Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i Style At Home

Summer’s the best time to paint a room – lots of light and you can keep all the windows wide open. I should be doing my bedroom this year (it’s south facing, so I’m thinking a lovely, cool blue…), but I know I won’t be able to resist the lure of the garden lounger if the days are sunny! If you’re looking to update a room, we’ve got ideas for all the classic looks in this issue – country, coastal, mid-century – plus a few new trends for good measure – ‘Serene Safari’ anyone? It’s our fave look at Matalan this season, so check it out on page 9. And, if you’re time-poor or would rather put your cash into a summer getaway, we’ve found 21 quick, low-cost tweaks to…

MARKS & SPENCER Peruvian patio Create a versatile outdoor room using vibrant picks and embroidered textiles LAURA ASHLEY Heritage brights Make breakfast a colourful occasion with painterly designs in cheerful shades MATALAN Serene safari Take influence from Africa by mixing natural materials with tribal motifs HOUSE OF FRASER Jungle splendour Channel the carnival spirit by teaming geometric brights with botanical prints Style Maker ALIX SAYS ‘Natural baskets are a great low-cost way to stop toys, papers or chargers making a room look cluttered.’…

I was living and working in Australia and moved back to the UK in 2010,’ says Victoria. ‘I wanted to buy a flat in north London because I grew up not far away in Hertfordshire so I know the area quite well. All this happened before I met my husband, Dan, and when I was a first-time buyer. The range of flats was so varied and actually quite depressing within the postcode areas I liked. I viewed 14 properties in two days but as soon as I walked through the front door of this 1960s flat, I could see myself living here. I was drawn to the light, the high ceilings and the two big bedrooms. The previous owners had recently decorated with white everywhere so I could really see…

We bought our flat as a project and were really excited to be able to put our stamp on it,’ says Maddie. ‘The other rooms just needed new flooring and a lick of paint, but the kitchen needed a complete overhaul. We had to crack on soon after moving in as the hob and oven weren’t working, leaving us on a diet of microwave meals. Before the sale went through we were able to take measurements of every inch of the room so we could start planning before we got in, then we hit the ground running as soon as we had the keys. The nitty gritty We spent many a weekend in kitchen showrooms before we moved in, looking at doors and cupboards and eventually decided on handleless matt-finish…

My husband Paul and I bought this house knowing that we could make a big difference to what was already here and make it the sort of home we’d dreamed of,’ says Charlie. ‘It had a bathroom you really wouldn’t want to spend too much time in, and a tiny en suite. We decided to use some inheritance money to extend the master bedroom and employed an architect to help us with the plans and get the best out of the space. We already had a great local builder in mind, Dan Chownsmith of DC Carpentry & Construction. Paul already knew him and had inspected his work, so we knew it was up to scratch. He did such an amazing job. Sorting the space Our new en suite is much…

When I moved here 17 years ago, the garden was just a long strip of lawn with a path running down one side, and a border on the other,’ says Louise. ‘My starting point was to make the lawn smaller and create bigger borders. I wanted large flower beds, which is hard to achieve with a long garden. Sorting the space I did most of the planting from scratch, and only a few original shrubs still remain. Several years ago, I removed a tall leylandii and a sycamore tree from the bottom of the garden, as they blocked the light. I tend to plant things that stand a chance of surviving the slugs and snails, and I love cottage plants like delphiniums, hollyhocks, foxgloves and roses. I planted lots of…

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Keep plasters and pills close to hand, but locked away from little ones. First aid wall cabinet, £55, Garden Trading HANGING OUT This wall-hung organiser will ensure you find all your garden gear fast. Garden tool tidy, £9.99, The Oak Room BEAUTIFUL BIRDY Your hall will thank you for this cute-as-can-be peg. It also comes in black or white. Grey birdy coat hook, £7.95, Idyll Home GOING FOR GOLD A luxe home for herbs, crockery and tea towels. Gold metal kitchen wall rack, £39, Marquis & Dawe SMART STACK Super pretty and perfect for storing bits and bobs. Small cardboard boxes, £7 for three, Hema DOUBLE DUTY With this weather-resistant bench you get seating and a space to stash your stuff. Madison bench, £99.99, Keter range,…

‘FOR A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF SALAD LEAVES ALL SUMMER LONG, STAGGER SOWING WEEK BY WEEK ACROSS MULTIPLE POTS’ YOU WILL NEED Plant pots or containers Stones or broken china Multi-purpose compost Salad seeds Plant labels 1 PREPARE YOUR POT Add a layer of stones or broken china to the bottom of a large plastic or terracotta pot or container – this will help to increase drainage. Salad leaves don’t need much space, so you could even grow them in a window box or hanging basket. 2 FILL IT WITH COMPOST Go for a multipurpose type, such as Miracle-Gro All Purpose compost, £5.83 for 50 litres, B&Q, pushing it down as you go. Pat the compost firm with your hands to create a flat sowing surface. Try to avoid overfilling the…

CHILLI POPPERS TAKES 10MIN MAKES 12 100g cream cheese 45g Monterey Jack cheese, grated juice of 1/2 lime 6 jalapenos, halved and deseeded 2tbsp plain flour 1 egg, beaten 60g panko breadcrumbs 1/2tsp paprika 2tbsp oil 1 Mix together the cheeses with the lime juice and fill the chillies. Dip each one into the flour, then the egg and finally, the breadcrumbs mixed with the paprika. 2 Heat oil and fry for 1-2 mins on each side, until golden. FRUITY MARGARITA TAKES 2MIN SERVES 1 70ml tequila 50ml lime juice 30ml agave syrup Juice and seeds of 1 passion fruit Ice, lime slices and mint leaves, to serve Pour the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add the passion fruit juice and seeds, some ice and…

Annerieke Peek ABOUT ME I’m 26 and I live with my cat Aramis in a wooden house on stilts, which I built myself, in County Clare, Ireland. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM? I love my open-plan living/ work space. Thanks to having so many windows, and the forest right outside, it’s like sitting in the middle of a secluded wooded area. Kirsty Garland ABOUT ME I’m 29 and I’ve just moved into a new-build four-bed townhouse in Gosport, Hampshire, with my husband Scott, 30. WHAT’S YOUR BEST STYLE TIP? Accessorise with items that really mean something to you – we have some amazing items we picked up on our travels and from our honeymoon, plus photos on display. Grace Allen ABOUT ME I’m 27 and I’m renting a two-storey 1960s…

the STYLE RULES Natural materials get an update with vibrant shades Wood, stone and metal are all essentials for this look. Soften raw edges with accessories in tomato red, mustard yellow and aqua blue. ADD A FEATURE Stone or panelled-effect wallpaper are the perfect cheat’s backdrop, but find a design that’s not too dominating so reclaimed pieces can shine out. GO SLIMLINE Furniture needs to be compact and even sleek – it’s the opposite of farmhouse. Choose planked-topped pieces on metal legs and galvanised storage. KEEP IT BALANCED If your space is looking too harsh, use matt, natural or chalky finishes to bring it back to country. MIX & MATCH Style a trad blowsy floral cushion next to a retro-style stripe or even a zigzag one for modern…

‘IF YOU ONLY HAVE SPACE FOR A SMALL SINK, LOOK FOR ONE WITH GENEROUS DEPTH SO YOU CAN MAXIMISE THE WASHING-UP AREA’ Robert Lawrence, Wren Kitchens When you’re really stuck for space, a circular or oval-shaped sink takes up less room than a rectangular bowl and may fit more comfortably into awkward corners. Think about which features you’ll need the most – will you often need room to dry lots of dishes, or can you sacrifice counter space to have an extra half-bowl that you’ll put to use? SLIMLINE STEEL Astracast single bowl stainless steel compact sink (W300 x D500mm), £206, Wickes DOUBLE DUTY Loweswater ceramic bowl RHD undermount sink in White (W544 x D440mm), £314, Wren Kitchens COMPACT DRAINER Reginox Regidrain compact single bowl and drainer in stainless steel…

‘IN SMALL BATHROOMS LOOK FOR SPACE-SAVING DESIGNS,LIKE A CORNER TOWEL RAIL,THAT TAKE UP MINIMAL SPACE AND PACK PLENTY OF HEAT’ Beatriz Pardo, Bathroom Takeaway Even if you are lucky enough to have underfloor heating, no bathroom should be without a heated towel rail. Not only will there always be a fresh supply of toasty warm towels to hand, but a towel rail can also help reduce condensation. Q Which design should I choose? For easy shopping online and in supplier’s brochures, heated towel rails are usually split into modern, traditional and designer categories. Choose the style that complements your bathroom suite and brassware. Designer towel rails are statement pieces that will make an impact wherever they are installed. Q What materials or finishes are best for towel rails? Solid stainless…

TAKES 1 HOUR FILLS 8 TO 12 TEACUPS 6 peaches 150g redcurrants, stalks removed 75g caster sugar 150ml Pimm’s FOR THE CRUMBLE 150g plain flour 50g oatmeal 175g slightly salted butter, cut into small pieces 150g caster sugar 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°Cfan/Gas 5. Stone and roughly chop the peaches. Mix in a bowl with the redcurrants and sugar. Divide the fruit between 8 to 12 ovenproof teacups and drizzle with the Pimm’s. 2 To make the crumble, put the flour and oatmeal in a food processor and add the butter. Blend until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Briefly whizz in the sugar then spoon the crumble over the fruit. Bake for about 40 minutes until the crumble is lightly golden and the juices are running (the time will…

Eco warrior Show the planet some love and save on your energy bills. Just select the VarioPerfect programme, which cuts the energy used to wash your clothes by 50%… or, if you’re in a rush, you can get the cycle done in less than half the time. The ActiveWater mode also adjusts energy and water according to the load. Serie 4 WAN28100GB washing machine, £369, Bosch KEY FEATURES Capacity 7kg; A+++, 1400rpm; 15 programmes; 15-minute quick wash; 75dB Add to the wash If you’re prone to dropping socks, you’ll get a lot of use out of the Pluswash function, which lets you pause the wash mid-cycle to add extra items. To speed things up, press the Timesaver button and cut a jeans wash from 108 minutes to 72. FW714 Sensicare…

SPEED UP THE JOB WITH THE CUPRINOL FENCE SPRAYER, £23, B&Q – BUT WEAR A MASK AND DON’T USE IT IF IT’S WINDY! YOU WILL NEED Stiff brush General purpose cleaner Bucket Wood filler Sandpaper Dust sheets Masking tape Woodcare paint Paint kettle 3in paintbrush Even if your garden is small, set aside a day to get the job done (although another pair of hands will make it go quicker…) and don’t forget to put on high-SPF sunscreen before you start! 1 CHOOSE THE RIGHT DAY The wood has to be dry, so tackle the job when no rain is forecast for a few days. Avoid very hot days, though, as the sun will dry out the paint before it’s had time to penetrate the wood properly. 2 PREPARE THE…

Ravioli to the rescue! Need a midweek dinner that’s tasty, nutritious and takes minutes to make? Head to Marks & Spencer for its range of filled pasta. Made with free range eggs, they cook in less than five minutes and the range includes sausage & kale cappellacci, carbonara-filled ravioli and the colourful beetroot & lemon ravioli. They each cost £3 for 250g, enough for a light meal for two. Serve drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a grating of Parmesan cheese. Buon appetito! CHEAT’S EATS! Brilliantly versatile and easy to prepare, Tilda’s new Caribbean Rice & Peas pouch features basmati rice combined with rich coconut cream, protein-packed kidney beans, thyme and a chilli kick. Gluten and dairy free, it’s perfect as a meal on its own, as well as…

A  Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 803168, anniesloan.com Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476, anthropologie.com Argos 0345 640 3030, argos.co.uk Asda 0800 952 0101, asda.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098, diy.com Bathstore bathstore.com Baumatic 0844 692 3605, baumatic.co.uk Belling 0344 815 3746, belling.co.uk Bohemia Design 0131 555 2485, bohemiadesign.co.uk Bosch 0344 892 0115, bosch.co.uk Burble Baby 01257 479500, burblebaby.co.uk Bushboard 01933 232272, bushboard.co.uk C  California Shutters 0800 195 0196, californiashutters.co.uk Candle and Blue 01284 624078, candleandblue.co.uk CarpetRight 0330 333 3444, carpetright.co.uk Carron Phoenix 01324 638321, carron.com Cath Kidston 0333 320 2663, cathkidston.com Contemporary Home (The) 0845 130 8229, tch.net Cotswold Company (The) 0333 200 1725, cotswoldco.com Cox & Cox 0844 858 0744, coxandcox.co.uk Crown crownpaint.co.uk Cuckooland.com 01305 231231 Cuprinol cuprinol.co.uk D  Debenhams 0344 800 8877, debenhams.com Decorator’s Notebook 0845 474…

Create a fun, festival vibe for an outdoor party with Sainsbury's Summer Solstice range by mixing candy-coloured melamine bowls and goblets with patterned plates and stripy food covers. And if the clouds don't clear, move the picnic indoors instead! 3 of the best… BRIGHT SUMMER BUYS…

1. Create your own gallery wall Add character and charm to your scheme by hanging an eclectic mix of frames and prints. Try creating your own by framing pretty wrapping paper, wallpaper samples and vintage postcards or photos you’ve stashed away. 2. Add a vintage-style mirror Introduce a little glamour to the space with a gilt or patterned-frame mirror in an interesting shape. To brighten a gloomy room, position it near the window and it’ll reflect lots of light around. 3. Go grand with a glitzy chandelier Take the traditional townhouse look to the max with a faux-crystal chandelier that’ll give your room a focal point and add an irresistible touch of sparkle. Team with ornate glass vases to complete the look. 4. Mix patterns It’s what the boho look…

The interior of my Victorian end-of-terrace in Hove is proof that it is possible to create a Nordic inspired, Mid-Century interior without spending a fortune,’ says Neena. ‘My husband Bob and I moved in seven years ago, when Ed was just a baby. The house was structurally sound but it needed a complete internal overhaul. The inside was in a pretty basic state, in fact. The previous owners were going to rent it out, so they had started doing it up, but in the middle of the project, they changed their minds and decided to sell it instead. They had painted all the walls in a very unflattering, thick magnolia, so we had to re-paint the whole house. They hadn’t done anything about the floors, so we ripped up the…

1 Twice as nice Brighten up a work space with a fresh pastel scheme. Team soft blue with off white, painting the main wall the paler shade and highlighting the area above the picture rail in blue. Take a chair and dip the legs the same pastel blue to tie in the theme. 2 Paper lace Make your own lace-effect bunting using pretty paper doilies. Fold them in half and attach the semi-circles to a length of string using craft glue. Position the doilies at regular intervals along the string until it’s the right length. 3 NEAT IDEA Create washi tape tags for your charger cables so you know which is which. Just snip a short length of tape, fold it in half over the cable (near the plug end)…

1 BURN OFF THE LEFTOVERS In all likelihood, you’ve not looked at your barbecue for a year, so your grill is probably covered in burnt-on bits of food from your last cookout. Start by firing up your barbecue, either filling it with fresh coals and lighting them or flick the switch if yours is gas-powered. Once it’s at full heat, pop the lid on and let it burn off any food residue. This should take around 20 minutes. Then let it cool completely. 2 START SCRUBBING Gas barbecues should always be disconnected from the propane tank before cleaning. Then, with a bowl of hot soapy water to hand, scrub the grill with a scourer or wire brush to remove any burnt residue. For more stubborn marks, try using a specialist…

DIMENSIONS Most models measure 600mm wide by 850mm high, but vary more in depth. A standard worktop is 600mm deep, so if you don’t want your machine to stick out, measure up carefully, accounting for pipework. Machines can be as shallow as 500mm, but they will have a smaller capacity. DRUM CAPACITY The bigger the drum, the fewer washes you’ll need to do. Confused about kgs? 6-7kg drums have space for 30-35 T-shirts — ample for one or two people. Families might want a drum of 8kg or 9kg. SPIN SPEED The faster the spin, the less time your clothes will need on the line or in the dryer. Go for an rpm of at least 1400. Most models have variable spin speeds for delicate wash cycles. ENERGY RATING A+++…

Win £150! Post your snap on Instagram with next month’s #SAHgardencrafts hashtag and our favourite picture will win a £150 Hobbycraft gift card! See terms and conditions on page 121…