Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Real Homes

Recently I’ve come to the conclusion that I often have something of a love-hate relationship with my house. For the most part, I love every bit of my home and how it makes me feel when I’m in it, but there are days when even the most trivial of things can drive me to distraction. The way the understairs cupboard has an annoying habit of swinging open and blocking the front door so you can’t get back in the house; the pipework that knocks noisily against a floor joist when the heating’s on, or the fact that some days the kids’ toys seem to take over every room. But isn’t that what all successful relationships are like? It’s about taking the rough with the smooth, learning how you can work…

#SOREALHOMES Our first Instagram hashtag competition with Amara was a real hit, and we loved seeing snaps of your amazing homes. It was hard to pick a favourite, but this month, this beautifully styled sideboard that’s been lovingly restored caught our eye, and won its owner £200 in Amara vouchers. Prints artfully arranged to hide an unsightly ? Genius! EXTENSIONS ADVICE Extending your home can be a tricky business. Make it simple with our expert guides to planning, budgeting, designing and decorating your new addition. realhomes.com/extensions BARGAIN DEALS Shopping smart doesn’t get much easier than this. The best deals on everything from mattresses to broadband. realhomes.com/deals SLEEP TIGHT Rest easy with our top bedroom tips, from how to design your sleeping space to the best tech solutions for a good…

WHY THERESA’S HOUSE HAS WON US OVER ... Putting your own stamp on a property isn’t all about changing structural elements or reconfiguring entire layouts. In fact, since Theresa Gromski bought her Edwardian terraced house back in 2013, she has mainly focused her energy on transforming the interior through cosmetic changes to modernise the space and make it her own. Aside from adding a generous loft extension with an en-suite bathroom, Theresa hasn’t altered the footprint of the rest of the house since buying the property. The existing kitchen-diner extension, completed by the developer who sold the house to Theresa, offers an open-plan area that acts as the heart of the home, while having a separate living room and snug means there’s space for the family to spread out and…

We love a blackboard wall at Real Homes, so imagine how excited we were to learn you can create your own version from a whopping choice of 3,500 colours. Move over black, you’ve got serious competition! Thanks to the paint whizzes at Benjamin Moore, you can now transform virtually any surface into an erasable chalkboard matched to your room’s colour scheme. Perfect for turning a wall into a notice board/planner/ canvas to show off your artistic flair – just as homeowner Theresa Gromski has done on page 30. Now all you need to do is pick a colour! REALHOMES.COM SHARE YOUR BLACKBOARD WALLS ON INSTAGRAM USING #SOREALHOMES…

Add instant impact to your room with a small change that takes no more than a roll of wallpaper and some paste. If you have a shelf unit or bookcase, make a powerful statement with a bold paper against the back of it, meaning there’s no need to paper the wall itself. ‘Papering an alcove area with a decorative design can add a real touch of beauty to your room without overpowering the space,’ says Charlotte Raffo of design studio The Monkey Puzzle Tree. Choose wide contrasting stripes, ‘look at me’ colours or vibrant patterns. As a final flourish, curate a display of fun accessories against your new backdrop.…

Adding an en suite will cut congestion in the main family bathroom, not to mention fights over the toothpaste and towels. There’s justifiable bragging rights attached to falling out of bed and into the shower each morning. A new en suite can also reap financial rewards long term, by increasing the value of your home and boosting its buyer appeal; both essential facts that can be used to counteract any Scrooge-like complaints about the outlay involved. Start by earmarking an area that can be sacrificed, preferably without selling all your shoes. Commonly en suites snatch space from the master bedroom, where a corner or large alcove won’t be missed. You may also be able to appropriate a portion of the upstairs landing – move the bedroom doorway if it helps.…

‘Shaking up the blandness of a new build was my mission when we bought this home off-plan. The master en suite was always set to be my domain for pampering and relaxing – hubby graciously stepped aside – so I could afford to make it really personal. I chose grey tiles from the developer’s catalogue (the choices were all pretty plain) but they serve as an excellent neutral for Mini Modern’s amazing Paisley Crescent wallpaper in a vibrant orange that I absolutely adore. Adding a coat of Polyvine’s Decorators Varnish helps it survive in humid conditions. The shelves came from my grandmother – they are perfect for hosting the endless toiletries of a product junkie! Then I just went for it with the accessories, using artwork with a vintage flavour,…

“Made the classic mistake of nailing down a loose board straight into a water pipe. Luckily my brother-in-law had enough plumbing experience to fix it!” MEL GRIFFITHS Taking wallpaper off and removing a cupboard and ending up with the whole wall coming down. LESLEY BLAIR Where do we start? MAXINE MORGAN DRILLED THROUGH MY HAND WITH A POWER DRILL WHILE CONSTRUCTING A BUILT-IN WARDROBE. PAINFUL. JASON ORME STAPLE GUN STRAIGHT THROUGH A MAIN ELECTRICITY CABLE… ALEXANDRA FERR I PAINTED MY LIVING ROOM WITH OUT-OF-DATE PAINT, SO MY MEANT-TO-BE CRISP WHITE WALLS HAD AN AWFUL YELLOW TINGE. I REPAINTED THEM QUICKLY! JULIE SMITH USING BITS OF LEFTOVER PAINT TO MAKE UP A COLOUR THEN RUNNING OUT BEFORE IT WAS FINISHED. LESLEY BAKER I varnished myself into a corner and was stuck…

BAA HUMBUG! Counting sheep helps you fall asleep… Yes, technically it can, but so can counting cows or dogs. It’s the repetitive nature of the task that actually makes you feel sleepy or fall asleep. Absorption in a mental task is an aspect of mindfulness and can help to relax you. CAN’T STOP YAWNING …is a sign you are tired. Well no, not always. Sometimes we yawn when we wake up, if we’re bored or if someone else does. NIGHTCAP NO-NO Drinking alcohol helps you sleep… Wrong! Too much alcohol, especially at night, plays havoc with your sleep patterns. It may help you fall asleep initially but will interrupt your sleep later on and rob you of one of the most satisfying types of sleep, where dreams occur. Plus, you’ll…

Be it ever so humble, your home could be a TV star in the making. Not all series/films/adverts are shot in the dream factories of studios or on purpose-built sets. Sometimes TV needs reality and locations are found in the suburbs, on city streets and in unassuming neighbourhoods. Location agents are always on the lookout for properties that might catch the eye of the scouts (not the be prepared, keen on camping kind) for TV, films, commercials, photoshoots, product launches or online videos. ‘Our clients ask for a wide range of residential properties, from normal family homes to modern architectural houses,’ says Lauren York, MD of UK Locations. ‘There are a few key components a property must have to make it shootable – where it’s based, the flexibility of the…

‘We extended our kitchen just as I was going on maternity leave, so I was looking to make some alternative income. I sent Fresh Locations some photographs and they liked what they saw. Our first booking was an advert with a 50-strong crew, a generator and catering lorry that ran from 7am to 11pm – a real baptism of fire. But the majority are for photoshoots with smaller crews. We make sure the house is spotless, as they respect it and leave the house as they found it. It’s easier to be out of the house than in – if they say they’ll use two rooms, they often commandeer a bedroom as a dressing room, too. Fees vary from a few hundred pounds for a short shoot to much more…

Sarah Brooks knew the answer to increasing the size of her narrow and draughty kitchen lay in expanding out to the small paved area – where they hid the barbecue and hose pipes – at the side of her family’s terraced house in Hackney. However, she was loathe to have a brick-built addition that would stop daylight getting to the basement, newly converted into a playroom and home office. Her bold solution was glass, and lots of it. Architect Peter Lancaric came on board with her daring suggestion and they created a beautiful extension that contrasts with yet complements the Edwardian home it’s now part of. Sarah explains how she had to fight for the beautiful glass box she envisioned, and how they managed to get the huge glazed panels…

CREATIVE LIGHTING Vibrant violet is the latest addition to the Rosa collection of balloon cage pendant lights. Chose your pendant and rope colour combo, then decide how to hang it; loop it, tie some together – the possibilities are endless. Rosa balloon cage pendant light, £96, Urban Cottage Industries AGED TO PERFECTION Channelling that ripped jeans vibe, get the feel of a time-worn cottage or industrial warehouse with these axe-chopped floorboards. Available in three finishes, they add instant character without decades of stomping around. Relik axe-chopped oak wood flooring, £154.74 per m2 , Havwoods Not just a pretty face Expand your bathroom-wall horizons with Wallpepper’s new hardcore wallpaper. Available in bold designs, it’s so water resistant you could use it in a swimming pool. €115 plus VAT per m2 .…

The ideal kitchen is about more than just great looks. It’s also about designing a room that perfectly combines style with function, and is tailor-made to suit your lifestyle. For more than 35 years, Häfele UK has connected homeowners with the best fittings for their kitchen, and in that time, it’s learnt a thing or two about great kitchen design. Whether you’re maximising your small kitchen space, designing to suit your family’s needs, or planning your forever home, there’s an array of options for you. Häfele provides a range of clever design solutions to emphasise your kitchen’s aesthetic appeal, functionality and storage, allowing you to make the most of every inch of your home. This philosophy is beautifully showcased via the Ideas for Living website, where you’ll find Häfele’s UK…

ON WHEELS Upgrade your log storage and make moving wood to the hearth less of a strain on your back with a roll-along basket. Wheeled log basket, £122, The Farthing TOOL STATION Hearth looking a bit cluttered? Tend a real fire with a set of essentials that stay neat and tidy when they’re not in use. Conform fire tools, £78, Morsø STAR ATTRACTION Dress up the hearth with vintage-style monochrome tiles for a smart finish. Scintilla ceramic tiles, £29.95 per m2 , Walls & Floors…

GARDEN LINK Bi-fold or sliding doors at ground-floor level of a new two-storey extension can create a connection between interior and exterior that older homes with small windows often lack. Bear in mind that doors like these, or other spacious alternatives like floor-to-ceiling windows, mean that you won’t be able to locate kitchen units at the end of the room – so factor the positioning of kitchen storage into your planning. LIGHT AND PRIVACY Under permitted development, the first-floor side-facing windows of a two-storey addition must be obscure glazed. This is useful when the extension looks onto a neighbour or the street. That way, you get daylight without compromising on privacy. Try acid-etched and sandblasted or textured glass. COUNT THE COST Where you live affects how much an extension costs…

Q: I WANT TO DO AS MUCH MYSELF AS POSSIBLE ON MY EXTENSION PROJECT. WHAT ARE THE BEST JOBS FOR ME TO TACKLE? A: As labour typically accounts for half the bill of any construction project, getting involved yourself can save significant sums. It depends on your skill level, but for novice DIYers keen to reduce labour costs by helping out themselves, the key to success is to know the elements of the project that have the lowest impact on the overall build programme and require less experience. The obvious place to start, therefore, is with the jobs at the end. As a DIYer you’ll be slower than the pros, so you’ll risk holding them up if you get involved too early on. Decorating is a good example of a…

CUTTING CORNERS Perfect for family homes and party spaces alike, an opening corner is a great way to utilise an awkward layout and improve access to your garden with a 90-degree view. Integrating sliding pockets into your design is a super-chic way to seamlessly blend indoors and out without the space considerations that come with bi-fold doors. These doors from Maxlight cost £9,480. INTO THE WOODS Whether you have a more traditional property or prefer a natural exterior finish, timber sliding doors look fresh and modern. Nimtim Architects took inspiration from Japanese design for its timber structure, which extends from the ceiling beams through the sliding doors into the garden. It’s the perfect way to blend home and garden. These doors cost around £5,000. Whether you go for an aluminium,…

BEST FOR DESIGN Thanks to a slim 30mm sightline, these large XP Slide Panoramic doors from Express Bi-folding Doors are ideal for enhancing that all-important outdoor view. Around £1,800 per metre BEST FOR A SLEEK FINISH Known for their thin sightlines and smooth designs, Sunflex’s SVG30 sliding doors are the perfect product to create a frameless look – great for a modern extension. From £1,500 BEST FOR LUXURY For a smart take on minimalism, look no further than Reynaer’s Hi-Finity sliding doors, which offer ultra-modern designs with super slender sightlines. Price on application…

Looking to update your tired kitchen, out-dated furniture or any household item and give it a new lease of life? How about having it spray painted? It’s a great way to freshen up your home without the expense or hassle of refitting a kitchen or buying something new. We Spray Anything does exactly what its name suggests, revamping all sorts of household items with a simple but effective coat of paint. The paint can be matched perfectly to your existing décor and there are thousands of shades and finishes to choose from. Whether you want to update your kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, chairs or even bicycles, spray painting is a great way to create a one-off piece for your home. Not only is it a fun project and a way to…

THE PERSON I’D MOST LIKE TO COOK DINNER FOR IS... MY FAIL-SAFE WEEKEND BREAKFAST RECIPE IS... DIY OR DIY DON’T? MY PERFECT SUNDAY AT HOME... ONE MATERIAL THING I’D SAVE IN A FIRE... MY FAVOURITE SPACE IN THE HOUSE IS...…

‘THE FACT I FORGOT TO BUY A WALLPAPER BRUSH AND HAD TO USE A SHOE DUSTER WAS A MINOR SETBACK’ My dad was absolutely brilliant at DIY. He was the Nick Knowles of his time, the Handy Andy of Pinner and a man who could fit a triple wardrobe with vanity alcove and mirror lighting before you could say 6cm MDF plywood. When not carrying out his day job in the Senior Civil Service, he would plumb bathrooms, lay patios, cable electrics and install kitchens. So you’ll fully appreciate that when I met my husband, Joe, the benchmark was pretty high. However, it wasn’t long before I realised that I’d married a man who barely recognised a rawl plug, and whose understanding of a spirit level was a large gin…

YES ‘We love it. It’s a backdrop for bright accessories and makes us feel relaxed’ Convert to the dark side Pati Robins lives in a semi-detached house in Wales with husband Colin and daughter Olivia, 11 ‘When we moved in, it was all magnolia walls with nicotine stains coming through. Awful. Then we painted it white, but felt like guests in our own house. It felt cold and clinical and just not us. ‘I was petrified when I painted my walls mid-grey. I asked my husband “is it too dark?”. But within the space of eight months I painted the house eight times, going darker and darker, until my husband said “why don’t you just get black?” ‘The colour now is Valspar’s Black Heron and we absolutely love it, so…

SPICE TRAIL Bring a well-travelled flavour to your kitchen with accessories that nod to different cultures and traditions. Introduce rich colours alongside graphic prints and mix in some lustrous utensils. LOUNGE LIZARDS Gather your clan in rooms filled with boldly patterned woven textiles, low-level seating in desert shades and metallic accents that reflect the hazy sun. STAR GAZING Dream of visiting exotic destinations as you sleep, cocooned among layers of textural patterns and soft fabrics. Natural materials, such as wicker and wood, serve as neutral accent pieces and a tactile transport to favourite escapes. TIME TO REFLECT Every urban explorer needs a little downtime. Soothe a wandering soul by relaxing in a nature-inspired backdrop. Choose wood-finished pieces for walls and furniture, and surround yourself with lush greenery. SIMPLE DINING Mix…

ONE The school run will involve far less shouting as you’ll no longer have to fight the kids for space to do your make-up while they are, finally, brushing their teeth. TWO It doesn’t matter if you’re not on top of the cleaning – unexpected guests are unlikely to venture into your private domain. THREE You might actually get to go to the toilet in peace (although don’t count on it). A lock on the door could prove your smartest investment. FOUR Exactly where the shampoo/soap/loo roll is – i.e where you left it. Disclaimer: This is dependent on whether you have a partner, and if he/ she is sufficiently house-trained. FIVE Your hand towels will stay cleaner for longer as they’re not being misappropriated for washing stray dogs, football…

‘Living in a rented house can mean it’s tricky to personalise a space, but we’re lucky that we have a landlord who allows me to inject some character into the rooms. I love this space for lots of reasons. I often work night shifts and am on my feet all the time, so having somewhere calm and comfy to come back to is important, plus I like to sit in here to come up with ideas for my next DIY project. When decorating a rented space, I keep in mind how easy it would be to take it back to how the house was originally. In this room, I wanted to bring in some colour, but instead of painting the entire room, I went for a band of black on…

You turn and look at each other on the sofa…go on, you can do it, why not? Just one more episode of Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones won’t hurt, will it? You know it’s late, but there are no adverts, so you’ll be tucked up by oh, at least midnight. But deep down, you know that this nightly binging on box sets is having a major impact on your sleep… A survey by The Sleep Council (sleepcouncil.org), found that while most adults need around seven to eight hours sleep a night, a third of Brits are getting just five to six. A growing body of research suggests mental and physical problems become more pronounced in those sleeping for less than six hours. That extra episode delaying your bedtime could…

Ask Georgia the origin of a piece of furniture in her home and the answer will be something obscure – an Ethiopian grain table, for example, or a retro French print. Travel is an integral part of her life; brought up in France after moving from Brixton, she grew used to continental life before relocating to Dubai and then Toronto with her husband James. Each country has a place in her home through a treasured piece of furniture or accessory she brought back with her when the family moved to Oxfordshire. The transfer from Canada came as Georgia and James’ eldest daughter Olivia was due to start school. Their house search was largely based around the school they chose in a village in south Oxfordshire. Georgia originally discounted the house…

‘We’ve been renting out our homes for five years. Our old neighbours worked with UK Locations and suggested we call them. Our current home has been used for all sorts. It was the home of Miranda Richardson’s son in Kay Mellor’s Girlfriends. My mother-in-law took a picture of it on her TV showing our lounge, then sent it to us while we were in that lounge. Keira Knightly rented it for eight weeks while filming in the area. She brought her husband, daughter and mother with her so needed a family home. We moved to a short-term rental – a challenge with three young children – but it was too good to turn down. We made about £10,000, though outgoings from moving out came out of that. Normally a half-day…

ONE Be flexible. Have somewhere you can go and camp out with the kids for the day (or longer), unless you are prepared to hide in your bedroom for hours and be very, very quiet. TWO Don’t expect to be hobnobbing with celebrities. You’ll be out of the way long before they arrive on set. Be content in the knowledge that they sat on your seats, cooked in your kitchen or cavorted on your bed. THREE You’ll need understanding neighbours and good parking. You might have anything from eight to 45 people turning up. With vans. FOUR Make sure it is spick and span before they arrive. You don’t want an A-lister judging your crumb-covered carpets and cobwebby corners, unless it’s meant to look deliberately distressed. FIVE A well-known shoot…

WHEN I’M HAPPIEST IN THE KITCHEN ‘Having Saturday morning breakfast with the family or dinner on a Friday night.’ GADGET I COULDN’T BE WITHOUT ‘A mini food processor and a sharp knife.’ BEST PARTY I EVER HOSTED ‘A barbecue we had with all our friends from university. We have been using a book called Fire & Smoke a lot.’ THE RECIPE I ALWAYS LOVE TO COOK ‘Apart from barbecues, I also cook a lot of Middle Eastern food.’ FIRST MEAL I COOKED IN THE NEW KITCHEN ‘Fillet steak stuffed with porcini mushrooms and wrapped in pancetta.’…

ONE Ever got to work and realised you forgot to put the washing on to clean that dress you need for tonight? Now you can do it from your phone! Connect your washing machine to the Hoover Wizard app, select a programme and do your washing on the go. TWO Put your feet up as you do laundry with a simple, ‘Alexa, put my washing on please.’ It connects to Alexa and Google home assistant, so you don’t even need to get out of bed to start it. THREE Let your machine make the decisions with the power of AI. It can suggest an appropriate programme, add the right amount of detergent and even check the weather to work out the best time to run the cycle. AXI washing machine,…

BEST FOR ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST A stone fireplace is the finishing touch for a room rich in period features. This limestone version has geometric lines that will suit a property from any era. Burlington fire surround in limestone, £2,154; Soho fire basket in steel, £474; Swan fire dogs in a patinated antique gold finish, £1,860, Chesneys BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS Sized for big living spaces, this modern gas fire is suitable for brick chimneys. Use the slide control to adjust flame output, or upgrade to a remote for that and other operations from the sofa. Inspire 800 Fireslide with edge trim in chrome, vermiculite liner and oak logs, from £1,499, Valor BEST FOR LIFELIKE LOGS Fit a fire at seated eye level and enjoy the best view of the flames. This…

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FOR LAST-MINUTE HOMEWARE PROPS… Faversham-based antiques shop, Barrows – it’s just down the road and has the loveliest selection of antiques. H&M home is great for adding to more individual purchases. Quick delivery, too. GREAT FOR ART PRINTS… I like the work of Beau Gervais who has a shop on Big Cartel. Lovely abstract female forms, and she does prints as well as originals. Ellen Von Wiegard does a monthly print subscription with a mini surprise each month. ONES TO WATCH… Aerende – a beautifully curated online shop selling homewares made in the UK by people facing social challenges. Milkwood, Margate – a home goods brand based in Margate (its shop has just opened) using natural botanical ingredients. MY FAVE LOCAL SHOP… Apotheca, Faversham. A stunning apothecary selling potions and…

EARTHY BOHEMIAN ECLECTIC ORIENTAL AUTUMN BERRIES…

‘We just kept spending. I’d go on Pinterest and think, “I love that” – then I’d have to recreate it’ Natalie Murphy, an Early Years learning support practitioner, lives with her boyfriend, Ben, a plant performance manager for the Royal Mail ‘Ben and I were first-time buyers when we moved into our home. We didn’t want too much of a project, and the first house we found was everything we wanted – the owners had done all the hard work – but it fell through. One Rightmove search later, our house came up. It was two minutes from my parents’ house and immaculately clean, but so old-fashioned. We chose not to live there while we redecorated. ‘We got the keys in October and thought we’d be moved in by Christmas,…

PINK Cinder Rose matt estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball CREAM Cream silk emulsion paint, £8 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q GREY Granite Dust coloured matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5ltrs, Crown BLUE Woad absolute matt emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5ltrs, Little Greene TEAL Teal Façade paint mixing matt emulsion, £27.56 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux TOP TIP Go for a soothing mix of muted contemporary colours for that restful feel. try adding little accents of metallic shine in rose gold to keep the look up-to-date REALHOMES.COM for more paint ideas, visit realhomes.com/paint…

‘When we moved here the en suite had faux-marble avocado units with fish tiles. The shower leaked so we couldn’t even use it. I wanted a Scandi boutique hotel look, and a space that’s a real treat to use. I adore monochrome and the Mandarin Stone floor tiles were love at first sight. I shopped around to keep costs down – the shower screen and loo are from Victoria Plum and the vanity is an Ebay bargain. Our plumber totally ‘got’ my vision and never tried to sway me towards easier solutions. The family bathroom is full of the children’s toys, so it’s lovely to have a grown-up retreat to be pampered in.’ Instagram @lucyjwhitehouse…

1 LEARN TO SAY NO ‘Every item has to be dug out of the ground or chopped down, manufactured and transported, so imagine there is an invisible barrier at your front door,’ says Tara Button from buymeonce.com. ‘Nothing comes through that isn’t mindfully chosen, beautiful and useful for the long term.’ 2 GO INDEPENDENT ‘Buy from independent shops – they often stock items which are made locally and in short batches. Think globally, buy locally,’ says Anna Chayasatit from alittlebitofalmosteverything.com. 3 CHOOSE QUALITY ‘For furniture, look for traditional joinery rather than flatpack options as these can become wobbly. Solid wood will also last longer than laminate,’ says Tara Button. ‘For any type of product, a long guarantee suggests the manufacturer has used quality materials to make it, so it should…

ONE Start a bedtime routine, which could include a bath, gentle stretches or reading a good book (switching off all tech about an hour before bed). TWO Get your sleep environment right, with the ideal temperature around 16˚C, slightly on the cool side. Try to keep your room as dark as possible. THREE Try to replace your mattress every seven years as advised by the Sleep Council. Test it before you buy (or take advantage of a no-quibbles return if buying online). Check out your pillow, too, does it still have its plumpness? FOUR If you can’t get to sleep, and you’ve been lying there for more than 20 minutes, get out of bed and read a book under dim light until you feel sleepy, says Dave Gibson (thesleepsite.co.uk). FIVE…

What better way to add a truly personal stamp to a room in your home than by painting a unique design directly onto one or more of your walls? One of the easiest ways to introduce a variety of hues without overwhelming your space is with colour blocking. Take inspiration from Crown’s innovative colour combinations and experiment with your own for a one-of-a-kind look. Even if neutral shades are more your thing, add interest with different shapes and patterns. Paint yourself a calming view with a serene mountain scene, or layer paints of similar hues. If you want a touch of glamour, metallic paints offer a sophisticated sheen that can create drama on walls, or elegance when used for smaller details. Crown has expanded its metallic range so there’s a…

‘While shooting a music video at an owner’s house, we were prepping a fight scene where police wielding guns turn up to arrest the suspect hiding in the bedroom. The actor pressed what he thought was a control on the wall to close the curtains. Within five minutes the real police had turned up to arrest everyone as he’d mistakenly pressed the panic alarm. That took a lot of explaining.’ ‘During the Beast from the East, we were helping Harper’s Bazaar with a shoot at an Oxford country estate with actress Vanessa Kirby. The puppies booked to star in it were too small to brave the snow, so the owner’s cat stepped in. He took such a shine to being photographed that he photobombed the rest of the pictures.’…

ONE The garden of this Surrey house is missing a certain morning TV presenter testing BBQs, inflatable chairs and other household toys and gadgets. TWO Perhaps you’d recognise this bathroom in an Arts and Crafts semi in south-west London with a playful puppy in the tub. THREE Frequently used for TV and film, this loft home in a former pet food factory in east London has hosted movie and pop stars… and even a dancing boar…

Who says a brick extension has to be boring? If you’re opting for brick over contemporary cladding, that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with style – as this addition shows. We love the lacy texture of the walls created by the protruding bricks, and the red-brown colour transforms an ordinary Edwardian house into something very special. If you’re short on space but still want to keep a decent garden plot, a compact extension like this one might be the solution you’ve been waiting for. Build cost, £95,000. Pamphilon Architects, pamphilonarchitects.com #SOREALHOMES CHECK OUT OUR EXTENSIONS GALLERY AT REALHOMES.COM/EXTENSIONS…

1. SELECT THE FUEL You may be able to pick from the full range of electric, gas or solid fuel fires to supplement central heating. Electric are the easiest to add, and are generally the least costly purchase; gas fires can create the look of burning logs extremely effectively; and real fires have the appeal of the real deal, but require more space for fuel storage. 2. FLUE KNOW-HOW Gas and real fires create gases that need to be vented outside via a flue. It’s essential to buy a fire compatible with your flue. A sound chimney works with different types, but an old chimney may need a modern liner. Contact a HETASregistered installer (hetas.co.uk). Prefabricated flues are generally suitable for gas fires, while a pre-cast flue equals a smaller…

SITE THE ADDITION An extension to the rear can often be the best place to build onto a semi. Is yours a terraced home or on a corner plot? Then the side-return might be the area to use. Super-sizing? Adding two storeys on multiple sides is also possible. Remember, permitted development rights only apply to rear two-storey extensions – so you’ll need to get permission if your plan is to site the extension elsewhere. CRUNCH THE NUMBERS Be aware that the spend on a two-storey extension could be more than the value it gives. Add the cost of extending to the current value of your home, then look at sold prices of homes with the number of bedrooms you’ll end up with in your street. If the cost is more…

Q: Surely my builder’s insurance covers me? A: Your builder may say they are ‘fully insured’ – and they probably believe it themselves – but the chances are they actually have public liability insurance which only covers them in the event they cause damage or injury to a third party following a negligent act: something you would have to prove. However, public liability insurance doesn’t cover issues like storm damage, theft of materials, theft of plant and equipment, arson or foreseen liability – essentially all the things you really do need covered. Q: Can’t I just use my standard home insurance for the work? A: Home insurance definitely doesn’t cover building projects and specifically excludes alterations, renovations and extensions as well as unoccupied properties. This was clearly explained in the…

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BEST FOR MINIMALISM Keep it simple but stylish with Centor’s two-panel integrated sliding doors, featuring built-in insect screens and shades. This 211 model costs from £2,200 per metre BEST FOR SLIM FRAMES IQ Glass’s super-smart Carminati skyline sliding doors are the slimmest timber models on the market – great for pretty garden views. Around £1,600 per m2 BEST FOR GOING BOLD For doors that pack a punch, try George Barnsdale’s range of contemporary sliding doors, which feature extra large panes for statement sizes. Price on application…

BEST FOR XL STYLE Windows Etc’s grey aluminium sliding doors are larger than life, so they’re perfect for full-width rear extensions or big gardens. A similar project would cost £6,000 BEST FOR BESPOKE Schueco’s ASS 77 PD sliding doors feature hardwearing integral rollers for extra-wide designs, and can be tailored to your exact needs. Price on application BEST FOR DOUBLE DOORS Thanks to its slim 53mm sightlines and bi-parting action, this Future+ double sliding door from Idealcombi is a perfectly sleek design. Around £400 per m2…