Published by TI Media Limited Every issue contains inspiring real homes, room transformations, easy makes, step-by-step projects, finishing touches and great value shopping, plus a special pullout 'Cook it' section, with 50+ quick and easy recipes
For me, New Year is all about fresh starts and wiping the slate clean. As much as I love the festivities, once the decs have come down, I like to look at the house afresh to see what improvements can be made… and then start hatching plans for new decor projects. One thing I’ve learnt over the years is not to take on too much at once. Major renovations can be overwhelming so breaking work down into bite-sized jobs is the way I go, adding a big tick to the list once done. There’s plenty of easy DIY and speedy updates to inspire you in this issue, from ideas for home work spaces (page 52), to adding wow with wallpaper (page 60) and budget kitchen revamps (page 88). Happy New…
Cox & Cox FRESH ELEGANCE Light neutrals keep your scheme looking timelessly stylish Next RUSTIC ROMANCE Spread the love with touchable materials and marbled finishes Oliver Bonas SUNNY DELIGHT Dream of warmer times with cheery stripes and jaunty motifs Matalan COUNTRY CHARM Update a traditional look with colourful brights…
Pamper your pet Say goodbye to the dog-eared blanket and threadbare cat bed… our furry friends are now dictating the decor, with pet-centric homeware and luxury labels offering seriously stylish buys that are sure to please even the choosiest of pets (and paw-rents). 3 of the best DOORMATS…
Swapping houses with my mum and dad was the best decision we made,’ says Emily. ‘As they wanted to downsize and we wanted to upsize, it made total sense. We both lived in 1930s houses five minutes apart in Stafford, but ours was a lot smaller with three bedrooms while my parents’ place had four bedrooms. I’d grown up on the street and loved the area, so we had both properties valued, used the same solicitor and then exchanged the money. It was great as we could move in our own time, swapping bits here and there, as well as sharing vans. Making our mark At first it was weird moving back into my childhood home and it took a while to feel like it was truly ours. We didn’t…
1 ADD TIMBER PANELLING The area behind the bed is the perfect spot to unleash some decorative creativity and can transform a tired room without the expense of a full room redo. Try adding a run of half-height timber panelling painted a soothing shade teamed with a tonal-coloured wallpaper above. Add a narrow ledge on top for displaying pretty ornaments and prints. Hopper double bed frame, £499, DFS 2 MAKE A FABRIC BANNER Pretty-up the space with a colourful fabric wall hanging hung behind the bed in place of a headboard. Choose a fabric design that co-ordinates with bedding and soft furnishings – it should only require one width of fabric and a drop of around 1-2m and can be suspended from a curtain pole and brackets. Trim your panel…
When my husband Russell and I were house-hunting, we knew we wanted space, period features and plenty of natural light,’ says Elinor. ‘And when we found what we wanted, it felt like home straight away. We’d been exploring different areas and hadn’t chosen anywhere specific, as it was more about getting the right property. By complete coincidence, I was born close to where we ended up settling, and it was lovely to find a place where I already had memories and an emotional connection. First impressions I made up my mind as soon as I arrived outside this house. I’d already studied the floor plans, and it just looked so pretty that I knew immediately this was “the one”. The decor inside was very dull, colourless and old-fashioned. The bathrooms…
