Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Real Homes

Have you started a new project for spring? As we throw off the extra jumpers and sluggishness of winter, now feels like a time to get things done. March brings us an extra hour of energising daylight to use, inspiring us to finally tackle the makeovers we’ve been promising ourselves, whether it’s refreshing tired rooms or ripping out a cramped, make-do kitchen. Here at Real Homes, we’re filled with plans for how we are going to improve our homes; from a ‘this’ll be the year’ commitment to finally finishing a back-to-brick renovation, to colourful upcycles of preloved furniture. I (Alison) will be adding the last piece of my kitchen transformation puzzle — laying my sale-bargain herringbone floor. It’ll lead out via my new Crittall-style doors to a garden where the…

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Space-efficient furniture Lilac is the colour of the moment, and this versatile hue in locker form is top of our wish list! Use this cheery storage to stash away tableware, glasses and cutlery and take advantage of the low design to dress with lamps, vases and accessories. Three of the best: pendant lights Whether hung individually or in a group, the right lighting is crucial for switching the ambience from day to cosy night-time. Make it personal A curated edit of favourite photos, prints and art on a gallery wall is a sure-fire way to put your stamp on a room. A colourful background wall to display your collection on can instantly enhance the overall aesthetic. Unusual & useful A good lamp can do more than just light up a…

They say you live and you learn, and that certainly applied to Karen and Phil Moseley’s bathroom renovation decisions. In their previous home, the small bathroom was never quite right for their growing family. So as soon as they moved in, Karen was armed and ready with a wish list of what she wanted, and what she didn’t. The couple planned to transform the whole house, but as the water tank and boiler sat in the bathroom, and they needed to install a whole new heating system, they chose to start their renovation journey here. ‘The existing bath, basin and toilet were pink, and while I do love pink, this was a bit much for me, so I was eager for that to go,’ says Karen. With creative architectural planning…

TAP INTO TACTILE Get that textural feeling with bathroom brassware that feels as good as it looks. Easy Bathrooms’ Moray range has diamond cut knurled detailing on its taps and shower valves, as well as on accessories like robe hooks, toilet roll holders and towel rings, for added sensory interest. The brassware comes in four metallic finishes, and costs from £23.68 for a robe hook. Boldly go Put some colour in your kitchen with a combo that celebrates blue skies and sunshine. The Blue Bird splashback from AluSplash’s Essentials Collection can’t fail to bring joy when used over mustard yellow units. The teal-coloured panel is made from aluminium, which is sustainable and hygienic, and when combined with painted wood units and shelves, offers a vibrant take on a heritage look.…

Q How do I find the right mortgage? A Rising interest rates are grim news for homeowners with a mortgage, or first-time buyers hoping to borrow. After many years of seriously cheap home loans, borrowers are now facing much bigger monthly repayments with mortgage rates climbing. The higher the interest rate, the more you pay back. Not everyone will have to pay more yet. Existing homeowners who took out a fixed-rate mortgage in the last few years are still sitting pretty — for now. Especially those who took out a 10-year deal. (Oh, to go back in time and snap one up). That fixed rate means repayments are set in stone for two, five or 10 years depending on the time frame you chose. Once the deal is up, however,…

If you love an espresso’s intensity, but like a bigger drink, the sleek and space-efficient Nespresso Vertuo Next delivers anything from a dainty cup to a mugful. The Vertuo capsules are different from Nespresso Original pods; they can make espresso, but also longer coffee drinks, with five cup sizes in total, up to the 414ml alto. And there’s no holding down buttons to get the right amount of liquid — the machine just reads the barcode on the capsule. The water tank can be positioned at the back or to the sides of the machine, thanks to a rotating arm, which helps it fit neatly onto your worktop. A high-pressure centrifusion extraction system spins the capsule to get the coffee out, making a tasty drink with a great crema (foamy…

Back down to earth Grounded Simplicity is a new trend from Habitat for SS23 which celebrates minimalist living, but without the use of stark neutrals. Instead, they advocate choosing warmer, comforting colours, inspired by our natural surroundings. ‘This movement is all about creating a clutter-free oasis of calm that allow us to reset,’ says Andrew Tanner, Habitat’s head of design. ‘It is pared back spaces that fulfil only the basic functions — eating, working, sleeping.’ To achieve it, team simple, homewares with tactile materials and traditional craft pieces. French fancy Revive happy memories of places you’ve travelled to — or hope to visit — by creating the vibe at home. Furniture Village’s Riviera Rhythm collection is an ode to the bustling culture and glamour of the south of France. Bold,…

BOTANIC FANATIC Incorporating floral patterns into a scheme is a classic way to interpret heritage style. Here this pretty paper is combined with brass wall lamps and the retro woven cane table lamp to make the look feel fresh. SHAKER MAKER Evoke that cottage kitchen feel with rustic woods and natural materials. Try wall-to-wall wood panelling, lay a gorgeous swathe of parquet flooring and choose elegant Shaker-style cabinetry. PATTERN PLAY Using the power of the timeless check is a sure fire way of bringing this look into your setting. The beauty of this classic pattern is that you can mix and match a variety of colours and check sizes. But keep the rest of the scheme pared back so you don’t overwhelm the space. DESK JOB Whether it’s an upcycled…

It’s the colour for you if: 1 You want a space where you can feel grounded 2 You’d like a warm and cocooning feeling 3 You want to bring nature into your home When dreaming up colour schemes for your home, brown may not seem like the most exciting option. But with its calm, earthy and grounding qualities, a brown hue could be just what you need to create a space where you can escape and unwind. ‘Natural shades like hazel brown have a balanced and calming feel, akin to that of being outside and among nature,’ says Dominic Myland at Mylands Paints. The creative director at Dulux, Marianne Shillingford, suggests the comfort we find in brown is based on familiarity — from the materials we’ve long used to make…

Need our help? Got a DIY dilemma? Want to settle a domestic style dispute? Send us your questions on social media or email us at rhsubmissions@futurenet.com At your service Meet the people ready to help with your dilemmas Alison The go-to for all things DIY, with tons of wisdom to impart Holly A style expert who is full of tips on the best way to design a room Lindsey Is in the know about all the products — from fridges to soft furnishings Millie Our head of reviews has the low-down on all the best gadgets and appliances Annie Knows where to find great deals online, and puts them through their paces Christina Loves the high street. Our port of call for statement pieces and design ideas SMALL-SPACE ADVICE Q…

1 Love the layout Moving or extending pipework in the bathroom can be a major expense, so think about refitting its fixtures but keeping them in the same position to make big savings on the bill for renovating. The existing layout needs to be functional for this to work, with adequate floor space. Ideally, there should be 760mm from the front edge of a basin, toilet, bath, and shower to the fixture opposite, or the wall, although it is possible to have a smaller area of clear floor in front of each if the room size doesn’t permit this. 2 Stylish splashback A splashback requires only a relatively small number of tiles to create an eye-catching feature that will give the whole room a lift if it’s starting…

Updating a modern property that hasn’t been touched in years is always a challenge. The process of choosing what to keep and restore, remove or replace can make you feel like you’re on a hamster wheel of decision making. For Krystelle, what was clear was the importance of creating a sympathetic connection between the new extension and the original building. A change of plans has helped her realise a space that enhances the characterful features of the 1930s house. It adds more room while ensuring period characteristics aren’t overshadowed by modern conveniences. We hear how she did it… PROFILE THE OWNERS Krystelle Floyd-Wass (@our30shome), a barrister, and Edward Floyd, a solicitor THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom 1930s detached house in South East London PROJECT COST Approx £240,000 for the whole house…

A GUIDE TO Top tip UNIFORM LOOK Bi-fold doors can match existing windows for a consistent finish on the exterior of your property, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to the same shade indoors, where you might prefer to match interior walls, for example. If you go for wood bi-folds, they can be stained or painted. Top tip OPEN HOUSE Bi-fold doors are generally fitted across an aperture in one wall, but they can also be fitted at right angles to one another to open up a corner of a room. This can create the ultimate merger of interior and garden. Unlike sliding doors, they can be fitted in bays, too. Bi-fold doors can transform your home, bringing more daylight into interiors, offering fabulous views to your outside space,…

Make a splash with more bold bathroom tile ideas FIND MORE EXCITING IDEAS FOR UPDATING YOUR BATHROOM AT REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOM…

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PROFILE THE OWNERS Shona East, a PR for a charity and an interiors blogger (@honeyjoyhome), lives here with her husband, Nick, a product manager, and their children Violet, Elodie and Frank, plus their sausage dog, Pearl THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1920s semi-detached house in Frome, Somerset PROJECT COST £38,100 After living in Australia for 10 years, Shona had to adapt her interiors style on moving back to the UK. ‘I wanted that Australian aesthetic with black Crittall-style doors, open-plan spaces and large house plants, but it’s quite hard without the Australian light,’ she says. ‘UK homes are much cosier with smaller windows.’ Shona first met her husband Nick in Bondi, before settling in Melbourne then nearby Castlemaine, where they had children. However, after Nick lost his parents, they moved back…

LAURA AND ALEX KELLER, CONCRETE & WAX It may not have the glamorous reputation of marble, or the quirkiness of on-trend terrazzo, but concrete can be just as fabulous a material in our homes – and is perhaps even more versatile. Concrete shook off its ‘grey and boring’ tag a long time ago. Traditionally used in construction, it’s made with cement and water mixed with sand, gravel or crushed rock, and those in the know interiors-wise have been using the material for polished floors, stylish sinks and sleek, hard-wearing worktops for a while. Now, independent makers and designers are finding it has other creative uses, too, and can be made into tactile, durable and, yes, beautiful homewares in a wide range of colours. So, this month, we’re highlighting some of…

With living costs soaring, décor trends being replaced by looks with longevity, and a growing insistence on sustainability and craftsmanship, how are we meant to get our interiors fix? Thankfully, the demand for fast home fashion seems to have slowed, but that doesn’t mean we don’t still crave new, quick and easy restyles for our rooms. Enter ‘shop your home’, a concept that has been on the radars of designers and declutterers for years, but now seems even more appealing, and topical, than ever before. ‘Shopping your home is a way of refreshing your spaces by restyling with the items you already own,’ says art director and designer Emily Hensen, author of the new book, Create: Creativity before Consumption. ‘I started talking about it in the first lockdown of 2020,…

When just deciding on one cabinet finish and worktop for your new kitchen seems hard enough, why not choose to use a combination of materials? It certainly takes more thought, and courage, but mixing things up is an exciting trend right now that can really pay dividends. ‘It’s a great way to introduce individuality and tonnes of character,’ enthuses Alex Main, director at The Main Company. ‘A varied mix of finishes will allow you to easily blend in existing or recycled furniture and materials, which can save buying new. Better for you, and the environment,’ adds interior designer Anthi Grapsa. Natural materials such as wood and stone work well together, and can break up swathes of painted units. Tactile surfaces, like rugged concrete and fluted timber, bring texture and depth,…

BEST FOR A TRADITIONAL LOOK Capture the charm of a traditional coal fire without any of the mess of the real thing with an electric alternative. The Burlington Harringworth 1874BL has an authentic-looking coal bed, contained in a sleek matt black fireplace, for a cosy feel. The realistic looking flames give the effect of a glowing fire, and they can be used to add a flickering ambience even when the fire’s not being used to heat the room. It has a 2kWt heat output, and includes a thermostat that ensures the temperature remains comfortable. The Burlington costs £499, from ao.com. BEST FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY A flueless fire can give the comfort and warmth of a gas fire, but contained in a contemporary style that requires no chimney, it can be…

Looking for more inspiration? See our project hub for plenty of quick, ingenious ideas to transform your home Cabinet craft Here at Real Homes, we absolutely love an Ikea hack, and this one by Jen @crack_the_shutters really impressed us. She’s turned the most basic and inexpensive pair of units into an elegant, contemporary piece that creates impact as soon as you walk through the door. With curved edges, wooden slats and an earthy, natural look, this piece is bang on trend. If you’re excited to turn your hand to DIY, and bring some texture and fun to a piece of furniture, this is a great one to try. You will need: ■ Ikea Eket units ■ Five sheets of pole wrap – this is from @diyherway ■ Plywood ■ A…