Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2019 i Style At Home

What would your dream garden look like? After a treat day out with Ma Richmond at the Chelsea Flower Show recently, I’ve resolved to raise my game, so mine would involve a veggie and flower-cutting patch, and a hot tub. Something to save up for… (although, I did spot an inflatable one for £399 at The Range!). But space is a challenge, especially once the paddling pool goes up – it fills the entire lawn. You can do a lot with a small plot, though – just take a look at Bek’s little space on page 94. For those of you who love a decorating project – summer’s the time to throw open the windows and get at it – there are lots of ideas for paint colours, feature walls…

PATTERN REPEAT Aconie pillowcase, £7, La Redoute NATURAL TEXTURES Rozza jute rug, £56, La Redoute MIXED MATERIALS Terrazzo candle, £19, French Connection Home GLAM SHOWCASE Metal shelf unit, £16.50, Maisons du Monde LUSH AND LEAFY Leaf print duvet cover, £18 for a double, Sainsbury’s Home PERFECTLY POTTED Cement pot with cacti, £6, Morrisons RUSTIC FINISH Bamboo stool, £37.55, The Farthing…

1 Remove the old carpet or runner, along with any protruding nails or staples. Sand the stairs, riser and treads. 2 Go over with fine sandpaper. Wash stairs with detergent to remove dust, grease and dirt. Rinse, and let the wood dry out. 3 Paint stairs with primer. Once dry, sand again with a fine-grade paper. Wipe off any dust. 4 Paint the outer colour first, starting from the top. Apply a few thin layers, allowing them to dry in between coats. 5 Once dry, use decorator’s tape to mark out the design, running across the steps and down the risers. Create a border, using a second length of tape. 6 Paint the runner colour up to the edge of the outer length of tape. Once dry, repeat with at…

Lucy has enhanced the period features of her Victorian semi with splashes of bright colour and playful accessories. Furnishings in traditional styles complement the beautiful botanical wallpapers. Tactile finishes including polished metal, faux fur and velvet add a luxurious feel in contrast with modern designer-inspired touches, such as a transparent desk chair and chandelier light. Eclectic finds on walls and shelves also add a unique touch.…

When we first saw the house, there were beer cans in the bedroom and an old casserole still on the stove,’ says Sarah, ‘but we were desperate for more space and we could just about afford it, so we sold our maisonette in Twickenham and bought this semi in a slightly cheaper part of London. Apart from the beer cans, I think people were also put off by the small leaded windows at the front of the house, which made it very dark. But after taking advice on all the practicalities from my dad, we went ahead with the purchase and moved in with my parents for three months while we had the windows replaced and the back of the house remodelled. We decided to put in big bifold doors…

1 On thick fabric (canvas, heavy cotton or linen would work), measure out your wall hanging. 2 To create a neat border, cut two pieces of fabric to size, and stitch them together around three of the edges, leaving the top edge open. Turn the material inside out, fold in the top edge and sew up. 3 Fold the top edge over to create a loop, allowing enough space for a dowel rod to pass through. Glue or sew in place. 4 Print your lettering on to iron-on transfer paper. Cut loosely around each letter and arrange on the banner. Then iron on according to instructions. 5 Insert the dowel through the loop. Tie string securely around each end of the dowel and hang.…

the STYLE RULES Go for desert-chic geometric designs Head to the American southwest for angular weaves and prints in sunset hues, offset with a few modern, industrial pieces. START WITH THE BACKDROP White brick-effect wallpaper feels unpolished, but is still light and bright, and allows you to play with colour in the rest of the scheme. CELEBRATE PATTERN Accessorise with woven, printed textiles in colours taken from the desert – think indigo blues, sandy yellows and rusty oranges. USE NATURAL MATERIALS A leather sofa and woven baskets add an earthy touch. Make it modern by contrasting with galvanised metal and wood. CHOOSE AGED FLOORING Try a laminate with a prominent grain, topped with a geo rug. the STYLE RULES Use pattern to bring your room to…

ABOUT ME I’m Laura Anderson, 30, and I’m a PR and social media manager. I live in a three-bedroom Victorian end of terrace in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, with my partner Rory Cavanagh, 30. We bought the property in April 2014, and have slowly but surely been making our mark on it since. MY CHALLENGE To refresh a dated kitchen, add much-needed storage solutions and ensure it’s fit for entertaining family and friends. MY WISH LIST A new – preferably parquet – floor was at the top of my list of must-haves, along with marble worktops, dark cabinets and gold accents.…

The right tap can make all the difference to your kitchen, whether you’re replacing an old one as a quick and easy revamp or putting the final finishing touches to a kitchen refurbishment. What’s on trend? Stainless steel and chrome have led the tap market for years, but recently there’s been a move towards more standout materials, colours and finishes with kitchen taps becoming a statement feature in their own right. Looks range from industrial-style copper taps with exposed pipework or smart Deco-style brushed brass, to more contemporary options in luxe rose gold or minimalist matt black. Are these finishes just as hard wearing? Most taps are made of stainless steel or brass, finished with hard-wearing metallic plating or powder-coating – brass is more durable, but is pricier than stainless…

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Tiffney, a designer (lucytiffney.com). I live here with my husband Tiff, a TV producer and lecturer, and our sons Leo, 19, and Frank, 16, in a four-bedroom detached Edwardian house in Colchester, Essex. We moved here in 2013. MY CHALLENGE With a limited budget and a layout that couldn’t be changed, the plan was to give the bathroom a complete overhaul, swapping the old feeble shower for something much more powerful and adding plenty of storage for toiletries and towels. MY WISH LIST The old bathroom was plain, drab and uninspiring, so bringing in lots of colour, pattern and personality was a must.…

From dainty florals to the latest tropical patterns, wallpaper can prove a quick and easy way to dial up designer style in your bathroom. The latest ‘paste the wall’ and ‘peelable’ papers are brilliant, too. Is wallpaper suitable for my bathroom? It depends. If your bathroom is properly ventilated, with an opening window and/ or adequate extractor fan for the size of the room, wallpaper is game-on. Keep it away from direct contact with water though – papering directly next to the bath or shower is asking for trouble. Which type of wallpaper do I need? Look for words on wallpaper rolls like ‘scrubbable’, which are usually papers made from heavyweight vinyl or vinyl coated. ‘Extra washable’ or ‘highly wash resistant’ will also cope well with the odd splash. Specialist…

ABOUT ME I’m Bek Tainton, 46, a textile artist (@ohsewlovely2000) and I live with my husband Andrew, 43, and children Esme, 13, and Noah, 11. Our home is a 300-year-old farmhouse in Somerset, which we bought in 2015. MY CHALLENGE The garden has a split-level layout. Everything was overgrown and the old brick walls at the back were swamped by ivy. MY WISH LIST I wanted plenty of interest, with places to eat and chill out. I liked the idea of a cottage garden that would attract wildlife.…

Nothing beats the flavour of home grown veggies and now’s the time to get planting. These handy tips will help you to get started in your garden – just take your pick of your favourite fruits and vegetables. Choose the best spot Ideally, you want to create a veggie patch in an area that gets plenty of sun, is away from trees and is sheltered from wind as much as possible. Choosing what you want to grow will also depend on how much space you have. So measure up and sketch out a plan to make the best use of your chosen spot. Divvy up your plot You’ll need some flexibility in the growing area so you’re able to rotate crops from one year to the next, which is beneficial…

TAKES 1HR 20MIN, PLUS COOLING SERVES 12 200g unsalted butter 200g golden caster sugar 3 eggs Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 100g Greek yogurt 150g blueberries 200g self-raising flour FOR THE TOPPING 90g blueberries 30g flaked almonds 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. 2 Gradually beat in the eggs, followed by the lemon zest and juice. Add the yogurt. 3 Carefully toss the blueberries in the flour, then gently fold it all into the creamed mixture. 4 Spoon the combined mixture into a greased and lined 20cm springform tin. Sprinkle the flaked almonds and remaining blueberries over the top of the cake mixture. 5 Bake the cake for 1hr or until an inserted skewer comes…

Add a pop of colour outdoors Say farewell to drab doors and forlorn garden furniture as Frenchic has launched a trio of new outdoor shades. The chalk paint brand offers 15 on-trend colours, now including City Slicker grey, Dusky Blush pink and Dazzle Me white. Each one is hard wearing, weatherproof and ecofriendly, making them safe for children and pets. What’s more, the formula is so rich and creamy, it even covers uPVC doors and windows! Peel-and-stick wallpaper Many renters think they can’t wallpaper their homes, but Dunelm has come up with the answer! The store’s new self-adhesive wallpaper collection can be easily applied to any smooth surface, making it ideal for not only walls, but upcycling and crafting projects, too. The peel and stick backing is mess-free (goodbye pasting…

Add colour to your decor with Erica Davies' debut collection at QVCUK.com. Featuring tropical prints, tasselled throws, sequined baskets and more colour and pattern than you can shake a stick at, it's just what your home needs this summer. 3 of the best… LETTER BUYS…

Following on from the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the V&A last year, the artist’s striking and iconic image has been making Mexican waves in the interiors world. Frida has many guises and you’ll find her on cushions, clocks, tableware and decorations, all adorned with a riot of vibrant colours and Mexican-inspired patterns to ensure an flamboyant fiesta takes place in your home this summer.…

Home is really important to me, and I’ve always enjoyed making my surroundings as pretty and as comfortable as I can,’ says Lucy. ‘When my husband Stephen and I decided to buy this house, there were things about it I didn’t like, but we’re very handy, and make a strong team, and I felt confident that we could turn this place into a gorgeous home. We’d been looking for a while, as we were keen on this particular area, and houses here tend to go really quickly. In fact, we’d missed out on this actual house once already, as it came on the market and sold before we could even view it. When I spotted it was for sale again, we made our offer immediately, and this time, we were…

A freestanding slipper bath with claw feet instantly creates a boutique hotel look. They’re costly, but acrylic replicas are an affordable alternative to cast iron. Pick a rich colour for the walls, whether it’s paint or glazed tiles. Be inspired by an Edwardian colour palette, paired with black-and-white floor tiles. Go for an elaborate, decorative scroll mirror, whether it’s white or metallic, to bring a little extravagance to the room Glass accents will add sparkle, especially against dark walls. Choose curved glass storage jars and a crystal drop chandelier.…

After months of talking about it – not to mention the many hours spent swiping through properties online – Josh and I decided to buy a house together,’ says Georgia. ‘We'd had one or two false starts, where we thought we’d found our dream home only for it all to fall through, but – purely by coincidence – my grandad and his partner were moving house at the same time as us. Their house was dated, but ticked all of our boxes in terms of a first home. It had three good-sized bedrooms, a huge garden with potential to extend, and we knew the area – and the house – well, or so we thought. We decided to go for it and assumed that by securing a property we’d made…

BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION Selling second-hand furnishings and accessories in stores countrywide, you’re sure to bag a bargain. Plus, proceeds go to charity. SAINSBURY’S HOME A diversion to the home department during your food shop will see you piling the trolley high with everything from plates to planters. ETSY Go online and find all manner of vintage, niche and handmade homeware from makers and sellers across the world. DUNELM Best for soft furnishings, it’s your go-to for made-to-measure curtains, affordable cushions and bedding. ANNIE SLOAN Unrivalled in its ability to give old, unloved furniture a new lease of life, the chalk paints are affordable and easy to use.…

ABOUT ME I’m Sarah Weston, owner of online store Buddy and Bear. I live here with my husband Jon, a graphic designer and our sons, Sammy, five, and Alfie, two. MY HOME A two-bed Victorian semi in southwest London. We bought it in November 2013. WHEN I MOVED IN The house had been rented out previously and was unloved and rundown with dated windows and a tatty exterior. AND NOW We’ve replaced the windows, added bifold doors and smartened up the exterior, and completely redecorated inside, giving it a modern, Scandi vibe. STYLE TIP Measure your space and do a quick drawing to work out how things will fit in before you buy any big pieces of furniture. We found the Ikea online design tool very handy when planning our…

IKEA Always a winner for simple, well-designed, affordable and practical furniture. We’re known for changing things round often – so not spending much is important! HOMEBASE My secret go-to for affordable baskets and houseplants, which really soften a room and add character. BUDDY AND BEAR Playful, UK-made design for the modern family, where beauty goes hand-in-hand with practicality. Products are carefully considered to engage young minds and spark creativity and hungry imaginations. ETSY I love it for finding unusual prints and cute decorative pieces, and the Red Hand Gang shop is fab for fun hooks, shelves and hangers to go on the walls. EBAY With saved searches, you can come across some real bargains on vintage pieces, which can be great for adding a bit of character among the more…

1 Go for a feature wall mural A whimsical design like this one will spark kids’ imaginations at playtime and beyond. If you’re handy with a paintbrush, design your own scene, or let little ones help, and get creative together. 2 WALL TO WALL Make a display of books, teddies or dolls on a set of shelves. It’s a great way of keeping them off the floor, yet still to hand when your child wants to read or play. 3 Paint a creative chalkboard wall Cover one wall of your child’s bedroom in black chalkboard paint and hang a small bucket of chalk from a low rail, so they can draw and doodle to their heart’s content. 4 Get creative with paint Transform a child’s plain bedroom wall using chalk…

Remove old cabinet handles by unscrewing them from the inside. Measure the distance between the two holes on the handle. This is your fixing centre, which will usually be a standard size, making it easy to find a replacement. If you can’t find a match, use a backplate or choose a handle with a larger fixing centre distance. If your new knobs or handles don’t fit the original holes, fill them in with wood putty, allow to dry, then sand smooth, removing any excess filler. Paint over, then drill new holes.…

BUDGET BUYS Pick up a bargain at sinks-taps.com – they stock brands including Abode, Caple and Franke and offer a price match guarantee. CUTTING EDGE DESIGN Find the latest designs and innovations from German tap specialists Blanco – whether it’s mixers, water-filtering, hot water taps or monoblocs you’re after. KITCHEN INSPIRATION Browse the online kitchen galleries at Bert & May and Fired Earth to pick up plenty of ideas for co-ordinating taps, worktops, tiles and finishes.…

1 If your bathroom is well-ventilated, with a window and extractor fan, there’s no need to shy away from wallpaper. However, avoid wallpapering in an area where it will be in constant contact with water. 2 Generally, vinyl wallpapers will be most suited to high-moisture rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens; look for heavy-weight vinyl or vinyl-coated – they may be labelled as scrubbable, highly wash-resistant or extra washable. 3 If you've fallen for a design that is only labelled as spongeable or not washable, you can boost its resilience by using Polyvine Decorators Varnish. The Dead Flat version won’t alter the paper’s colour, but apply a patch test first and, once dry, check that it’s colour-fast when damp.…

COSTS Wallpaper is usually sold in 10m rolls, starting from less than £10, up to £150+. You’ll need to buy extra rolls for large pattern repeats. And don’t forget to add the cost of adhesives and tools (brushes, papering table and scissors). If you need professional help, expect to pay around £160 a day. PREPARATION Damp walls must be treated, any cracks filled and glossy-painted surfaces lightly sanded first. If the walls are freshly plastered, you must ‘size’ them using a coat or two of wallpaper primer.…

Create cosy entertaining areas – string up fairy or festoon lights back and forth across a pergola. Using stakes, create an illuminated perimeter around a seating area. Alternatively, in a small space, secure the lights from a central point on the wall and fan the string of lights out, securing on a fence or wall opposite. For a cascade of light, try hanging fairy light nets or curtains against a whole wall or fence. Trail one or two sets of lights from the bottom of a tree and wrap around individual branches, or use icicle-style lights to hang down from branches, secured in place with cable ties. Create a table centrepiece by using wire battery lights in a jar or vase, then cluster various sizes together for added impact. Group…

EXTEND THE SEASON Having your own greenhouse will enable you to start off seedlings so they’re better established for planting outside. You’ll be able to grow tender crops like peppers and aubergines through summer, and other plants later in the year. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE If you have plenty of space, go for a traditional glazed greenhouse. It should have ventilation and be sited in a sunny position away from trees and on a level base of paving or gravel. Add some tiered shelving to organise plants easily. Find a range of styles at B&Q. COMPACT CROP For smaller gardens, and anyone just starting out, consider buying a flatpack mini greenhouse. They come in a range of sizes with zip-up PVC covers and wire shelves. Try Wilko and Homebase for…

SPEEDY TURKEY & CHORIZO BURGERS TAKES 25MIN SERVES 4 20g diced chorizo 500g turkey leg mince 1tsp smoked paprika 4 slices of cheese (we used Manchego) 1 Combine the chorizo, mince and paprika in a large bowl, mixing with your hands. Shape the mixture into 4 burgers. 2 Grill the burgers for 5min on each side or until golden and cooked through. Top each burger with a slice of cheese and cook until melted. 3 Serve on lightly toasted burger buns with a selection of pickles, slices of tomato and baby gem lettuce. PINK GRAPEFRUIT, BLACK BEAN & RICE SALAD TAKES 10MIN SERVES 6 2 large pink grapefruit 200g packet of cooked basmati rice 400g can black beans, drained and rinsed 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4tbsp coriander 1 Segment…

A  Albert & Moo 07789 768265 albertandmoo.com Al-Murad 0113 322 8075 al-murad.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Amazon Launchpad amazon.co.uk/gp/launchpad Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Art Wow 01702 826210 artwow.co Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com Aspace 0800 021 9015 aspace.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bell & Blue 01455 558677 bellandblue.com Biscuiteers 0870 458 8358 biscuiteers.com Bobby Rabbit 01143 217000 bobbyrabbit.co.uk Bohemia 0131 555 2485 bohemiadesign.co.uk Boots 0345 609 0055 boots.com British Heart Foundation 0116 232 4195 bhf.org.uk Buddy and Bear 07740 356710 buddyandbear.com C  Ca’Pietra 01380 735886 capietra.com Caversham Tiles 0118 954 3315 cavtiles.co.uk Christian Lacroix christian-lacroix.com Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010 clarke-clarke.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Creative…

JD WILLIAMS Tropical paradise Style an exotic outdoor space using flamingo prints and carnival colours SAINSBURY’S Calm coastal Be inspired by our native shores using tranquil blues and coastal motifs DEBENHAMS Exotic glamour Create an upbeat island vibe with vibrant patterns and tropical shades ARGOS Mono global Combine modern angular furnishings with pattern prints in mustard and monochrome…

1. Display house plants Real, faux or a mix of both, use shelving to show off a lush lineup and bring a workspace to life. Choose cacti and succulents in textured pots to conjure up sunbaked landscapes. 2. Update your lamp Terrazzo, with its subtle speckles, brings an urban edge to a pretty scheme. You’ll find it on lighting all over the high street, adding an interesting, affordable alternative to marble. 3. Refresh your bedlinen Pick bedding featuring tropical leaf prints, and be bold. For a relaxed, boho look, layer up different pillowcases with smaller scale prints in the same palette as your duvet cover. 4. Layer with a pink throw Using blush as an accent tone adds a millennial twist to classic white and green, creating a softer contrast…

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Hamilton, 37. I live with my husband Stephen Trollope, 42, and our daughters Darcey, six, and Alice, three. MY HOME A four-bedroom Victorian semi in Berkshire. We moved here in November 2015. WHEN WE MOVED IN The house had lovely period details, but there were grey carpets, magnolia walls and dated wallpaper, and the dark kitchen had units on both sides. AND NOW We redid the kitchen and redecorated with fresh pastels, whites and beautiful wallpapers. STYLE TIP Resist the temptation to paint every piece of furniture. Finishes like clear acrylic or gilt will fit into most schemes and create a bit of contrast.…

BELL & BLUE Online stockist of Yvonne Ellen’s distinctive animal-inspired tableware and colourful china and bedlinen from Dutch brand Pip Studio. WALLPAPERDIRECT Massive selection of branded wallpapers from British and international designers at all price levels. SELECT MIRRORS Large, ornamental mirrors for walls and floors, at keen prices. Shop by style, shape or frame colour CULT FURNITURE Wide and well-priced choice of quirky accessories and designer-inspired transparent chairs and lighting. WICKES Good-value Victorian-style tiles for the hall floor, and whitewashed laminate or solid engineered wood for living rooms and kitchens.…

ABOUT ME I’m Georgia Burns, 23, an interiors photographer and co-founder of the UK Interior Awards, and I live here with my boyfriend, Josh, 25. MY HOME I live in a three-bedroom semi in Corby, built in the Forties. We moved here in March 2018. WHEN I BOUGHT IT It belonged to my grandad who hadn’t updated it in years. It was crying out for some TLC and a makeover. AND NOW It’s more spacious and has an improved layout. We’ve given the whole house a modern style with a retro, Sixties flavour. STYLE TIP Fill your home with pieces you love and schemes will decide themselves. If you trust your instincts, you can’t go wrong.…

Warm accent shades – such as ochre, denim, teal and tangerine – are perfect partners for wooden finishes. Georgia showcases her personality and her passions for music and travel by using a deep but calming paint colour on the walls, as a backdrop for her collection of graphic prints and photos. Plus, this warm grey works well throughout the home as a versatile base for displaying her modern and retro furnishings.…

Think about your desk – choose a fold-down design or pick a style that has a smaller footprint like a mid-century or Scandi shape, or one with a skinny metal frame. Make use of the wall above the desk. If the desk sits in an alcove, then use the full width of the alcove for shelving or try wall-hung cabinets to hide clutter. Use baskets for storage as they look right at home in a living space, too. Or go vertical with slim drawers or storage units stacked on top of each other. Avoid bulky office chairs, pick a design with no arms and a lower back or even a comfortable dining chair that has slim legs. Keep it light – white or fresh colours on the wall will stop…

Sarah’s home is bright, light and fresh, thanks to clean white walls and light wood flooring throughout. But it’s far from boring, as hits of bold pattern and splashes of zingy yellow lift the scheme. If yellow is too much for you, try blush, soft blue or forest green accents. Add personality with prints and posters that reflect your travels or hobbies. Mix these with family photos and postcards to create a home full of character.…

The kitchen had been a sore spot for me since we moved in five years ago,’ says Laura. ‘It had an Artex ceiling and a dark, tiled floor which I despised. I’d been desperate to give it an overhaul since day one, but budget – or lack thereof – just wouldn’t allow it. My partner Rory and I had just enough to make a few small, temporary changes to make it that bit more liveable, such as painting the walls and eventually removing the Artex, but the big makeover was put on hold until we could comfortably afford to make the entire space ours. Wish-list woes When we finally felt ready to get cracking, we still didn’t have anywhere near enough saved up to rip everything out and start from…

Feature wall painted in Get Plastered, from £34.99 for 2.5L; Modernist doorknobs, £15.99 each; Croft drawer handles, from £6.99 each, all Dowsing & Reynolds. TLC Massimo Invent Safron Oak Parquet Luxury vinyl tiles, £20.39sq m, Luxury Flooring and Furnishings. Metro white ceramic tiles, £11.99sq m, Wickes. Kitchen units painted in matt emulsion (colour-matched to Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe), £16 for 2.5L, Johnstone’s Trade. Calcutta Marble Effect worktop, from £120, Worktop Express. Nyvattnet mixer tap, £90; Havsen inset sink, £115, both Ikea. Mali bar stools, £189 each, La Redoute.…

Having been brought up around Colchester and still having relatives living nearby, I was keen to return to the area after living in London for 20 years,’ says Lucy. ‘So we left the city and moved into a three-bed Victorian semi in Colchester. Then six years ago, as our sons approached their teenager years, I felt we’d outgrown the property and started yearning for a new project. We spotted this neglected Edwardian house, with lots of original features, and bought it six years ago. My background is in textile design, but I love a challenge and was looking forward to stamping my mark on somewhere new. Some people might remember me for being a finalist in the BBC’s Great Interior Design Challenge show back in 2016. Since the show I…

Melbourne Earl Grey vanity sink unit, £329.99; Georgia traditional toilet, from £119, both Soak. For similar floor tiles, try Bertie floor tiles, £29sq m, Homebase. Shower screen, £359, Crosswater. Manor House shower tiles, £19.95sq m, Walls and Floors. For a similar shower, try Juno round thermostatic bar shower valve and riser kit, £99.95, Victorian Plumbing. Cooke & Lewis Brean chrome-plated bath mixer tap, £75; Brean 2 lever monobloc basin mixer tap, £57, both B&Q. For a similar mirror, try Darabont antiqued mirror, £36.99, Wayfair. For a similar wall colour, try Manor House Gray estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.…

Taking on this project was quite a challenge as I wasn’t quite sure where to begin,’ says Bek. ‘But then I began to see how the garden’s different zones and levels could work. I wanted to keep the established trees and shrubs and I loved the old brick walls. The ivy on the walls was completely out of control, though, and the area closest to the house just trapped leaves and dirt, and had nothing going on. First steps Top of my wish list was a lovely seating area where we could put our feet up. The terrace was the obvious spot and I was keen on the idea of some outdoor sofas. The ones I liked were way out of our budget, but luckily for me, Andrew is amazing…

Bench made in timber cladding, £7.62 for 5 planks, B&Q. CLS studwork timber, £1.90m; ladder shelves made in timber scaffold boards, £5.50m; blue slate chippings, from £8 a bag, all Wickes. Solar festoon lights, £12 for 3m, Sainsbury’s Home. Firefly gas patio heater, £104.99; mason jars with solar lighting lids, £29.99 for four, both Amazon. Studio G dotty grey fabric, £12.75m, Fabrics Galore. Fryetts Bergen Ochre fabric, £9.95m, The Millshop Online. Cushions, from £3 each, HomeSense. For similar garden furniture, try the Opale four-seater set, £245, Homebase.…

‘RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO THROW OLD FURNITURE AWAY AND GIVE IT A REVAMP INSTEAD’ Give your existing garden table a whole new lease of life by jazzing it up with this painted planter project. You’ll always have fresh herbs an arm’s length away for whatever dish is on the menu. YOU WILL NEED Wooden garden table Sandpaper Masking tape Small roller and tray Paintbrush Cuprinol Garden Shades paint Window box (same width as table) 3 fixing brackets and screws Screwdriver Selection of fresh herbs and colourful plants 1 PREPARE YOUR TABLE If your garden table has previously been painted or varnished, remove any old flakes by rubbing down with sandpaper, then wipe with a damp cloth. Treat with a primer, if desired, and leave to dry. 2 BEGIN PAINTING Mask…

Ready, steady, sort! TIDY YOUR TOILETRIES Clear some space in your bathroom by decanting bottles of moisturiser or shampoo into smaller bottles. SORT YOUR BARBECUE KIT Gather your barbecue utensils and store together in a bag hung from a hook in your shed or garage, ready for use. STOCKTAKE YOUR LIBRARY Audit your books, separating them into a pile to keep and another for charity, freeing up much-needed shelf space. MELLOW YELLOW Stow bedside essentials in this mini locker with two adjustable shelves and a hook. The Shorty in Mustard, £129, Mustard NEAT TREAT Get your open shelving in order with a few of these classic baskets. Striped linen storage with lid, £12, Dibor CARRY ALL Keep this cute retro-style basket for extra kitchen storage or for lunches on the…

Perk up your party While the focus of a barbecue is what goes on the grill, it’s always handy to have some tasty back-ups close to hand. The summer cook-at-home ranges from Sainsbury’s feature new party food, with standout treats including pork belly bites with a barbecue sauce, chicken mini fillet kebabs with a rum, coconut and pineapple marinade, and vegetarian pulled jackfruit empanadas. So whether you’re slow-cooking on the barbecue or grilling up a storm, simply pop these in the oven to keep your guests happy. Delicious dips with a difference Available from Waitrose & Partners, Sainsbury’s and Ocado, the delicious range of dips by Moorish has won several Great Taste awards for its unusual flavours. Just in time for summer, the company has created two new varieties –…

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