Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Ideal Home

Chez Richmond is usually looking less than its best by the end of summer, once the littlest Richmonds have blazed a holiday trail through the place, leaving ice-lolly stains, deflated space hoppers and Lego bricks in their wake. The clean-up operation develops into an epic clear-out – a decluttering, organising and restocking binge that sees us moving into autumn calm and ahead of the game. If you’re also feeling the ‘urge to purge’ (as Ma Richmond calls it), look out for our Store & Order logo throughout this issue – it highlights all the best ideas and solutions for a smooth-running home.…

MY GO-TO STORES… MADE.COM For designer-look items at purse-friendly prices. HEAL’S Its lighting and accessories never fail to impress me. MAISONS DU MONDE I check out its ‘new’ section weekly! STYLIST’S NOTE “Adding textured linen and velvet cushions in mustard and teal helps lift a neutral scheme”STEPHANIE DURRANT, SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR…

Living room Full, floor-length curtains make the pretty bay window the focal point and the warm grey tone from the fabric has been used to highlight the lovely deep skirting boards and ornate door frames. BUY THE KEY PIECES Curtains made in Bosco, £105m; Bosco floor cushions, from £55 each, all Mark Hearld range, Sessions and Co Tom and Kate were living in a small cottage in a busy part of London, but with job changes and a second child on the way, they wanted to be in a calmer location. The house they found needed a complete overhaul. With its pebbledashed exterior and flea-infested carpets, it was hard to see the upside. ‘Luckily, we saw the house on a lovely day and the sun was flooding in,’ says Kate.…

Floating shelf Brunel corner chaise in Estelle Blue, £1,599; Brunel armchair in Murcia Grey, £699, both Heal’s. Wishbone-style Y chairs, £138 each, Only Home. By Your Side tray table, £255, Amara. Lack shelves, £19 each, Ikea. Garda rug, £495, John Lewis & Partners. Wassily cushion, £110, Amara. Chinese money plant in pot, £32, Bloombox Club. (On shelves, from top left) Monstera plant in pot, £35, Bloombox Club. Vita Black and White vase, £40, Habitat. Magazine files, £7.50 each, Paperchase. Balance No.2 poster, £13.95; frame, £12.95, both Desenio. Small marble disc on stand, £59, West Elm. A4 boxes, £7, Paperchase. Wire globe, £25, Marks & Spencer. Wire basket, £8.99, H&M Home. Hourglass, £19.99, Zara Home. Lush velvet wall clock, £42; Monograph pencil sharpener, £16.50, both Hurn & Hurn. Canon camera, £519,…

1 Choose glazed cabinets Show off your smarter collection of glassware, crockery and table linens by displaying them in a glass-fronted cabinet. Don’t worry too much about making everything perfectly in-line, create a more relaxed feel instead by stacking and layering things in baskets and jars. 2 Use baskets for quick clear-ups Labelled baskets are a practical way to separate everyone’s shoes and outdoor gear, so line up several on shelving at different heights in the hallway or utility room. Colour-coded labels help non-readers stow their stuff, too. 3 ORGANISE BILLS AND PAPERWORK Keep a mini set of drawers in your home office or kitchen-diner to keep on top of paperwork so it doesn't take over your space. Label each drawer by family member or type of bill and keep…

Claire Fox lives here with her husband Michael McDarby, and their children Mollie, six, Florence, three and Frank, two. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian end of terrace in Hackney, London. “The details like the taps, plants and wall lights have really brought the room to life” WHAT IT COST Shower..................£1,049Sanitaryware........£1,255Brassware...............£678Radiator.....................£50Paint.........................£120Tiles.........................£390 TOTAL.................£3,542…

TAKE A SEAT Folds away when not in use. AKW Onyx fold-up shower seat in White, £249, VictoriaPlum.com HOT TECH Turn on your shower via Alexa or smartphone. SmarTap smart shower system with dual control, £699, Victoria Plum.com STAND FIRM Stay secure while soaping up. Ideal Standard grab rail and soap basket, £89.99, VictoriaPlum.com FOR MORE INFORMATION… Find everything you need at online bathroom specialist victoriaplum.com, call 0344 804 4848 or follow on social media @victoriaplumuk…

1 THEY CREATE SHADE Use a cantilevered structure to create shade, both indoors and outside. This window seat manages it so effectively that the Holmans can enjoy the space even at the height of summer, as well as on rainy days. 2 THEY OPEN UP DARK CORNERS Cantilevered structures with glazing can visually or physically open up a corner of a building. The Holmans have used theirs to separate their dining space from the living area. 3 THEY CONNECT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR This means that you can enjoy the design year-round. 4 THEY CREATE VISUAL DRAMA A cantilevered structure can offer up a contemporary twist on a traditional property. 5 THEY REQUIRE AN ENGINEER Using one will ensure that the construction is stable and can be enjoyed for years…

JEWELLERY HOLDER Hang a mirror with a handy trinket tray in a bedroom or bathroom. Nordal square mirror with shelf, £50, Amara KITCHEN SHELF Store tea, coffee and sugar in something beautiful enough to show off. Hexagon concrete storage jar, £26, Cult Furniture HIGH RISE Hide toys in a living space (doubles as a side table) or shoes in a bedroom. Gunner storage trunks, £139 for set of three, Made.com BEDROOM BEAUTIFIER The mix of drawer sizes is ideal for small accessories as well as clothes. Agra chest, £699, Next Home COAT CHECK An open hanging rail will work in a guest room, hallway or utility. Turbo clothes rack, £35, Ikea RENTER FRIENDLY There are no fixings required with this chic leaning ladder shelf. Clockhouse shelf ladder in Carbon, £280,…

Inside view Indoor security camera, £139, Somfy The Somfy indoor security camera (W4.3xDia9cm) is motion activated so it records as soon as it senses someone in a room, sending it all to your phone. As well as streaming live video, you can also talk to people via your phone thanks to the two-way microphone. THE BEST BIT Once paired with your smartphone, you can set a shutter to close automatically over the lens when you enter the room so it doesn’t record. EXPERT TIP ‘Cameras placed in visible positions around your home’s exterior should deter unwelcome visitors.’ JIMMY LIN, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT, ARLO Candid camera Arlo Ultra 4K wire-free security camera system, from £449.99, Amazon The Arlo Ultra security camera has crystal clear 4K HDR video quality, a motion-activated spotlight…

WHERE TO BUY 1. CUSHION Grey wave cushion, £10, M&Co 2. PLANTER Grey concrete planter, £45, Mink Interiors 3. BAY TREE Artificial bay tree, £50, Wyevale Garden Centres 4. CHAIR Kennington garden chair, £329, Swoon 5. TRAY White wooden tray, £8, Primark 6. FAUX FLOWERS Faux hydrangeas in glass vase, £55, Kelly Hoppen IDEAL HOME LOVES… COTTAGE BLOOMS Paeonia lactiflora Herbaceous perennial peonies provide bursts of colour to borders and flower fully in late spring and early summer. Plant in autumn. Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ A compact, bushy perennial with narrowly ovate leaves and deep violet-blue flowers from early summer to autumn. Rosa ‘Climbing iceberg’ This shrub has virtually thornless stems and produces fragrant double white flowers from early summer to autumn.…

While a purpose-built fireplace or firepit offers the ultimate in outdoor heating, buying off-the-peg is a great alternative. Q What are the easiest outdoor options? A basic wood-burning fire basket or brazier requires little set-up and is contained in an open basket, so air circulates freely and the fire burns more efficiently. Firepits contain the heat source in a raised bowl, with designs ranging from simple portable metal bowls, to larger firepits with add-on grills or tiled surrounds. Q Which material should I go for? Stainless steel is easy to clean and rain and rust-resistant, but can be pricey. Steel is less expensive but more prone to rusting, unless it’s powder-coated. Stone and cast iron are robust but hefty to move, so it’s worth investing in a protective cover if…

Lobster burgers TAKES 30min SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS • 1 x 700g lobster • 1 avocado, peeled • ½ red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped • Juice of ½ lime • 1tsp chopped coriander leaves • 1tsp soured cream • 2 brioche burger buns, split • Sunflower oil, to fry • 100g fine polenta • Mayonnaise, cos lettuce and tomato slices to serve 1 Buy the lobster on the day you intend to cook it. It needs to be halved lengthways with the tail and claws removed (have a fishmonger do it). 2 Bring a large pan of water to the boil with 1tbsp salt per litre, and place a large bowl of iced water in the sink. Reduce the pan to a simmer, add the lobster tail and claws and poach for 4min or until the meat becomes white. Transfer…

Laura, 42, lives in a five-bedroom detached house in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex, with her husband Paul, co-founder of a private equity firm, and their sons, Luca, 11, and Connor, eight. ‘I’ve been practising yoga for ages. It's become my passion and is now something I can’t live without. I'd been talking for many years about my dream of creating my own designated yoga space, then in 2016 I did it! We built a separate yoga studio right next to the house. We live by the sea, so the building has been specifically designed to blend seamlessly with our timber-framed house. The exterior is clad with cedar, which has weathered beautifully. One of my favourite things is hearing the waves crashing against the stones on the beach when I open…

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST… JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS LAUNCHES 3D SHOPPING Yup, John Lewis & Partners has gone all futuristic on us, with its ‘Visualise Your Space’ 3D-shopping experience. Start by replicating your room via an in-store tablet, with dimensions, windows and flooring, along with a huge library of options to add similar furniture, wall colour and soft furnishings. Then you add your potential new purchases, put on the Virtual Reality goggles and step from the shop floor into your home. It’s the closest you’ll get to ‘try before you buy’, letting you re-arrange the furniture and check that the proportions work. Ideal for anything from art or rugs to sofas and coffee tables, it’s being trialled in the Kingston, Cambridge and Horsham stores. WE KEEP SEEING... VELVET LIGHTING…

Dress up a neutral sofa Refined rattan side tables and embroidered cushions in rich brown and sandy tones give a simple space a global edge. WHERE TO BUY Bora coffee table, £498; side table, £278; rug, from £198; Bellissima chandelier, £548, all Anthropologie Use a rug as a wall hanging Who said rugs are just for floors? Give a neutral room a lift by using one over the back of a sofa or as oversized wall art. WHERE TO BUY Cronin cotton rug, from £25.99, Wayfair, would work here. Coco three-seater sofa, £749, Sofology Build a collection of artisan ceramics Choose tactile finishes with hand-glazed and free-hand pattern and imperfect shapes, so they look like one of a kind pieces rather than high-street buys. WHERE TO BUY Feliz solid oak…

Hard wearing, easy to clean and dust-mite resistant, it’s little wonder polished concrete flooring is so popular. Q What is polished concrete? Flooring made from concrete, which has been sealed to create a non-porous surface. It is finished with diamond-polishing tools to a grit level of 800, 1500 or 3000 – the higher the grit, the shinier the floor. Costs vary from £80-£450sq m, depending if it’s levelled by machine or by hand, and any extra work for avoiding cracks. Q How is it installed? Most polished concrete floors are poured in a single 10cm-thick layer. The next day expansion cuts are sawn into the floor, encouraging shrinkage cracks to form. These are then filled with a colour-matched sealant, before the floor is cleaned, polished and sealed. Q Does it…

CORNER LARDER Access hard-to-reach corners with this larder unit, which has carousel-style rotating shelves. Heritage Sage corner larder unit, from £89, Wickes BUILT-IN PLATE RACK Stack dishes in an over-sink draining cupboard with the base removed. Shaker kitchen, from £20,000, Harvey Jones HIDDEN SHELVING These clever sliding shelves work by motor and can be raised and lowered at the press of a button. Cabinet Plus unit, from £644, Magnet ALCOVE STORAGE Squeeze in a shelf or two at the end of a run of units or the reverse of an island. Gresham kitchen in Powder and Mink, from £12,000, Burbidge “Strategic storage will make your kitchen stand out and ensure you’ll enjoy using it every day, while keeping it clean and clutter free”BEN BURBIDGE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, KITCHEN MAKERS SLOT-IN TRAY…

‘Floating’ off the floor, a wall-hung loo looks modern and sleek and makes cleaning the pan and floor easier. It also gives a feeling of added space. Q How is it installed? It can be a DIY job, but using a plumber is advisable. The pan must be securely bolted to a steel frame, usually sold separately, with a concealed cistern inside. The frame and cistern are covered, so only the pan and flush buttons are visible. The frame can be hidden in a stud partition wall or in bathroom furniture. Q Does it take up space? If the frame is fitted inside a wall, the pan will jut out less than a standard toilet. If you build a new stud wall to hide the cistern, take the added wall…

Multifunctional style Citation One smart speaker (H19xDia14cm) in Grey or Black, £179.99, Harman Kardon Google Assistant allows you to listen to music and manage your day, all via the power of your voice. Multi-room capability allows you to play the same (or different) music in different rooms. THE BEST BIT The built-in microphone allows hands-free help. EXPERT TIP ‘Voice assistants need wi-fi to work, so don’t expect to voice control your speaker when listening to music in the park.’ GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR Timeless looks R5 High fidelity music system (H14xW52xD30cm) in Rich Walnut or Soft Grey, £999, Ruark This all-in-one system has wi-fi streaming, USB playback, DAB/FM radio, a turntable input for vinyl lovers and even a built-in CD player, so don’t throw away your old CDs just yet!…

Kitchen-diner ‘It’s wonderful being able to open the doors to make the garden an extension of the ground floor,’ says Sophie. ‘The boys spend nearly all their free time outside now.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Losange chair, £1,098, Anthropologie. Antique Pewter task light is similar, £29, Beautiful Halo. Carlie light blue flatwoven rug, £39.99, Wayfair Five years ago, Sophie Klatt and Jim Ryan were renting a property in Parsons Green, west London, but they needed a larger house where they could put down roots, with enough space for Jim’s three teenage children to come and stay. ‘When I saw this house, I loved the fact that it was spacious and that the layout had much more potential than our previous home,’ says Sophie. ‘A lot of Victorian houses are very…

Yes “It’s important to have some downtime” Sarupa Shah, 46, lives with her partner Michael Robinson in a two-bedroom garden flat in northwest London. Sarupa is a personal development coach and mentor (thesoulagentblog.com). ‘During the week, our evening meals are always timed to coincide with EastEnders or a cookery programme, such as MasterChef, on Wednesdays. We spend all day speaking to clients, and it’s just nice to have some downtime when we can both stop talking and focus on something relatively mindless while we sit on the sofa and eat our dinner. Besides, neither of us were allowed to eat in front of the TV when we were growing up, so it does feel a bit rebellious! “ Sitting in front of unchallenging TV allows us to reflect on the…

Blank space The bit of wall above the sofa is crying out for a mirror or picture. Go for one big piece rather than several small ones for a sense of simplicity and scale. You never know, a picture you love could inspire the colour scheme for the entire roomÉ Storage… and more Turn functional storage into a display opportunity with propped artwork, a panel of painted colour and giant hooks for hanging plants or storage baskets Stylist’s Note “The stairway is the ideal place for a gallery wall. Choose matching frames and pictures with a theme”NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR Stylist’s Note “Shelving above a console or sideboard always makes an impact, especially if you have objects in matching colours on both surfaces”NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR…

Floating shelf A stack of floating shelves creates a wall of storage and display in a living space – just add chairs for the perfect laptop landing spot Bedroom niche Plan a break at the end of a run of built-in wardrobes to fit a compact desk and chair. A pegboard, painted to blend in, will stop your stationery spreading Printing station If you work at your kitchen table, all you need is somewhere to hide the printer. We removed a drawer from this chest to fit one in and changed its legs for a less ‘officey’ look. Spare-room alcove A narrow, floating desk won’t protrude into the room. When guests come to stay, prop a mirror on it to make it their dressing table. Bedside cabinet A wall-mounted unit…

Mariam Boutorabi-Cooke lives here with her husband Matt and their daughter Ara, five. THE PROPERTY A four-bed flat in a Victorian terrace in southwest London. WHAT IT COST Kitchen units......£11,500Appliances..........£6,500Taps......................£1,600Worktops.............£1,000Splashback.............£400Island and sinks..£4,500Flooring...............£4,200Lighting...................£650 TOTAL..............£30,350 “It has a warm, homely feel, which is down to both the layout and the natural materials we’ve used ”…

Did you know there is a whole range of bathroom products out there created to make life easier? With the right designs, you can achieve the perfect balance of safety and style to create a bathroom that aids independent living. Q Where do I begin? Whether you or someone in your family lack mobility, there are plenty of ways to create an accessible bathroom. If you’re ready for a drastic change, swap your bath for a level-access wet room, which allows you to take a wheelchair into the shower area. With a foldaway seat, such as the AKW Onyx fold-up seat (below), those who need to use it can, and it won’t be in the way for the rest of the family. Or, if you don’t want to bid goodbye…

Lindsay Holman lives here with her husband Nick and their children, Ben, nine, Alex, seven and Iris, three. Nick and Lindsay are both solicitors. THE PROPERTY A six-bedroom Victorian house in south London. THE VALUE Bought for £1,685,000 in 2018; now worth £2million. “Now, we can all congregate in the kitchen and there’s space for everyone” WHAT IT COST Builders’ fees..£150,000  Extra materials..£2,000 Kitchen refit....£18,000 Bathrooms.......£10,000 Windows and doors...............£40,000 TOTAL..........£220,000…

SUSTAINABLE LIVING Cut back on kitchen waste If you’ve already made the switch to reusable water bottles and coffee cups to help the environment, why stop there? Amara has introduced a brilliant new range of eco kitchen products to its website – from reusable food wrap and recycled foil to unbleached baking paper and paper sandwich bags. Bee’s wraps in Honeycomb, from £19 for three, Amara Patch up your patio Fix up any splits or cracks, indoors and out, with Gorilla’s brilliant All-conditions waterproof, mould-resistant and shrink-proof clear sealant, £8 for 295ml, Wilko. Revamp your sofa Has your sofa seen better days? Task Plumbs with upholstering and repairing it for you in time for Christmas. Sofa in Cardinal Petrol Velvet, around £1,800 including home visit and delivery, Plumbs SIDE TABLES…

Zone your layout Put down an outdoor rug to define seating and dining areas – it will act as an anchor point so you can arrange furniture sociably around it. WHERE TO BUY Plaza outdoor rug in Ivory, from £29, The Rug Seller Squeeze in a dining table This half-sized table slots neatly against a wall and can be folded flat when not in use – ideal for tight spots. WHERE TO BUY Panama two-seat half table dining set, £69, Dunelm Use the corners Make full use of patio space with a compact L-shaped, corner or modular sofa. WHERE TO BUY St Ives Rope garden corner seating combination, £815, John Lewis & Partners FIND MORE IDEAS… Inspired to have a go at making the most of your small outdoor space?…

A Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk An Artful Life anartfullife.co.uk Andrew Martin 020 7225 5100 andrewmartin.co.uk Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com Ao.com 0344 324 9222 Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arteriors arteriorshome.com Artfinder 0800 133 7434 artfinder.com Atkin and Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bailey’s Home 01989 561931 baileyshome.com Beautiful Halo beautifulhalo.com Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Bhs 0344 411 6000 bhs.co.uk Bloombox Club bloomboxclub.com Bronte by Moon brontebymoon.co.uk Burbidge 024 7667 1600 burbidge.co.uk Buster + Punch 020 3176 5871 busterandpunch.com C Caple 0117 938 1900 caple.co.uk Caravane 020 7486 5233 caravane.fr Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Cavendish Equipment cavendishequipment.co.uk Claygate 01622 833633 claygate.co.uk Cloth House 020 7485 6247 clothhouse.co.uk Cotswold Trading 01386 853331…