Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Style At Home

What’s on your bank holiday to-do list? The tantalising prospect of socialising outdoors has meant that sorting the garden has shot to the top of mine. I won’t have a built-from-scratch outdoor kitchen and living area done by March 29 (over-ambitious plans are a bit of a bank holiday tradition in my house), but I can have a good tidy up and refresh the borders with new plants. Indoors, I’m determined to nail down my colour scheme and get busy with a paintbrush. The real homes in this issue are full of colour, from Kerryanne’s bold grey kitchen (page 20), to the pastels in Anna’s bedroom (page 34) and the bright pink handrail on Deborah’s stairs (page 48). Such different approaches to colour have left me spoilt for choice. When…

WOW WALL LIGHTS House Of, a creative force when it comes to lighting design, is back with a super-cool range of wall lights. Channeling a mix of modern Scandi and Miami vibes, the collection is minimalist with flair. More than just lighting, the sculptural shapes and surprising colour finishes have resulted in pieces that are mini works of art. Ikea update ’s Ivar These smart new rattan cupboard doors are the result of Ikea having hacked its own staple storage system, Ivar. For just £25 a pair, the doors transform shelving from open to hideaway with this textural Instagram-worthy upgrade. The doors can be attached to any piece of storage furniture in the Ivar system, so you can mix and match open and closed shelving. It’s ideal for newly appointed…

Before we bought this house we had been living in a Victorian flat, which although lovely, wasn’t going to be big enough, as we had plans to start a family,’ says Kerryanne. ‘So the search was on! This property, which is on a main road, I remember so well as a child, as I used to walk past it often. I loved the stained glass windows and the original doors, which have a really unique shape. It was these quirky and original features that made me fall for it all over again as an adult. Lifting the gloom The house had barely been updated since it was first built in 1929, so it needed a big revamp. It felt really dark and gloomy, even though there are lots of windows,…

‘IF YOU LOVE PAINTING SEE IF THERE’S A WALL THAT CAN BE TURNED INTO A MURAL’ FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, as well as Gumtree and second-hand shops for unique pieces at low prices. This kind of shopping can help the planet, so it’s a great way to buy. ROCKETT ST GEORGE It has such expressive and quirky homeware. Their pieces always feel very fun and individual. I particularly like the accessories department. TK MAXX It’s like going on a treasure hunt every time you enter the store. You never know what you are going to find and the small price tags are always a bonus. EV HOME A small homeware business with a rustic/industrial vibe. I especially love buying items for my kitchen here.…

ABOUT US We are Anna, 41, an artist and colour consultant, and John Proctor, 43, an architect at Proctor & Shaw (proctorandshaw.com). We live here with our children, Rufus, eight, and Scarlett, six, and our puppy, Hebe. OUR HOME A four-bedroom 1950s end-of-terrace in Battersea, London. We moved here in June 2017. WHEN WE MOVED IN The house was stuck in the 1970s with varnished pine ceilings, strip lighting and swirly carpets. It was unloved but there was plenty of potential. AND NOW We’ve completed a massive renovation involving a rear extension and loft conversion to create a modern, light-filled family home. STYLE TIP Rise above trends and choose pieces that you genuinely love and can live with for years.…

HABITAT Our go-to store for years, we’ve bought our sofa, bedside tables and table lamps here as it is great value and enduringly stylish. TERRAZZO TILES For a fantastic range of bespoke tiles that add interest to any bathroom. THE CONRAN SHOP The home of iconic design. Browse for quirky finds and lifetime pieces. We have a large crochet pineapple from here that is a piece of artwork in its own right. PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY Check out their inspiring palette of colours at reasonable prices.…

ABOUT ME I’m Deborah Brett, 46, an interior designer and professional home organiser at deborahbrett.com. I live here with my three sons, Finn, 19, Louis, 16, and Hector, seven, and our cat, Poppy. MY HOME A four-bedroom Victorian terrace in Lewisham, southeast London. We moved here in July 2015. WHEN I MOVED IN The house was a complete wreck. It was barely habitable and everything needed replacing, from plumbing and electrics, to windows and peeling wallpaper. AND NOW Every room is full of colour, while reinstated period features have preserved the property’s past. STYLE TIP Don’t be afraid to spell out every last detail to your builders, as otherwise they will make decisions for you that you may come to regret.…

EBAY Deborah used eBay to source a lot of pieces for her project, from vintage and pre-loved furniture to salvaged fireplaces, at affordable prices. LA REDOUTE A French online retailer selling a wide range of homeware from furniture to crockery, in a contemporary style. SOLIDWOODKITCHEN CABINETS.CO.UK Supplying kitchen doors, full cabinets and a range of worktops, these products can be used in conjunction with other brands to create an affordable kitchen design, like Deborah has done.…

Fake fireplace Add an architectural feature by mounting a reclaimed mantel on a flat wall (you don’t even need a cavity in the wall). Paint the mantel the same colour for cohesion, then fill the opening with cut-down logs to create the illusion of depth. Paint a blackboard Mark out a rectangle the same width as your dining table using masking tape and a spirit level. Fill in with several coats of blackboard paint to create a feature that’s part noticeboard, part wall art. Tidy away toys Every child has their current favourites, so gather up less popular softies and tuck them into a couple of scarf hangers to help declutter their bedroom floor. Hang on the back of the door or wardrobe. Styling station Fix up a stack of…

CONTRASTING SCHEME Guaranteed to add drama to any room in your home, these vibrant decorating schemes pack a punch and are based on two colours that sit directly opposite each other on the colour wheel – red and teal, for example. They’re often referred to as ‘complementary colours’. HARMONIOUS SCHEME This uses shades that sit next to each other on the colour wheel. Choosing adjacent colours is a straightforward way of creating an easy-to-live-with scheme. These harmonious colours are the most widely used group in interior design. TONAL SCHEME uses different shades of one colour. as on , simplest recipes you can use for decorating, as it includes only different tones (both lighter and darker) of one colour. It’s a good place to start if you’re unsure about combining colours.…

1 To start, you’ll need craft paper, Blu Tack, a pencil, hammer, plate hangers, nails or picture hangers. 2 Choose the plates you’d like to hang and arrange them by playing around with different configurations. Try to have a mix of shapes and sizes. 3 Trace the plates onto a piece of paper and cut them out. 4 Arrange and stick the cutouts on the wall and adjust. 5 Use nails or picture hangers to attach the plates to the wall. 6 If you’re hanging the plates above a piece of furniture remember to leave enough room between the plates and other objects.…

TRADITIONAL STYLE Wickes has a good range of painted kitchens off the shelf. The Milton in Midnight is a classic design in an on-trend dark colourway GOOD VALUE Go bold with Wren’s Infinity Shaker five-piece kitchen in Indigo. This budget range costs £2,594. Other colours include Lava, Cream and Light Grey. Also comes in English Oak if paint really isn’t your thing! SUBTLE FINISH Magnet’s matt kitchen range covers both traditional and modern designs in a range of shades, from soothing Cashmere to Graphite, Blue and Grey. The Winchester has a light woodgrain texture finish and Shaker-style doors.…

Install a shower tray and a shower into the corner of the room. Add an IP-rated bathroom light above, as it will be an enclosed space. Build a simple timber frame up against the edge of the shower tray to the ceiling. Fix plasterboard on one side and decorate in keeping with the rest of the room. Line the shower area with waterproof tile backing board and tile the inside of the shower. Add a shower screen to the front, or a folding screen for a space-saving option. Natalie has used a rustic piece of timber as a support arm to secure the whole structure.…

RHUBARB GINGER CRUMBLE POTS TAKES 30 MINS SERVES 4 400g rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 175g caster sugar 2tbsp rose water 150g plain flour 1tsp ground ginger 100g cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks 200ml double cream Zest of 1 orange 3 balls of stem ginger, cut into chunks 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Put the rhubarb in a pan with 100g of the sugar and 2tbsp water. Cover and cook gently for 5 mins until the rhubarb is just tender. Turn into a bowl and leave to cool. Stir in the rose water. 2 Mix the remaining sugar with the flour and ginger. Rub in the butter until the mixture comes together to form crumbs. Tip out onto a lined baking tray and spread out in a…

REUSABLE TOTE Move over single-use plastic bags, squeeze this compact shopper into even the smallest of handbags. Foldable shopping bag, £3, B&M WRITE ON Decant dry ingredients into this handy glass jar and then note the contents on top using chalk. 1ltr blackboard lid jar, £3.50, Wilko LUXE LOOK Stylishly house jewellery and small trinkets in this clever swivel tower. Gold and glass swivel box, £28, Oliver Bonas HANDY HOOKS No DIY required, simply pop over the door – perfect for bathrobes and towels. Greenhouse towel holder, £8, Matalan FOOT LOOSE The perfect way to keep everything from shoe polishes to cloths and brushes in order. Shoe Shine box in Chalk, £32, Garden Trading SPACE SAVER Stack up boxes to sort household items or waste. The foldable lids provide easy…

Add colour and pattern to floors Get the look of artisanal ceramic tiles with the price tag of vinyl, thanks to the Artesia collection by Leoline. Choose from seven striking patterns, all in a palette of cool greys and icy blues. With Superguard protection and a slip-resistant surface, it’s ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and other high-traffic areas. Estrella vinyl flooring, from £18.99sq m, Artesia collection at Leoline Discover new paint shades Family-run tile designer, Ca’Pietra, has launched its own paint range to match its on-trend ceramic and stone offerings. Creatively named Proper Good Paint, the company’s creative director, Hamish, has hand-picked 35 beautiful colours that are suitable for walls, ceilings, wood and metal. Each shade has been named after the team’s favourite people – Audrey’s Peacock or Ezra’s Grey, anyone?…

GOULASH  TAKES 2 HRS SERVES 4 1tbsp plain flour 500g chuck or braising steak, cut into 3-4cm chunks 1tbsp oil 2 large onions, finely chopped 1 green pepper, cut into chunks 1 yellow pepper, cut into chunks 2tbsp tomato purée 2tsp sweet paprika 1tsp caraway seeds ½ beef stock cube 210g can chopped tomatoes 150ml soured cream 500g fresh pasta TO SERVE 1tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1 Preheat the oven to 170C/ Gas 3. In a bowl, mix the flour with ½tsp salt and toss the meat in it. Over a high heat, warm the oil in a flameproof casserole dish. Add the meat and move around for 2 mins until sealed on all sides, then remove from the pan and set aside. 2 Reduce the heat to medium add…

1. Choose graphic cushions Opt for minimalist lines, where the overlapping shapes and colours result in an energetic finish, lifted by embroidered or tufted embellishments. 2. Inject good vibes slogans Wake up to positive mantras every day. Whether it’s on wall art, accessories or cushions, a cheeky slogan or two bolsters this uplifting style. Bold fonts make a statement. 3. Soften with curves  This look reflects the signature shapes of Art Deco style combined with a bit of whimsy. Pick up on recurring circles or arches to soften the lines, in artwork, mirrors or table lamps. 4. Pick ice cream colours  Reminiscent of the iconic buildings of Miami’s South Beach, mix peachy pink and sky blue pastels with sunshine yellow and indigo. Black or brass accents add an elevated finish.…

ABOUT ME I’m Kerryanne McQueeney Hubbard, 38. I’m a freelance fashion designer (@the_creative_saint). I live here with my husband Christopher, 38, a conveyancing solicitor, and our children Henry, four, and twins Edward and Prudence, two. OUR HOME A 1929 three-bedroom semi-detached in Middlesbrough, bought in May 2015. WHEN WE MOVED IN The house was bland and dated, which was surprising considering it had lots of quirky windows and original features. AND NOW It feels so fresh, current and bright with our updates. The rooms all flow seamlessly now, too. STYLE TIP Vivienne Westwood says: ‘Buy less, choose well, make it last.’ I live by this quote, as I have wasted so much money in the past on buying fast-trend items and not loving them.…

Her eye for fashion and artistic flair shine through as you look around Kerryanne’s home. The eclectic decor ranges from hand-painted wall friezes and elaborate murals to upcycled furniture. Colours are soft and muted throughout – in tones of pale pink, taupe, grey and petrol blue – to give spaces a sense of flow. Personality comes from a treasure trove of finds, whether vintage furnishings and retro pieces or luxe lighting, florals and greenery.…

Thoroughly clean the wall with warm, soapy water to remove any dust and grease. Leave to dry, then apply a coat of primer. 2 Transfer your design to the wall using the grid method. Mask up edges to achieve crisp lines. 3 Think about paint. If the mural is in a sunny spot, check the UV qualities of your chosen paint to avoid it fading over time. 4 Quality acrylic mural paints can be expensive, so use for details and block larger areas with ordinary household paint. Matt or eggshell finishes are less likely to reflect light off the mural. 5 Remember to step back regularly as you paint to see what the mural looks like from a distance.…

Like Anna, take inspiration from the period of your home to influence your interior design choices. Mid-century-inspired pieces of furniture sympathetically embrace the 1950s character of this property, yet each room has been brought up to date with modern styling throughout. Darker tones and rich textures such as velvet will help to cosy up living spaces if you’re after a more dramatic look, like Anna’s.…

Use a shelf bracket as the wall fixture for your new light. 1 Mark on the wall where it needs to be hung, accounting for the drop of the bulb and what its use will be (for example, a bedside reading light), then fix in place with wall plugs and screws. 2 Depending on your preference, you can drill holes into the wooden bracket to thread the cable flex through, or simply wrap the flex around the bracket so that it is held securely in place. 3 Complete the light fitting by screwing in your chosen bulb. Exposed filament bulbs are great for creating an industrial finish, or you may want to choose a bulb with tinted glass or add a small shade for a softer look.…

1 Paint the walls a pop of yellow Refresh a dreary dining room by adding a band of sunny yellow at just below ceiling height. A brilliant way of giving an unexpected splash of colour, it will create the illusion of height in a low-ceilinged room and make it feel bright and airy. 2 SPRUCE UP THE FRONT DOOR WITH FLOWERS Pretty up flower-filled hanging baskets to frame the front door and clusters of tubs and troughs to line a porch or path. 3 Mix up rustic bricks and sleek tiles  Give a country kitchen some urban edge with contrasting finishes. Team exposed brickwork walls with a polished tiled splashback, wooden worktop and marble accessories. 4 UPCYCLE A THRIFTY FIND Look out for classic furniture brands like Ercol on online…

With my eclectic style and love of colour I was keen to ditch the neutral colour scheme we’d inherited in our new home,’ says Ruth. ‘I’m definitely more maximalist than minimalist, and I’d cover the walls in all my trinkets if Dean didn’t rein me in! I insisted on using a beautiful green for our kitchen, rather than a boring neutral colour. A new plan Previously we had a small galley kitchen. I didn’t mind the style of the cupboards, but they were a boring plain cream. The worktops were laminate wood effect and the tiles a lacklustre beige. We had a conservatory at the back of the house that was unusable: depending on the season, it was either too hot or too cold! So we knocked it down and…

KItchen units painted in Valspar Devonshire Green, approx £14 for 1ltr; Trentie White gloss metro ceramic wall tiles, £11.52sq m, both B&Q. Kenwood KSBSB20 American-style fridge freezer in Black, £599.99, Currys. Crown Pure Brilliant White matt emulsion paint, £12 for 10ltr, Wickes. Morris & Co Honeysuckle & Tulip wallpaper, £65.99 a roll, Fashion Wallpaper. Marble Swirl kitchen worktop, £329, Homebase. Prestige Classic Chevron Brown 8mm laminate flooring, £600, Factory Direct Flooring. 4Lt School House pendant, £110.99, Comet Lighting. SoBuy kitchen breakfast bar stools, £160 for four, Amazon. Moss & Britten kitchen sink antique brass mixer tap, £48.90, eBay. Reginox 1.5 bowl White ceramic sink, £99, Bradford Bathroom Co. Victorian brass knobs, £1.51 each, Toolstation. Covington reclaimed wood dining table, £549, Barker and Stonehouse. Lucy dining chairs, £60 each, Harveys…

We bought this house in February 2018,’ says Natalie. ‘We had been living locally in a smaller property, but with our fourth child on the way, we badly needed more space. We spotted this five-bedroom terrace and went for it. It needed absolutely everything done to it, but we were able to take out a bridging loan, which meant we could stay in our existing home for three months, so that Scott could tackle the kitchen and the bathroom in the new house. Fitting it in Scott has a full time job, so he was working on the house evenings and weekends, but luckily he’s in the construction industry, and had help from a team of mates and colleagues to get the basics at least ready for us to move…

Walls in Wevet estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Alberta Grey ceramic flooring, £39sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Milano freestanding bath, £479.99, Big Bathroom Shop, is similar. Camberley basin, £99; Camberley high-level WC, £419; basin pillar and bath shower mixer tap pack, £189, all The Bath Co; Dulwich riser shower system, £389, all Victoria Plum. Pacific bifolding shower doors, £198; Mira Flight rectangular shower tray, £189, both Victoria Plumbing. Towel radiator, £219, Best Heating, is similar. Moroccan towels, £11 each; aluminium plant pots, £11.99 for 10, all Ikea. Stag towels, from £13; Porthole Croft Collection mirror, £120, is similar, both John Lewis & Partners. Appleby cubby shelf, £199, The Cotswold Company, is similar. Washing basket, £35, Next Home. White Amish barn star, £19.99, Live Laugh Love. Wooden angel wings,…

Cheat’s eats! Merchant Gourmet microwaveable pouches are super versatile and perfect for bulking out a meal in a tasty way. The latest Spicy Cajun-style Lentils and Red Kidney Beans pouch is really flavoursome. It goes well with marinated pork chops and was a delicious topper for posh beans on toast! Or try these tasty nachos: warm tortilla chips in the oven, top with the hot Spicy Cajun-style pouch and cheese, and invite a simple salsa and good old guacamole to the party. Going nuts Maryland’s all-new Kookie Crew range kicked off last month with an extraordinary mint chocolate cookie combo. And now the nut-packed Hazelnutter variety is hitting the shelves. Each crunchy Hazelnutter cookie is crammed with roasted hazelnuts and rich chocolate chunks for a tantalising taste. Maryland Hazelnutter, £1.35…

H&M Home SLEEK MONOCHROME Achieve a dynamic feel with graphic shapes in black and white George Home SPRING FLORALS Create a joyful scheme using fresh hues and pretty flower motifs Habitat MODERN COUNTRY Leafy green shades and natural oak furniture create a contemporary look…

Using a damp cloth, wipe down the wall surface, making sure that it’s clean and free of dust. 2 Paint the wall with soft grey 3 paint, using sweeping strokes. Follow up with a wet cloth to soften and blend to the edges of the wall. 4 Use a scrunched-up damp 5 cloth and dab on extra texture. With an almost dry brush add vertical strokes with white or very light grey paint. 6 Use a wet cloth to blend the white paint and work it into the base layer for a textured look. 7 Work in smallish sections so that the paint doesn’t dry between the brush and cloth steps. And step back to check out your work from a distance every so often.…

As soon as we saw the house online, I immediately started sketching plans for what we could do with it,’ says John. ‘We bought the property on probate from an elderly couple who had passed away, so it hadn’t been touched for a while. The interior needed a total facelift, but this made it easier in some ways. It was just a matter of getting rid of everything and starting again. ‘When we visited, we both loved the width of the plot and the potential that came with it. It’s an end-of-terrace house and, because they were built in the 1950s, all the houses on the street have larger gardens than their Victorian neighbours. A side extension had been built in the 1980s, so I knew we’d be able to…

Decide on a motif you’d like to crop up throughout your house (like a pineapple!). It might remind you of a time in your family’s history, a favourite holiday, or could just be something that will make you smile when you see it. Build your collection – but rather than arranging items all together, place them in different rooms. For example, a luxe pineapple vase with gold accents suits a stylish sitting room; a fluffy yellow and green rug works in a child’s bedroom; a pineapple-shaped picture frame adds humour to a downstairs loo. Collections provide that extra bit of design detail that pulls a house’s interior together and creates cohesion as you move from room to room.…

Born and bred in this part of London, I was thrilled when this Victorian terraced property came onto the market on one of my preferred streets,’ says Deborah. ‘It wasn’t exactly love at first sight – the whole property was in a state of disrepair from top to bottom, and the rooms had an odd smell from not being used in some time. But it was on the market at a good price and I could see that, with lots of hard work, the potential was there to turn it back into a characterful family home for myself and the boys. New layout With the sale taking quite some time to go through, as I had to wait for power of attorney to be granted for the 95-year-old owner, I…

Open up a narrow kitchen by using shelving rather than bulky units on the walls, which can make the space feel enclosed. If wall cabinets are needed for storage, be sure to keep the colour light and choose a streamlined style with integrated door handles. Rather than run units the full length of both sides of the kitchen, leave a gap to widen the space, like Deborah’s breakfast table nook. This visually breaks up the parallel lines and gives the room more breathing space. Fitting double doors at the end of a galley kitchen draws attention to the next space, whether that be outside to a garden or through to another room, and helps increase natural daylight, as well as adding more interest than a solid end wall.…

the STYLE RULES CREATE IMPACT WITH PATTERN Playful, geometric wallpaper hung below dado height will add instant drama. Choose a colour from the print and paint woodwork and surrounding walls in this shade for a coordinated finish. BALANCE COOL AND WARM HUES Bring shades of blue to life with sunny pops of yellow. This powerful pairing of primary colours works well in a contemporary scheme. KEEP IT LIGHT AND AIRY Prevent deep blues and dark wood furniture from dominating this look by using cream upholstered seating, a white gloss coffee table and pale laminate flooring to help lighten the mood. INTRODUCE CURVY SILHOUETTES Accessorise with white ceramics, tactile textures and curved pieces in zesty lemon to make a scheme exude excitement. Bold BLUES Decorate using a classic…

Give plain white vases a metallic update. Create a polka dot pattern using a sponge applicator and gold acrylic paint. Alternatively, wrap bands of patterned tape around the vases. Simply peel off when you fancy trying a different look.…

ABOUT ME I’m Ruth Graham, 29, an accountant. I live in West Yorkshire with my husband Dean, 36, a gas engineer, and our sons Avery, three, and Devon, 10 months. We bought and moved into our four-bedroom Victorian home in 2019. MY CHALLENGE The house was magnolia from top to bottom with awful brown carpets throughout. There was only one plug socket in each room and everything needed replastering. MY WISH LIST To dismantle the old conservatory and build a new extension to accommodate a larger kitchen and dining area, with a practical layout to include a playroom and a utility.…

Like Ruth, you can update the look of your entire kitchen without breaking the bank by simply upcycling the units you have. Whether you want to try a completely new colour scheme or just revive the existing paintwork, this DIY task can be tackled in just a few days for a fraction of the cost of installing new cabinetry. Prep the cupboards Start by removing the door handles and drawer knobs. Use masking tape to cover hinges and the edges of any glass panels to avoid unwanted paint marks. Cover the work surfaces and floor with dust sheets. Clean the surfaces Using a strong soapy solution (or sugar soap for wooden units) and a cloth, wipe down the front and edges of each cabinet thoroughly to remove any grease and…

ABOUT ME I’m Natalie Anderson, 41, and I have a vintage fashion business@elevenmillionclothes. I live with my husband, Scott, 44, a site manager for a house building company, and our children, Lucas, 11, Hamish, eight, Lila, five, and Heath, two, in a Victorian, five-bed terrace, built in 1890, in Tynemouth. We moved here in February 2018 from a house around the corner – we needed more space once our fourth child was born! MY CHALLENGE The bathroom was originally two small rooms, which we turned into one large space. The ancient pink bath and avocado washbasin and loo had to go! MY WISH LIST A walk-in shower and a roll-top bath were top of the list. We chose a vintage look to complement the sustainable, natural materials and products I…

Wood-look flooring brings warmth and character to any room, and is available in many forms, from ceramic and porcelain to vinyl and linoleum. Recent improvements in photographic and texturing technology are boosting authenticity, making wood-look flooring a really credible and stylish alternative to the real thing. What are the main benefits? Kitchens are high-traffic areas in most people’s homes and kitchen floors come into daily contact with water, steam and food spillages. Wood-look flooring is all about achieving the beauty of natural wood but without any maintenance issues. Excellent stain resistance is a key benefit in busy households. There’s no need to regularly treat with wax or oil, and it’s less likely to fade or discolour over time. Many wood-look floors also come with slip resistant finishes and can be…

BUY ANYTHING OVER £100 ON A CREDIT CARD – YOUR CARD COMPANY OFFERS FREE PURCHASE PROTECTION IF THE ITEM IS FAULTY From coffee cups to last year’s laptop, there’s no escaping the fact we live in a throwaway society, and although it’s tempting to simply buy new if something breaks, you can try to repair your appliances instead. My TV has broken; is it worth getting it fixed?  If your TV is more than eight years old, it is probably not worth fixing. Repairing an old-fashioned CRT television (boxy, not flatscreen) is hugely expensive these days. Modern sets can often be repaired – like a computer, parts can be swapped in and out – so call a local repair shop or the manufacturer for a quote. You may also be…

Fall in love with linocut A type of relief printing, linocut is created by removing material from the surface of a linoleum block using metal gouges. Susan Yeates’ book, Beginner’s Guide to Linocut (£9.99, Search Press) shows you how easy it is to achieve professional-looking designs at home, compared to some other printing techniques. You’ll learn about the essential tools and materials, before delving into 10 print projects to practise your mark-making skills, from pattern samplers to gift wrap. TRY YOUR HAND AT… DIGITAL CUTTING WANT INSPO? TRY CUTTING MACHINE CRAFTS BY LIA GRIFFITHS (£11.99, CLARKSON POTTER) For traditional crafters, the idea of digital cutting might seem to be lacking in creativity, and even cheating a little! But in reality, the creative possibilities are unlimited as these intuitive machines can…

USE A DAMP CLOTH TO WIPE OFF ANY STRAY ADHESIVE AS YOU GO – IT MAKES CLEANING UP THE TILES AT THE END OF THE JOB MUCH EASIER With the huge range of tiles on offer, a tiled splashback behind the basin can act as a style hero in your bathroom, offering practical durability, protecting the wall from splashes and making the area easy to clean. YOU WILL NEED Tape measure Ruler Pencil Wall tiles Tile trim Spirit level Tile adhesive Notched trowel Sponge Bucket Tile spacers Grout Grout spreader and finisher Trowel Soft cloth Sealant 1 WORK OUT THE WIDTH Draw a vertical line on the wall marking the basin’s centre point to the height of the area to be tiled. Work out the width of the splashback in…