Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Ideal Home

Someone recently pointed out in a Zoom meeting how most of the backdrops on show featured neutral walls. It gave me pause for thought when I spend so much time advocating the use of colour. So, while I write this at my desk at home, three of my office walls are white, while the fourth (built-in shelving and cupboards) boasts an array of graphite grey testers, inspired by one of the shades in our 15 Failsafe Colour Schemes supplement, sponsored by Crown, that you’ll find bagged with this issue. Colour has been very much on the agenda at Ideal Home, with an exciting new project in the works (I can’t wait to spill the beans!). I’m feeling ready to embrace more feel-good colour in my home and I hope you…

Now and then, the high street comes up with something so utterly fabulous, it looks as if it’s come from a designer boutique. Here are some of our latest discoveries that will make your home look expensive without the big spend...…

Strong shade Transform plain shelving with a dramatic colour choice. Painting the wall and shelving in the same colour will create a seamless finish, allowing the shelves to almost disappear, while the contrast to the surrounding wall colour creates an interesting feature. An inky-blue base will showcase vases and your favourite finds. Group similar items together to create vignettes.…

Solo seat A corner is all you need for a reading nook. A hanging bamboo chair keeps the floor and sightlines clear for a feeling of space. Highlight the area with clusters of pots that contain foliage at varying heights and scales. Outdoor kitchen Extend your kitchen capacity into the garden. Potting tables provide a slim, compact surface along one side of a patio for outside food prep. Private bar Create your own little entertaining zone with a clever pull-down bar made from a couple of pallets and lengths of chain. Double your space An outdoor mirror will make your garden look bigger than it really is. Create your own using an old gate or some painted trellis mounted onto a piece of mirrored board. Kids’ corner Sacrifice a raised…

Dining area Soft blues, yellows and natural textures make the dining area inviting. Long panelling at one end of the room makes the low ceiling appear taller than it really is. BUY THE KEY PIECES Stay Safe Keep Your Distance print, £19, by Stephen Kenny, The Printer’s Devil Take a quick tour... Primary school teacher Emily Hadley lives here with her husband Kev, a design technology teacher, and their children, Finn, 14, and Florence, 12. THE PROPERTY A five-bed Edwardian semi-detached house in Torbay, Devon. VALUE Bought in 2015 for £325k; current value £550,000. “It’s been a real labour of love, but we now have a welcoming family home, and are proud that our vision has turned into a wonderful reality” Having renovated their previous coastal home, Emily and Kev…

BEST FOR ADDING CALM Old Ochre chalk paint, from £21.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan BEST FOR PAIRING WITH OFF-WHITES Sand interior chalky matt, £47.50 for 2.5ltr, M&L Paints BEST WITH MID-TONE FLOORING Smock flat matt emulsion, £21.50 for 2.5ltr, Crown BEST TO PAIR WITH RED UNDERTONES Cocoa Sand, £28 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore BEST FOR ALL FOUR WALLS Crocky Road clay paint, £45 for 2.5ltr, Earthborn BEST FOR ADDING WARMTH Brave Ground mixing matt, £29.16 for 2.5ltr, Dulux…

Get creative with découpage Sand the furniture and wipe away the dust. Measure the drawers (including edges) and mark out corresponding measurements on the wallpaper. Cut out the sections using a craft knife. Lay the pieces out in the order of the design. Brush PVA glue onto the furniture and smooth on the pieces to re-create the design. Apply two coats of matt varnish to secure.…

CHARLOTTE BOYD, FREELANCE STYLIST AND WRITER (CHARLOTTEBOYD.CO.UK) Charlotte has over 15 years’ experience working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines and brands. She regularly styles for Ideal Home. HELEN HARRY, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND OWNER OF HELEN HARRY INTERIORS (HELENHARRYINTERIORS.COM) Based in South Wales, Helen has recently completed a stunning renovation of a Grade II listed property. She makes it her mission to replicate the look she’s after for less and with effortless style. LEAH BRANDWOOD, HEAD OF DESIGN, BLINDS 2GO (BLINDS-2GO.CO.UK) Blinds 2go started out in 2000 as the first specialist online blinds retailer, helping customers shop from home, offering expert advice too. There’s the sister brand Curtains 2go, too.…

IDEAL GREAT DEAL SIT IN STYLE WITH SMART AND SLEEK BAR STOOLS SILVER STUDS Stone-wash bar stool, £294, Sweetpea & Willow SLEEK LEGS Portela bar stool in Grey, £119, Dwell…

Sloped ceilings, uneven walls and alcoves are common in bathrooms, particularly in period houses or where space is tight. But it’s not all bad news; irregular architecture can result in a character-filled place to bathe and unwind. Q Can I improve the shape? Stealing space from a bedroom or relocating a water tank might provide extra inches but do get costings in advance. Moving a window is pricier than an internal doorway, for example. Q How do I plan the layout? By prioritising. Compromise is inevitable so start by listing your must-haves and work out the impact that awkward features will have on their positions. Sloped walls may hinder where you can put a shower, for example. Could compact sanitaryware, such as a corner WC, allow a bigger tub? Q…

WHERE TO BUY 1. OUTDOOR RUG Samode Graphite/Ivoryindoor/outdoor rug, £59, Darlings of Chelsea 2. LANTERN Rattan solar-powered lantern in Black, from £45, John Lewis & Partners 3. COFFEE TABLE Domkapa Copacabana coffee table, £690, Sweetpea & Willow 4. PLANT POT Hay flowerpot with saucer in Grey, from £11, Nest 5. CUSHION Harbour Stripe cushion in Graphite/Ecru, £70, Tori Murphy 6. L-SHAPED OUTDOOR SOFA Savannah modular corner bench seat, £1,169, Danetti IDEAL HOME LOVES… STRUCTURAL PLANTS Trachycarpus fortunei This fabulous palm is very resilient and adaptable to all conditions. Wood fern Dryopteris Perfect for dry, shady areas, these ferns are easy to grow. Spineless Yucca elephantipes With its white flowers in summer, this is great for creating a focal point.…

5 GAME-CHANGING BUYS The products you need to organise your back-room kit for a smooth-running and orderly utility space 1 THE CLUTTER-CATCHING CADDIES Open shelves give easy access to laundry essentials but having everything out on show can look untidy. Corral smaller odds and ends like washing tablets and pegs into easy-to-grab baskets with cleaning kit in a caddy so it’s easy to tote around the house. Portland storage bucket, £20; utility basket, £12; wash-up tidy and utensil holder, £10 each, all Garden Trading 2 THE ADJUSTABLE SHELVING Stack shelves above appliances to make use of wasted wall space. This customisable system consists of easy-fit shelves and drying racks that can be clicked into place at different heights. Boaxel one-section storage, £66, Ikea 3 THE FOLD-UP LAUNDRY BASKET Bulky laundry…

SERVES 12 READY IN 1 HR 30 MINS, PLUS COOLING FOR THE CAKE • 100g cocoa powder • 240g self-raising flour • 1½tsp baking powder • ¼tsp bicarbonate of soda • 240g butter, softened • 400g caster sugar • 1tsp vanilla extract • 4 eggs at room temperature FOR THE BUTTERCREAM • 200g white chocolate • 250g butter, softened • 500g icing sugar, sifted • 2-3tbsp milk TO DECORATE • 1 white chocolate egg, split in half, and smaller chocolate speckled eggs YOU WILL NEED • 2 x 25cm round baking tins, greased and lined with baking paper 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Mix the cocoa powder with 400ml boiling water and leave to cool. 2 Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and ¼tsp salt into a bowl; set aside. Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Mix in 1 egg…

“Surrounding yourself with  patterns inspire and bring you joy can never be a bad thing in my eyes. Tying designs together with a similar palette is the key to success – just have fun! It is important to create balance, so with patterns on upholstery and curtains, keep walls to a complementary block colour.” STEPHANIE DURRANT, SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR “ I actually love a good pattern clash – but that’s the  crucial word: good. Pulling it off is an art form and while a matchy-matchy finish isn’t my thing either, playing it safe with a cohesive theme, such as botanicals or geometrics, is the best way to avoid what could result in a headache every time you enter the room.” MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR…

Things we love about the season: lighter evenings and dining alfresco (even if a cardi is still required). Bring an Easter lunch to life by filling clear glass vases with fresh spring blooms and create a simple centrepiece with mini egg decorations hung from a branch. WHERE TO BUY Mini eggs, £15 set of 10; mini glass hearts, £15 set of six; wooden egg tray, £25; Milford carafe, £25; Milford wine glasses, £38 set of four; mini baskets, £15 set of three, all The White Company…

METALLIC TEXTURES Bring a touch of glamour while adding depth with a wallcovering in a subtle metallic foil finish. Milan metallic in Neutral/Gold, £22 a roll, I Love Wallpaper HERITAGE FLORALS Traditional tapestry-inspired floral repeats take on a new lease of life in modern colourways. Tudor Garden in Fuchsia/Cerulean Blue, £130 a roll, Cole & Son NEW BOTANICALS Larger than life illustrations of exotic trees introduce a tropical feel. Paradiso Tropical Leaves in Green/ White, £13 a roll, Erismann at I Want Wallpaper GLOBAL ARTISAN Be transported to the plains of Africa with this woven textile pattern in sunbleached tones of parchment and terracotta. Macrame in Colour 3, £125 a roll, Arte at Jane Clayton MIDNIGHT SAFARI Elephants, zebras and giraffes lie in wait among golden leaves for a subtle…

MY GO-TO STORES ● WEST ELM Modern furniture, especially glass and metal designs with a glamorous, urban edge. ● JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS Great for good-quality accessories and contemporary, statement lighting. ● HOMESENSE An ever-changing selection for brilliant bargains and one-off finds. STYLIST’S NOTE “Go for an island with plenty of storage. Cluttered worktops will spoil the smooth lines and surfaces of an open-plan space” LISA FAZZANI, ACTING FEATURES EDITOR…

Solo seat Rattan hanging chair, £375, Nordic House. Palma side table, £135, Design Vintage. (On chair) Mustard Yellow leaf seat pad, £16, Rockett St George. Round linen cushion, £38, Graham and Green. Mustard checked wool throw, £65, Rose & Grey. (On side table) Inle round rattan tray, £52, Kalinko. Natural linen napkin, £34 for four; Dillie champagne saucer, £38 for four, both Rowen & Wren. Broadwell bottle, £11; Sorrento vase, £9, both Garden Trading. (On floor) Zinc bucket with wooden handle, £15, Labour and Wait. Shelton planter, £36, Rowen & Wren. Fibreclay planter, £125 for set of two, Graham and Green Outdoor kitchen Aldsworth potting table, £300; Aldsworth eight drawer unit, £350, both Garden Trading. (On rail) S hooks, £6 for six; cotton string bag, £9; bottle brushes, £15 for…

IDEAL GREAT DEAL…

1 PERK UP YOUR LIVING ROOM Refresh a tired colour scheme for spring. Swap plain cushions for cheery patterns in a mix of leafy greens and sunny yellows. Update a throw by sewing on bright pom-poms. 2 FILL AN EMPTY FIREPLACE While you’re not using it over summer, fill your fireplace with painted logs for a pretty focal point. Use simple white, then pick out a few logs to paint different shades. 3 MAKE A SPRING GARLAND Decorate a wicker garland with fresh flowers – cover it completely or add just a couple of blooms and leave the rest of the wicker bare. Complete with favourite postcards. 4 ADD AN EXTRA TIER OR TWO Give greenery displays extra height and fullness by arranging plants on a tiered…

HOW GEMMA DID IT ‘The family bathroom was perfectly functional, but it was basic and lacked a design perspective – it wasn’t a room we felt compelled to spend any time in,’ says owner Gemma, who is an interior designer (gemmabatesinteriors.co.uk). She is a meticulous planner. ‘I started with a wish list: a simple, striking, black and white scheme with a large shower enclosure, floating vanity unit and a stylish freestanding bath. The dimensions of the room meant I had to be creative with the space; the bath is at an angle to allow room for the shower enclosure.’ Labour cost around £2,000 and the job was completed within two weeks – a testament to Gemma’s organisation and planning skills. ‘I love how well all the different elements work together.…

We’re in love NATURAL BEAUTY Otto has quickly earned itself a reputation as the go-to for gorgeous handmade tiles with irregular finishes. The creamy Ecru Zellige design does not disappoint. Used along with the subtle Pera flooring tiles, they’re perfect for that lived-in look. Colour wash Introduce a dash of sophisticated colour to your bathroom with BC Designs’ trend-focused countertop basins, now available in new ColourKast shades. The minimalist Vive basin comes in either a hand-polished gloss white finish or a choice of eight contemporary silky matt hues including Satin Rose, Powder Blue and Khaki Green (left), all for the same price. Vive basin, £454, BC Designs On our wish list... Bathrooms To Love has launched a new range of modular marble-effect bathroom furniture. From £85 for a Perla Marble…

Building an extension was always on the agenda for Quentin and Seija Keeble, who bought their north London home in 2010. ‘It was in need of modernisation,’ says Quentin, managing director of property development company, London Home Quarters (homequarters.com). ‘It had a poky kitchen with a corridor that ate up a lot of room.’ Creating more space was a top priority for Seija and Quentin. ‘We had an eight-year-old son and were expecting twins,’ he says. They hoped to add a rear extension with an open-plan kitchen-diner. ‘We wanted to have a more sociable space.’ OVERCOMING CHALLENGES The planning process was not straightforward. ‘We made three unsuccessful applications to the council over six years,’ says Quentin. ‘In the end, we appointed Whiteman Architects (whitemanarchitects.com) to handle the design and got…

Clean and mop Roborock S5 Max, £599, Amazon With a 280ml water tank and microfibre cloth fitted to the base, this versatile cleaner will suck up dust and dander while also giving your floors a wipe, all in one pass. It’s designed for areas up to 200m sq and the smart sensors means it rarely ever gets stuck as it cleans. THE BEST BIT Using the app you can set it to clean certain areas, such as around the kitchen table after breakfast. Great value Prosenic 850T, £229, Amazon Like the Roborock, this also mops floors using its built-in water tank and cleaning pad. It’s not designed for carpets but does a great job keeping on top of the dust balls and being Alexa and Google Assistant compatible means you…

Make the most of unused space Clever Closet allows you to use the empty area under the stairs to its full potential, with drawers and cupboards to suit your space. Stow everything within reach while keeping your hallway clutter-free. Perfect for shoes and bags, and even the ironing board. Single drawer unit, from £649 including installation, Clever Closet Maintain your vacuum Pikk-it (£7.99, pikk-it.com) is a nifty tool that’ll free your vacuum of tangled hair without damaging the roller, or your fingers, thanks to its hook and teeth. Choose glass over plastic Store homemade cleaning solutions in these durable amber glass bottles. The UV protection helps liquids last longer. Glass amber bottles, from £8 for 300ml spray, Wearth London Power through bathroom grime This all-in-one cordless tool has a round…

ABIGAIL AHERN AT SECRET LINEN STORE The renowned interior designer, famous for her use of colour and texture, has teamed up with Secret Linen Store. The cotton linen mix and 100% linen bedding in rich shades of chocolate brown, ochre and spruce are combined with the lived-in patina of pre-washed linen and herringbone pattern to create a chic yet cosy haven. Harlequin’s statement prints The Momentum range never fails to bring some power-glam energy to a room. For the latest launch, hard lines of the city versus organic forms inspired a collection of fabrics and wallpapers that have given classic prints an abstract spin. Stand-out designs include Diffuse, a soft, distorted floral, and Oscillation, a blurred ikat. But the oversized, off-beat geometric Transverse, with its energetic brush marks, is the…

TACTILE WEAVES Arlette textured jute rug, £269, Made SIMPLE NEUTRALS Blonde jute circle rug, from £35, Next WOVEN BY HAND Gabrielle Paris rug, from £175, La Redoute TASSEL DETAIL Braided flatweave rug, from £89, Dunelm SUNSHINE TONES Bloomingville Yuri rug, £214, Sweetpea & Willow GLOBAL INSPIRATION Ikat jute Green rug, £240, John Lewis & Partners SOUMAK STYLE Hooghly rug, £1,495, Oka COASTAL CALM Green woven jute and cotton rug, £110, Maisons du Monde…

Mix soft colours Start with a palette of pale green, blue and coral. Pick one to be your lead colour; small touches of the other two will lift it as accents. Paint a band You can keep the light-boosting properties of white walls, but still enjoy a shot of colour. Paint above the dado, or at dado height if your rooms don’t have them. Mix textures, too Forget flat finishes and mix velvet with linen and bouclé fabrics on soft furnishings to help your colour palette sing. Try bold tiles A row of mismatched decorative tiles is an inexpensive way to create a splashback that will lift a plain, neutral kitchen. Think pink Let pink take the lead as your main colour, with green coming second as a cool contrast,…

MY GO-TO STORES ● HK LIVING This Dutch brand has great products inspired by the past but given a raw, edgy feel. ● LA REDOUTE A great source for rugs, from shaggy Berbers and modern brights to gorgeous vintage-style weaves. ● MADE High-end original design at affordable prices, with a flagship showroom in Amsterdam. STYLIST’S NOTE “Create smaller zones in an open-plan area. Use an oversized rug as an anchor point with corner seating around it” LISA FAZZANI, ACTING FEATURES EDITOR…

Easy revamp Give a pair of ready-made curtains a personal touch by adding rows of pretty tassel trim. Remove the curtains from the pole and press flat. Mark where you’d like the tape of the trim to sit, measuring up from the bottom of the curtains at intervals. Pin in place, then sew close to the edges along both sides of the tape. Repeat to add rows.…

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY… Designers and stylists share their views ■ ‘Sand is a crucial element of any beach scene, so that’s an ideal starting point when looking for accent colours. From calm and serene hues to storm shades, blues and teals will add contrast,’ says Nelly Hall, brand director at M&L Paints. ■ ‘It’s wise to avoid sand colours with a yellow undertone in north-facing rooms as these can appear green in the winter,’ says Paula Taylor, colour and trends specialist at Graham & Brown. ■ ‘Use a soft sand hue to calm bold patterns. White and sand is a classic colour combination, transforming a room into an airy, welcoming space where the effect is polished, yet casual,’ says Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands. ■ ‘An interiors trend gathering…

MY GO-TO STORES ● PEOPLE OF THE SUN Works with artisans in Malawi making hand-woven pieces. ● MARKET SET Creative lighting ranges from chic industrial to natural materials like rattan. ● DIVINE SAVAGES For wallpaper that’s like art on a roll, inspired by art deco and featuring bold tropical prints. STYLIST’S NOTE “Amp up the warmth of the terracotta shade by using a wallpaper with a textural pattern”MICHELA COLLING , STYLE EDITOR…

The art of window dressing… so many things to think about and yet interior designers seem to effortlessly get it right. But where do you start? Whether you are looking at blinds, curtains or shutters, we asked three experts – an interior designer, a stylist and a designer – for their advice. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH DESIGN IS RIGHT? ‘Start by thinking about the style of your room and what feel you want to create: minimal, contemporary or a country vibe,’ says stylist Charlotte Boyd. ‘Then ask yourself practical questions: is the room overlooked? Is it north-facing and lacking light?’ Interior designer Helen Harry starts by looking at the shape and number of windows. ‘I also consider if the window is worth celebrating or disguising – some are way…

Maria Jude lives with her husband Fred and their children Marcus, 20, Leanna, 17, and Miles, 14. THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached 1960s house in North London. WHAT IT COST Kitchen..............£30,000 Worktop...............£9,950 Furniture..............£4,250 Flooring...............£4,500 Sinks and taps.....£1,550 Lighting...................£750 Fire.......................£4,500 TOTAL...............£55,500 “It’s such a lovely light space – and great for entertaining friends and family dinners”…

Gemma Bates, an interior designer, lives here with her husband James and their daughter Millie, five. THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom, Victorian semi-detached house in Nottingham, bought in 2014. WHAT IT COST Bath.................................£959 Shower enclosure..........£814 Vanity unit and sink....£1,395 Taps and shower fittings............................£560 Floor and wall tiles....£645 Heating........................£471 Lighting......................£232 Accessories...............£800 TOTAL....................£5,876 “ Simple, minimal design still needs a sense of depth and character ”…

Quentin Keeble, a property developer, and his wife Seija, an opera singer, live here with sons Aksel, 10, and two-year-old twins Magnus and Torsten. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian terraced maisonette, in Camden, north London. VALUE Bought in 2010 for £420,000; now worth around £1,250,000. WHAT IT COST Contractor and materials........ £80,000 Professional fees...................£18,000 Kitchen.............£30,000 Mechanical and electrics...........£25,000 Glazing.............£25,000 Flooring...........£25,000 TOTAL...........£203,000 “We’ve achieved our goal. Our kitchen-diner has become the heart of the home”…

Multifunctional value Groov-e Apollo lamp, £30, Argos A discreet design in either black or white that won’t dominate your interior but does come absolutely loaded with features to help cut the clutter. These include a 5W wireless charging pad for your mobile, plus a small 3W Bluetooth speaker in the head for playing music. THE BEST BIT The LED lamp has three colours: bright, warm and cool, and it plugs into your computer via USB. Easy reading BenQ WiT e-Reading lamp, £169, benq.eu A futuristic LED desk lamp specifically designed to make reading from screens more comfortable. The sweeping arc bathes you and your computer display in a vast 90cm-wide pool of light – 150% more than standard desk lamps – and adjusts brightness and colour (2700-5700K) to suit your…

Warm Mediterranean salad with grilled halloumi and mint SERVES 6 READY IN 45 mins INGREDIENTS • 2 pitta breads • 6tbsp olive oil • 1tbsp dried oregano • 2 red onions, cut into wedges • 6 tomatoes, halved • 200g mixed cherry tomatoes • 100g pitted Kalamata olives • 1 pack halloumi, thickly sliced FOR THE DRESSING • 20g fresh mint leaves • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1tbsp red wine vinegar 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6. Slice the pitta breads in half so that they are one layer, then cut into smaller wedges. Mix 2tbsp of the oil with the oregano and brush both sides of the pittas. Cook on a baking tray for 10 mins until crisp, then put on a wire rack to cool. 2 On the same baking tray, add the onion wedges and…