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M a k e yo u r d r e a m h o m e a r e a l i t y

Real HOMES REALHOMES.COM

BEFORE AFTERS

+

60

KITCHEN & BATHROOM IDEAS

NEAT & TIDY Declutter with

the best storage solutions

50+ pages of amazing home transformations

Winter warmers

The latest designs for fires and stoves

Make an entrance

create space SMART WAYS TO EXTEND YOUR HOME

TRANSFORM YOUR HALLWAY FOR A WARM WELCOME

LIVE YOUR DREAM Wow-factor spaces to inspire your own project

project (to any style of house) in the coming months. One of the best things about that same Victorian terrace I lived in was the storage – how I long for such amazing built-in storage now. In a small twobedroom house like that, good storage was key to making the most of limited space and keeping things organised. If, like me, there are days when you feel as if your belongings are taking over your house (and your life), it could be time to have a good look at your storage solutions – as well as your shopping habits, perhaps! Head to our guide on page 43 for plenty of stylish ideas and top tips on how to choose or design the right storage for your space. Your house (and sanity) will definitely thank you for it. I hope you enjoy the issue.

Beth Murton Editor @BethMurton

PHOTOGRAPH KATIE LEE

list h s i w e g a r my sto A classic sideboard is a great investment. Umage Audacious cabinet, £699, Amara

I love this retroinspired design. Wingrove media unit, £799, Made

Useful additions to any space. Charmer baskets, £27 for two, Sweetpea & Willow

Seating and storage in one. Pot Pie stool, from £565, Loaf

5

READER OFFER Subscribe for £18.50 and get a free Joseph Joseph chopping bo oard and a rec cipe journal, wo orth £29.99. Se ee page 10 forr details

REALHOMES.COM

from the editor

t home I owned was a lovely ian terrace in London. Full inal features including ces, ceiling roses and even -in dresser, my husband and n over by its charm as soon as we walked in the front door. After months of looking at properties and not finding anything we liked within our price range, we couldn’t believe we might be lucky enough to get our hands on this gem of a house. Of course, not everything about it was perfect. Like so many period terraced homes up and down the country, it lacked the open-plan layout so many of us crave, and it still had a ground floor bathroom as it hadn’t yet been extended to create space for one on the first floor. All fairly minor issues for us – until our first child came along, that is! Then trips downstairs in the middle of the night and separate closed-off rooms where we couldn’t keep an eye on our daughter while cooking, for example, suddenly highlighted the changes we needed to make to the house. Ultimately, we decided to move out of London before we got round to tackling the house redesign, but had we gone ahead with it, I know I would have found plenty to inspire in our guide to terraced homes on page 75. The three properties featured have all been imaginatively redesigned, turning dated, impractical layouts into light, bright and contemporary spaces that work perfectly for 21st-century life. Make sure you take a look if you’re considering an extension or redesign

s t n e t n o c 52

Inside track 15

Style agenda 41

Get the latest bathroom looks for under £300

news This month’s hottest new homeware and design ideas

style maths

43 Store and order

The brand new pendant lights we’re loving that’ll give your ceiling a modern fix

23

83

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52 Hallways ...that’ll welcome you home. Make an entrance to be proud of with our simple guide

58

23 3

creative ways with wall panelling Introduce character with playful takes on this classic technique

would you use your home... to make money, or is it a private sanctuary? Readers reveal all

Designer spotlight The independent furniture makers we’re loving right now

real home Kate and Mike’s schoolhouse renovation took blood, sweat and tears – but it was worth it

39

51

ahead of the curve The gentle bend of the arch is the trend of the moment – here are our top curvy buys

24

Achieve an organised home with these clever, stylish solutions

latest drop

115

122

Real Homes Show

spotlight on coloured kitchens

Find out how to get your interiors fix with our online TV show

On-trend designs and expert advice on mixing materials

15

2 122

OFFER Subscribe for £18.50 and get a free Joseph Joseph chopping board and recipe journal worth £29.99. See page 10 for details

REA ALHOMES.COM

21

s t n e t n co 62

project advice

home life 62

36

The latest ideas and essential purchases for your renovation

real home See how Emma and James created a party house with bold colours and artwork

84

92

75

terraced houses A guide to revamping yours to suit modern family life

Real HOME Sophie and George renovated a neglected barn for the country lifestyle of dreams

113 extension of the month

all change on the home front

115

An impressive addition we love

kitchen and bathroom news

How will the pandemic change the way we design our houses?

96

project news

The latest buys and design ideas for a stylish and practical space

Real home Julia and Kevin’s period property is a characterful mix of different eras and the perfect family home

125 Guide to heating Help and advice on choosing a focal point fire or stove

107 real home Nicola’s loft conversion is her sanctuary in the London house she shares with friends

118 Real home

The perks of warming your home from the bottom up

136 focus on ovens

Clara and Liam’s kitchen extension was the ideal opportunity to flex their design skills

21

133 underfloor heating

Make cooking a pleasure with our top built-in picks

139 The edit

136

96

The latest kitchen shelving and towel radiators

146 Sunday Project Create a bedroom feature wall that includes your headboard

58

going Eco 84 8

Look out for this logo on our favourite sustainable picks

SUBSCRIBE FOR £18.50* PLUS

GET A FREE CHOPPING BOARD AND RECIPE JOURNAL Joseph Joseph chopping board in stylish bamboo Innovative folding design for easy food transfer

GIFT WORTH

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Journal with guide to cooking methods and key store cupboard ingredients

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Every issue is delivered in an eco-friendly paper wrap

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T&Cs: Offer closes on 31 October 2020, available to new Direct Debit subscribers only. *£18.50 payable by six monthly Direct Debit. This price ǣɀǕɖƏȸƏȇɎƺƺƳǔȒȸɎǝƺˡȸɀɎ‫א׏‬ȅȒȇɎǝɀƏȇƳɯƺɯǣǼǼȇȒɎǣǔɵɵȒɖǣȇƏƳɮƏȇƬƺȒǔƏȇɵȵȸǣƬƺƬǝƏȇǕƺɀِ¨ǼƺƏɀƺƏǼǼȒɯɖȵɎȒɀǣɴɯƺƺǸɀǔȒȸƳƺǼǣɮƺȸɵȒǔɵȒɖȸ ˡȸɀɎɀɖƫɀƬȸǣȵɎǣȒȇǣɀɀɖƺ٢ɖȵɎȒƺǣǕǝɎɯƺƺǸɀȒɮƺȸɀƺƏɀ٣ِçȒɖȸǕǣǔɎɯǣǼǼƫƺƳƺǼǣɮƺȸƺƳɀƺȵƏȸƏɎƺǼɵɯǣɎǝǣȇ‫׎ה‬ƳƏɵɀƏǔɎƺȸɵȒɖȸˡȸɀɎȵƏɵȅƺȇɎǝƏɀƬǼƺƏȸƺƳِ JǣǔɎɀȒȇǼɵƏɮƏǣǼƏƫǼƺɎȒɀɖƫɀƬȸǣƫƺȸɀȒȇɎǝƺÈkȅƏǣȇǼƏȇƳِXȇɎǝƺɖȇǼǣǸƺǼɵƺɮƺȇɎɎǝƏɎɯƺȸɖȇȒɖɎȒǔɎǝǣɀǕǣǔɎًɯƺȵȸȒȅǣɀƺƏȇƏǼɎƺȸȇƏɎǣɮƺǕǣǔɎȒǔɎǝƺ ɀƏȅƺȒȸǕȸƺƏɎƺȸɮƏǼɖƺِIȒȸǔɖǼǼɎƺȸȅɀƏȇƳƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇɀًɮǣɀǣɎȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺɀƳǣȸƺƬɎِƬȒȅٖɎƺȸȅɀِIȒȸƺȇȷɖǣȸǣƺɀȵǼƺƏɀƺƬƏǼǼ‫גגڷي‬٢‫׎‬٣‫ِב׏׏׏בבב׎בב‬nǣȇƺɀ are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm UK Time or email: [email protected]. Calls to 0330 numbers will be charged at no more than a national landline call, and may be included in your phone provider’s call bundle.

11

Extend

Improve

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Register FREE today

5th - 6th Dec 2020 IN ASSOCIATION WITH

We know that it’s important to get the expert advice and inspiration you need for your home project, so we’re transforming the live show you know and love into a virtual event. The event will be hosted online for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own home and will provide all the expert advice, inspiring sessions and access to the products and services you’ll need to make your dreams a reality. We hope that it will be even easier for you to enjoy our show, with no travel, risk or cost.

Find out more

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EDITORIAL Editor Beth Murton Acting Deputy Editor Ellen Finch Assistant Editor Alison Jones Style Editor Anna Morley Deputy Style Editor Amelia Smith [email protected] 0330 390 6508

ART Head of Art Billy Peel Senior Art Editor Emily Smith Art Editor Karen Lawson REALHOMES.COM Editor in Chief Lucy Searle Associate Editor Lindsey Davis Digital Editor Camille Dubuis-Welch Appliances Editor Jennifer Oksien Staff Writers Annie Collyer, Anna Cottrell, Hebe Hatton and Emily Shaw [email protected] BRAND DEVELOPMENT Brand Development Editor Laura Crombie Video Producer Matt Gibbs ADVERTISING AND EXHIBITIONS SALES Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove [email protected] Group Media Director Mark Wright [email protected] Strategic Partnership Director Jackie Sanders [email protected] 07899 882370 Print Sales Manager Rebecca Vincze [email protected] Digital Sales Manager Kelly James [email protected] Exhibitions Sales Director Hellen Roche [email protected] For all media sales enquiries please contact [email protected] or call 0330 390 6566 INTERNATIONAL Real Homes is available for licensing. Contact the International Department to discuss partnership opportunities International Licensing Director Matt Ellis [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS Email enquiries [email protected] UK order line and enquiries 0330 333 1113 Overseas order line and enquiries +44(0)330 333 1113 Online orders and enquiries magazinesdirect.com Director of Acquisitions Sharon Todd

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Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford !ǝǣƺǔˡȇƏȇƬǣƏǼȒǔˡƬƺȸ Rachel Addison Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

#SOREALHOMES

PRODUCTION Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Vivienne Calvert

INSIDE INSIDE

track

Get the scoop on new design ideas, must-have products and looks you’ll love… Marcy velvet chair, £449; Acacia sofa, £1,749; Acacia armchair, £875, and Amos coffee table, £435, all Barker & Stonehouse

HOME COMFORTS Urban Culture is at the heart of this collection from Barker & Stonehouse, with a fusion of African, Indian and Asian influences combining to create one truly adventurous look. A palette of greens, conker-coloured leathers and monochrome helps to form these globally inspired designs that would bring any living space alive with the most majestic of vibes.

Black and gold tassel pendant light, £175

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

easy living Keep the wow-factor going with more Barkerr & Stonehouse pieces that have presence and crea ate a truly artisanal feel.

Lalit green marble and brass coffee table, £335

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Tall ochre and cream ceramic vase, £32

French Wire green velvet tall table lamp, £120

Riva 1920 Clessidra wooden stool, £785

Emmett dining chair in orange, £119

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Modern Kelim rug in yellow, £209

TROLLEY DASH

HOMEWARE TO FALL FOR

Square succulent in stand, £6

With the bounties of newness that AW20 brings, we thought a quick browse around the latest collections from Tesco was in order – so next time you’re dashing round on the food shop, swing by and pick up a few fresh finds for the season ahead (you’re welcome).

Fox & Ivy Tribal round amber glass vase, £8

Sahara mug grey, £4

Sahara large serving bowl, £5

WILD WALLS Stationery and homeware brand Lola Design has launched its very first wallpaper collection with more than just a hint of flora and fauna. The bold designs from the Wildlife Botanical range are a celebration of colour and flowers in bloom, accompanied by their jaunty bumble bee motif. With eight designs in a variety of contemporary colourways, your home will ‘bee’ all the brighter for it.

Fox & Ivy Tribal loop cushion in terracotta, £10

Bookworm Mindful Thoughts at Home by Kate Peers (The Quarto Group, £6.99) Becoming focused and paying attention to the here and now is one of the fundamental principles of mindfulness. And with cultivating wellness firmly on our agendas, what better place to practise this gentle concept than within the home? This book provides 25 thoughts that aim to help set an ambient tone for your head and living space.

Fox and Ivy carved dot frame, £6

Wildlife Botanical Mixed Bee dark blue wallpaper, £99, Lola Design

Dried wheat bouquet, £16.99

Shades of the season Crown’s autum/winter hues are so on-point we’re tempted to get our paintbrushes out. The collection falls into three themes: Antidote, full of calming minimal tones to combat busy lives; Naturally Perfect, which explores our relationship to cosmetic beauty with makeup palette hues; and Structures, which is a graceful take on concrete. All we know is that they’d look great on our walls.

E CO CHO OICE

Preserved Eucalyptus Nicolli in red, £21.99

Preserved Hydrangea, saffron, £19.99

PRESERVATION CREATION

Move over faux – and say hello to a more ecoconscious way to bring nature into your home. Dowsing & Reynolds’ carefully curated collection of preserved foliage will bring character to any space. These pretty organic stems have been picked and treated to ensure they retain their flexibility and fresh feel. Formworks Monochrome 02, from £80 COLLAB ALERT

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Whether you’re after design ideas for every room in your home, the latest deals on homeware or inspiration for those finishing touches, you’ll find it all at realhomes.com

REALHOMES.COM

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Antidote Botanical Noir flat matt emulsion, from £35 for 2.5ltrs

SWOON X FORMWORKS

Formworks Contour 02, from £80

Things are shaping up at Swoon with its range of bold new prints. Swoon’s paired with Formworks Studio, who make graphic art exploring geometry, space, form and colour. These limited-edition Giclée prints come in a stylish array of trend-led colours for textural pieces that’ll leave you swooning.

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Formworks Format 03, from £80

Gold metal trim drinks trolley, £30, George Minimalistic black pendant light, £49.50

Opal globe cluster pendant light, £89

Cocktail hour Roll on gin-o’clock – quite literally, thanks to this fabulous drinks trolley on wheels from George Home at Asda. If you missed out on nabbing yourself the Primark version last year, make sure you add this bargain party piece to your shopping list immediately! It would be the talking point of any soirée, plus once the party season is over, it can be used as handy storage. How’s that for a flexible friend?

Pick of the pods Our sister title Livingetc has recently launched its brand new podcast, Home Truths. Each Monday, executive editor Pip McCormac interviews a different big design name about the stories behind their most famous work. Available on Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Behold the latest modern classic designs, set to light up our lives and homes. These fresh lighting statements, recently released from Marks & Spencer, showcase pendants that pack a powerful punch. We love the rippled porcelain pendant, the contemporary shapes and delicate detailing from the range. Classy and bright.

Porcelain pendant light, £100

WOVEN WONDER Embracing the material of the moment, Cox & Cox has introduced six new wicker pieces to its range, which includes a headboard, seating and even a pet bed. These on-trend additions will each help create a statement in a room without imposing on light thanks to their natural rattan elements. It’s simple, understated yet elegant. ECO CHOICE

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REFINED DESIGN

Wicker double headboard, £450, Cox & Cox

Dibble pendant, £155, Pooky Sea Green pendant ceiling light, £35, Houseof

Kaleido cluster pendant lamps, £149, Made

Floating Cloud pendant light, £135, The French Bedroom Co

Bamboo pendant light, £69.99, H&M

Petro iridescent glass ceiling pendant, £75, BHS

Simrishamn chandelier, £90, Ikea

Two-tone smoked clear glass textured pendant light, £135, Rockett St George

REALHOMES.COM

Bamboo pendant, £95, Graham & Green

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

L ATEST DRO P It’s time to shine with these cool new pendant lights. These feature shades will give your ceilings a modern fix

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NEXT MONTH – ROCK-AROUNDABLE CHRISTMAS TREES

Odisha monkey ceiling fitting, £42, Dunelm

Cane and cotton ceiling lamp, £145, Rose & Grey

STYLE WINNER 1

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A HE A D OF T HE CURV E FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Radiating a sense of positivity, the gentle shape of the arch is THE trend of the moment. Join in with the happy vibes and get your curve on 1 Perry woven blanket art hanging, £230, An Artful Life 2 Bend candle in grey, £28, Dotty Home 3 Fulbrook arched mirror, £200, Garden Trading 4 Minimal screen print style art print, £19, Rocket Jack 5 Earthenware large vase in dark grey, £48, Graham & Green 6 Iris rainbow pot, £14, Anthropologie 7 Otha table lamp dusty pink, £69, Made 8 Sol sunrise orange fabric double bed, £395, Habitat 9 Arcade wallpaper in navy, £30 per roll, John Lewis & Partners 10 Graphic arch poster, £8.95, Desenio 11 Heather teal velvet lounge chair with brass legs, £169, Cult Furniture 12 Pink rainbow trivet, £16.95, Rose & Grey 13 Casa Cubista double arch bowl, £15, Abode Living

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NEXT MONTH – CREATE SPECIAL SETTINGS WITH THE LATEST TABLEWARE

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Victorian renovation

TOP

MARKS Kate and Mike’s schoolhouse renovation took more than their fair share of blood, sweat and tears – but the unique open-plan home they’ve created is worth all the effort 24

Balustrade glass, Aspire Glass Bristol. Replacement flooring, Frome Reclamation Centre

Why we fell for Kate and Mike’s home

As much as we’d love to believe the glossy homes shown in magazines like Real Homes happen in an instant, the reality is it’s rarely a simple process getting a house up to scratch, especially with a project like Kate and Mike’s. Their search for a place they could make their mark on led to an old schoolhouse in dire need of some TLC. With a leaking roof, rotten floorboards and an odd layout, it was more work than the couple had bargained for, but having fallen in love with it, they decided to take it on. Four years on, the place is unrecognisable. The ground floor has been opened up to create a kitchen/dining/living area that makes the most of the double-height space, while the mezzanine has been transformed into a welcoming entrance hall leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. Despite the openplan nature of the house, the couple have created warmth with a soft palette of white shades complemented by natural wood textures. We spoke to Kate and Mike to find out how they did it all and still stayed sane…

Over to Kate and Mike...

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS FIONA MURRAY

Embrace mixing and matching when buying or upcycling second hand units for a unique look, and to add warmth through texture

Profile

BEFORE

THE OWNERs Kate Lawley, a senior business development manager, and husband Mike, a product designer THE PROPERTY A three-bed converted Victorian schoolhouse in Corsham, Wiltshire

Kitchen, from Ebay, painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Handles, Dowsing & Reynolds. Carrera white quartz worktop, Granite & Stone South West. Concrete work surface, handmade. Bar stools, HK Living

project COST £101,000

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#SOREALHOMES

TOP TIP

FOR MORE IDEAS ON UPDATING YOUR PERIOD HOME, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

‘

Our house before was a Victorian terrace, which we grew out of quite quickly. We were looking for a project we could put our own stamp on. It took a year and a half from selling the house to finding this. It was probably a bigger job than we were hoping for, but a construction friend of ours gave us the confidence to take it on. ‘The property was really run-down. No one had lived here for over a year and there were cobwebs everywhere – it really wasn’t in a good state – but we fell in love with it. We just got that feeling you get when you walk in. Once we bought it, we were thrown straight into the work. The first thing we had to do was repair the roof because there was a leak. A lot of the timbers were rotten and one of the lintels supporting the timbers had started to collapse. We had a roofing company in for the first few weeks, as well as a company who specialise in timber preservation. They stripped out damaged timbers and replaced them. Overall, we reroofed around 25 per cent of the roof. ‘Meanwhile, we were trying to strip out what we could from the rest of the building. Originally, we weren’t going to reconfigure the house – the layout wasn’t practical, but it was quirky, and we planned to work around it. Then a friend told us to speak to an architect, who said there was so much we could do if we were brave enough. A few days later, she sent over a sketch of an open-plan design, and it developed from there. ‘Throughout the build, we tried to reuse and reclaim as much of the original materials as we could. We even rescued parts of the rotten joists we replaced, cutting off the damaged areas and using the remains to make shelves. We made the concrete worktop in the kitchen ourselves, and the oak unit it sits on, as well as the other kitchen units, were second hand – we simply upcycled them with new handles and paint. It’s nice to look around and see what we managed to create from unwanted things. We spend a lot of time in this part of the house. Most people wit itchen island will tell you it’s wher ple tend to gather when they v nd that’s definitely true for us.

“

IT’S NICE TO LOOK AROUND

AND SEE WHAT

WE’VE CREATED FROM UNWANTED

”

THINGS

‘ Rugs, M&S and Homebase. Coffee table, HomeSense. Sofas, Habitat. Pendant, Hay. Invicta Tipi stove, Stoves Online

A lot of people weren’t sure how we’d make the space feel warm and cosy with a full height ceiling, but the natural materials we’ve used make it feel homely. We were lucky that there was already wooden flooring in place. If it hadn’t been there we might have gone for something harder like concrete, then brought wood in through the décor. This way, we can bring in those industrial touches we love, but they’re softened by the expanse of wood floor.

‘

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‘

There were plenty of moments where we thought, “What have we taken on?” A year into the build, we were still here most evenings stripping things out, and the windows were still boarded up. There were definitely highs and lows. Once a milestone like putting the windows in was reached, it felt like we were moving forwards, but the initial invisible works, like rep joists and plumbing, we struggle. Now it’s finish we couldn’t be prouder Dining table, bench and side unit, Furniture Village. Chairs, HK Living. Rug, Heal’s. Brass wall lights, Cox & Cox

Costs & contacts Professional fees £35,000 Build work £30,000 Glazing £16,000 Furniture £11,000 Kitchen and appliances £7,500 Decorating £1,500 Total cost £101,000 Windows Panoramic Windows, 01179 560 321, panoramicwindows.co.uk Balustrade glass Aspire Glass, 0117 911 9602, aspireglass.co.uk Internal window Richmark Aluminium Systems, 01761 479879, richmarkas.co.uk

‘

We were really clear where we wanted the staircase from quite early on, and we also knew we wanted an internal window. Kate’s dad is a carpenter and he helped a lot. He and his colleague relaid the floorboards, did the stud work for the room reconfiguration and made the treads and spindles for the stairs. Having him on hand to offer advice was invaluable, even if he thought we were crazy when we bought the place! Everywhere we look, we see something we de ed or he built – it’s a lovely ng and really rewarding Internal window, Richmark Windows

‘

The stairs are the focal point from wherever you are, downstairs or up. They help to zone off this space, which is more like a snug compared to the other living area – it’s tucked away behind the stairs and under the lower part of the ceiling. We definitely don’t go out as much as we used to now we’ve finished this project – we enjoy being in the house too much! It’s so rewarding for us to share what we’ve done with our family and friends, too.

‘

Bought property August 2016

PROJECT TIMELINE

Started building work February 2017

Initial structural work complete January 2017

living space decorated July 2018 – ‘But the rest is ongoing!’

Staircase installed March 2018

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Moved in September 2018

REALHOMES.COM

Sofa, Habitat. Magazine rack, HomeSense

‘

The mezzanine level was here when we bought the property, but it had the kitchen to the right and the dining room in front of you as you walked in. We moved the living spaces downstairs and this level now houses the entrance hall, as well as the bedrooms and bathroom. The window seat was a last-minute decision and one of the best we made. It was the kitchen window and half the size it is now. We don’t have access to th garden from the living are this is where we can sit to connected to the outdoors Cocoon chair, Cox & Cox

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‘

We’ve travelled a lot and one of the biggest influences was our honeymoon in Mexico. At that stage, we knew we were looking for a project, so from there on in we had more of an eye on the interiors of the places we visited. The foundations of the rooms are neutral, minimal and light, and we brought in natural materials like wood and rattan, plus the concrete, to warm up the scheme and add interest.

‘

Bed, Futon Company. Ceiling light, Ebay. Black floor lamp, Ikea. Side table, Vinegar Hill. Green vase, HomeSense

‘

‘

Every decision we made has been well considered, from the initial plans to the accessories we’ve picked up. Everything made its way home with us because we fell in love with it. We’ve never thought, “Oh, we need to buy a light – let’s go out and get one now.” The process has taken a little longer but that extra time allowed us to think about those smaller decisions and find things as we went along. Headboard, French Connection. Rug and rust throw, H&M Home. Bedside tables, HomeSense. Pendant lights, Iconic Lights

THE PLANS GROUND FLOOR BEFORE BED ROOM

SITTING ROOM

HOME OFFICE

BED ROOM

BATHROOM

SHOWER ROOM

GROUND FLOOR AFTER

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

DINING AREA

STUDIO

BOOT ROOM

WC

FIRST FLOOR BEFORE

DINING ROOM BED ROOM

KITCHEN/DINER

FIRST FLOOR AFTER

BED ROOM

BATH ROOM

Wall and floor tiles, Dimensions Bathrooms of Frome and UK Bathrooms. MDesign shower curtain, Amazon. Bath mat, Zara

ENTRANCE/ STUDY

BATH ROOM

SECOND FLOOR

Because Mike comes from a design background, he was able to visualise how the house might look on some 3D software – we could play around with the layout. The bathroom is slightly different to the rest of the house in the materials we’ve used. The large-format tiles are timeless, and the wall behind the basin is Travertine plaster by Oikos.

REALHOMES.COM

BEFORE

BEDROOM

‘

‘

BED ROOM

SECOND FLOOR AFTER

BEDROOM

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EN SUITE

Wire-free security camera, £149.99, Swann

PROJECT

NEWS

S AND ES THE LATEST IDEAS, TREND

Subtle protection Put safety first, but keep it discreet. The Swann wire-free security camera is small and sleek enough to blend into artfully arranged items on a shelf as it watches for any unusual activity, from naughty pets to something more serious. It can be used indoors or out, and has features such as free face recognition, a 180-degree viewing angle and two-factor authentication.

SENTIAL BUYS

FOR YOUR HOME IMPRO VEMENT PROJECT

75 PER CENT of us want to be able to do our own plumbing*

FEATURE ALISON JONES *DIY STATS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY MYJOBQUOTE.CO.UK

THE HEAT IS ON It’s time to mention the C word, and by that we mean cosy. Start your preparations for a warm winter by investing in a new stove to sit round and toast your toes. The E-NEO3C electric stove gives you the charm and heat of a wood-burner at the flick of a switch, without needing to chop and feed it with fuel. It has a 1-2Kw heat output and a flame effect that can be seen through glass panels at the front and sides. There’s an optional decorative flue pipe and programmable intelligent remote so you can preset it to come on. £1,299, ACR Stoves

A real high light We all love a room that gets the sun, so draw it in from all angles with a rooflight. The neo Advance flat rooflight from The Rooflight Company is incredibly energy efficient. Its aluminium frame combined with Thermal Shield technology, which protects against mould and condensation, gives it the lowest possible U-value in a doubleglazed unit, so it’s much lighter – plus we love its sleek, frameless look. Priced from £845 to £2,095 for fixed and motorised opening options (excl. VAT and delivery)

Breathe easy The quality of the air we breathe is something we’ve all become more aware of, particularly with so much time spent indoors. The Bellaria by Falmec is both an elegant lamp and a powerful air purifier. It eliminates irritation-causing impurities and restores the ionic balance for fresh, clean indoor air. Good for combating allergies, it can also help asthma and hayfever sufferers. Encased in handmade glass from the Italian island of Murano, it comes in four colours.

The Bellaria, £800, Falmec

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Outside lights

Crreate an inviting entrance and enhance your exterior with well-placed illumination

PER CENT of us wish we could tile our own kitchen or bathroom* bathroom

Chris Ingram, founder of Continal Underfloor Heating (ufh.co.uk) , reveals why underfloor heating can be an eco-friendly option

Portreath IP65-rated adjustable light in Storm, £35, Pooky

Portas Scandiinspired exterior light in three metal finishes, £200, Christopher Wray

Atwater wall light in antique brass finish, from £359, Andrew Martin

Firstlight Carlton outdoor wall light in graphite finish, £60.95, Juice Electrical Supplies

Mullan Kairi wall light with IP54 rating, £206, Made to Last

81 PER CENT of people wish they knew how to replace roof tiles*

How does underfloor heating work? Warm water underfloor heating is a form of central heating that maximises room space by leaving walls free. It heats pipes laid beneath the floor, turning the entire floor –rather than just a radiator – into a heat emitter that warms the room above. Can I use UFH with a heat pump/combi boiler/wood pellet boiler? This type of underfloor heating can work with any heat source and is ideal as part of a green heating system. It can be up to 30 per cent more efficient than radiators as it operates using water that’s heated to a much lower temperature. Low-temperature heat sources, such as heat pumps and wood pellet boilers, will see it working at its most efficient. It also helps combi boilers operate in energysaving, carbon footprintreducing condensing mode for longer periods. What type of finished floor coverings can I use? Underfloor heating will be suitable with most floor coverings, though some will be better than others for emitting heat. Floors that work well include solid wood, engineered board, laminate, ceramic tiles, carpet, vinyl, stone, marble and slate. Technical advisers, like those at Continal, can recommend the best system for different floorings.

BradDrive Cobblestone, £87 per m2, Bradstone

Statement surface Make the best first impression with visitors – and offer them space to park – with a freshly updated driveway. Banish boring tarmac and instead go for block paving to add pattern that appeals to the eye and makes a firm base for vehicles. The new BradDrive Cobblestone will give your drive an authentic rustic effect, and with five different sizes, you can mix things up to create a unique design. Lay them in a random pattern, a single colour or a mixture of colours for striking style.

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What tog carpet can I use with UFH? The maximum tog rating you can have with underfloor heating is 2.5 tog including the underlay; however, we recommend going for around 1.5 tog to achieve better heat outputs. For more information on underfloor heating, see our feature on page 133

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A green heat for homes

E T A B E D G I B E TH Is your house your family’s private space, or are you happy to let others pay you to use it? Two readers offer their opinions

YES ‘I am a great advocate of using your house

WORDS ALISON JONES

and sharing it’ Jane Cresswell (@thehousethatjaneand jackbuilt) and husband Jack live with their four children in a Victorian house in Windsor ‘We have been happy to Airbnb our current house and to rent it out for shoots. We went travelling with the children for eight months and 100 per cent it helped to finance our travels. ‘I am a great advocate of using your house and sharing it. We planned our trip for a year and we tried Airbnbing at weekends to see if it would work, and it went really well. It’s a goodsized four-bedroom house – perfect for families. ‘We’ve had family groups coming in for celebrations, hen parties, and people from outside the UK making Windsor part of their trip. When there have been big royal events here, we rented it out to one of the news channels because we’re within walking distance of the castle. ‘The house is Grade II-listed and has amazing proportions, which we love – really high ceilings and original fireplaces. I’ve always loved interiors so there is some cool funky wallpaper in the kids’ rooms. It’s nice for people to appreciate our house and I enjoyed making it feel welcoming for them. ‘We’ve used Airbnb homes ourselves. It felt comfortable, we were trusting of other people, and they’ve been very respectful. The kids knew someone else was using their bedrooms and they were on board with it. It was a good way to teach them about sharing their space and their toys.’

‘Our home is our sanctuary where we can shut ourselves off from the world’ Nazima Hodkinson (@nazimah55) and her husband, Martin, live with their two children in a three-storey house in north east London ‘Our home has been our sanctuary, especially in London during the lockdown, and we’ve been very grateful for it. ‘I wouldn’t do Airbnb because we like to think of it as our private sanctuary. Once we are through that front door, we can shut ourselves off from the world. It’s nice having that private space where we can just chill. We can come home and have a cup of tea, watch TV. We can detach completely. I can think, “This is mine and no one is going to have a say on it.” My husband feels quite strongly about that as well, so no, I don’t think he would ever go for Airbnb. ‘You’d be limiting yourself to one side of the house if there were people in the other, and we’ve been utilising all of it, all three floors. We have a spare room which has a big TV, and during lockdown we’ve been saying, “Actually, we don’t all need to sit downstairs and fight over one TV, we’ve got a huge one upstairs.” It’s made sure the four of us, the two kids and my husband, who is working from home, use the whole house. ‘This is our space. We had the loft done a few years ago and my husband absolutely loves it – he goes upstairs to meditate or read. And sometimes the kids will go up. It’s our bedroom but they still use that as their calming space. ‘I do interior design and I am a keen Ikea hacker. In our home I have tried to decorate the space with memories and a sense of the holidays we have had. ‘When I walk through the door and the house is full of light, I think a lot of it is about that feeling you get, and it’s just really nice.’

It’s nice having that private space where we can just chill. We can detach completely

NEXT MONTH: WOULD YOU USE CHRISTMAS AS A DEADLINE FOR A PROJECT?

WOULD YOU RENT YOUR HOME OUT TO MAKE MONEY?

NO

STYLE

maths Multiply your bathroom’s style for under £300 with our edit of the latest schemes and how to create them on a budget g

SPA STYLE

Leaf print bath towels, from £4, George Wireworks bathroom caddy, from £137, Heal’s

Lixhult storage combination, £120, Ikea

String pocket shelves in burnt orange, £126, John Lewis & Partners

+

££276

Banio striped bath towel, £16, La Redoute

+

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

Geo bathmat, £14, Dunelm

Petya Locker 1 storage cabinet, £124.99, Wayfair

£21 2 LEFT F OVER FOR OR SOME SOOTHING SCENTED CANDLES

=

Scallop laundry bin, £20, Habitat

BLACK & WHITE

£ 79 £2

+

+

COLOUR SPLASH

+

Faux maidenhead fern, £18, Gisela Graham

Calm unframed abstract lady sketch art print, £50, Rockett St George

Yamazaki towel rack in black, £78, Amara

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+ 4 41

£18 LEFT O ER FOR A MO OTIVATIONAL ART PRINT A

= £266.99 £33.01 LEFT OVER FOR A WATERPROOF SPEAKER

REALHOMES.COM

Rattan shelf, £120, Garden Trading

S TO R E &

OR DE R

Achieve a clear, organised home with clever storage solutions that not only provide an injection of style, but help keep living spaces clutter free

Scandi round oak mirror, £250; Estate sideboard, £999; Sling armchair, £699; Kvell Boto ottoman in Modest Grey, £70; Ennis coffee table, natural, £199, all John Lewis & Partners

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Natural Selection TOP TIP Coffee tables can be practical and also used for curating displays. The addition of a shelf maximises surface space

Choosing a hero piece can be a great starting point when putting a scheme together, especially when it can conceal a wealth of items within and show off treasured possessions on top. Classic storage furniture is a sound investment that makes a purposeful statement in any home.

TOP TIP Open shelving can frame an area while providing space for accessories and easy-grab books

On the down low

Choosing hidden storage is in itself a genius idea; couple that with storage that doubles up as seating and you have yourself the ultimate in form and functionality. This kitchen-diner benefits from sleek, low-level cupboards, which are a feature in themselves, but they also serve as a beautiful window seat and handy dinner guest perch, too.

Round Liv marble dining table, £999, and Mid-Century Modern Petal dining chairs in Feather Grey basket slub, £209 each, West Elm. For a similar light, try the Canopy ceiling light, £399, La Redoute

TOP TIP Position built-in benches beneath a window to maximise light and views

TOP TIP Get a carpenter to create clever storage specific to your space

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Solna iron room divider, £739; Odin leather chair, £545; greywash wishbone chair, £299, all Nordic House

TOP TIP Peg rails are a genius way of incorporating stylish hanging storage into your home

TOP TIP S hooks are the perfect addition when using rails, pegs or hooks

Pulling Power

How’s this for rock and roll? Practical furniture with more flexibility than a yoga teacher. This cool storage-place-cumroom-divider on wheels would tackle any of those open-plan living challenges with ease, breaking up larger spaces while providing a handy place for essentials.

create a nook

Zoning an open-plan room is a great way to build defined areas in your space. As our homes become more multipurpose, it’s essential that we use the space we have to suit our modern lives. Tall units are a great way to do this, acting as both a divider and practical storage solution.

TOP TIP The enclosed and open sections of this unit provide places to hide paperwork away while keeping beautiful objects on show

TOP TIP Keep things tidy with attractive, on-trend baskets

Copenhagen desk, £170; Skandi fabric dining chairs, £180 for two; Loft Living wire storage baskets, £22; Zander textured four-tier shelving unit, £180; Halden coffee table, £130, all Argos Home

TOP TIP Dedicate one shelf level purely to decorative items, leaving the remaining ones for practical pieces

TOP TIP Wall-mounted cube shelves add another level of storage and ‘shelfie’ opportunities

Clear view

Displaying favourite pieces can be made simple with a clearfronted unit – ideal for a kitchen-dining area, where you can keep essentials close to hand as well as having a place for special items to be admired in a dust-free setting.

Make it yours

TOP TIP An alcove is a natural place for fitting in custombuilt shelving

Max out on space with wall-to-wall storage. This stylish solution recedes into the background, keeping possessions organised and a clear floor space – plus it’s a system that can be added to over time. Using the existing architecture of your home as a guide will create a look that’s truly bespoke and specific to your needs.

TOP TIP Understairs areas are often underused. Tap into its potential

TOP TIP Some versions of these systems have drawers, cupboards and desk add-ons, too

Universal shelving system: shelves from £57; cabinets from £525, Vitsoe

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REALHOMES.COM

TOP TIP Arranging accessories on top of the unit will create more of a feature in a room, and another place to put things

NEXT MONTH – STYLE YOUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS WITH FABULOUS FESTIVE TRENDS

Left Milsbo glass-door cabinet in anthracite, £179; Nissafors black trolley, £25; Eket cabinets, £15 each, all Ikea

TOP TIP Shelving on wheels keeps essentials handy, and makes it easy to rearrange your layout Ernest coffee table in walnut, £249, Dwell

Giro large industrial storage trolley, £349, Cuckooland Three-tier grey storage trolley, £50, John Lewis & Partners

North shelf in natural, £34.95, Beaumonde

E M O H Y TID

T I DY M IND

Lucy cane cream storage bench, £149, Dunelm

Bar cart, £250, French Connection

Compo tall shelf storage unit, £325, La Redoute

Nordby two-door white display cabinet, £229.99, JYSK Aveiro display cabinet, grey and glass, £749, Made

Max oiled oak coffee table with shelf, £250, Habitat

TOP TIP Shoe storage under benches encourages the tidying away of footwear as soon as it’s taken off

Hasa industrial storage bench, £395, Nkuku

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designer Support independent busiinesses aking and meet the creatives ma waves in the interiors world d. This month: furniture make ers Hexagon wooden plant hanger, from £35

NICK JAMES

Q

Hi, Nick – tell us about yourself! I’d describe myself as a designer-maker – I create everything from coffee tables to boardroom tables. I work mostly on private residential furniture, but I also make a range of small wooden products, all beautifully crafted and handmade.

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS CLARE BOWES PHOTOGRAPHY / NICK JAMES

Q

How did you get started and what drives you? I started my business in 2003, carrying out commissions in a workshop on my own, before expanding and taking on staff. As people became more confident buying things online, I started making a range of small-batch off-theshelf products alongside my bespoke works – from lighting to clocks to kitchenware. I’ve even delved into making plant hangers – they’re sort of like my version of macrame

Fixing up furniture In the market for more original items? These upcyclers make sustainability into an art

planters, but b with wood! It’s easy to ovvercomplicate things in design, so I tryy and keep myy products simple and paredback. I let the craftsmanship and the natural features of the wood speak for themselves.

Q

What else should we know? Out of work, I love getting out into the hills walking, and a lot of my time is taken up with my young family. I juggle, too – I used to do street entertaining to get me through university! On a more serious note, I’ve also set up something called the Mushroom Works. It’s a converted warehouse that acts as a studio and a space for designers and makers in the north. It’s a real community for creative people.

Q

What’s your favourite piece to design? A dining table. I think it’s one of the most important pieces

of furniture in the house because everything happens around it – homework, colouring, and food, of course, from romantic meals to dinner parties with friends. It’s something that people hopefully have all their lives and it builds up a patina over time. Ours still has small fork marks from when our then three-year-old daughter used to bang her cutlery on the table. They build up stories in themselves. I put a lot of thought and consideration into a piece because I know someone is going to che erish i h it. it Follow Nick at @nickjamesdesign and shop his pieces, or commission a bespoke design, at jamesdesign.co.uk

SHARP & SIMPSON @sharpandsimpson Bespoke pieces are at the heart of Micaela Sharp’s work as an upholsterer. ‘There’s something so satisfying about making a vintage piece desirable again,’ she says. ‘Upholstery is an opportunity to bring colour, pattern and texture into your home.’ sharpandsimpson.com

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Sideboard with sculpted doors, £2,450

Handmade oak dining table, £1,750

ELIZABETH DOT DESIGN @elizabethdotdesign Furniture upcycler Elizabeth Turner turns unloved pieces into fresh, fun statements. ‘I love working on battered furniture you wouldn’t dream of putting in your home and making them look good as new,’ she says. elizabethdotdesign.com

Hallways

(THAT WELCOME YOU HOME)

Storage is an obvious hallway necessity, but don’t go nuts. Be strong and only store outerwear you and your family actually wear; do a seasonal switch-out if necessary. Sniff out any outgrown children’s shoes (it shouldn’t be too difficult) and take a hard line with reusable shopping bags. Those things breed without due control. Try to keep furniture below eye level if the space is narrow – tall units have an enclosing effect. Coat pegs need to be higher, but opt for more pegs and fewer items per peg if you can. Somewhere to drop keys and bags when you come in is helpful but, again, be military-grade strict about long-term dumping. A bowl full of old sunglasses, broken Lego and that strange hingetype thing that you found on the floor and are afraid to chuck, has neither use nor ornament. Speaking of ornaments, the hallway is ripe for honing your shelfie and picture gallery skills. The large expanse of wall can handle a bold approach. And, since you’ll not be lingering for long, you can afford to experiment with artwork and paint effects you’d potentially tire of in main living rooms. If you hate it, bosh up a big mirror and move on. Without tripping over trainers, ideally.

e all know first impressions count. We also know that a pile of stinking shoes, a broken bookcase waiting for the tip run and three years’ worth of junk mail doesn’t make a great first impression unless you’re auditioning for Hoarders from Hell. However, as your home’s thoroughfare – the ‘room’ you walk through, not to – the hallway is so often overlooked. On both the renovation and cleaning schedule, let’s be honest. The good news is the hallway can be one of the least expensive rooms to tackle. For starters there’s usually no plumbing or electrics involved. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll discover an incredible original floor under that manky carpet. If not, the area is so small that new flooring needn’t prove too spendy. The bad news is it’s also one of the most labour intensive if you’re a DIYer, as anyone who has ever attempted to paint stair spindles or double-height stairwell walls will testify (from their therapist’s couch). Try to remember you’ll only need to do it once in your lifetime, probably, then make sure your gin supplies are stocked up and crack on. Or sell a limb and invest in a spray-painting specialist who will do it faster than you can say ‘is that somebody at the door?’.

Do come in

Create a welcoming entranceway with elegant accessories and savvy storage

Demi Lune umbrella stand, £295, Ligne Roset

Catana black and natural woven rattan mirror, £75, Habitat

Lois 10 light semi flush ceiling light in black, £120, BHS

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Safari handwoven wool runners, from £385 per m, Sophie Cooney

Industrial coat storage rack, £375, Cox & Cox

WORDS LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPH RACHAEL SMITH (OPPOSITE)

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Make an entrance you’ll be happy to open your front door to – and that doesn’t require hiking gear to navigate through – with our guide to the highs and lows of hallway decorating

While hallways are prime real estate for a show-pony pendant light – if you have the height, go all-out with an outsized chandelier – illuminating at lower level will create a welcoming atmosphere. A console table lamp works well, or add wall lights down the length of your hallway to draw people in. Dark corners can make a hallway feel smaller than it already is, so pop an extra light in gloomy areas – a wall-mounted plugged fitting is easy to install. Put lamps on smart switches or use smart bulbs (try Philips) to turn lights on from your phone before you get home.

Internal door painted in Silken Sunrise 2 by Dulux. Try Quick Dry satinwood at £16 for 750ml, B&Q. For a similiar pendant, try the Noko wicker conical pendant (medium), £150, Nkuku

Switching a solid front door for one with sidelights can improve the natural light levels in your hallway. You can choose to position these static glass panels on one side of the door, both sides or above (a storylight) for maximum exposure. Anti-theft security glass is an important safety feature, and glass should also be insulated to prevent heat loss. Clear glass will bring in the most sunlight, while sandblasted glass offers privacy.

Right Lucienne Day authentic Octagon runner, £110 per linear metre, Alternative Flooring

Understairs cupboards can quickly descend into a black-hole-style dumping ground for damp football kit and eleventy-billion Bags for Life. The answer, if you can stretch to bespoke cabinetry, is built-in drawers, which will pull everything out into view. Go for full-height units, racked out for shoes to make it easier to find the pair you need at a glance. The tallest unit can host one or two rows of coat pegs, or a hanging rail, too. Individual drawers are easier for children to open and can be personalised with their names to encourage tidiness.

PHOTOGRAPH SIOBHAN DORAN (O’TUAMA ARCHITECTS)

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Just how bad your shoe addiction has gotten – Imelda Marcos/Carrie Bradshaw are freakin’ amateurs compared to you. Flog ‘em on Ebay and try not to spend the proceeds on yet more Vejas.

TWO

Right Encaustic cement tiles in pattern 10647, from £88.80 per m2, Mosaic Factory. Walls painted in St. Giles Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball. Stair spindles in Dulux Atlantic Surf 1 Quick Dry satinwood, £16 for 750ml, B&Q. Interior design by Brian O’Tuama Architects Echoing colour tones from living spaces in the hallway is how interiors experts achieve flow between rooms for a home that feels connected, not chaotic. It can be a subtle colour link, a splash on prints or stair spindles, or a stronger approach with matching colours on flooring, architraves and doors. Decide on a ‘colour thread’ early, and go for a trusted favourite rather than what’s on trend for it to last.

Bespoke pull-out cupboards start from £5,000 at Chiselwood

Five things...

Designer stair runners are an effective, if not terribly cheap, way to add pattern and colour to your hallway. We think it’s worth the investment if the front door opens directly onto the staircase. Check out Alternative Flooring, Roger Oates and Sophie Cooney. Save a few pennies by switching to a plain runner in the same colour tones on the landing. Alternatively, carpet specialists can add coloured whipping to jazz up inexpensive carpet, or you can buy separate taping in contrasting colours and stripes – try Higher Ground.

you’ll realise when you overhaul your hallway

Ditto coats, specifically lightweight raincoats. Every spring (and autumn) you snap up a new one, completely forgetting the 12 zillion already scrunched up on your groaning coat hooks. Again, Ebay is your friend.

THREE

The secret to always arriving at the school gate/meeting/hot Tinder date on time is as simple as a dedicated hook/ bowl for your car keys. Who knew? All those smug parents watching you pant up to the gate seconds before last bell, that’s who. Traitors.

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FOUR

The sheer joy of a freshly painted front door. Add new hardware for extra pleasure points. It’s right up there with climbing into fresh bedlinen and finding a 50 per cent off discount code seconds before you order. How life has changed.

FIVE

What your local Yodel/ Amazon/Hermes delivery folk actually look like. No longer do you only crack the door an inch lest they spot the piles of dirty trainers and carrier bag snowdrifts behind you. They may not be as happy about this as you.

Walls painted in Denim Drift matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux

SERIAL DECORATOR

ANTONIA RICHARDS ‘Our house is a 1960s townhouse split across three floors and this entrance hallway measures approximately 6x2m at its widest. When we renovated the house, we painted everywhere white including the hallway, but it felt too clinical, so I was keen to add colour in some way while keeping white as a base colour. I fell in love with Dulux’s Spiced Honey as soon as I saw it and knew I could make it work in the hallway in the form of a thick colour block stripe. I have shoe storage at the front door and the coat rack provides storage for our coats and scarves. I love my hallway and the only thing I am hoping to change is the flooring: I’m looking for something lighter and brighter. My advice for decorating your hallway is to start with a neutral base then steadily implement colour, and also ensure your hallway décor choices blend with the rest of the house.’ Insta: @all_things_interior_

Enclosing the space beneath the stairs can drastically reduce your hallway’s feeling of spaciousness. By contrast, an office or reading nook with open shelves can utilise the square footage, without causing claustrophobia. Position chairs with enough room above that you can sit comfortably, while ensuring they won’t create a trip hazard when in use. Add stylish storage containers for any paperwork and stationery – think Paperchase, not Staples – and dress with plants and pictures to banish any commercial workplace/ public library vibes. Right Pattern by Dee Hardwicke luxury vinyl tiles in Warm Terracotta, £49.99 per m2, Harvey Maria

Below Fine edge rectangular mirror, from £219; Brunel console table by Rob Scarlett, £499; Hang it All coat rack by Vitra, £239; Life on Mars, David Bowie by Reign & Hail framed print, £110; Vogue, Early November 1926 by Guillermo Bolin framed print, £140, all Heal’s

Left Walls painted in Strong White estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball, and Old Navy Regal Select, from £24 for 940ml, Benjamin Moore. Crescent pendant light mini, £485, The Conran Shop. Antiqued gold pendant mirror, £350, Graham & Green. Sienna console, £369, Swoon Editions. Interior design by Design Led

Hard flooring is best for any hallway entered directly from the outside. Whether it’s porcelain, stone, vinyl or wood, something mop-friendly is essential. A generous doormat that bridges the door and shoe rack can vastly reduce time spent wielding it, though. Go for an inset thick coir mat, in a standard size that can be easily replaced, to avoid it moving or snagging on the door. Machine washable mats are good dirt trappers if shoes off isn’t house policy – try Turtlemat.

When furnishing hallways, it’s vital to prioritise traffic flow. Any furniture, no matter how beautiful or useful, won’t stay long if it creates a bottleneck. Narrow consoles are obviously a win, but also look for curved units to help steer traffic flow (and prevent nasty knocks) and minimalist designs. Wallmounted units or storage with glass shelves will show off the floor and appear to widen the room.

Mirrors are brilliant for checking for lippy on your teeth before you leave the house, but they also boost light levels and spaciousness. Double up for twice the impact and make sure there’s something on the opposite wall worth reflecting. Don’t forget the decorative element – be it an interesting shape, distressed frame or neat wirework shelf, mirrors can be works of art in their own right. Try Pooky, Graham & Green and Anthropologie.

Plant subscription box, from £20 a month, Leaf Envy

Don’t forget

INTERIORS INFLUENCER

LOUISE HEATH

‘The hallway of our Edwardian home is 10 x 2.5m and has large stained glass windows. It was the main selling point for me – I love a great entranceway. I decorated my last hallway exactly the same: I just loved it, so we replicated it. The doors had decades of yellowing gloss paint, so we had them ‘stripped and dipped’, fixed the broken cornicing and ceiling rose and picked an oversized feature light. For the stair runner we used carpet from Cormar’s Boucle Neutrals range in the Pembroke Pewter shade. My husband cut it to size, then I ordered thick black cotton tape and sent it to a local carpet whipper, which helped our budget. I’m grateful to have lots of cloakroom storage and cupboards to hide coats and shoes. The best tip ever given to me was to buy washable paint! I went for an off-white, Timeless by Dulux; my kids are forever bringing scooters and bikes through the hall, scuffing the walls, and washable paint is my saviour.’ Insta: @liberty_living

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PHOTOGRAPH RUTH MARIA MURPHY (DESIGN LED)

TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN!

CREATIVE WAYS WITH

WALL PANELLING

Create character and introduce texture in any room with a playful take on this classic technique

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

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ore often than not, when it comes to character and charm, modern houses simply can’t compete with the intricacies and detailed finishes of period properties. As early as the 13th century, wall panelling was used as a means of insulation, helping to warm up rooms with stone walls. Over the centuries, it’s evolved into an art form. And now, in a bid to inject character back into our modern homes, the traditional wall covering is having a renaissance. Whether you choose a classic design or a modern stand-out pattern, we’ve gathered the best wall panelling ideas to inspire you. So treat your walls like a canvas and let your panels become your pencil for a space that’s unique, bold and charming.

Panelling two thirds of the way up your wall brings a perfect opportunity to embed extra storage. Position a shelf above your panelling and paint it, along with the wall, in the same colour for a cohesive look. As the shelf will be at eye level, decorate with trailing plants and treasured items. This vertical ribbed panelling is perfect for a compact home office, and is created by gluing MDF planks to the wall and painting. Milton dark wood table, £149.99, Furniture Choice. For a similar paint colour, try Verdigris Green Estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

NEED TO KNOW As a general rule, unless you’re working around existing features, panel one third up, two thirds up, or your entire wall. Larger rooms can take a bolder design, but smaller rooms may benefit from a more intricate ribbed pattern. Always measure and draw out your pattern in pencil first. While MDF or timber planks are an inexpensive and easy-to-use option, if you want the real deal, look to reclaimed wood companies for original wood panelling. This will be more expensive, but worth it for that authentic feel and nod to the past.

Bathroom feature A warmer alternative to bathroom tiles, panelling is a great way to shield your bathroom walls from splashes, while also adding elegance. The vertical lines of this board and batten design visually heighten the room. We like how hooks are attached to the panels – handy for hanging towels or decorative accessories. Choose a waterproof MDF or seal timber planks before painting to withstand high moisture areas. Grand La Rochelle painted cast iron bateau bath, £2,875, The Cast Iron Bath Company. For a similar paint colour, try Dulux Mineral Mist Easycare bathroom paint, £22 for 2.5ltrs, Homebase

OVER TO YOU Want more panelling inspiration? These ideas on Instagram are leading the way

@alicemaughaninteriors

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@lydias_layton_life

@amys_family_home

REALHOMES.COM

Decorative displays

Modern lines We are a little bit in love with this striking chevron panelled wall by @joannecondon. The panels were made from timber planks, measured, cut and attached using Gorilla grab adhesive and nails. Filler where the planks meet gives it a smooth finish. To paint, prime first and apply two coats. Optiva 3 Ceramic paint, £37.38 for 3ltrs, Tikkurila

Country kitchen

Bring texture and interest to a simple scheme with vertical tongue and groove panelling. With a nod to cosy log cabins, this works especially well in a living room for a space where you’ll want to snuggle up and hunker down. We love how this pastel pink shade adds a contemporary, feminine edge. Orion three-seater sofa bed, £599.99, Oak Furnitureland. For a similar paint colour, try Middleton Pink Estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

} } DESIGN IDEAS

We’ve got many more striking feature wall ideas ready for you on realhomes.com. From panelling to wallpaper and paint effects, head there now for more inspiration!

Statement shapes How amazing is this! When creating your own panelling, you don’t need to stick to classic designs. Try modern shapes and new patterns that really pack a punch, such as this honeycomb effect by @karenanita, made from timber planks meticulously measured, cut to shape and fixed using Gorilla grab adhesive. For full details of how to do it, head to welliguessthisisgrowing up.co.uk. Epic Adventure Premium wall paint, £28 for 2.5ltrs, Valspar

PHOTOGRAPHS @KARENANITA (BOTTOM) AND @JOANNECONDON (TOP RIGHT)

Material matters

Extending your splashback up your wall not only protects it from blender mishaps, but horizontal tongue and groove panelling like this creates a refined country style. This deep green really lets the vibrant tiles pop. Ipanema mugs, £4, and cast-iron casserole dish, £45, Sainsbury’s Home. For a similar paint colour, try Enchanted Ivy flat matt, £37.99 for 2.5ltrs, Crown

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‘There was only one original window on the right before, so we had another made to match and added a Crittall steel door to the back garden,’ says Emma. ‘I’d have loved a row of them but it wasn’t possible as this is a Conservation Area.’

S T RE E T LIFE

Emma and James Pais’ colourful décor has turned their Glasgow home into the ‘party house’ of their street

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aving been drawn to the panelled sash windows, ornate cornicing and William Morris wallpaper, Emma and James Pais wanted to preserve the original features of their three-storey Edwardian home while also modernising in their own eclectic way. It’s a home that reflects their love of art and music, with bold colour choices and vintage furniture. Converting the basement from three dark rooms into a dual-aspect open-plan kitchendiner and living room was the game changer, finally connecting the house to the south-facing garden and becoming the place where neighbours flock for a good old knees up. Five years on and they’ve decorated a few rooms twice, as well as moving their bedrooms from the ground floor to the first floor. Over the following pages, Emma and James explain how they’ve settled into a new community and made their historic house work for them….

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#SOREALHOMES

Sofa, Loaf. Rug, La Redoute. HK Living striped black and white cushion, Trouva, is similar. For a coffee table, try the Astro table, G-Plan

FIND MORE RENOVATION INSPIRATION AND ADVICE AT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

edwardian renovation

Left ‘I’d seen these tiles (on the wall) in a garden,’ says Emma. ‘Because they look like a piece of art, I felt they’d work around the bottom half alongside the exposed brickwork. We got the table from a guy in Notting Hill who was covering farmhouse tables with zinc before anyone else was doing it.’ For a similar dining table, try The Vintage Furniture Company. Wall tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pendant lights, Made Right ‘We were restricted with where we could place the stove so I decided to turn it into a feature with funky chevron tiles,’ Try Direct Stoves for a similar wood burner. Tiles, Bert & May. Lips cushion, Ikea. Photography print, Flood Gallery Right and far right ‘The existing Magnet kitchen was repainted as it was good quality, and we changed the handles. I had always wanted a haberdashery unit for the island. We found this one on Ebay and got some marble for the top.’ Veg rack, Etsy. Woodwork painted in Railings and walls painted in India Yellow, both Farrow & Ball. Stools, Cox & Cox. Wall and floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Island pendant lights, Pooky. Rug under island, Ikea. Crockery, flea markets, TK Maxx and Anthopologie

JAMES SAYS…

‘When we first viewed the house, I loved the scale of the rooms and the neighbourhood. I’m a big cook, so the basement’s potential really appealed to me. Having the space to entertain and cook at the same time was really important as I don’t like missing out on the chat. The record player isn’t too far away to soundtrack me while I’m cooking, and I love the Loaf sofa down there – it’s so comfortable. ‘Em and I have pretty similar tastes. We enjoy making our home a comfortable and fun space to be in – a place that feels like us. When people leave our house they always say they’ve had a great time and that’s testament to how the house feels. It’s not contrived – you can spill wine and it’s fine! ‘Em has probably pushed me to do more than I would choose, but as a result I’m handier than I realised. She’s probably more likely to be tasked with the paintbrush and me with the drill, but we’re a good team and have the same can-do attitude. I always trust Em’s intuition, although I did get rather stressed when she insisted a six-foot glass wardrobe would fit up our stairs, as did the two men lifting it with me! ‘One thing I’ve learned is that we don’t need to do everything at once. Em likes to keep the projects rolling but I like more time. Next she’d love a wood-fired pizza oven and dedicated barbecue area in the back garden, but in Scotland I’m not sure how much use it’ll get. ‘The best thing about the house is how the space can evolve. We can start the day in the basement and garden, wander upstairs to play a game in the family room and end up in the living room by the fire listening to records. ‘I definitely don’t regret making the leap from London and starting over in Glasgow. We landed in the best street and have such a great set of friends around us. I’d like to say it will be our forever house. We love the community here and no other place has felt quite this special to me.’

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‘After 17 years in London, we decided to move back to Glasgow where I was born. Our daughter Skye was three and we wanted to be closer to her grandparents. Booking an Airbnb for a long weekend proved a great idea as we could suss out the local pubs, bakeries and coffee shops before buying. We loved Strathbungo, a Conservation Area in the south of the city, so focused our search there. ‘On my next trip north, I viewed eight properties in one day and fell for a three-storey Edwardian house. The basement was a dark burrow with a kitchen, utility room and den, but had lots of potential. Although the décor was dark and dated with carpets over the wooden floors, the rear faced south so I knew it could be much lighter. When I sent pictures to James, he loved it too. ‘The first night in our new house we camped on the floor as our furniture was still in transit from London. The two large removal lorries struggled to get down the narrow street, but after a few stressful hours we got unloaded. ‘James already had a new job, but since I was still looking, I had time to start stripping, painting and papering. I’m quite intuitive – I know what colours I want – but it’s good to live in the space and see how the light bounces off different paint and wallpaper samples. I always make moodboards: it’s like a jigsaw finding out what works. ‘I’d wanted to open the basement rooms as soon as we moved in – I was positive it would really impact how we used our home, and would be worth the short period of discomfort. We started two years after. Knocking everything together to create an open-plan lounge and kitchen-diner required two steel joists. Unfortunately work was delayed as our first builders didn’t complete the job effectively and the bathroom above fell through the ceiling! Luckily a neighbour recommended some brilliant builders who rectified things. ‘The basement is definitely the party room. We’ve paved part of the garden to create a dining area with a boho structure at the back where we love screening outdoor movies in summer. We’re lucky as there’s always some kind of event going on, like ‘Bungo in the Back Lanes’, where everyone opens their back gardens for food and drink. I couldn’t imagine living in a better street.’

REALHOMES.COM

EMMA SAYS…

‘Locally we’re known as “the wallpaper house” as people can see the William Morris wallpaper through the window,’ says Emma. ‘There was rather a lot of it, so I painted the back wall yellow to break it up. We both love art. The Iris Apfel print inspires me to wear more colour.’ Pink sofa, Sofa.com. Wall painted in Hustle at 5pm, Fired Earth. Iris Apfel print by Jordan Andrew Carter, Print Club London. Flamingo print, Nelly Duff Gallery

TOP TIP

Enhance your decorative coving by picking out the pattern in the same shade of paint you’ve used on your feature wall

WORDS KAREN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE

THE OWNERs Emma Pais, who works in advertising and has an interior design business (spais-studio.com), lives with her husband, James, who also works for an advertising firm, their daughter Skye, nine, and Harper the cat

For a similar chair, try the Freya lounge chair, Capital Dining Chairs. Lips artwork, Sarah Pope. Rolling Stones limited edition photograph by Michael Joseph. Table, Urban Outfitters. Cushions, Graham & Green

BEFORE

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom three-storey Edwardian townhouse in Glasgow project COST £60,000

Above ‘If you go for a strong colour, then tonally notch it down a little and use those shades and nuances across the room,’ says Emma. ‘There might be six strong colours, but the rest are shades of the same colour.’ Green velvet sofa, Sofa.com. Orange paint colour, Charlotte’s Locks 268, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Woven Ground. Print by Ben Rider, Print Club London. Frida cushion, Graham & Green. Other cushions, Trouva and home made. Floor lamp, BHS. Cactus vase, Amara

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Profile

Above ‘I already had purple and green sofas, so grey seemed a good complementary colour in the living room. But as soon as I put the red lips up, I knew I needed a green wall.’

TOP TIP

Nothing says ‘party house’ like a bar. Upcycle a drinks trolley or old cabinet or dress some shelves with liquor bottles and cocktail glasses

Abigail Ahern lamp, Debenhams. Chair and rug, Sofa.com. Banana cushion, Urban Outfitters. Aida Bird artwork, Nelly Duff Gallery. Floor cushions, Oliver Bonas, Bohemia Design and Etsy

party ready House your favourite tipples in style with a dedicated drinks cabinet like Emma and James’ 1

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1 Portobello oak drinks cabinet, £810, Modish Living 2 Bardot webbed alcove cabinet, £725, Rose & Grey 3 Flute marble drinks cabinet, £599, Atkin & Thyme 4 Pearson wine cabinet, £1,575, Sweetpea & Willow

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Left, above and right ‘I’ve always been a salvager, so I got the cocktail cabinet for around £50 from the British Heart Foundation shop,’ says Emma. ‘It’s got a lovely mirrored tray that pulls out. I covered the black fireplace tiles in gold leaf, which works well with the mirror above.’

Left ‘Redecorating the hallway involved removing several layers of wallpaper,’ says Emma. ‘I used a professional painter as I didn’t trust myself with those high ceilings. We used the tiles in our previous house. I loved them so I was keen to use them again.’ Floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Bottom half of walls painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling light, BHS. Bench seat, H&M

Moved in February 2014

PROJECT TIMELINE

Planning permission granted to knock through basement rooms February 2016

Started stripping wallpaper March 2014

Bed, Sofa.com. Cat print, Le Gun. Walls painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball, and Pearl Ashes, Fired Earth. Eye cushion, Urban Outfitters. Floor lamp, Laura Ashley

Basement completed September 2018

Builders appointed; Emma gets busy with moodboards and sourcing June 2016

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Above ‘At first we had our bedroom on the ground floor, but we turned that into the family room and moved up to the top floor for privacy. It’s much cosier and calmer in here.’

‘I wanted a dark and boutiquey feel in here, so started with the Scandi wallpaper,’ says Emma. ‘It gives guests a bit of drama and a sense of being enclosed.’ Rabarber wallpaper by Borastapeter, Jane Clayton. Henley bed, Feather & Black, is similar. Vintage chair painted in Provence chalk paint, Annie Sloan. Bookshelves painted in Booth Bay Gray, Benjamin Moore. Window panels painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball

Left ‘Skye’s bedroom used to have a pale pink and mint colour scheme but as she grew older, she wasn’t that girl any more – she’s a bit more rock ‘n’ roll,’ says Emma. ‘She chose the teal colour, adding stripes when she got into basketball.’ Wall painted in Coral Flair, Dulux. ‘This is who I am’ print by Jonathan Burrill, Print Club London. Duvet cover, La Redoute

Costs & contacts

Above ‘The shower breaking was a good excuse to re-do this room. I’d always wanted rose gold fittings and found a gold trimmed shower screen to match. The splashback tiles came from a charity shop.’ Shower, Drench. Screen, Lusso Stone. Subway tiles, Topps Tiles. Border tiles, Ebay. Floor tiles, Walls & Floors. Wall painted in Coral Flair, Dulux. Mirror, Ikea

HOME SCHOOL Copy Emma and maximise space in your kid’s room with an elevated bed and desk they’ll love

Basement renovation £35,000 Bathroom £12,000 Hallway £6,000 Shower room £5,000 Decorating and furniture £2,000 Total project cost £60,000 Joinery and decorating: Alex McNealy of Our House Interiors, 0787 1962346

Stars high sleeper bed, desk and shelves, £300, Argos

Batistellar Tippy bunk bed and desk, £2,370, Go Modern

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Svarta loft bedframe with desktop, £195, Ikea

A GUIDE TO

Terraced homes

Cramped and unwelcoming home in need of a revamp? Your terrace could benefit from an overhaul. Get advice and take inspiration from these projects

WORDS IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPH BUILD TEAM

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significant part of the UK housing stock is made up of terraced period homes with lots of character and appeal. These dwellings can, however, be a challenge to modern family living, with tight spaces and inflexible closed-off layouts. As a result, terraces are prime candidates for upgrades, often taken on by builders and architects up and down the country for remodelling. You can successfully bring a terraced house into the 21st century even when presented with common issues like access to the rear of the building and planning restrictions. Government rules on extending allowances have helped to make things easier for homeowners: permitted development meaning there’s usually no need to seek consent for certain types of extensions and conversions. Bear in mind that these rules don’t apply to properties with listed building status and those within a Conservation Area, though: if you’re unsure, it’s always best to check with your local authority. Ready to get started? Our guide will help you decide what to do – plus be inspired by three homeowners who have taken on their own projects.

TURN THE PAGE TO SEE HOW A REAR EXTENSION TRANSFORMED THIS GROUND-FLOOR FAMILY FLAT 75

real home 1

SMART CHOICES

PHOTOGRAPHS BUILD TEAM

Caspar Williamson, Kelly Bray and their daughter, Margot, extended their Victorian terraced flat to provide more entertaining space ‘We bought our home in 2017 and after living there for two years and undertaking a lot of DIY projects to save money, we enlisted Build Team to help us reorganise and extend the two-bedroom property,’ says Caspar. ‘Our kitchen and living rooms were small. Because we had a large garden, our friends often came round, which was fine in the summer – but it was difficult to entertain in the winter. ‘The work started in October and finished exactly three months later – we had a hard deadline because we couldn’t rent for longer than that. I was able to be on site every day and I think that helped speed things up because I could make decisions quickly. Kelly and I had a few plans we had to scale back in order to stick to our budget, such as foregoing underfloor heating and using fewer Velux windows. Looking back, we’re quite glad we did because the space is exactly the right temperature now in the summer and the winter, too. ‘When we mentioned we wanted to extend, Build Team suggested we add a pitched roof. Because we’re a ground floor flat, it would bring more light into the space and give a sense of a much larger room. We went out by four metres and so had to seek planning consent, but it’s made all the difference. We really wanted a bigger living space and an extra single room. ‘We saved money by reusing some of our old kitchen and buying the extra units. When we first moved in we installed a patio, so once we finished the extension we were able to reuse the paving in the courtyard area, too. We feel like we're living in an Airbnb every day: even the simple things, like having breakfast together before I take Margot to nursery, feel really special.’

PITCH UP If you’re extending, pitched roof structures give more height and create a greater sense of space. They can help create a distinction between the older and newer property, or can be matched to the existing roof form. A new pitched roof can add extra usable space for a mezzanine level and is great for water runoff. Do bear in mind, though, that they may take longer to install and could be more costly than a flat-roofed version.

PROTECTED STATUS Buildings that are listed or that fall within a Conservation Area have special architectural or historic interest. They fall under a protected status, so if this applies to you, you’ll need to gain special permission in order to make any changes to the external and internal elements of the building. It’s best to speak to your local planning authority should you wish to update a property that falls under one of these categories.

COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost £60,000 Design and build Build Team, 0207 495 6561, buildteam.com

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PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT You can perform certain works without needing planning permission for most terraced houses (for exceptions, see ‘Protected status’) under permitted development (PD) rights, though this doesn’t apply to flats or maisonettes. Single-storey rear extensions are permitted within a depth of 3m and a height of 4m, and must not exceed more than 50 per cent of the land around the original house; this differs for side-return extensions (see ‘On side’, p.79). A new fast-track approval process for double-storey extensions is now in place, too. Head to realhomes.com/planningpermission for more details.

BEFORE

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NATURAL LIGHT Getting light into the former rear section of an extension is important. However, careful planning for glazing is essential: a space with too much of it can create uncomfortable temperatures in the winter and in the summer. A good balance through careful positioning and the use of modern double-glazed and gas-filled units with low U-values will ensure year-round use.

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A NEW FLOW Lizi Sanchez’s end-of-terrace 1970s home has always been practical and functional, but the wide passage at the side of the property was ripe for extending

PHOTOGRAPHS TIM CHARLES

‘We live on a quiet cul-de-sac next to a school, so we’re in a good location – just two minutes’ walk from the station – but we wanted extra space and it was important to have lots of bright light,’ says Lizi. ‘I also wanted to feel like the garden was integrated into the house, so that if you were in the living room you could still see the sky and the plants. I really wanted the house to feel fresh, practical and joyful with a good flow. ‘FlowerKittle Architects helped us design a rear and side extension. We went out by approximately two metres in the garden and took advantage of the two-metre-wide side passage. The extension has allowed us to gain extra space for a dining room facing the garden, and on the side we’ve gained a high ceiling with a new bathroom and a staircase that takes you to a mezzanine guest/ TV room. The space is separate from the rest of the first floor of the house to make it feel self-contained. ‘We kept part of the external side wall to have a division between the new space and the living room and although it isn't too wide, the high ceiling gives a sense of spaciousness. The floor is concrete with underfloor heating and runs from the back to the side extension and the bathroom, creating a lovely flow through the space. We originally had a galley kitchen – a layout we decided to keep – but we’ve been able to add a small pantry at the end, which helps us keep the kitchen walls free of cabinets. ‘I'm an artist, so having this light, bright space is ideal when I work from home, and also for my son's crafts and school projects. It’s perfect for us.’ COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost £130,000 Architect FlowerKittle Architects, 01252 597147, flowerkittle.com

MAKE SAVINGS Discuss your budget with your design or build team, who have the experience to know ways in which you can save money. For instance, are there any elements that you can reuse, such as kitchen units or appliances? Could you reduce the number of roof lights or bi-folds that you install? And could the extension be smaller and still have a positive impact on the way you want to live?

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IMPROVED COMFORT If you’re already undertaking a sizable renovation, consider upgrading the property’s thermal efficiency at the same time. It’ll pay off when it comes to your comfort levels in the summer and winter months and could help you save on your energy bills. Insulating the loft, the walls, and floors and closing off any gaps around windows will go a long way to improving the energy rating of your home.

THE RULES Building regulations outline a minimum standard that your project has to achieve, covering fire safety, electrics and more, and are there to ensure that your home is structurally safe and efficient. You may find that they differ between England, Scotland and Wales. You don’t need approval for like-for-like replacements; however, use your local council’s building control services or an approved inspector to ensure you’re meeting the standards.

BEFORE

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ON SIDE If your home has a side return, you could extend out to increase your living space without going into your rear garden. Expect to pay up to £2,400 per square metre for a high quality finish, or around £1,900 for a basic- to goodquality finish. A single-storey side addition will fall under permitted development rights if the width is no more than half of the original house and the height no more than four metres. For extensions within two metres of a boundary, the eaves height mustn't be more than three metres.

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SLOW & STEADY

ON TIME Depending on the complexity of your project, a renovation or extension can take anything from six weeks to 18 months. It may be worth approaching the work in different phases. This would be beneficial if you choose to remain in the property while works take place and if you don’t have the budget to do everything at once, as it will give you time to save up. Depending on your budget, moving out can speed up the process as contractors won’t have to work around possessions and occupants.

PHOTOGRAPHS BEN BLOSSOM / FRENCH + TYE

Emily Burnett’s renovation and loft extension presented a ripe opportunity to bring in more light and create a master suite with striking views ‘We didn’t have a big budget so we have had to do things gradually,’ says Emily. ‘We completed the refurbishment first then added the loft. We then redid the kitchen and basement. My style developed as the project progressed. Redoing rooms has made me realise which spaces make me most happy and relaxed: I like light colours and natural materials. I also like feature elements that have a narrative – I know the person who made them, or I spent a long time designing it for a reason. ‘On the ground floor we were focused on bringing light into the space and wanted to create a better connection. The hallway wall was moved to enlarge the entrance area and give the illusion of a more generously proportioned house. Internal windows were added, allowing light to flow through the opened up plan. I wanted to keep a sense of the original house but with a contemporary loft. ‘Although the original rooms are quite clearly Victorian in proportion, we’ve added the modern internal glass screens up through the house from ground floor to loft. Increasing light wherever we could was really important. I enjoy having things that have been crafted for the spaces. The kitchen is by Sebastian Cox for Devol, and you can see the joints of the solid timber panelled doors. The cabinet in the dining room is made from Spelk – a material designed by an RCA design graduate. ‘I love being able to see the timber of the kitchen through the dark wood stain, compared to the white gloss Ikea kitchen I chose originally. Our house feels a lot more cohesive: the new areas flow well and sit comfortably with the original Victorian build.’ COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost £100,000 Architect Gruff Architects, 020 8692 9130, gruffarchitects.com Builder RBC Projects Ltd, 07900 818 883

BEFORE

COVER UP Loft conversions are usually covered by PD as long as the extension isn’t higher than the tallest part of the existing roof, and as long as the addition doesn’t exceed 40 cubic metres for a terraced house. Find out whether your planning department may be amenable to a bold design that shows a clear distinction between the old and the new. Zinc and corten steel additions have proved popular in recent years for their durability and modern finish. Charred timber, shiplap and traditional style brickslips can also be applied to give a great visual impact.

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FROM WITHIN Internal glazing can distribute light around your interior and create a greater sense of space. Divide areas or rooms using glazed units, which can be frosted to retain privacy. A striking Crittall-style design is a contemporary way to separate a kitchen from a formal dining area, for example, or install walk-on frosted glass to bring light into a basement.

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NEIGHBOURLY CONCERNS Party wall agreements cover shared walls between semi-detached and terraced houses, floors between flats or maisonettes and garden boundary walls or fences. Any other changes that may affect a party wall, such as excavations, also need consideration. You must serve a minimum of two months’ notice before work commences. If you have a good relationship, speak to your neighbours first and ask them to agree in writing – it could save you up to £900 in legal fees.

Kahrs Tres Erve matt lacquered wood flooring, £54.99 per m2, Carpetright

GUIDE TO WOODEN FLOORING

Mikeno wood-effect tiles in ash, grey and honey, £16.99 per m2, Tile Mountain

There’s nothing quite like the natural grain of wood to warm up your decorating scheme and bring texture to your space. But when it comes to picking a wooden floor, there are so many options available, you can be forgiven for being more than slightly bamboozled. With a vast range of materials, patterns, layouts and colours to choose from, the Real Homes Show is here to reveal everything you need to know to get the perfect flooring first time.

E H T O T N I E TUN W O H S S E M O H L A E R

W WAY TO E N G IN IT C X E ERE’S AN H T ? S E M O H L EA E TV SHOW IN L N WANT MORE R O R U O H S FIX WIT R IO R E T IN R U GET YO

WORDS AMELIA SMITH PHOTOGRAPH MALCOLM MENZIES (BOTTOM LEFT)

Pyro range cooker, £3,299, Fisher & Paykel

WIN WIN WIN

Competition time!

Behind closed doors We feature a lot of gorgeous homes in our magazine, and now we’re reminiscing on some of the best – including @victoria_road_restoration (above). From open-plan kitchen-diners to playful gardens and spacious loft conversions, editor Beth Murton discusses her favourite projects and why they stood out to her. Relax and take the tour for some expert insight and a close-up view of homes we’ve loved.

Have you heard? In every episode of the Real Homes Show, we’ve got an amazing prize up for grabs. From fridges to ovens, we’ve found the appliances that’ll make your life simpler and your home more stylish. Watch the Real Homes Show now to see what’s on offer and enter at realhomes.com. Thank us later!

Steel quad door fridge-freezer with variable temperature zone, £2,599, Fisher & Paykel

WATCH EVERY EPISODE AT REALHOMES.COM/TV 83

The family loves to slide the huge glass doors back whenever the weather permits. The Victorian mangle was one of the many discoveries made as they peeled back the years. ‘I wouldn’t have enjoyed using that!’ Sophie laughs. Bricks, Imperial Handmade Bricks. Glass doors, Finepoint

barn conversion

RURAL LIVING Sophie and George transformed a neglected barn in east Kent into a family home, creating a country lifestyle Enid Blyton could have written about 84

TOP TIP Display any unusual treasures you find in a period property to add character and celebrate its heritage

BEFORE

Clockwise from top left The original barn now houses the kitchen-diner and double-aspect living room. Beams and the dark painted wall accentuate the ceiling height. Kitchen, JMM Joinery. Worktop, Corian. Flooring, Contemporary Concrete Floors. Chairs, Ebay. Table, made bespoke. Ceiling light, Lamp & Light. For a similar wall paint, try Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball

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THE OWNERs Sophie Pound, a full-time mum, her husband, George, a property developer, their children, Phoebe, three, and Archie, one, and Springer Spaniel Dottie

For chalkboard paint, try Rust-Oleum

THE PROPERTY A 19th-century barn forming part of a small farm complex in rural East Kent project COST £243,750

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FOR MORE RENOVATION INSPIRATION AND ADVICE, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS #SOREALHOMES

Profile

Above The original beams add character to the children’s playroom. Sophie sourced the Ercol sofa on Ebay for just £10.

hile Sophie and George Pound could see the potential in a dilapidated barn surrounded by orchards, farmland and rolling hills, they couldn’t quite have envisaged the contemporary yet cosy interior they now enjoy. And as for the setting… ‘It’s nothing short of amazing,’ says Sophie. ‘Being able to step out of the house and straight into this landscape is a joy. It’s beautiful – the orchards behind the house, the fruit trees in the garden, the vast array of rambling roses the previous owners planted, the fields beyond framing the sunset and rise every day, space to keep chickens; it’s idyllic. We’re so lucky to be living here’. The Cartlodge, situated on a quiet country lane on the outskirts of a small village, is one of three farm buildings recently renovated by the couple along with George’s brother, Will. The building wasn’t big enough for the family, so they added a large extension at right angles to the barn to house three bedrooms and two bathrooms. In the original barn are the lofty kitchen-diner, utility and cloakroom and double-aspect living room. ‘We could’ve renovated the property and then added the extension at a later date, but it made sense to do it all at once,’ says Sophie. ‘We like the feeling of space the double-height rooms gives us, and the old beams and struts are works of art in themselves. We tried to keep the integrity of the old cart shed – we left some things, like the old saw in the living room, where they were.’ The result is light, bright and cosy – helped by the underfloor heating throughout. The living space is largely open plan. Bespoke carpentry mirrors the original fabric of the building, which offered up many surprises as the building work commenced. ‘We unearthed loads of farming equipment during the development,’ says Sophie. ‘A fete tractor ride, a lot of galvanised chicken equipment, pitch forks, cherry pickers, huge ladders, lawn tennis nets for the old tennis court, and an old washing mangle… all of these tell a story about the history of the buildings. The mangle makes me feel particularly for the women who would have lived here in days gone by, especially now I have two young children! The previous owner was a farmer who was a prominent member of the community, hence the tractor ride for the fetes that used to be held in the garden.’ Sophie says they liked the idea that they were giving the barn a new beginning, which will one day be part of its history for someone else. ‘It’s also an amazing place to raise kids. Phoebe loves being outside and Archie is just starting to follow her around the garden – it’s a near perfect setting for them both to grow up. Climbing trees, eating blackberries – Famous Five, eat your heart out! It’s the exact childhood I dreamt of being able to give them.’ The barn is the couple’s first proper investment together. ‘Before this we’d rented and it was frustrating not to be able to put our stamp on a property,’ says Sophie. ‘George is a bit of a techie, so we have a really useful smart system to control the heating and lighting, which is kind of a contrast to the age and original purpose of the building. We believe it deserves the best, though’. The couple enjoyed the renovation so much, they’re on to their next one – another farm building in the same development, which they will move into once finished. ‘We’ve learned a lot – not least about managing the work in the most efficient way, and really listening to the building. We feel we’ve got the right balance between old and new, and we’ve rescued an abandoned building that might not have had the chance to be a lively family home.’

‘WE’VE TRIED TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING – THE OLD BEAMS AND STRUTS ARE WORKS O F A R T. I T ’ S A N A M A Z I N G P L A C E T O R A I S E K I D S ’

Chairs, Loaf. Rug, H&M. Lamp, John Lewis & Partners. Cushions, HomeSense

Below The large living room is in the centre of the building, with windows either side providing plenty of light. Original artwork by Margot in Margate celebrates the barn’s history, which is thought to have been built around 1818.

soft touch Follow Sophie and George’s lead and pick rich velvet armchairs for a space that feels as good as it looks 1

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1 Anderson upholstered armchair in blush pink velvet, £399, Cult Furniture 2 Celine armchair, £175, Habitat 3 Curvarella velvet armchair in Turmeric, £699, Audenza 4 Pamela armchair, £525, Sweetpea & Willow

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WORDS KATHRYN REILLY PHOTOGRAPHS JODY STEWART

Sofas, Loaf. Cushions, HomeSense Rattan lampshade, Ikea

Costs & contacts Build work and fees £200,000 Furnishings £17,500 Kitchen £12,000 Decoration £7,750 Tiles £6,500 Designer/architect MPL Group, 01304 360 900, themplgroup.co.uk Glass doors Finepoint, 01923 229 949, finepoint.glass Doors XL Joinery, 01924 350500, xljoinery.co.uk Flooring Contemporary Concrete Floors, 01634 907021, contemporaryconcretefloors.co.uk Bricks Imperial Handmade Bricks, 01952 750816, imperialhandmadebricks.co.uk

The main bedroom has uninterrupted views over farmland. A calming palette contrasted with black accent pieces creates a cool monochrome finish. Try Loaf for a similar bed. Mirror, Graham & Green. Prints and lampshade, Rose & Grey. Cabinet, John Lewis & Partners. Bedlinen, Next.

Barn purchased 2015

PROJECT TIMELINE

Planning permission granted 2018

Layout and plans finalised 2017

Watertight winter 2018

Renovation begins 2018

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Moved in early 2019

TOP TIP Create a spa-like sense of luxury by covering the shower area with striking tiles. Painted walls elsewhere are easy to update

Sophie and George’s en suite is decorated in a stunning blue shade. ‘We kept things neutral almost everywhere else, so this blue really stands out,’ says Sophie. Walls painted in Dix Blue, Farrow and Ball. Wall lights, Graham & Green. Wall tiles, Walls & Floors. Floor tiles, Victorian Plumbing. Vintage prints, Mileage Vintage

All change on the home front The events of the last few months have meant our homes are flexing in more ways than ever before, but does that mean our project priorities have shifted

WORDS JENNIFER MORGAN ILLUSTRATION GETTY IMAGES

too, asks Jennifer Morgan e once dreamt of that big open-plan space, an extension running across the back of our homes with a lovely big kitchendining-living space where we could eat, socialise and relax, with a bedroom for guests and a lovely big garden. Yet the events of this year have really stretched our homes to the max: we’ve turned them into classrooms, home gyms, home offices, home bars and dine-at-home restaurants, but have our wish lists changed too? ‘I think people are noticing more what doesn’t work about their homes,’ says Rebecca Winward, interiors journalist and author of How We Live Now (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99), due out in January. ‘We’ve had to spend so much time at home during lockdown that we’ve noticed practical and aesthetic failings. Some will have been more obvious than others; for instance, if people don’t have a dedicated workspace then that will have likely been a pain point if they’ve needed to work from home, or if their outside space isn’t up to scratch, then

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extensions, allowing old kitchens to become that office/gym/utility,’ he explains. ‘Living space is too precious to use for function, and our open-plan kitchen-living-dining spaces just can’t accommodate the mess of real life. Everyone is starting to notice this now they are staring at it 24/7.’ ‘I don’t think open plan will ever fall out of favour, though,’ explains Rebecca. ‘It’s one of the few ways to make a modestly sized house feel like a spacious home. Personally, I don’t think people will compromise on their love for this type of layout – I think they’re more likely to look at creating private spaces elsewhere, so they can have their cake and eat it. I think we’ll see people focusing on getting more out of underused parts of the home, such as a landing or box room, converting the garage or adding a garden office.’ And the changing way we live has impacted all areas of living, even the co-living space. Jade Bailey of Bee Space (bee-space.co.uk), a design-led creative property company that specialises in co-living and co-working spaces, has always tried to do things a little differently. ‘My priority when designing is to have as much open communal space as possible, which can be a place to eat, work and socialise – a place for people to come together outside of their bedrooms. Homes need to offer flexible spaces for work.’ It’s something Mark Hayward, chief executive at NAEA Propertymark (naea. co.uk), has also noticed since the pandemic. ‘In the coming years, more attention may be given to prioritising the home as a workplace. Spatial organisation will change, with the place to work at home evolving from an afterthought slotted in a corner, into its own space with comfortable furniture. We may also see a rise in demand for outside work

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space within the home – office pods and converted outbuildings offer the feeling of going to work, which is good for mental health as it removes a person from the “home” space, while still being in its curtilage.’ Mark believes we are in the ‘first phase’ of a shift of priorities by homeowners and homebuyers. ‘Over the next five years, depending on the economic situation, new and interesting house trends will develop.’ Our gardens have also become increasingly important to us. ‘Those lucky enough to have access to a garden no doubt found the restrictions much easier to handle than those in flats,’ says Lisa. ‘In countries where the weather is a little kinder, people have long considered an enclosed porch, veranda or deck as additional living space.’ Lisa predicts this will grow in popularity here too, as we spend more on creating these outdoor rooms. ‘I’ve seen some amazing garden pubs, backyard cinemas, kids’ play areas and covered patios created during lockdown on social media,’ adds Rebecca. ‘To enable all-yearround garden enjoyment, some kind of undercover area is a must.’ So, what does the future hold for our homes? ‘I don’t think the trend for social hubs like kitchen-diners will change,’ says Lisa. ‘In an increasingly digital world, we still crave spaces where we can connect and be together. Kitchens will remain the heart of the home, but people will be looking for private spaces in addition to those more communal areas.’ ‘I’d like to see an increase in function-first design,’ says Ewan, which will ultimately add to our project spend. ‘We need sockets, USB sockets, multiple light sources, storage, WiFi, home hubs, heating, cooling… it’s all pretty ugly stuff, but we’re not going to give it up so we need to embrace it and work the design around it rather than try to hide it.’ ‘I think we’re all going to have to become more creative about how we use our existing space – especially in times when finances might be tight,’ says Rebecca. ‘Carving out extra space inside is going to be a very individual thing; it’s a case of going around and looking for those quiet corners that are underused and working out how they can be maximised.’ While this might not be as costly as that dream extension, what such changes will offer when it comes to home benefits and how we live, work and play, will be priceless.

REALHOMES.COM

that wouldn’t have helped with the feelings of cabin fever.’ ‘We can put up with a lot of things – like a lack of storage or inadequate lighting – when we are using a room occasionally, but when a home is getting heavy all-day use, every space needs to function at its best,’ says interior designer Lisa Honiball (honeyinteriordesign.co.uk), who also runs online courses. ‘I think that being home all day together has probably made people more realistic about the restrictions open-plan living imposes on us. We will probably see a move towards more broken-plan homes, with a dedicated room for a home office (where a house allows). Brokenplan living is particularly relevant in the UK where we have such a smallhouse footprint to work with; we just don’t have the luxury of larger individual spaces, which is why we moved to open plan originally.’ Property developer Ewan Stovell (stovellproperty.com) has noticed a demand for more functional spaces – whether that’s an office, gym or a utility room. ‘We’re seeing this taking the form of outbuildings and also new

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Period renovation

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Half the house is cosy Georgian cottage, the other half is lofty Victorian villa – together they make a wholly perfect house for Julia and Kevin Currie and their family

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Profile THE OWNERs Julia Currie, a photographer (juliacurriephotography. com), and her husband Kevin, a marketing director, live here with their children, Florence, Theo, and Henry THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom partGeorgian, partVictorian house in Gomshall, Surrey

Above Caruso sofa, Sofa Workshop. Coral cushion, Also Home. Floral cushion, Rockett St George, Bouquet, The Real Flower Company

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WORDS ANDRÉA CHILDS STYLING PIPPA BLENKINSOP PHOTOGRAPHS JULIA CURRIE

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ur previous house was built in the 1930s but I always wanted to live in an older property,’ says Julia Currie. ‘To be honest, I’m amazed that a house so beautiful and historic in this area was in our price range. We lost it for three months during the buying process, when the owners accepted a better cash offer, but even then, I had this belief I was going to live here. When that sale fell through, the house was finally ours.’ It was February 2017 when Julia, her husband, Kevin, and their three children moved in, but as the purchase had gone through a few weeks earlier, Julia had made the most of having an empty house, pulling up carpets, stripping walls and repainting some of the rooms. ‘It was a privilege to have the house to myself,’ she says. ‘It has such a rich history and I was able to get to know the place in peace.’ The property was originally one of two terraced Georgian cottages. Two-storey Victorian extensions were later added to each cottage, during which time the cottages were knocked through to create one large house. In the 1950s, it became a guest house, before becoming a single property once more. ‘Thirty years ago, it was sold again and converted back into two homes, each with a Georgian and Victorian part, and that’s what we inherited,’ says Julia. ‘There’s a real difference between the architecture and atmosphere as you move through the house. The Georgian cottage, where the living rooms are, is small and intimate; the Victorian extension, which has the kitchen, is loftier and brighter. I wanted a period house and, essentially, I have two! It’s the best of both worlds.’ The house is a work in progress – Julia calls it her ‘25-year project’ and has plans to knock through the kitchen, dining room and utility room to create a large cooking and living space that will become the hub of the family home. In the meantime, the photographer and stylist is making subtle décor choices that honour the history of the house while expressing the family’s passions and personality. ‘My style is quite eclectic,’ says Julia. ‘I previously ran a company hiring out vintage furniture and décor for events and photo shoots, so I have lots of items I’ve collected over the years. We were also fortunate that the previous owners decided to leave some furniture they’d had custom made for the house or was too big to move, such as the piano in the entrance hall, the 1950s Aga and the huge pine dresser in the kitchen.’ ‘I painted the dresser black, much to my mother’s horror. But it’s much more me now,’ laughs Julia. ‘And I’m a complete convert to the Aga. It was originally coal fired and had been reconditioned and converted to gas; we’re quite lazy cooks so it’s perfect.’ She also installed tongue-and-groove panelling where the previous owners had cork tiles on the wall, choosing a calamine pink paint. ‘I’ve tended to use soft tones throughout the house, such as the pale grey in the living room and cream in the bedroom. The exception is my office, which is in the original entrance hall-dining room. I chose a dark blue here to make it feel cosy but I kept the ceiling white as I didn’t want it to become too cave-like.’ The story of the house is revealed as you walk through its rooms. The different shutters and window designs in the Georgian and Victorian parts show shifting trends in architecture; the newly exposed floorboards reveal patches of paint, indicating where rugs would once have been laid; the varying ceiling heights speak of the house’s transition from country cottage to grand Victorian home. Now it’s the turn of Julia, Kevin and their children to put their own mark on the space. ‘I feel we’ve only just begun,’ she says. ‘And we have so much to look forward to.’

The old upright piano is the focal point of a charming display area. Rug, &Hobbs. Find a similar star decoration at Rockett St George. Julia’s photograph of eucalyptus in a jar is available from her online shop.

The 10-foot-long dresser was made from reclaimed Welsh pine floorboards for the previous owners. Julia painted it Off-Black, with walls painted in Wevet, all Farrow & Ball, for a more contemporary look. The table combines legs from a science desk from Birmingham University with the top of an old outdoor table. For a similar table, try the Farmhouse Table Co

TOP TIP Source legs and table tops separately to create a one-of-a-kind character table that will totally suit your scheme

FOR MORE PERIOD RENOVATION IDEAS, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/COMPLETED-PROJECTS

The 1950s Aga has been reconditioned and converted from coal to gas. ‘I keep it on all year round and dry my washing on the rack,’ says Julia.

#SOREALHOMES

Kitchen Maid clothes airer, Cast in Style. Julia’s photograph of roses is for sale on her website. Flowers, Kingfisher Flower Shop

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Below The front door opens into this room, which Julia uses as her office. Her desk and typewriter are vintage finds, as is the armchair that Fancy the cat finds so comfortable. For a similar chair, try the Chateauneuf at The French Bedroom Company. Chimney breast painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball. Rug, &Hobbs

MOODY BLUES Get the brush out like Julia and paint on a rich shade for a cosy nook

Route One Absolute matt emulsion, £47 for 2.5ltrs, Little Greene

G11 Estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

Into the Blue No251 flat matt emulsion, £37.99 for 2.5ltrs, Crown

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Peacock Blue matt emulsion, £12 for 2.5ltrs, Homebase

TOP TIP Blinds can easily be made from fabric for a cheap and pretty finish. Alternatively, use botanical patterns as wall hangings

Julia and Kevin found the blanket box in a charity shop but the Berrington Pine from Cotswold Co is very similar. Bed, Feather & Black. Rug and throws, &Hobbs. Blind made from Hatley fabric by Cabbages & Roses, Prints behind the bed are Julia’s own photographs

Below In Florence’s room, blue paint picks out the woodwork and draws attention to the original features. The vintage Holly Hobbie quilt is a gift from Julia’s sister Bed, Feather & Black. For a similar paint, try First Dawn by Dulux. Rug, &Hobbs

Above Julia freshened the bathroom up by painting the walls and bath panel. She also used white tile paint on the tiles and painted the floorboards. An old copper washing dolly adds a vintage touch. Walls painted in Calamine Pink; bath panel painted in Railings, both Farrow & Ball. Bath mat, &Hobbs

mirror mirror

Keep tidy with a two-in-one mirror cabinet to maximise your bathroom space 1

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1 The Bath Co. Camberley satin grey mirror cabinet, £165, Victoria Plum 2 Roper Rhodes Hampton mirrored cabinet, £269.99, Drench 3 Chatsworth blue two-door mirror cabinet, £179.95, Victorian Plumbing 4 Wireworks cabinet, £238, Nest

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loft conversion

UP IN THE CLOUDS Nicola has created a calm, Scandi-inspired sanctuary in the roof of the house she shares with her friends

Profile THE OWNER Nicola Simpson, a teacher turned interior designer (caloa-projects.com) Nicola built on a pared-back Scandi base of neutral walls and pale wooden floor with layers of texture and colour, including soft furnishings like rugs and throws. Hazelwood Home bed, Wayfair. Bedlinen, TK Maxx. Red pattern rug, vintage. Charles Bentley side table, Robert Dyas

THE PROPERTY A four-bed Victorian terrace in Peckham, south London project COST £61,750

LOFT

Below Large sliding doors open up the loft, providing ample light and city views.

conversions are often touted as a space-saving solution for families running out of room. But having your very own sanctuary in the roof for purely indulgent purposes is just as valid a reason to take on the work – after all, who doesn’t want a quiet space to slip away to when you need a bit of peace? Nicola Simpson did just that when she decided to extend upwards in the Victorian terraced house she lives in with friends. She’s quick to point out that the project was a luxury, not a necessity – but creating a selfcontained suite seems like a savvy move, giving Nicola and her friends more space for themselves and making the time they spend together more valuable. We spoke to her about how she created her dream bedroom suite.

Chair, Next Home. Curtains, Ada & Ina. Rattan stool, Ikea

Below Nicola integrated a small living area into her design, which doubles up as somewhere for exercise or home spa treatments. Flooring, Wickes, treated with Woca softwood lye and colour wood oil 118. Lamps, Ikea. Mirror, The White Company

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

ROOM TO RELAX ‘I really look forward to spending time in my room, which isn’t something as an adult I ever thought I’d say! It’s changed how we interact as a house, too. We appreciate the time we spend together much more because we have that separation of space – it feels a bit like a set of mini flats within a house. Despite it not being a huge project, it feels really spacious up here – if I’m feeling particularly energetic (which isn’t often), I’ll do yoga by the doors, and I’ve even had a masseuse give me a massage here! It really is like my little sanctuary.’

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DESIGN DETAILS

‘One thing I wanted from the conversion was loads of light. The builder sourced the glass doors along with the rooflights, and they flood the space with sunshine. The room is southfacing, so that whole wall of glass gets so much light that I had to buy double curtains just to add a bit of shade and privacy when I’m up here in the day. I still haven’t tired of waking up to the sky every day.’

MAKING SPACE

SIMPLE STYLE

‘My style is quite clean and classic. I do like the Scandi look, so I wanted to incorporate elements of that without it being too bare. To add warmth, I went for lots of textured fabric, like the linen curtains and rattan furniture, and blush pink colours. It’s such a calm and serene space, but it’s welcoming at the same time. I love really minor things like the fact there are plenty of plug sockets around the room. It sounds strange, but if things look nice but don’t work well, all you can focus on is how annoying it is to use.’

‘I rent out the other rooms in the house to my friends – it’s basically a grown-up house share. This was a bit of an investment property, and because I love the area but didn’t want to live by myself, it seemed like a logical solution. We still wanted a bit of separation, though, so a loft conversion made sense. It was quite a luxury for me to do this project, but I wanted to indulge in my love for interior design and see what I could do. We’re really lucky to live in an area with community forums where people post recommendations for tradespeople. We got a few quotes and Thomas Payne from Benchmark Lofts really stood out. He understood what I wanted to do, and that I didn’t want an identikit design. I’m quite particular about details and needed someone patient, and from the outset I could tell he’d relish the challenge.’

#SOREALHOMES

Rooflights, Velux. Walls painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Throw and scatter cushion, H&M Home

FOR MORE ADVICE AND IDEAS ON CONVERTING YOUR LOFT, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/LOFT-CONVERSION

Rooflights over the bed mean that Nicola can wake up to sky views and sleep under the stars. Lights attached to the shelf are a clever solution for minimal wall space.

Right Nicola used clever space-saving solutions for her en suite, adding rooflights to gain an extra few inches in head height, and choosing a wall-hung unit to maximise floor space.

EN SUITE

Duravit sink and wall unit, Deep Blue Bathrooms. Mirror, Prentice Glass

BEFORE

‘The en suite was tricky to fit in space-wise. I’m very particular and don’t like things that aren’t at right angles, and I was keen to make sure the door to the bathroom didn’t have a corner sliced off. Everything was designed to the millimetre – I even told the loft team the exact formatting I wanted for the tiles! I love the terrazzo floor. It was expensive, but because it’s a small space, it was doable. Plus I opted for a standard pine floor in the bedroom to balance out the cost. I went for the biggest skylight possible to add head height and brighten up the space, too.’

Left A walk-in shower adds a splash of luxury to the en suite, while ceramic wall tiles, meticulously planned out by Nicola, bring a stylish twist to the space. Aquadart shower, Home Supply. Equipe Ceramicas wall tiles, Al-Murad Tiles. Terrazzo floor tiles, Fired Earth. Brassware, Lusso Stone. Old School Electric bathroom lights, Amara

TOP TIP In a compact bathroom, wall-hung units make the space seem bigger by revealing more flooring, and showing off the pattern

Costs & contacts Build cost £53,000 Bathroom £3,750 Furniture & decor £3,000 Professional fees £2,000 Total project cost £61,750 Build company Benchmark Lofts, 020 7438 2043, benchmark-lofts.com Plans Kevin Given of Drawn Plans, 0191 246 2477, drawnplans.co.uk Rooflight Velux, 01592 778 225, velux.co.uk

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPH RICK MCCULLAGH

ship shape Ahoy! This month’s extension really floats our boat with its gorgeous Crittall windows, pitched roof for extra height, and sleek decking that even looks good in the rain. The architect likens the pointed shape of the addition to a ship’s prow (hence the terrible nautical puns) thanks to the way it juts out towards the garden – a clever design decision made in response to the skewed shape of the plot and to adhere to planning constraints. With ample glazing providing views outside, this extension is certainly making waves (sorry!) with us. A similar project, including the build and the glazing, might cost £180,000 (excluding VAT). A2studio, 020 7998 9066, a2studio.co.uk

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KITCHEN & BATHROOM

S AND ES THE LATEST IDEAS, TREND Harlo Puritti tap in black steel, £415, Caple

SENTIAL BUYS

FOR YOUR KITCHEN AN

D BATHROOM

Curve appeal

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE As our demand for sustainable living increases, so does our demand for filtered taps, which is why Caple has launched its model in a brand new colourway – matt black. A great alternative to buying bottled water, filtered taps offer the same goodness, health benefits and great taste, but without the cost to your pocket and the planet. And with this stylish design on offer, quite frankly, it’d be rude not to...

DELICATE DETAILS

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

COLOUR LOVE Sophisticated, mysterious, sumptuous– aubergine’s a colour we don’t see used enough in the kitchen. Combined with a brass tap and black accessories, it screams opulence. These crackle-effect glazed ceramic tiles are part of the new Dyroy Collection, £49.99 per m2, CTD Tiles.

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We love mixing modern and traditional style, and this shower room does it to perfection. These intricate new Ribera floor tiles are a fresh take on the classic Victorian design, and combined with matt black finishes and contemporary wall-hung furniture, it’s a style clash that works a treat. The deceptively large-format tile design makes them quick and easy to lay, plus they’re suitable for wetrooms, too. Ribera Aqua floor tiles, £30 per m2, Verona.

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Sleek rounded edges are high on our style radar, making these new island cooker hoods by AEG really stand out. Almost futuristic in looks, their compact size makes them ideal for smaller kitchens. With a boost mode and LED lighting, this simple design packs a real punch. AEG DLE0630B island cooker hood, £1,299, AO.com.

PURE & SIMPLE

Arnette bamboo bathroom mirror, £64.99, Wayfair

Nothing says bright and light like white, and Crosswater’s latest addition to its contemporary Mpro collection is a celebration in simplicity. The crisp matt white finish oozes modernity. Use it as a neutral base to a colourful scheme, or to blend in seamlessly with a white bathroom. Embrace the pure, fresh vibes of white for a breathable space that’s cool and unique. Matt white shower head, from £219, Crosswater.

EASY UPDATE

Bamboo shelf, £185, Rose & Grey

TREND SPOT

Natural textures Introduce wicker, rattan and bamboo to your bathroom for a calming and eco-friendly space

Solstice woven rattan vanity unit, £487.50, Maisons du Monde

MULTIPURPOSE KITCHEN ISLAND As more of us than ever use our kitchens as living areas rather than simply rooms for cooking, it’s important that kitchens adapt – and this island does just that. With a raised wooden breakfast bar as a socialising spot, and built–in open storage to stow away and display your personality, one half of the island is for relaxing, the other for cooking. Just what we need to maximise space. Linear Edge Kitchen, from £20,000, Harvey Jones

go retro Whether you save or splurge, p add colour and fun with a vibrant fridge-freezer for an instant style statement

SAVE

SPEND

Retro o fridge-freezer g r, £449, Amica

Retro ffridge-freezer, d f £599.99, Swan

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HVRDS retro fridgefreezer, £604.97, Hoover

FAB38RPG retro fridgefreezer, £1,899, Smeg

kitchen extension

EYE FOR DESIGN Taking on a major renovation project gave Clara and Liam the perfect opportunity to flex their design skills, resulting in this beautiful and bright modern kitchen

WHEN

you have a young family, taking on a huge renovation project is less than ideal – but despite the challenges, that’s exactly what Clara Felce and her partner, Liam Frost, did when they took on their run-down kitchen with two children in tow. After nearly five years of saving and planning, the couple simply couldn’t wait any longer. They called in an architect and a team of builders to alter the layout of the ground floor of their home and now, after over a year of building activity, all the hard work has paid off. Here, Clara reveals how renovating this beautiful, bright space has brought her family closer together.

The family-friendly Formica units make the kitchen easy to care for.‘We use special oil on the plywood cupboards to protect them,’ says Clara. ‘Liam wanted a colour to stand out against the blue units. When we saw this red tap, we fell in love. We have an orange one in our utility room, too.’ Essence tap, Grohe

WORDS AND STYLING MAXINE BRADY PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY

BEFORE

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Profile The owners Clara Felce, an OTC consultant, her partner, Liam Frost, a graphic designer, their two children, Daisy, nine, and George, six, and their cats, Sushi and Mr Kipper The property A four-bed end of terrace Victorian townhouse in Brighton project cost A similar extension and interior fit out would cost upwards of £120,000

After years of living with a white kitchen, graphic designer Liam focused on introducing colour into their new space. ‘We spent months choosing the right shade of blue for the room,’ says Clara. ‘We went with a bold design we know we’ll love for years to come.’ Kitchen, Wood Works Brighton. For similar lights, try Old Factory Pendant Lights, Industville

The couple decorated the dining area using retro-inspired furniture and accessories in bright shades. ‘The rest of the house is more traditional in keeping with the Victorian building, but here we could be more playful,’ says Clara.

The sliding doors expand right the way across the back of the house to create an easy flow from the kitchen into the garden. Garden table and chairs, Habitat

Step one

Step two

Step three

Sideboard and table, Maisons du Monde. Chairs, Habitat. Artwork, Bonnie & Clyde

YEARS OF PLANNING

RENOVATION ISSUES

MOVING OUT

‘We moved back to Brighton to live in a vibrant city, close to the sea and family,’ says Clara. ‘We found this town house in a quiet street in the Preston Park. It’s ideal with good schools and lots of parks nearby. ‘The house was in desperate need of decoration. The downstairs kitchen was riddled with damp and in the mornings there were snail trails across the kitchen floor! The units themselves had suffered water damage. At the time, the kitchen was at the front of the house overlooking the street, which was an uninspiring view when washing up. ‘With a young toddler and another child on the way, we put a sticking plaster on the situation by installing a cheap white kitchen into the existing space to keep us going for a few years.’

‘After five years, the garden sliding doors gave up on us. They stuck when we opened them and were draughty, too. We used this as the excuse we needed to tackle the renovation works. It wasn’t our intention to take on such a huge project, but we slowly realised how much work needed doing. ‘We approached the architects Three Eleven and their team helped us reconfigure the downstairs space to improve on what we already had. We asked our architect to do drawings for the kitchen and for our loft room upstairs – we wanted everything to go through planning at once. In March 2018, we were ready to start the building works. We struggled to get contractors in place but we did the best we could to push the project through.’

‘In May 2018 the old kitchen was ripped out and all the walls were pulled down. We had large steel supports put in through the ground floor into our living space. There were huge holes in the walls and floors. We had no idea just how intrusive the building works would be, and in the end we had to move into a rented flat in Hove. Liam would come back to the site every day to keep an eye on the project. ‘We discovered that half the ground floor was made up either of solid concrete, which had to be dug out, or rotten joists, which had to be replaced. The ceiling needed levelling as well. It soon dawned on us that the budget for our loft extension was going to be eaten up by this kitchen project.’

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my kitchen IN

5 1 GO-TO COOK BOOK ‘Mary Berry’s Ultimate Cake Book. The kids love to make things from it in our new kitchen.’

2 WORKTOP SAVER ‘We have a cool hexagonal rubber trivet from Lakeland.’ Mary Berry’s Ultimate Cake Book, £20, (BBC Books)

3 COFFEE ADDICT ‘I can’t live without my Alessi coffee perculators. I need a good coffee in the morning to get going.’

Zone Denmark triangles silicone trivet, £6.99, Lakeland

4 Orla Kiely Butterfly Stem nesting canister tins, £35 for three, Amara

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORY ‘We have Ikea storage compartments in the drawers to make sure that everything has a place.’

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Step five

KITCHEN IDEAS

FIT FOR THE FAMILY

‘We looked high and low to find a kitchen company that understood our ideas for the space, spending hours online hunting for the right company until we discovered a local design firm, Wood Works Brighton. We met the owner, Francois, who we clicked with straight away. On my wish list was a large central island filled with storage, a larder area with a built-in oven and lots of space to socialise in. ‘We moved back in during August to an empty box downstairs. We still didn’t have a working kitchen and were cooking meals on a gas stove and washing up in the bath. We had to wait three long weeks for the concrete floor to set before Francois could come in and measure up the space.’

‘We finally had the kitchen installed just before Christmas, but we couldn’t use it until we had everything plumbed in and a new staircase installed. It wasn’t until February that we could actually cook our first meal in this space! We had pancakes, which the kids helped us with. I took a photo of the meal to celebrate what we had gone through as a family. ‘The new layout has completely changed how we live in this house. We have so much room to host large family parties, which often spill out into the garden in the summer. Every day we cook and eat together. Living here has brought us closer together as a family.’

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Costs & contacts Building work £92,000 Appliances, sink and tap £7,500 Flooring £6,000 Kitchen Wood Works Brighton, 07806 202975, woodworksbrighton.co.uk Architect Three Eleven Architects, 01273 688744, 3eleven.co.uk Flooring Polished Concrete Plus, 0791 4814855, polishedconcreteplus.co.uk Doors Skyglaze, 01932 354821, skyglaze.co.uk

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Step four

PATTERN LOVER ‘Our Orla Kiely tea caddies are 1970s-inspired and match the design ethos of our kitchen.’

SPOTLIGHT ON

coloured kitchens Combine the confidence of bold colour with the calm of exposed wood for a space that’s fun, unique and relaxing, too. Here’s how to mix materials

ISLAND LIFE Choose a block colour for your cabinets and an exposed wood kitchen island to help break up your space and inject warmth into the centre of your room. Use the same worktop throughout to keep your scheme cohesive. Shaker kitchen, from £20,000, Harvey Jones

MUTED PALETTE Colour in the kitchen needn’t be bold. Here, traditional wooden cabinets combine with a panelled grey island for a warm country feel. Matching the overhead shelf to the island helps bring the look together. Solva range in light oak and Farringdon Grey island, from £12,000, Masterclass

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

Five things...

CLASHING COLOURS If you’re going for an all-out vibrant look, wood can work to balance out your space and bring a sense of order to a playful design. These wooden cabinets match the cabinet handles and dining chairs to unite the scheme and let the colours pop. Kitchen, from £10,000, Pluck

you need to know before mixing materials in your kitchen for a space that has the power to make you feel energised, happy and calm

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When it comes to choosing colours for your kitchen, it’s very much a personal choice – but if you’re combining colours with shades of wood, you must consider the undertones of each material and match up accordingly. Pair warm colours with warm woods, such as walnut, and cool colours with cool woods, like plywood. This will ensure your materials work to visually enhance each other.

Solid wood worktops have longevity. Not only are they timeless in style, but being naturally strong and sturdy, they can last longer than many man-made designs. And if stains or scratches occur, the beauty of natural wood is that you can sand it down until it’s as good as new. Remember to seal your surfaces regularly to keep them in the best condition.

Mixing materials is a great way to introduce variety and interest to your kitchen, but done the wrong way, it can look random and disjointed. Look at how you can be consistent in other parts of your kitchen: using the same cupboard handles, worktops, finishings, tiles and even wall colour throughout your space is a good route to uniting your overall scheme so it flows.

When going for a combination of materials, pick one specific style at the start of your planning process and stick to it. Whether it’s a country look, sleek modern or industrial, having a theme in mind will help you to choose cabinets, furniture and accessories that complement, rather than fight against, each other. This will also help to determine the wood you choose – from rustic to polished.

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LIGHT RELIEF Contemporary-style, handleless matt kitchens are beautiful for their simplicity, but they can appear clinical and cold. Introducing cabinets with a wood grain pattern will warm up your scheme and add interest. Cadora fitted kitchen range in Heritage Blue, from £6,000, Hammonds

WORK YOUR SURFACES A popular way to combine materials is to pair coloured cabinets with timeless wooden worktops. Here, a mix of dark green and wood creates a nature-inspired scheme, enhanced by wood flooring and accessories. Somerton Forest kitchen, from £4,548 for eight units, Magnet

Five It’s important to bear in mind that wood is a natural material that will vary from piece to piece, and also change over time. The units you get may have a slightly different grain pattern than the ones in the showroom, and the colour and texture may alter over the years. This is all part of the joy of living among natural materials, but it’s good to keep in mind when planning your colours and décor.

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Souk green patchwork hexagon tiles, £54.99 per m2, Tons of Tiles

Did you know? We’ve got a kitchens hub on realhomes.com, jam packed with ideas and inspiration to turn your kitchen into a stylish culinary space. Check it out now! Bodo pendant light, £99.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

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Blaze Standard Welsh dresser, £1,339.99, Wayfair

FOR MORE KITCHEN STYLE IDEAS, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/KITCHEN

IN THE ZONE If your kitchen is also a dining or living area, zone it with textures. Here, coloured cabinets designate cooking and prepping space, while wooden open shelving on the island marks somewhere to relax. Ondine Road Oak and Blue Fes Fenix 0754 kitchen, from £4,500 for a large kitchen, Plykea

#SOREALHOMES

CABIN STYLE Kitchen walls are all too often neglected. If you’re choosing bright modern cabinets, bring in some texture by cladding your walls with wood. Panels such as this are available at naturewall.co.uk and can simply be stuck on with tape. Albert Bridge kitchens, from £10,000, Naked Kitchens

A GUIDE TO

Heating

PART TWO

Make a fire or stove the warm heart of your home. We have all you need to know when you’re choosing so you can get cosy in style

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

T

here is nothing to beat a home fire for creating a cosy, autumnal atmosphere, as well as keeping things at a comfortable temperature when it’s cold outside. The flames of a fire can be mesmerising, and it creates a natural focal point for a living space that’s a lot lovelier than your television. Whatever your scheme, there’s a style of fire to suit every home. Modern gas and electric fires are attractive choices far from the utilitarian designs of old. If you prefer a stove, you can pick a contemporary or classic look, fuelled by gas or electricity, woodburning or multi-fuel – the choice is yours. Whether you want a fire or a stove, we can help you make the right choice, with the latest designs to inspire you…

Above The Infinity 780HD gas fire would fit a low and wide fireplace or a hole in the wall design. It has a 4.85kW heat output. From around £2,200, Charlton & Jenrick

Right A Spice colourway adds another warming note to the Farringdon multi-fuel stove. It comes in three sizes, from around £1,307, Arada

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MAINTENANCE

CHOOSE A FABULOUS FIRE

If you like the idea of a fire rather than a stove in your living space, you will need to consider your fuel options as well as the style of fire you prefer. Fires are generally fuelled by gas or electricity, but you’ll also find bioethanol fires on offer. A further option is an open fireplace.

Why pick a gas fire? If your home has a mains gas connection, a gas fire can prove economical to run. Gas fires can produce a good heat output, plus they’re very efficient. Fire efficiency is expressed as a percentage, and a fire that’s 80 per cent efficient, for example, loses just 20 per cent of its heat up the chimney with the remaining 80 per cent being used to heat the room. Don’t have mains gas? Don’t count one of these out. There are also LPG versions, which can be fuelled by an outside tank or bottled gas. Generally, a gas fire needs to be connected to a chimney to operate correctly and, vitally, safely: these designs are called conventional flue gas fires. However, don’t despair if you don’t have a working chimney: there are also balanced flue gas fires available. These are vented through an exterior wall. Their pipes bring the air for combustion into the room, and remove the combustion gases to the outside. Bear in mind that if you choose a balanced flue gas fire, it will be a glass-fronted design; conventional flue fires can have a glass front or just be open. A further option is a flueless gas fire. As the name suggests, neither chimney nor flue are required with one

Above Save space with the electric remote controloperated Dimplex Diamantique DIAM14 pebble bed wall-mounted fire, £249, AO.com

Right Choose from realistic logs or an ultra-contemporary crystal-ice effect with the energysaving eReflex 55R electric fire, from around £945, Gazco

Below You can divide two spaces with the Maestro 75 tall balanced flue gas fire or build it into a false chimney. It offers 93 per cent efficiency. From £4,595 excl. VAT, DRU

How much ongoing care and expense the fire or stove brings with it should be factored in when you’re buying. An electric fire just needs to be kept free of dust at the vent, and a bio-ethanol fire can be cleaned with little effort – just follow the manufacturer’s instructions with either fuel type. Gas fires need annual servicing by an engineer, and, unless yours is a flueless fire, your chimney will need cleaning once a year for safety. Opted for a woodburning or multi-fuel stove? It’s essential to get your chimney cleaned regularly. Twice yearly is recommended if it’s wood you’re burning, annually if not. Servicing of these appliances is also recommended annually – book yours in with a HETAS-registered engineer for the end of the summer. You’ll also need to keep up with the cleaning of your stove following the instruction manual.

Below The Le Feu ground low bio ethanol fireplace uses fuel from a renewable source. It doesn’t create smoke or need a chimney. £1,499, Cuckooland

How about bio-ethanol fires? You won’t find the same number of bio-ethanol fires to select from as you will if you settle for one that runs on electricity or gas, but there are some fabulous contemporary designs on offer. They can be a more expensive choice than either gas or electric fires, although that’s not always the case. Bio-ethanol fires can have high heat outputs, and are 100 per cent efficient: there’s no chimney taking heat away from your room. They are also easy to fit, and you can position your fire where you want. On the downside, the fuel itself does cost compared to both gas and electricity.

THINK FLUE It’s vital that the gases from your stove are expelled outside. This can be via a chimney, or alternatively via a flue system. The latter might run from the stove through the wall to the exterior with the flue going up the outside of your house, or it could run through the inside of the house and exit via the roof. Chimneys need to be lined – or possibly relined – so that when hot smoke rises up the chimney, it stays cleaner to help prevent fires, and carbon monoxide doesn’t leak out. A flue liner should be sized correctly for your stove, and you can check this when you’re buying. Always consult a professional for advice on what’s suitable for your home.

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Could I go for an open fire? There are attractive period-style and modern open fire designs on offer. Such fires gives off radiant heat rather than heating the room via convection as well, but it is possible to opt for an open fire with a convection chamber to circulate the warm air. This chamber can help cut the amount of heat lost up the chimney with an open fire – rather than it going into the room – reducing it from about 80 per cent to around 50 per cent.

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Above The UF800-ST-V gas fire with ceramic logs is controlled by a remote handset, or use the app from your phone. £3,632, Urban Fires

What are the benefits of an electric fire? An electric fire can be a lower cost choice for your home than a gas fire or a stove, although running costs are higher when you use electricity as a fuel rather than gas, so you’ll need to factor in the effect it will have on your energy bills. You won’t get as much heat from an electric fire as you can from a gas model or a stove, although this may be sufficient for a smaller room, or if your fire choice is primarily about the cosiness and the look as your home is warm in any case. Electric fires are 100 per cent efficient, so all of the heat ends up in your room. Fitting is quite straightforward, too: an electric fire just needs to be plugged in.

NEXT MONTH – OUR EXPERT GUIDE TO WOOD FLOORING FOR YOUR HOME

of these, and it also gives you the flexibility to install the fire on any wall of the room. Speak to a qualified installer about the options suitable for your room, and remember that a gas fire has to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer (gassaferegister.co.uk). It will also need maintenance by an expert, and any chimney will need cleaning.

A stove is an option that many of us hanker after, and can be situated within a fireplace if you want to create a more traditional arrangement, or you can put all the focus on the appliance itself instead. Stoves can be woodburning or multi-fuel, and there are also gas and electric designs to consider. Why opt for a stove? One of the biggest reasons to choose a stove rather than an open fire is the relative efficiency. While the majority of the heat of an open fire disappears up the chimney, a woodburning stove can have an efficiency of more than 80 per cent. The flames are behind glass, of course, but you can still get an impressive view. The other plus? A stove creates less smoke and ash than an open fire. A stove does come with an initial outlay, and then you’ll need to factor in the ongoing cost of the wood, or smokeless fuels or anthracite. Fuel storage is a further consideration if you opt for one of these, whereas it isn’t an issue you’ll have to deal with if you choose a gas or electric model. Fortunately for those in newer homes, it is possible to install a stove into a house without a chimney – although you will still need a flue system to take the combustion gases outside. Speak to a professional installer to see what will be possible in your home.

Below left Provide heat where needed with this compact electric stove you can just plug in. It comes in a choice of colours, including Marine Blue. £1,095, Everhot

Below The cast-iron F2 Vue Landscape multi-fuel stove will suit a country style or modern scheme. From £895, Eurostove

STOVE OUTPUT The right heat output for your room is crucial for comfort – too high and you’ll roast, too low and it won’t be welcoming. For a room temperature of 21°C when the air outside is 0°C, you need around 1kW of heat output for every 14m3 of space. Multiply the length by the width by the height of the room in metres and divide the result by 14, and the answer will be the kW output you need. Have a site survey conducted by your supplier or a registered installer to be sure.

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Woodburning or multi-fuel? You’ll need to decide between the two before you commit so you get the right stove for your home. You might prefer a woodburning stove because wood is considered as low carbon fuel; trees absorb carbon dioxide when they grow, balancing that emitted when wood is burned. Burning logs can also produce beautiful flames to admire. Bear in mind that if you live in a smoke control area (your local council can tell you if this is the case), you’ll need a Defra-exempt woodburning stove (see our expert Q&A). Multi-fuel stoves are designed to burn logs, smokeless fuels or anthracite, and do so as efficiently as possible. They can produce similar levels of heat to a woodburning stove. Why go for a multi-fuel design? It’s really a question of convenience and availability. If you might not always be able to get a particular fuel, or you want to be able to shop around, then one of these could work better than a dedicated woodburner. Whichever type you go for, installation by a HETAS-registered professional is recommended (hetas.co.uk). Consider a gas stove If you’re set on a stove but you don’t have room to store the fuel, then a gas stove could be the answer. The big

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Get a brilliant view of the flames with the 320A woodburning stove, which has a 7kW output. From £1,995, Contura

SELECT THE RIGHT STOVE

Left For a classic fireplace, try the Fireline FQ5W multi-fuel Aylesbury design stove, £799, Ludlow Stoves

Below Ecodesign ready and DEFRA approved, the 6143 woodburning stove by Morsø is an appealing oval column shape that has log storage beneath. It costs £1,799, Morsø

plus point of one of these, of course, is that there’s nothing to clean up, so it could be your preferred choice for that reason. They can mimic the look of a log burner extremely effectively, too. As with a gas fire, a stove that runs on the fuel can be highly efficient. And, as with fires, there are gas stoves that work with conventional flues, balanced flue gas stoves, and even flueless versions. You will need to call on the services of a gas safe engineer (gassaferegister.co.uk) to fit yours.

BUYING WOOD From February 2021, the government will phase out the sale of small amounts of wet wood in England to cut air pollution. Larger amounts will be sold with advice on drying it before burning. Wet logs emit more particulates – small particles of air pollution that can penetrate the respiratory system and bloodstream. If you want to burn wood immediately, look for the Woodsure ready to burn logo (woodsure.co.uk/ firewood-ready-to-burn). If you’re drying wood at home, use a moisture meter to check the logs before using them. Dry wood has a moisture level of 20 per cent or less.

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YOU ASK, WE ANSWER What do I need to think about for an eco-friendly fire or stove?’ ‘It’s important to find out if you live in a smoke control area,’ says Michael Coke, senior development engineer at Stovax Heating Group. ‘If you live in a town or city, it’s highly likely you do. To burn logs in a smoke control area, you must have a Defra smoke control exempt stove – a list of these appliances can be found on Defra’s website (smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/ appliances.php). It’s important to remember that if you have an open fire, you cannot burn wood fuel in city locations, and can only use authorised smokeless mineral fuels. ‘To improve air quality, and get the most out of your woodburner or multi-fuel stove, look for Ecodesign-ready products – these meet forthcoming 2022 regulations by burning with minimal emissions, and are much more efficient than an older stove. Remember to burn quality wood with a moisture content of 15 to 20 per cent, as the wood you use has an important role to play in improving air quality as well as providing better heat output more efficiently, and therefore reducing the amount of wood fuel consumed. ‘If you’re not opting for wood or multi-fuel, look for energy-saving features across gas and electric models. Many of today’s electric stoves and fires will feature functions such as open window detection, for example. With this function, they will turn off the heat when there is a sudden drop of temperature in the room caused by an open window or door in order to save energy.’

Left A convector heat flow system increases the heat performance of the Vogue Midi T Highline woodburning stove, while lowering minimum distances to walls and other surfaces for layout flexibility. £1,745, Stovax

A GUIDE TO

Underfloor heating Thinking of investing in this popular heating option? Follow our advice for a system that meets your needs – and keeps you cosy underfoot Electric underfloor heating kit, from £159.60 per m2, Vogue (UK)

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ooking for freedom when it comes to room layout? Have an openplan space that lacks walls to hang radiators on or that has extensive floor-to ceiling glazing? Or do you just like the idea of gentle warmth beneath your feet? If so, underfloor heating (UFH) can meet your needs.

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

WHAT TYPES OF UNDERFLOOR HEATING ARE THERE?

There are two systems of underfloor heating available: wet, where warm water is fed through pipes underneath the floor, or electric, which is a mat system. There are advantages and downsides to both systems, and what you plump for will depend on the area you want to heat, how much work you want to do when it comes to installation, and be influenced by running costs, too. Warm water UFH is most often buried into the floor screed, but there are surface-mounted warm water underfloor heating systems. You’re more likely to want to fit buried UFH into a new extension, or if you’re building a whole new home (but see our expert Q&A) because of the work it involves on the floor structure. With warm water UFH systems that can be laid on top of an existing floor structure, they use insulated panels with channels for the pipes. They add little depth to the floor, and they’re easy to fit, but you will pay more

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Left Oak Variation solid wood flooring, levelling system and Leveldek underfloor heating system all-in-one, from £175.88 plus VAT per m2, Junckers

for the convenience, and if you don’t use it for the whole of one storey, your floors will be at slightly different levels. Warm water systems are fed by the water heated by your boiler, or possibly a heat pump or solar thermal panels. The matting of electric underfloor heating has cables that connect into your home’s electrics. It can be laid directly under the floorcovering, and it won’t affect floor levels. It’s easy to fit, and is operated via thermostats. It’s great for a single room such as a bathroom and is inexpensive to install.

WHAT ABOUT THE RUNNING COSTS?

A warm water UFH system should save money compared to central heating. The water doesn’t have to be as hot as it does to heat radiators, so you should see lower bills in the long term if it’s paired with a modern condensing boiler. With a heat pump, you should save even more over radiator heating. Mains electricity is a more costly way to heat your home than gas, but because you’re likely to be using electric underfloor heating for a single room and it isn’t part of your central heating system, you can manage the expense.

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YOU ASK, WE ANSWER ‘Can you retrofit underfloor heating?’ ‘It is possible to retrofit an underfloor heating system in an existing property, but there are a number of considerations,’ says Franz Huelle, head of technical at REHAU Building Solutions. ‘First, think about the type of underfloor heating construction that’s suitable for your home. With floating floor systems, the system panels containing the water pipes sit on top of an existing floor. ‘In wet floor systems, the pipes are encased in a screed layer, which can be applied on top of the existing floor, or part of the existing screed layer can be replaced. Both systems use hot water from a boiler that is distributed from a manifold throughout the system of pipes. ‘You must also make sure that there is enough height between the floors left afterwards, as retrofitting

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an underfloor heating system will in most cases raise the level of flooring, which may not be feasible in a period property with low ceilings. The higher floor level may also mean that door thresholds need to be adjusted. Wet floor systems installed as an overlay on top of an existing floor tend to add the most floor depth. However, the latest advances in low height and high-performance screeds can keep the total floor construction depth down to as little as 21mm. ‘On top of this, you should ensure that the energy source for the system is suitable. Some solutions run from electricity and others use hot water from the boiler, so it’s essential to check that the options you choose can run efficiently and effectively without increasing your bills, or putting strain on your central heating. If you do decide to install underfloor heating, then it could be a good time to also consider upgrading to a more energyefficient heat source, such as a heat pump, or to upgrade your home’s insulation. ‘When it comes to operating it, specific floor heating controls are necessary, but any wiring already present from current room controls can very often be used for the new thermostats. Alternatively, with smart systems such as REHAU’s NEA Smart 2.0, room thermostats can also be conveniently connected wirelessly. You can use smart controls to fit around the structure of your home and create different underfloor heating zones, which can be particularly handy to reduce energy usage in rooms that you may not use as frequently. ‘Finally, consider how much time it will take to fit the system. With wet systems that require a layer of screed on top of the pipework, you will need to allow time for it to properly dry, as well as the installation time of the system itself. Any adaptations, the installation of a potentially new heat source, and the setting up of the control system will also make the project a little bit longer. To gauge the size of the project, it’s best to discuss it with an underfloor heating installer, who can guide you on the right solution for you and your home.’

FOCUS ON

Built-in ovens

With the season of big cooks approaching, make sure your oven is up to it. We look at ones that make preparing all kinds of dishes easy and convenient BEST FOR HI-TECH DISPLAY

BEST FOR VOICE CONTROL

If you like your kitchen tech, Smeg’s state of the art VIVOscreen connected oven will push the right buttons. Combining aesthetics and functionality, it has a bigger colour display with high-definition images of what you might want to cook, making the process easy and intuitive. It can be controlled from the SmegConnect app, and even remembers meals for go-to dishes. The SFP6606WTPNR has a 70-litre capacity and starts at £1,099.99, Smeg

Cook hands free with an oven you can operate with your voice. The Bosch Serie 6 HRS538BS6B built-in oven is Wi-Fi enabled and partnered with Amazon Alexa so it can listen to your instructions. The 71-litre oven has Auto Pilot 30 with 30 pre-set automatic programmes, 3D Hotair, for even heat distribution, and a ceramic sphere coating to break down grease. It costs £809, Bosch

BEST FOR EASY ACCESS Neff’s Slide&Hide system, with an oven door that tucks away underneath for unrestricted access, was a revelation on a certain British baking show. The N 50 built-in has many other functions that will appeal to keen cooks, including CircoTherm, a hot air-system for simultaneous baking and roasting on up to three levels, a steam function and pyrolytic cleaning. It is 71 litres and costs around £1,349, Neff.

FEATURE ALISON JONES

Three TOP TIPS PICK YOUR STYLE Built-in ovens can be separate from the hob and in an eye-level unit or built-under in a base unit. Sizes start from compact, which are about as big as a microwave. Single ovens have a cooking capacity starting from around 60 litres, and will include a grill. In double ovens, a large main oven sits beneath a smaller one to cook dishes at different temperatures simultaneously.

Know your ovens and how they work to choose the one that’s right for you

OVEN FUELS Ovens and cookers are typically powered by electricity or gas, or both with an electric oven and gas hob or vice versa. Electric cookers may be cheaper to buy up front but gas can be cheaper to run and have lower emissions. Fanassisted or convection models circulate hot air and remove moisture. A fan-assisted electric oven will use less energy than a regular one.

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APPLIANCE UPGRADES Pyrolytic cleaning works automatically by heating the oven to a temperature that burns food residue to ash to be wiped away. Steam functions add moist air so dishes are crispy outside and juicy inside. Wi-Fi enabled ovens allow you to run programmes remotely from an app. HD cameras within ovens let you check on the food cooking inside via your phone.

BEST LOW COST CHOICE

Finishing touches

When you’re cooking for family, size matters, and the CLS670 from CDA has a generous 77litre capacity. This built-in oven includes a steam cooking function, recipe presets and 13 other functions, including a fan oven, grill, fast heatup, touch controls and eco-clean. Its roast probe helps take the guesswork out of cooking times for meat. It costs from £700, CDA

If you like a standalone cooker, a range will be a real kitchen centrepiece

Steam function has become a must have in built-in ovens, to make sure crusts are crispy and roasts are juicy. The Siemens iQ500 built-in oven has it, along with all kinds of ways to make cooking easier. There’s coolStart for deep frozen food, remote control with Home Connect and activeClean to turn residue to ash. With a 71-litre capacity, it costs £1,069, Siemens

RED HOT Handle large roasts or bakes without a big price tag. The Leisure Cookmaster 100 CK100F232R 100cm dual-fuel range cooker in red costs £779, Ao.com

BEST FOR PIZZA FANS

BEST FOR PRECISE CONTROL If you want the optimum environment for cooking a dish, Fisher & Paykel’s new oven can recommend it based on food type. You select the protein, size and weight of your dish and it’ll say the best shelf position, temperature and timings for it. The OB60SDPTB1 has an impressive 85-litre capacity with 16 programmes, touchscreen control and pyrolytic cleaning function to reduce food residue to ash. Available in black or with stainless steel, it costs from £1,300, Fisher & Paykel

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Fuel benefits Get the best of both gas and electricity with the Stoves Richmond Deluxe S1000DF 100cm dual-fuel range cooker (in multiple colourways), from £1,999 to £2,199, John Lewis & Partners

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Enjoy fresh pizza in minutes with the special pizza setting in Caple’s new C2600 pyrolytic oven from the Sense Premium collection. It heats to 345°C for a speedy bake. One of several options that accommodate different cooking styles in the 67-litre oven, others include a low-heat dehydrate setting, roast and proving functions, and a Sabbath mode you select up to 72 hours ahead. Wi-Fi enabled, it costs around £977, Caple

NEXT MONTH: A GUIDE TO THE BEST FRIDGE-FREEZERS

BEST FOR STEAM COOKING

Steam player If you like to steam food, the Rangemaster Nexus Steam 110cm in ivory with induction technology is the only range cooker with a dedicated steam oven cavity. It is priced at £4,999, Rangemaster

A DV E RTOR I A L

GIVE YOUR HOME SOME PERSONALITY WITH SPIRAL STAIRS This staircase style has a long history of transforming homes, making a striking centrepiece in any space

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piral staircases, which date back to Roman times, make a versatile and stylish option when creating a unique feature in your home. Bespoke spiral staircases can be designed to suit any interior and come in a wide range of looks and materials. Whether you want timeless elegance or modern wow-factor, you can find one to fit your home’s personality and your budget. When specifying this type of staircase for your property, there are a number of elements you need to be clear about to ensure you get the statement piece you desire. Here are a few tips:

Get the look right A spiral staircase is made up of lots of different elements, so make sure you are involved in selecting the styles, materials and finishes that suit the interior design you are going for. Would you like the stair steps to be solid or clad? They could be wood, natural stone, glass or concrete, or you could inlay them with carpet or tiles. Closed or open risers between treads are also worth considering. Open risers can diffuse light and cantilever from the core pole of a spiral stair. Closed risers can make smooth corkscrew curves.

Make a plan Discuss your spiral staircase design ideas early on. This way, if there are any structural requirements, you can plan them into the build. Be clear about the look you require, its use and location to be sure it’ll meet building regulations.

Balustrade and handrails The balustrade is the railing on a staircase. A sculptural full-height balustrade in plaster board, timber or powder-coated steel is striking in its impact, but there is also the option of toughened curved glass, which helps

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create light, open spaces, or elegant spindles that give a more vintage feel. Handrails make a wonderful finishing touch. They can be inset into balustrades, be oval or circular, and come in stainless steel, wood or glass. They can also be wrapped in materials like leather or rope. Being clear about the look you want to achieve when planning a project with a bespoke staircase design will help ensure you get a great interior feature. Spiral UK would be happy to discuss staircase design ideas and costs – just call 0330 123 2447 or email [email protected]. For more details, visit spiral.uk.com

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FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

1 Wall shelf in birch, £344, Nest 2 Healy shelving rack, £84.99, Wayfair 3 Algot wall shelves, £130, Ikea 4 Dutchbone shelving unit, £59, Cuckooland 5 Kreis Design chef’s edition peg board, £195, Wearth London 6 Modular shelving unit, from £400, 1909 Kitchens 7 Cast-iron bracket shelf, £25 for small, £50 for large, Garden Trading 8 Jansen industrial shelves, £75 for small, £85 for large, Graham & Green

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Don’t let your kitchen look like everyone else’s – display your personality and show off your finest dinnerware with our edit of the best kitchen shelving to suit any scheme

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1 Harbour Status heated towel rail in painted brushed brass, £220, Drench 2 Wedge heater in metallic black, £299, Crosswater 3 Archibold heated towel rail in Lake Red, £954, Bisque 4 Bubbles towel warmer in Golden Yellow, from £552, The Radiator Centre 5 Milano Elizabeth towel rail in brushed gold, £399.99, Big Bathroom Shop 6 Brooklyn towel rail in rose gold, £129.95, Victorian Plumbing 7 Binary brass towel warmer in mild steel, £422.40, Vogue (UK) 8 Terma Michelle towel warmer in graphite and orange, £245, B&Q

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From classic and elegant to modern and quirky, complete your bathroom scheme with a stylish heater and keep cosy throughout the winter months

sunda y project Stuck for ideas this weekend? Get your DIY fix and delve right in with our quick and easy ways to update your home for less

Wall in Old Ochre wall paint, £41.95 for 2.5ltrs, with pattern in chalk paint in Scandinavian Pink, Aubusson Blue and Honfleur, from £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan

CURVE APPEAL

WANT TO LIVEN UP YOUR WALL WITH A STRIKING PAINT EFFECT? FIND MORE INSPIRING MAKEOVERS AT REALHOMES.COM/DESIGN/OMBRE-PAINT-EFFECT-IDEAS

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WORDS AMELIA SMITH

Here at Real Homes HQ, we love a trick-of-the-eye design, and this one has us talking. If you’re thinking of introducing a contemporary feature wall in your bedroom, achieve a finish that’ll really stand out on your Insta feed by incorporating your headboard into your wall design. Genius! This curved DIY headboard was cut from MDF, which you can get from your local hardware store. To recreate this abstract 3D feature, first plan out your design on paper for both surfaces. Prime your headboard, then measure and draw out your design, making sure the lines of the wall and headboard match up when you look at it straight on. Use masking tape and curved masking tape to map out your blocks of colour before painting between the lines in your chosen shades. Apply two coats, peel off the tape and your Trompe-l’oeil masterpiece is complete.