Style At Home March 2021

While I wait for the shops to reopen, I’ve been doing a combo of online shopping, eBay stalking (to get my charity shop fix) and compiling wish lists. With a new house to decorate (we moved just before Christmas), I’m also perfecting the art of shopping my home – refreshing the spaces with things I already own taken from other spots in the house. Switching things up gives me the shopping spree buzz, and highlights gaps that I genuinely need to buy items for. There are plenty of other ways to give a room a much-needed lift: Try a Speedy Style Update (p74) is packed with quick and easy ideas. I’ll pass the Brilliant Bakes recipes (p110) to my 11-year-old son, who got the baking bug in Lockdown 1.0 and…

We didn't know how much we needed a turtle-shaped basket… until now! Perk up a bathroom with these cute characters and splash some personality about a neutral bathroom with patterned towels and decorative tiles. 3 of the best… QUIRKY BASKETS…

H&M’S DESIGNER COLLAB Want to get your hands on this vase? It’s a sneak peek of a hotly anticipated hook-up between Diane von Furstenburg and H&M Home. All we know is, the designer that gave the wrap dress cult status loves mixing bold pattern with daring colour combos… Follow #dvfxhmhome for more info. The eco sofa How is DFS bringing a sustainable twist to the boucle textile trend? The well-known soft furnishings company’s bestselling French Connection Studio range is now available covered in a more eco-friendly version of this textured loop fabric, which has been manufactured with yarn created using waste plastic recovered from the open ocean. We’re told it takes approximately 170 recycled plastic bottles to produce enough fabric to cover each sofa, all of which can be upholstered…

1. Look to Japanese style This simple aesthetic is neither overly rustic nor too fussy. Go for materials like wood, ceramics and paper. Pick just a few useful accessories for a look that’s curated rather than cluttered. 2. Make it matt Avoid high gloss and polished finishes, so light, grainy woods, basketware weaves and rattan are key. Highlights of recycled glass and dried stems add depth and contrast to create a look that’s natural, simple and comforting. 3. Go for relaxed layers To create a laid-back sanctuary, pick bedding in soft, laundered linen or cotton. Choose a pared back palette of parchment, taupe and stone and in place of pattern, add a tactile textured throw. 4. Choose natural materials Crafted pieces made from quality sustainable sources will stand the test…

Searching for our long-term family home meant we embarked on our house hunt armed with a lengthy wish list of must-haves,’ says Lucy. ‘We looked for over a year, and eventually realised we had to compromise on the style of property we were after. When this detached 1970s house came on the market, it ticked so many of our boxes and I could instantly visualise knocking down walls to create exactly what we’d been looking for. The potential was just too good to pass up. Starting the search Both Damien and I were keen to put down family roots in Cheltenham, as we knew the area well and loved the mixture of town and countryside living it offers. There are lots of festivals and family-friendly events throughout the year and…

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Stone, 40, the owner of online home and gift shop, Stone & Co (stoneandcoshop.co.uk). I live here with my fiancé Damien Walker, 39, and our two children, Leyton, nine, and six-year-old Alexa. OUR HOME A four-bed detached 1970s property in Cheltenham. We moved here in July 2013. WHEN WE MOVED IN Every room needed updating and the downstairs layout felt impractical. AND NOW We’ve put our stamp on the interior with a modern, Scandi feel and reconfigured the space to create a contemporary living area. STYLE TIP Don’t shy away from trying your hand at DIY projects; by watching YouTube and Pinterest tutorials I discovered that tiling and panelling were easier than I expected.…