plant thyme with cherry tomatoes, pick a vine with a sprig of herbs and pop them…

Pass the dip… No gathering is complete without plenty of dips to tide your guests over until dinner’s ready, so if you’re planning a party this month, head to Sainsbury’s to stock up on the latest ranges. The lush new tastes include melt-in-the-mouth Whipped Feta & Yogurt dip, £1.80 for 170g, and the subtly spicy Roasted Squash and Cumin dip, £1.40 for 180g. There is also a wide variety of speciality houmous flavours, from Yellow Split Pea & Turmeric, £1.40 for 200g to Thai Edamame, £1.80 for 170g. Just don’t forget the crisps! CHEAT’S EATS! Fancy something delicious that’s low in carbs and saturated fat, packed with protein and ready to eat in five minutes? Then check out the new Fit Kitchen range, available at Ocado. Developed with 2011 Professional…