Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i HomeStyle

Spring definitely feels like it’s in the air now and with the Easter bank holiday coming up, it’s the perfect time to dig out your paintbrushes and get stuck into some exciting new decorating projects. In this issue we’ve got plenty of ideas to inspire you. This month’s decorator’s moodboards (page 61) are focused on fabulous florals, which are making a huge comeback at the moment. From ditsy meadow sprigs to blowsy blooms and bold retro flowers there’s a design to suit everyone. If you’re looking for some fast but fabulous ways to refresh your scheme on a budget, look no further than our brilliant spring updates feature (page 72). It’s packed with quick and easy ways to give your rooms a boost for the season ahead. With many of…

Make sure the look you’re aiming for really is ‘you’ and not someone else’s ideal. I love looking at dark interiors online, but I’ve now realised I don’t want to live with them in my own home. For coloured paint, I prefer to spend money on a good-quality brand. To me, the colour is always truer than if you try to get a match mixed. I’ll balance things out by using budget white emulsion. Check your measurements! I originally ordered a three-seater sofa for the living room, but we made a mistake measuring the clearance, and it wouldn’t fit up the stairs. City Sofa was super helpful, and saved the day, offering us a corner sofa instead, which comes in two sections. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Ruth Carroll, a primary school teacher. I live with my partner, David Hale, an estate agent, our son, Hugo, four, and my daughter, Ruby, who’s 16. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a four-bedroom detached self-build in Bassaleg, Newport. We moved here in November 2016. I like to share our renovation journey on Instagram @homeatfoxfield. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE While the original property was beautiful on the outside, it needed so much work that it wasn’t worth saving. The decision was taken to completely demolish and rebuild. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN It was going to be hard to create a charming new-build so I’ve added some traditional touches, such as a log-burner and panelling to get the best of both worlds: an…

You will need 1 First, make sure the branch is clean and dry. Remove any loose bark and lightly sand the ends if rough. 2 Take the blossom stems and lay them along the length of the branch. Secure them in place with silver florist wire. Use a glue gun to fill in any gaps with more sprigs of faux flowers. 3 Cut two lengths of strong, clear fishing wire measuring around 1m and tie on either end of the branch. Make a small loop on the other end of each length of wire, and then hang the branch on hooks on the wall. 4 If you’re hanging the branch from the ceiling, measure and mark the…

Weigh up your options with this rundown of what’s available With a huge number of designs to choose from, laminate is the most affordable option. Laminate is easy to clean and cheap to install, but the surface may bubble up over time. Natural wood, such as oak or walnut, will add warmth and character. The downside is that it needs regular oiling, it can discolour near a sink and you’ll need a trivet for hot pans to avoid scorch marks. Natural stone worktops have variations that make each piece unique. However, a specialist fabricator is required, and it can be an expensive option. Granite is the most hardwearing, but still needs sealing every 10 years, while more porous materials, such as marble and limestone are more susceptible to stains. Composite…

SCANDI DREAMING When designing our bedroom we knew we wanted a neutral colour palette to create a calming and relaxing environment. Our Scandi-themed room is based around a four-poster bed, made from solid ash, creating a unique texture on each section of the frame. We added some hanging lights and floating bedside tables to create a hotel feel. We also believe that greenery in the home brings happiness, so it’s essential to incorporate an indoor plant in every corner! @ourlondonlistedhome MURAL MOMENT We wanted to have fun with the downstairs toilet so we chose an abstract wallpaper of tropical leaves and flowers and a salmon pink suite for the smallest room in the house. The woodwork is painted in a dark blue, the ceiling is a pale pink and the…

STYLE INSPIRATION Monochrome Black and white schemes are design classics and they’re great if you’re not confident about combining colours in a room. Keep walls white, which will in turn help your room to feel larger and brighter. Dark polished floors are the perfect foil for pristine white walls and give a sense of depth to the room. Keep window treatments unfussy – eyelet or tab top curtains, or simple blinds all work well. A large ivory rug is an easy to live with alternative to a carpet and will help create a focal point for you to stage your furniture around. Choose furniture and accessories with bold shapes that stand out against a white backdrop. Look for sculptural lamps and vases and add shelving and occasional tables with strong…

CREATE ZONES Positioning the table closer to the wall puts Aisling and her family opposite the rear windows and glass door, so they can enjoy views of the garden while dining. The low-hung pendant light helps to define the dining space. The oval-shaped table is a more sociable option while a mix of chairs adds interest to the space. Aisling loves to decorate the table with cut flowers from the garden and colourful candles. To introduce some pattern, Aisling wallpapered the entrance hall and framed the doorway by painting it in a dark blue. STYLISH SPLASHBACK Aisling was inspired by deVOL Kitchens to create a striking splashback that covered the whole wall. ‘I love deVOL’s green tiles that are inspired by London tube stations. We knew we wanted these Zellige…

Relaxed style Forget about tidying everything away in the cupboards. For a lived-in, homely feel, leave bowls of fruit out on the worktops, decorate with jugs of fresh or dried flowers and use open shelving or a classic dresser to display pretty tableware. Golden touch Bring a modern twist to the traditional style with metallic accents. Brass-coloured door handles, shelf brackets and light fixtures will lift the whole scheme. Start small You don’t have to buy a whole new kitchen to get the style – build the look with accessories. Look out for gingham linen, handmade ceramics and rustic wood for shelving in local salvage yards.…

• Traditional shutters, £900, Abfab shutters • Wild Ginger carpet in Sisal Weave, £32.23 per sq m, Victoria Carpets • Poppy rug, £125, French Connection Home • Walls and woodwork painted in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £56 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball • AM.PM Soledad Sun mirror, £199, La Redoute • Lever arm antique brass floor lamp, £55; ammonite fossil on stand, £12, for a similar sofa, try the Beatrice velvet four-seater, £799; for a similar bolster cushion, try the Dusky Pink Clara rectangle cushion, £20; for a similar tray, try wooden tray, £12, all Dunelm • Regular Stella star pendant light, £165, Pooky • Scatter Box Saturn feather filled cushion, £27.95, Linens Limited • Fejka artificial weeping fig plant, £55; Strandmon armchair, £250; Pepparkorn vase, £7, all IKEA •…

• Ceiling painted in Light Peachblossom matt emulsion, £26 per L, Little Greene • Bed painted in Pale Powder modern eggshell, £32 for 75ml, Farrow & Ball • Clematis mural wallpaper, £195, Sian Zeng • Bow Tie floor lamp, £248, Pooky • Square rug, from £225, Nordic Knots • Klara office chair, £69; Floral Initial artwork, £16; Bunny Cuddle fleece duvet set, from £27; Pink Bunny wall art, £16; Rush storage basket, £18; Mia lamp, £20; ruffle trim cushion, from £8.40; Grey and Blush tassel cushions, £9 each, all Home Essentials • For a similar light, try the Nash Golden Metal and Opaline pendant light, £175, Maisons du Monde • Wink velvet cushion, £31, Meri Meri • Vetro wall light, £25, MADE.com • For similar curtains, try the Nobodinoz…

Your cat is part of the family, so why not make its sleeping spot part of the furniture with this clever cat bed cupboard, complete with a handy drawer for storing treats and toys. YOU WILL NEED Screwdriver Wood filler Sanding block Sharpie marker Drill and bit Jigsaw French Linen and Graphite Chalk Paint, £21.95 per L, both Annie Sloan Paintbrush Wooden knob Artist’s paintbrush Clear Chalk Paint Wax, £11.95 for 500ml, Annie Sloan 32 x 32cm cushion pad Sophie Allport Purrfect fabric in Beige, £28.50 per m, Just Fabrics Iron Sewing machine Scissors Thread 1 Unscrew the handles from the cupboard and fill the holes with wood filler. Leave to dry and sand flush. Make a paper template of a cat’s head shape – this needs to be big…

Light the way Add a dash of Danish design to your home with this charming and practical Nuru portable lantern. Thanks to the sturdy style and LED light, you can use it inside or out – perfect for the transitional seasons, as well as cosy winters indoors and balmy summer nights in the garden. You can choose from three levels of light too, so you can get the ambience just right. £79.95, worm.co.uk. Creased sheets? Give them a spritz of fragranced water and shake your bedding until smooth Cute cloths These eco, multi-purpose cloths can be used for washing up or wiping down. At the end of their life they can be popped in your home compost too! £9.95 for three, tabithaeve.co.uk. Paw patrol Keep a tab on your furry…

Roasted leg of lamb stuffed with feta, olives and pistachios Prep time 40 minutes Cook time 1 hour 20 minutes, plus marinating and resting Serves 8 INGREDIENTS • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 lemons, 1 juiced, 1 sliced • 1½ tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp dried oregano • 2kg leg of lamb • 100g feta, crumbled • 2 tbsp roughly chopped pistachios • 2 tbsp roughly chopped pitted black olives For the lemon anchovy mayonnaise • 160ml light mayonnaise • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 anchovy, finely chopped • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • ½ lemon, zested and juiced METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas Mark 7. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, lemon juice, 1 tbsp of the oil and the oregano.…

WASHED DENIM This light blue shade comes alive alongside warm wooden accents and luscious houseplants…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Sam Gavrilovic, 50, and I work in retail customer service. I live with my husband, Mark Tucker, 50, and our kittens, Luna and Freya. You can see more of my home on Instagram @my.interior.tales. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a three-bedroom semidetached house, built around 2003, in Corsham, Wiltshire. We’ve lived here since January 2019. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE Although the house was perfectly liveable, it all looked dull and tired, and just needed a complete refresh. The kitchen was cut in two by a peninsular unit, and the bathrooms were worn and dated. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN Mark and I have redecorated every room, some more than once! We’ve changed all the floors, upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms, added storage,…

You will need 1 Assemble the paper shade following the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, cut the knotted ends off each feather boa with your scissors. 2 Apply some glue around the middle of the paper shade, and then take the first feather boa and wrap it around, sticking it to the glue as you go. Cut off any excess feather boa and set aside. 3 Apply another band of glue around the shade, a couple of inches above the first, and stick another feather boa in place, again cutting off the excess when fully wrapped. 4 Repeat the process, until the whole shade is covered with feathers. Use the excess bits you cut off for the top and bottom where the circumference is…

Ask your local builder if they have a spare board, or pick one up cheaply from recycling centres or try specialist suppliers. Make sure the boards are in good condition, with no splits or warps, although you want them to feel a bit worn, for added character. Some boards have metal strips on the ends – leave these on for an industrial vibe or prise them off if you want a more rustic look. Cut the boards to size, clean and sand down. If you use an electric sander, don’t overdo it. You want to retain the nicks and knots within the wood. Depending on how rustic you want the effect, you can sand by hand using coarse sandpaper. Protect and seal the wood either with a wax finish, which…

The rooms where we’ve rushed in and painted before living with it for a while are the rooms we’ve ended up redoing. Grow into the space and don’t feel like you have to do everything at once. I always shop around at house clearances and flea markets to find more unusual one-off pieces that will add personality. I can’t imagine designing a room from scratch with all new furniture. If you get a package deal from a kitchen supplier, get it broken down and itemised so that you can shop around a little, as you can often find some items at a lower price. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

W e’ve always been a nation of animal lovers, but with so many people welcoming new pets over lockdown, it’s time to think about how to make your home a safe and cosy place for every member of the family, including the four-legged ones. Pet-proofing your home is essential in keeping your dog or cat out of harm’s way and that can be nerve-wracking if you’re a first-time pet owner. But don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you to make your home both safe and stylish for all the family, including the furry ones! A QUIET CORNER Creating a special corner in your home will help to discipline pets from damaging your furniture. Being kept in the doghouse can be a good thing for a puppy, as crate training…

WEAVING WONDERS Herringbone flooring adds an instant sense of grandeur to any room. The neatly interlocking planks remind us of country houses and the very finest hotels. Now you can get the look without the big budget. The new range of Click Vinyl flooring from Tile Giant includes herringbone planks in three stylish colourways. An integrated underlay layer and a click system makes them easy to fit yourself. CAMERA READY Give yourself a bathroom fit for a starlet with these elegant pink tiles. Onyx bathrooms were the height of fashion during the 1920s and they are set for a resurgence in the 2020s too! The realistic onyx effect has been printed onto huge 60 x 120cm tiles, which are suitable for the walls or as flooring. They’ll bring a touch…

• Aldana kitchen cabinets in Forest Green; Caple Butler sink, integrated dishwasher, £4,185, all Direct Wholesale Kitchens • 287 Little Mono Monobloc mixer tap in Antique Brass, £107.99; for similar pots, try the Sabina Copper pan set, £59.49, both Wayfair • Smeg Portofino range cooker, £2,849; Smeg 1950s-style kettle, £179, both AO.com • Zellige Jade Green wall tiles, £47.88, per sq m, Best Tile • For similar flooring, try the Home Choice engineered rustic oak flooring, £38.99 per sq m, UK Flooring Direct • Reeded glass pendant light, £142, Spark & Bell • Black Ribba frames, £7; for a similar light, try the Ranarp pendant light, £25, both IKEA • Antique Brass dish drainer, £59, The Forest & Co. • Brass Ironbridge shelf brackets, from £14; for a similar…

HOT STUFF Anyone who’s explored the ever-growing choice of products in the plant-based section of the supermarket will be familiar with the GoodLife range. But the veg and vegan producer has announced three new additions to its expansive roster of plant-based meals. New additions are the Loaded Burrito Veg Burger, Vegetable Paella Slice and Vegetable Firecracker Melt (pictured). Meeting the demand from customers for more global flavours, the three new dishes aim to provide variety alongside its mission of producing healthy plant-based food. As well as being sumptiously tasty, all three also intended to be quick and healthy options for busy families, and all three are low in saturated fat. Available from Morrisons, RRP £2.29. SMOOTH MOVES We confess that we love to experimenting with all the milk alternatives at…

Dobbies NATURAL APPEAL Tap into the biophilic trend with these stimulating houseplants, botanical-themed homewares, and abstract prints Next COSY CLASSICS These timeless pieces will bring cosiness and class to your space John Lewis & Partners BRIGHTER DAYS With all the charm of a rural retreat, this new collection celebrates simple, stripped-back design and the changing seasons HomeSense WILD SIDE Go bold with a dash of gold or a splash of turquoise in your interior scheme this year. A statement cushion or throw could be all you need! HOW TO style the look 1 Pairing the pretty with the practical, this trend relies on plenty of natural light, clean patterns and wooden textures. 2 To recreate the charm of a country cottage, fill several vases with fresh flowers and…

GET READY FOR... An eggcellent Easter This year, Easter Sunday falls on the 17th April and the following bank holiday Monday makes it a great weekend to get together with loved ones. Why not set the scene for a feast with a gorgeous pastel tablescape. The spring collections from Emma Bridgewater are the perfect starting point for your scheme. Sweet floral patterns adorn clusters of traditional eggs in the much-loved Easter Egg Hunt design, and the new Spring Chickens uses the same decorative style to dress some cheeky chooks. WEEKEND PROJECT Garden guests Make your outdoor space a home for wildlife this month. Lots of animals have their babies in spring so they need extra support at the moment, especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Feed…

Traditional sprung mattresses contain wire springs and filling, such as cotton, wool, foam or polyester. Cheaper options have large springs linked together. Pocket-sprung styles have individual springs, each in a fabric casing. This minimises movement, so partners are less likely to disturb each other turning over. Foam mattresses include budget-priced polyurethane foam, memory foam and latex foam. Memory foam, in the mid-price bracket, recovers slowly from pressure and is less breathable, so it’s warmer to sleep on. Top-of-the range latex foam is springier, breathes better, and is good for allergy sufferers. Hybrid mattresses combine the best of both, with foam and pocket-sprung layers in one product. There’s more than one way to buy your mattress. Visit a traditional retailer, where you can try the different products. Lie on the bed…

Get the experts to do the hard work. Rather than spending time choosing and chopping the wood for the panelling myself, I sent the measurements to MDF Direct who sent the pieces precut to my exact specification, saving me time and the worry of making a mistake. Thoughtful style and design choices can add an air of quality to a room, without needing to be expensive. Rather than plain, shallow skirting boards, which is a classic budget-friendly look in a new-build, we chose deep skirting from the traditional range that looks great. Be prepared to change your mind and take any good advice offered from qualified professionals. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Sarah Tempest and I live with my partner, Mickey Devine. We each run our own brand communications studios. Mine is Altogether Creative and Mickey’s is called Everything, so we’re effectively business rivals! WHERE I LIVE Our home is a three-bed Victorian semi in Seaburn, Sunderland, which we bought in August 2019. You can see more of my renovation journey on Instagram @the_seaburn_house. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The dated carpets, wallpaper and fire had to go. We also wanted to bring more light into the ground floor and give the kitchen a major overhaul. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We’ve opted for a mix of old and new homeware, including flea-market finds and furniture with a modern vintage feel. It’s more of an eclectic…

You will need 1 Take the carving block and draw a crescent moon shape with a pencil. Neatly cut around the shape to create your printing block. 2 Measure and mark nine equally-spaced spots with a pencil on the A3 sheet of white paper. 3 Apply a thin layer of the first colour paint to the block with the roller and print it on the first spot on the paper. Clean the printing tray and roller and repeat with the next colour. Repeat a third time to complete the first row of printed moons. 4 Start printing the next row, but turn the block around so that the moon is facing the other way. Print three…

1 Blooming lovely Get the most out of that joyful spring feeling by bringing the outdoors in. Any watertight object can be used as a vase, like these sweet enamel bowls, so get imaginative and create a showstopping display. Steer clear of synthetic floristry foam and use eco-alternatives, such as moss, or sturdy ‘flower frogs’ to support your blooms. To create a longer-lasting arrangement, use dried flowers. 2 IN THE FRAME Revamp your window frames with a lick of dark paint. Deep colours recede into the background and create the illusion of a larger window. If your view includes the garden or trees, try a forest green shade. If you look out into a patch of sky, try a rich navy blue instead. 3 Screen time Conceal untidy areas –…

BLEND RADIATORS IN ‘We changed the dull radiator that was in this space for a more Victorian-looking metal one a couple of years ago. Although it was in tune with the style of the house, it still didn’t go with the living room’s scheme. Rather than let it stand out and catch the eye, we painted it in the same blue as the walls for a more cohesive style. It helps make the room feel even cosier.’ CHOOSE THEMED ARTWORK ‘I love pictures of animals and insects and I had several around the house in other rooms and a couple in the back of the wardrobe. I got them all together and decided to put together a gallery wall above the sofa. It just goes to show what you can…

A little help Get the kids involved in the decorating! Make a scrapbook of ideas together, let them look at your Pinterest board and even encourage them to help paint the walls or stick on decals. Play room Think outside the box and incorporate playful touches into the scheme. Swap an armchair for a swinging seat, hang a glitter pendant from the ceiling and put up wall-mounted bookcases with their fave reads. Classic style Don’t get too hung up on trends – soon enough, they’ll have moved onto another craze. Save time and money by sticking to timeless pieces, like wooden accessories, cute characters and pretty prints.…

Queen of clean Eufy RoboVac 35C T2117V11 robotic vacuum cleaner, £249, AO.com Whether it’s pet hair, crumbs or everyday dirt, this handy robot will do the hard work for you. Set a schedule with the EufyHome app, and get up to 100 minutes of run time. The BoostIQ feature will automatically ramp up the power when it finds stubborn dirt, and this vacuum also has a long-lasting and washable filter. We love: the special sensors that detect any steep drops and ensure the robot steers away from them. Triple threat Proscenic 850T self-charging robot vacuum, around £229, Amazon This nifty 3-in-1 gadget can sweep, vacuum and mop at the same time, and works in a programmed pattern that eventually reaches every area that it can access. It offers…

A Abfab Shutters abfabshutters.co.uk Abigail Ahern abigailahern.com Abstract House abstracthouse.com Amazon amazon.co.uk & then they went wild andthentheywentwild. co.uk Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Anthony Burrill anthonyburrill.com AO . com ao.com Argos argos.co.uk Atrafloor atrafloor.com B B&M bmstores.co.uk B&Q diy.com Barker & Stonehouse barkerandstonehouse. co.uk Bean Bag Bazaar beanbagbazaar.co.uk Beards & Daisies beardsanddaisies.co.uk Belle & Boo belleandboo.com Bellwoods bellwoodslifestylestore. co.uk Bellybambino bellybambino.com Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Benjamin Moore benjaminmoorepaint. co.uk Best4Flooring best4flooring.co.uk Best Tile besttile.co.uk Big Bathroom Shop bigbathroomshop.co.uk Bissell Direct bisselldirect.co.uk Block Design blockdesign.co.uk Bloomingville bloomingville.com Britton Bathrooms brittonbathrooms.com Broste Copenhagen brostecopenhagen.com C  cai & jo caiandjo.com Camomile London camomile.london Ca’ Pietra capietra.com Carpetright carpetright.co.uk Charley Chau charleychau.com Ciao Chiara ciao-chiara.com Cielshop cielshopinteriors.com City Sofa citysofa.co.uk COAT Paints coatpaints.com Colourtrend colourtrend.ie Composite Prime composite-prime.com Cox & Cox…