Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i HomeStyle

With many of us planning a staycation summer, this issue we show you how to make the most of your outdoor space on page 67 with easy style ideas to bring a holiday vibe to your garden, whether you’re dreaming of Ibiza luxe, tropical Miami or an exotic Moroccan adventure. For sunny vibes inside your home, this month’s decorator’s moodboards on page 57 are inspired by the coast, with three stylish looks perfect for relaxed summer living. And, if you fancy bringing the taste of summer home too, you might like to treat yourself to an ice cream maker – you’ll find our pick of the best on page 81 – as well as delicious recipes for a great British barbecue over on page 120. This month’s inspiring reader homes…

WINDOW SHOPPING Bring the classic designs of Emma Bridgewater to your window dressing schemes thanks to a new collaboration between the British designer and Blinds 2go. Featuring Emma’s bright, nature-themed prints, including garden birds, sunflowers, lemons and ladybirds, each design holds a special place in her heart and reminds her of the comfort of home. Whether it’s a sweeping sunflower curtain set or a subtle ladybird-print blind you choose, these new window dressings will bring a touch of cottagecore charm to your interiors. Prices start at £26.80 for roller blinds, £33.35 for Roman blinds and £47.65 for a made-to-measure set of curtains. See the whole range, and request a free fabric sample, at blinds-2go.co.uk WALL TO WALL STYLE One of our fave homeware brands has launched their first range of…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Maria Greener, a lawyer. I live here with my husband, Conrad, our children, Jasper and Tara, and our Spanish rescue dog, Luna. I post interior updates on my Instagram @thelynwoodhome. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a five-bedroom Victorian terrace in Bristol. We’ve lived here since May 2015. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The interior was quite bland and a bit tired. There was very little storage, and the shiny, white kitchen units and chrome handles just weren’t for me. I wanted to put my own stamp on the place and make it feel more like us. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN I’ve gone for a calm, mostly monochrome look that I’ve personalised with interesting art and accessories and a mix of retro, upcycled…

Preparation is key! Varnished or treated wood needs a good sand, otherwise the new paint won’t stick. Wipe down after sanding to make sure surfaces are free of grease and dust. Priming will achieve a more durable finish and helps ensure that no stains show through on the finished piece. Allow the primer to dry completely before painting your first topcoat. For the best finish, apply thin layers of paint – at least two coats, but you might need three – and allow to dry fully in between. Sand lightly in between coats if you have any drips or residue. When painting, work your brush every which way to help maximise coverage and get a rich, textured finish. When picking your paint, consider what kind of finish you want and…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Keelie Hayler, a science teacher, and I live with my boyfriend, Sean Mounfield, a web designer. I’ve recorded our renovation journey on Instagram, @keelieslife. WHERE I LIVE My home is a three-bedroom 1930s semi in Nottingham and we moved here in August 2019. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The inside of the house was a dark grey box. The walls were dark grey, the carpets were dark grey, and to be honest, the whole house really needed some light and love put into it. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN I painted most of the rooms white so I could start with a completely blank base and gradually added colour. I finished each room with accessories that suit the muted, relaxed vibe that both Sean…

Caribbean chill Tropical outdoor cushion in Mint, £7, B&M Sunny stripes Stripe outdoor seat pads, £14 for two, Matalan Recycled cotton Iman machine-washable seat pad in Pink, £20, Tikauo Floral charm Midsummer Night water-resistant seat pads, from £44.99 for two, Celina Digby Paradise palms Palm-print water-resistant seat pad, £18.99, Bean Bag Bazaar Freshly squeezed Les Fruits machine-washable outdoor cushion, £18, Dunelm Heritage print Chrysanthemum water-resistant outdoor cushion, from £39.99, We Love Cushions Earth tones Chambray hand-wash seat pad in Terracotta Blush, £17.99, Walton & Co…

Mixer taps These taps are a no-fuss option for filling your bath. They combine the streams from the hot and cold pipes into one continuous flow of water out of the tap. Mixers look modern and elegant in the bathroom and are perfect for creating a clean and contemporary look. Pillar taps These are usually sold as a set of two for the hot and cold. They have a traditional feel, but you can find ontemporary designs too. They allow a large amount of water to flow at once, so tend to fill the bath up more quickly than mixer taps. Free-standing taps Unlike mixer or pillar taps, you don’t need to drill holes in the bath to install free-standing taps. They maintain a clean-lined finish and look great with…

Out with the old… If you’re replacing sealant in the kitchen or bathroom, your first job will be to remove the old silicone. We’d recommend using a specially designed tool such as Unibond’s plastic remover and smoother tool, £2.75 from Wilko. It will get the task done easily without the risk of scratches, and can also be used to smooth new sealant later on. Simply scrape along the line of sealant and it should peel off in long strips, although it may need a bit more effort if it’s not coming away easily. If there are any bits of silicone that won’t budge, dab a little white spirit onto an old cloth and rub it over until they dissolve. Once all of the old sealant is removed, wipe clean with…

‘Contrasting finishes, such as wood, darker colours and metallics, give pastels a sophisticated spin’…

‘Let sunlight filter through sheer or light linen curtains for a natural sun-kissed look’…

You will need • 13 inch pizza tray • 9mm diameter cotton rope (we used 2 x 15m packs) • Glue gun • Scissors • Staple gun 1 Take a length of rope and curl over the end then glue straight onto the centre of the pizza tray, using a glue gun. It’s easier to put the glue onto the tray then firmly press the rope onto the glue, taking care as the glue is very hot. 2 Continue to curl the rope around in a circular pattern adding dots of glue to the tray and pressing the rope down firmly as you go. Keep wiping away excess glue as necessary. If you run out of rope, glue the end of the second piece to the first and…

Shop smart Take these sturdy mesh bags to the supermarket to store loose fruit and veg and cut down on plastics. A pack of three includes small, medium and large bags, all made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. Their pastel colours mean they’ll look great hanging up in your kitchen too, and 1 per cent of sales go to Just One Ocean and WWF UK. Mesh bags, £10 for three, kindbag.co Shoe shine Rub the inside of banana peel on your shoes as an eco-friendly polish and watch scuffs disappear. Look after your hands Anti-bac gel giving you dry hands? Yankee Candle’s new hand sanitisers include hydrating glycerine and essential oils to help counteract dryness. Available in Clean Cotton and Lemon Lavender, £3.99 for a 100ml refillable bottle,…

Taste of Italy For last-minute dinners in a flash, look no further than Cirio’s range of rustic pasta sauces, priced at £2 each from Ocado. Made from Italian tomato passata, each sauce is flavoured with authentic Italian meat, wine and extra virgin olive oil. Grilled peppers, mushrooms and pork belly combine in our favourite, the Pancetta del Casale. HAMPER FILLERS Rustle up a crowd-pleasing spread with Higgidy’s range of picnic grub. Choose from Garden Veg and Ricotta or Mediterranean Pepper and Feta quiches and SunBlush Tomato and Cheddar mini muffins. Priced from £2.65 at Sainsbury’s. Daily bread Sail the seven seas from the comfort of your toaster with the Breads of the World collection from Jason’s Sourdough. The range features flavours inspired by the peppery rye of a New York…

The trend for luminous coloured glassware is heating up just in time for summer. Pick and mix different hues to create an uplifting, rainbow effect that won’t fail to put you in a good mood…

Rockett St George’s latest garden furniture and furnishings are inspired by boutique hotels and Parisian al fresco dining, with striking black rattan, classic black-and-white patterns and shimmering gold accessories. Go for full impact in your outdoor space with one of their new boho parasols, or splash out on their vintage-looking bar trolley or a large gold planter, which looks straight out of an Italian villa. rockettstgeorge.co.uk…

If you’re happy with the layout, replacement cabinet fronts quickly give your kitchen a fresh look, at a fraction of the cost of brand-new units. There’s a vast choice of styles, sizes and finishes around, or you can go down the custom-made route. DIY is an option, although some products come without drill holes so that hinges and handles can be positioned wherever you want, and in that case, an experienced fitter could be worth the extra cost to get a perfect finish. Provided your cabinets are in good shape, worn-out worktops can be removed and replaced. Revive wooden work surfaces and remove marks by sanding and oiling. Another option is a quartz overlay, which is a thin, quartz sheet that’s fitted on top of the existing surface. Rejuvenate tired…

You will need • Wooden frame • Plywood • White paint • Chalkboard paint • Undercoat or primer paint • Moulded hardwood bead • Hacksaw • Panel pins • Glue • Framer’s tape • Decorative moulding 1 Measure the inside of the frame and cut a piece of plywood to fit inside the opening. Remember to use plywood that is slightly thinner than the recess inside the frame. Measure across the width of the opening – this will be the length of decorative moulded bead you’ll need. Use a small hacksaw to cut a length of the moulded hardwood bead to the correct size. 2 Apply an undercoat or primer to one side of the plywood, the moulded bead and the frame. Once dry, apply a second coat…

Give the worktop a good clean, making sure the whole surface is dust- and grease-free, and remove any silicone from around the edges of the cabinets, sink and also any appliances, such as the hob. Measure each section of your worktop, and don’t forget to add extra to wrap around and under any front and side edges. Take extra care with your measuring and cutting, particularly around any difficult areas, such as your sink and hob, or hot water taps, etc. Peel back a small section of the vinyl and put it up against your starting point; a corner is usually a good place to begin. Gradually smooth and stick the wrap down, making sure to work out any air bubbles as you go. This is the tricky bit because…

MOROCCAN boho Laid-back and relaxed, Morocco’s bohemian style, full of spicy colours and tactile details, is perfect for lazy days in the sunshine and works for outdoor spaces big and small. HOW TO CREATE this look There’s no need to splash out on expensive garden furniture to create this look. Just lay down an outdoor rug and pile it high with showerproof cushions and pouffes. Layer up your lighting to create a magical atmosphere after dark. Combine filigree metal Moroccan lanterns with strings of festoon bulbs overhead and LED candles, which won’t blow out in the breeze. Choose solar lights so you won’t have to bother with replacing batteries or worry about having trailing wires from the mains. Take your colour inspiration from the kasbah and choose accessories in warm,…

It’s good design practice to match your basin taps to the style of bath taps or shower you have chosen, but don’t feel you have to limit yourself to buying the same shape exactly. Matching the materials and general look is enough to make a scheme feel considered, especially if they don’t share the same eyeline. Pillar basin taps These taps have a classic feel that always looks classy, with separate hot and cold streams so you can mix the water in the basin to the perfect temperature. Cross-headed basin taps are the ideal addition to a traditional bathroom scheme. Wall-mounted taps If you’ve chosen a countertop basin without pre-drilled holes, these are the ideal taps. They’re an understated style choice and a cinch to clean. The elegant design makes…

Ice cream makers can whip up a tub of parlour-quality ice cream in a matter of minutes, though depending on your make and model there might be some pre-freezing required first. There are two kinds of machine on the market. Freeze-ahead models are the most common, with numerous options depending on the type of desserts you’d like to make and how often you’d like to use your machine. Prices range from as little as £31.50 up to £120 plus. With these models you’ll need to pre-freeze the ice cream churning bowl for a minimum of eight hours. The bowls will fit a standard freezer drawer, and these machines are generally more compact if you have a small kitchen. Built-in freezer models on the other hand, don’t require freezer space, but…

• Have confidence in your own taste No one can tell you what you like, though people can make suggestions of course. I compare art to music; you don’t need to justify your taste in music or art. Art, like music, is instinctive so trust your taste and follow your intuition. • Mark a milestone Buy a piece of art that marks a milestone, whether that’s a key birthday, a wedding or a smashed target at work. Seeing it every day will remind you of the celebration and make you smile. • Support local artists that resonate Buy art that means something special to you; perhaps the artist is from the same place as you, or you have a special connection somehow. For a lot of art collectors, there’s a…

Take a seat Crafters spend a lot of time sitting in the one spot, so treat yourself to a comfy chair you can cosy up in. If you’re just using the kitchen chairs, make it comfier with a plump cushion and a faux fur throw on the back. Recycled storage Reuse old tea and biscuit tins as storage for your loose craft supplies. Empty glass jars are great for stashing pens or things like buttons – some labels are pretty enough to be left on, or decorate them with a string of ribbon or lace wrapped around the outside. Shine on Position your desk near a window for lots of natural light. A floor-standing lamp or adjustable desk light can be moved so you can focus the light on the…

On repeat To stop the look being too chaotic, repeat key colours throughout the space for a styled, cohesive feel. A patterned piece that features all the colours in one place is a clever way to draw everything together. Go for it! Don’t be afraid to take risks. As Heather shows, main features like doors, walls and even kitchen appliances painted in pastel colours make a stylish statement. Common ground Avoid the style being too overwhelming by sticking to a neutral base. Plain-coloured tiles, worktops and floors will help create balance and allow your brightly coloured accessories to shine. It’ll also be easier to add new accessories when you fancy a change.…

All the feels For a sumptuous look and feel, mix and match different materials and textures. Contrast velvet with rattan, pampas grass against glass, or faux fur and linen for feel-good vibes. Golden oldies Much of this style is rooted in the 70s so have a hunt on eBay, in charity shops or car boot sales to see what vintage gems can be found. It might be worth asking your parents or grandparents too – who knows what could be hiding in the attic. Go softly Keep the look laid-back and relaxed with subdued colours. Pair off-white and beige with soft pastels like dusty pink, olive green and pale lilac.…

CALMING CORNER Our home style incorporates Scandinavian and rustic accents with a neutral colour palette of beige, browns and shades of white to give the feeling of calmness and tranquility. Adding a colour block behind the reclaimed wood shelves creates an area of interest and a backdrop that enhances all my decorative accessories, which I’m forever changing up. I also like to add a pop of green with a plant or two to add balance. @stylingourabode FEELING ZESTY The brighter the better, I say, when it comes to home decor! I love injecting colour into every corner of my home, from the staircase to the kitchen. When deciding what to do in the living room I couldn’t resist this vibrant lemon wallpaper, which has now added a cheerful, happy feel…

MONDAY BAKED FETA WITH CHARRED COURGETTES PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 15 MINS SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS • 3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing • 200g rainbow chard, stalks finely chopped and leaves reserved • 200g feta cheese, cut into chunks • 1 lemon, zest and juice • 15g flat-leaf parsley, chopped • ½ red chilli, seeded and chopped • 1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed and ground • 3 courgettes, sliced into ribbons • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped • 150g baby spinach leaves • 30g fresh mint, leaves roughly torn METHOD 1 Brush 2 foil sheets (30 x 40cm) with olive oil. Divide the rainbow chard stalks between them and put the feta on top. Scatter over the lemon zest and juice, parsley, chilli and coriander.…

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HOW TO style the look 1 Go green! Green interiors have been steadily on the rise over the last year, with sage and pistachio tones being particularly popular. These lighter shades of green are both cheerful and relaxing, and remind us of being in nature. 2 Accessorise with potted plants and grasses to create a zen environment. If your room doesn’ t get much natural light, opt for faux plants, or have a mixture of both. Poundland PURE & SIMPLE Be inspired by natural textures and calming pastel tones Dunelm BRIGHT PROSPECTS Refresh your work space with these practical and stimulating pieces HOW TO style the look 1 Tap into the Japandi trend by sticking to a neutral palette of earthy tones, opting for no more than…

Social media is great for inspiration, but it’s important not to get too drawn into a trend. I found myself using dark, dramatic colours that weren’t really me, and I quite quickly went back to a paler palette. Doing your own decorating saves a fortune, but it’s worth putting in time to learn some proper skills. I’ve mastered techniques like cutting-in to get really crisp edges. It’s not difficult, just a bit fiddly, but the results are so much better. A house is constantly evolving, especially with a family. Keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to try a different layout or adapt a piece of furniture if things aren’t working. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Pauline Fox and I run a small online interiors business, Betsy Blair Home. I live with my husband, Robert, and our children, Emily and Tom. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a three-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace in east London. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The unloved interior was in need of a complete overhaul. Rough woodchip and shiny orange pine cladding covered most walls, and the built-in wooden furniture made the rooms feel cramped and gloomy. It was all just really tired and a bit 1970s, right down to the swirly carpets and the hideous fake stone fireplace in the living room. That definitely had to go. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN I painted the built-in furniture in neutral colours and soft pastels and added…

You will need • Glass bottle or large vase with a neck • Natural string • Measuring tape • Scissors 1 First, cut and tie a length of string, not too tightly, around the neck of the bottle. 2 Cut 48 lengths of string that measure 120cm long. Put the strands into pairs, and then fold them in half and loop onto the string around the neck of the bottle. 3 Separate the strands into groups of eight – you’re going to be working with each group of eight strands at a time. In your first group, start with the strand on the furthest right. Knot it onto the strand to the left. Keep working with the same strand working right to left knotting on three strands,…

Updating your bathroom can feel like a big, complicated job, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Taking it step-by-step and planning everything you want in advance will help the process to go smoothly. It will also help you to communicate your vision to any tradespeople you’ll need to help you with the job. You might feel like having a bath is a deal-breaker, or that having two sinks will save your relationship! Always plan your ideal scenario first, as bathroom design is developing all the time. You might well be surprised by how much of your wishlist you can achieve. BATHS Baths are usually the largest feature of the bathroom, so it’s best to plan this first. Modern designs incorporate clever, space-saving features or flexible options for tap placement.…

GENERAL CLEARANCE Clear space: It’s best to plan a clear space of at least 760mm from the front edge of all fixtures to any opposite bath fixture, wall or obstacle. DOORS Door entry: The opening of a doorway should be at least 860mm wide. If the existing structure doesn’t allow for a change, then a minimum 610mm door is allowable – don’t forget you might need to get a bath through it! Door interference: Make sure no door interferes with another door to ensure the safe use of the fixtures and cabinets. BASINS Height: Between 760 and 1190mm is comfortable for most adults. Span (the distance from left to right, without obstructions): Recommended: 1020mm; minimum required: 760mm. Clearance to the front: Recommended: 760mm; minimum required: 510mm. BATHS Height: Between 500…

What’s the difference between gelato and ice cream? Here’s some frozen dessert knowledge you didn’t know you needed... ICE CREAM usually has a custard base. It requires a high whipping process to produce a light texture and a cold serving temperature to maintain a hard texture. GELATO includes more milk and less cream than ice cream. A slower churning technique makes it less airy and gives it a thicker texture. It’s also stored and served at a slightly higher temperature than ice cream, which brings out the flavours more.…

About me I’m Caroline Borgman, an interior designer, @carolineborgmaninteriors. I live with my husband, Anthony, and two children, Amelie and Felix. Our house is a stone-built cottage in West Oxfordshire, which we bought in 2007. My room... MY PROBLEM ROOM The outbuilding was already here when we moved in. It was used as a summerhouse by the previous owners, and we had it as a storage space for a while. When I launched my interior design business, I needed a well-organised studio to work from, so it made sense to transform the summerhouse. HOW I MADE IT WORK We cleared the space out, painted the walls and sanded the floors. We put in a good storage system with floor-to-ceiling shelves and created a multipurpose work area. MY FAVOURITE PART I…

About me I’m Heather Craig @heatherrosieolivehome and I’m an assistant in early years learning. I live in a four-bedroom 1940s house in Dunfermline with my husband, Brian, an oil rig operations manager, and our children, Rosie, six, and Olive, four. My room... MY PROBLEM KITCHEN The oak cupboards and granite work surfaces were good quality, but they were a safe choice and in an older style that made the room look drab. I love colour, so I really wanted the kitchen to reflect that. HOW I MADE IT WORK Painting the walls pastel blue and the cupboards a pale pink has really brightened the room. The colour scheme also complements the worktop and floor really well – I quite like the black now! We added more work surface space with…

About me I’m Laura Davies, 43, a freelance beauty writer. I live with my husband, David, 43, an area manager, and my daughters Nico, 11, and Marcy, nine, and Elvis, our teacup poodle. Our home is a four-bedroom Victorian terrace in Worthing. My room... MY PROBLEM ROOM We just didn’t have enough space in the house, so in February 2019 we decided to convert our attic into a master bedroom with a large en suite. You can see more on my Instagram @leopard_print_stairs. HOW I MADE IT WORK We put down vinyl flooring and installed brick slips on the walls for a New York loft look. Bespoke built-in wardrobes have helped us maximise storage space and we went for a spacious walk-in shower for a bit of luxury. MY FAVOURITE…

These nautical lanterns are easy to pop in your hamper for a day at the beach. The lids help to protect the candle flame from being extinguished by the sea breeze TAKES 3 HOURS YOU WILL NEED Sardine tins White spray paint Acrylic paints Paintbrush Masking tape Uniball POSCA marker pens, £3.50 each, Hobbycraft Pre-waxed wick assemblies for soya wax 100mm, £2.50 for a pack of 10, Hobbycraft Scissors Soya wax flakes, £8.50 per 1kg, Hobbycraft Saucepan Glass mixing bowl Wooden spoon Pyrex jug Tranquility and Ocean Spray soap fragrance oil, £6 for 20ml, Hobbycraft 1 Working in a well-ventilated area, or outside if you can, cover the work area with old newspaper or a dust sheet. Use white spray paint to paint the top and sides of the sardine…

LENTIL HOTDOGS PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 7-8 MINS SERVES 8-10 INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp olive oil • ½ onion, finely diced • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 Portobello mushrooms, chopped • 100g walnuts • 1 pouch Merchant Gourmet Puy lentils • 100g sweet potato, cooked • 1 tbsp chipotle paste • ¼ tsp sweet smoked paprika • ¼ tsp dried oregano • 2 tbsp tomato purée • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 5 tbsp plain flour • 25g dried breadcrumbs • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper • ¼ tsp sea salt To serve • Hotdog rolls • ½ onion, finely chopped • ½ green pepper, finely chopped METHOD 1 Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic…

What inspired you to launch Ecosophy? My inspiration came from many areas, including a four-year period living in Japan, which gave me an appreciation for the beauty of natural materials and minimalist design, and degrees in anthropology and development, which gave me insight into the cultural aspects of textile production and its impact on workers. I also have an idealistic desire to create homeware that will create beautiful homes and a more beautiful world. I spent about two years researching sustainable textiles and visiting producers in India, Bangladesh, Turkey and France before I launched Ecosophy in 2017. Tell us about the ethos behind Ecosophy… The ethos of the brand is expressed in our name, which combines ‘eco’ – from the Greek oikos, meaning household – and ‘sophy’ – from the…