Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Real Homes

Working from home has always been something of a dream for me, and the thought of swapping the daily commute and traffic jams for a leisurely walk downstairs to my laptop always seemed so appealing. The reality has not been quite the idyllic set-up I had perhaps anticipated. While I fully appreciate how incredibly lucky I am to have been working from the safety and comfort of my own house this year when so many others haven’t had that option, adapting to working 9 to 5 at home hasn’t been as easy as I perhaps thought it would be. Sitting at the kitchen table was fine for a few weeks, but as lengthy office closures became apparent, I realised I needed somewhere more comfy to sit and something more inspiring…

NEXT MONTH – GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH THE LATEST SHAPELY TREND…

CAN A FRONT DOOR COLOUR ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME? A stylish front door has the power to completely transform the look of your property. We know that kerb appeal has a huge impact, so there is no doubt that choosing the right front door in the right colour can add value to a home. The colour of your door can certainly affect people’s perceptions of you and your property. Interestingly, our data shows that many homeowners are reluctant to opt for bright and bold statement colours, with timeless, muted pastels and grey shades, remaining the most popular. IS THERE A SWING TOWARDS A SPECIFIC STYLE OR MATERIALS? Bi-fold doors remain incredibly popular, with homeowners looking to maximise the amount of natural light in their properties and link indoors and…

YASMIN FALAHAT Fruit motifs have brightened up our interiors for a few years now, but for a sophisticated take on the trend, we adore Yasmin Falahat’s gorgeous fig and pomegranate designs. The London-based ceramicist’s range of serving bowls and plates draw on her memories of sketching the fruits on her parents’ fig tree and serve as a connection to her Iranian and Turkish Cypriot heritage. Grown-up and chic, they’re the perfect way to get your five a day. Q Hi Yasmin – we’re so pleased to feature your work. Tell us who you are in a sentence… Hi! I’m a multi-disciplinary artist and ceramicist based in east London. Q What are you passionate about? Creating! I love the process of ceramics – turning a block of clay into something completely…

ONE Never breaking out of your PJs (or showering) sounds wonderfully decadent, until you have to answer the door to the poor postie/DHL/ Amazon delivery person. No one deserves that horror more than once. TWO The sudden lure of the laundry mountain and/or dirty dishes. All weekend, you walk past them with blinkers, but at precisely 9.01am on Monday, they are suddenly your number one priority. Step away; don’t let them see the whites of your eyes. THREE There’s not enough coffee in the world to stop you wanting a nap come 3pm, and that bed/sofa within four paces is not helping. A quick power nap won’t hurt, will it? Oh. It’s 6pm. FOUR Only a padlock on the fridge/snack cupboard (or your face, Hannibal-style) will stop you troughing all…

Sometimes it pays to step outside of your comfort zone, and when it comes to your décor, choosing patterned flooring is a great place to begin. Our floors are the unsung heroes of our homes, facing up to daily wear and tear, so it’s only right that we show them some love. In the past year, we’ve seen a surge in striking and colourful patterned floors, with daring and creative designs transforming our flooring into a fifth wall that warrants just as much attention as the rest of our space. From tiles to carpet and vinyl to rugs, there’s a bold pattern to suit. If you’re revamping your scheme, begin with statement flooring and work your way upwards for a space that oozes confidence, charm and fun. Small but mighty…

Daniel Birch worked with architects to transform a poorly-linked downstairs layout into an open-plan space – with a colourful twist ‘The kitchen had been partially knocked through when we bought the house, but the ground floor was quite dark, particularly the middle room, which we use as a playroom. Opening the back of the house up to the side would give us more space in the kitchen and link the middle room better with the rest of the house. ‘We used two architects for the project. The first, Richard from Fit Architects, helped develop the design up to the planning stage. DHVA developed the building control drawings. Extending into the side return was the main project: we wanted a family space we could use for cooking, dining and hanging out…

BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL BEDROOMS Is your bedroom more like an overflowing storage unit than a relaxing sanctuary? You may dream of a bigger room, but sometimes how you use your space is more important that its square footage. To help you, we’re sharing savvy ways to make a small bedroom seem bigger. From slimline storage to wall-hung designs, learn how to boost your space with clever techniques. Insider knowledge We spend lots of time searching for the best and most inspiring real homes to show you in this magazine. But have you ever wondered which are editor Beth Murton’s favourites? She reveals all on the Real Homes Show. Get behind-the-scenes insight into the homes, kitchens and spaces she’s loved. WATCH EVERY EPISODE AT REALHOMES.COM/TV…

BACK TO BRICK Here’s an example of how a small addition can make a big impact if you go daring with your design. This one was part of a complete overhaul of a two-storey apartment. The plan? An extension that would increase the footprint of the ground floor and provide space for a dining area at the back without impeding too much on the garden. The result? This gorgeous grey brick build, which contrasts with the original Victorian property and links inside and out with sleek flooring and ample glazing. Using two sets of bi-fold doors to create the effect of a corner opening? That’s smart-thinking, cost-saving genius right there. Project cost: £85,000 plus VAT for the extension. Glazing: HBD Systems. Architect: Plot Architecture. Build and finish work: Hawksmoor Construction,…

Keeping your home at the right temperature year round requires an efficient heating system. Most UK homes have central heating that consists of a boiler plus radiators. Others have electric storage heaters. You could also have other individual heaters around your home that aren’t part of the central heating system. You might want to choose a new heating system by swapping from electricity to a boiler system or upgrading your current heaters. Alternatively, you could improve a boiler and radiator combination, or extend the system because you’re building extra rooms on to your home. Whatever your goals, you’ll find what you need to know, plus some stylish heating options, in part one of our guide. And if you’re thinking fireplaces, stoves and more, they’re featured in part two next month.…

SHUTTER STYLES Café style covers the bottom half of the window. Tier on tier has separate panels, one on top of the other. Full-height shutters cover the window lintel to sill. Solid shutters are made from panels of wood rather than louvres or slats. Tracked shutters have tracks top and bottom so they can fold back. Shaped shutters are made bespoke to fit unusually shaped windows. OPEN AND SHUT The louvres or slats are operated by a tilt rod which is pulled up or down. Hidden or invisible tilt rods built into the frame or behind the slats mean if you move one slat, some or even all of the others will follow suit. Remote control shutters operate at the touch of a button. Tilting the slats up makes it…

DIY CRITTALL STYLE Crittall-style windows are serious style goals for many of us. Once the preserve of external windows and stylish kitchen extensions, the iconic metal-framed design is creeping into bathrooms now, and we love the high-end industrial vibe it brings. If you adore the look but don’t want to fork out for an entire new shower screen, listen up! This DIY hack by @ourgreyhaven has created quite a stir among the Real Homes team. We know it’s hard to believe, but this Crittall-style shower was actually created from a regular shower screen and some 1cm thick black vinyl tape. The look is so easy to recreate – simply use a spirit level to measure carefully and mark out your exact design using a wipeable pen. Cut the tape to…

YES ‘We found solutions to make savings and finish on time’ Alison Whear (@adventures_at_number_28_), husband Ross and their two boys live in a terraced house in Hatfield, Hertfordshire ‘If we hadn’t compromised, the work on our house might still be going on and we’d be living on a building site. An elderly couple had lived here before we bought it and the kitchen and bathroom were last done in the 1980s or 90s. I was pregnant with our second child so we needed family space – luckily we could extend. ‘I had grand plans for bi-fold doors, a range cooker and fireplace – but we had a fixed budget in mind. When we priced up these items, we realised it left us with no contingency. We could’ve chanced it and…

Can’t get enough of Yasmin’s designs? Here are two more ceramicists you’ll love... RACHAEL COCKER @rachaelannacocker ‘Joyful is a key word to describe my ceramics,’ says Rachael, who creates stunning floral platters, chargers and candlesticks. ‘I love the way florals are depicted in embroidery and folk art and I wanted to find my own take on that.’ rachaelcocker.co.uk DANTES CERAMICS @dantesceramics Embrace slow living with a collection of everyday treasures from Issy Taylor-Jones. ‘I’ve always been drawn to a Scandi feel: simple, understated, imperfect,’ she says. ‘The colours and textures of nature are gleaned from the Scottish Highlands.’ dantesceramics.com…

‘I work for a domestic violence charity and just before lockdown we decided to save money by working from home whenever possible. My husband and I found juggling two full-time workloads and a reno, plus a five-year-old daughter off school, tricky (lots of wine and biscuits help). We opened up the downstairs last year and I wanted it to be multitasking with functional zones to maximise use, like this office alcove. The Lucy Tiffney wallpaper is beautiful, energising and helps me feel super creative, and it also zones the area. My husband put up the shelf for prints, books, homes mags and trinkets. I hunted for small-scale furniture to fit, and a comfy chair. My top tip is to be brave with colour and have fun. Your workspace should feel…

If you want your patterned floor to be your pièce de résistance, keep the rest of your scheme simple. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring; introduce colours of a similar or contrasting hue, and add interest through textures like velvet, bamboo or metal. Keep other patterns to a minimum, unless you’re going for maximalism. A big motif or large format tiles can make a small space feel bigger, but a small, intricate pattern could get lost in a larger room. Lines stretching over the widest part of the space will elongate your room.…

Extending their Victorian terrace gave Donna Fenby Taylor and her family an open-plan space that’s easy to keep tidy thanks to a secret storage hack ‘We bought this house over eight years ago, moving from a one-bedroom flat that we’d extended using Architect Your Home. We were keen to do some build work to add value and put our own stamp on this place. We lived here for eight months, then I found out I was pregnant and my husband was offered a job in Berlin. We rented this property out for four years while we lived out there, putting all our extension plans on hold. When we returned, now with two young children, we knew we definitely needed to start work. ‘The house is on a hill, so the…

UNTIL you’ve done it yourself, it’s hard to overestimate just how much time, energy and love goes into a renovation project – and how good it feels when it’s finished. Whether you’re redecorating or embarking on a sizable extension project, there will be stress and tears, but there will also be laughter (once you’ve got over the aforementioned stress) and excitement. That’s why it’s called a labour of love: you put a lot of yourself in it. That was certainly true for Niamh and her husband Brian, who took on their Victorian terrace and soon discovered the extent of the work they had to do. It’s not their forever home – Niamh says that herself – but it’s a project they took on during an important time in their life,…

The late, great architect Zaha Hadid once said, ‘Architecture is really about wellbeing. I think people want to feel good in a space’. While nobody will argue with her sentiment, how many of us neglect to think about how we will feel and ‘be’ in a room when we decorate, alter or extend? Too often, we get caught up in the excitement of adding more space only to discover living in an aircraft hangar doesn’t ‘spark joy’, especially when it comes to cleaning that vast expanse of floor. ‘If you knock out the walls before you’ve thought about how you’re going to use and enjoy the new space, you are certainly creating more room in a house, but not necessarily a home,’ says Nicole Grey, senior interior designer at Pavilion…

Stripe up Finishing touches can make or break a kitchen design, and these striking handpainted pendant lights are just the ticket for adding vibrancy to your space. The classic stripe, clean form and clashing colours make for a contemporary centrepiece and talking point. They’re the perfect addition to a kitchen island, and an investment buy that’ll bring you joy for years to come. Original BTC May pendant light, £247.50, Made to Last NEW HERRINGBONE Tile Giant has launched a new selection of high gloss metro tiles, and we’re loving their fun and playful take on the classic herringbone design. To create the look, simply choose a base colour, such as white, a secondary colour, like blue, and a third colour to accent. Draw out your design on paper first and…

YOU ASK, WE ANSWER ‘Is smart heating worth it?’ ‘In many cases, smart heating refers to a smart thermostat, where the boiler is told to react to changes in the internal temperature of the property,’ says Darren McMahon, marketing director at Viessmann. ‘Smarter still is a boiler with integrated Wi-Fi, giving access to its brain and the ability to programme it to do much more thinking itself. The end goal for boiler-enabled smart measures is to reduce all unnecessary workload on the boiler (in technical terms, that means modulating heat output as low as is practical) while ensuring the boiler operates in condensing mode as much as possible. The result is lower running costs in fuel consumed (and emissions emitted) and in boiler wear and tear. ‘A smart heating system…

Touch of glamour Bring some jewel-like beauty to your front door with a handle, letter box, knocker or house number in rose gold. Part of Brisant Secure’s Sweet range, this on-trend colour will create an eye-catching entrance. Its curves prevent intruders too as there’s no surface area to grab onto. Sweet door hardware, from £19, Brisant Secure A clear winner Work from home has become one of this year’s buzz phrases. For the many people for whom this has become permanent, defining an office area has become crucial. These glass screens by Jennyfields can create private spaces while still maintaining that sought-after open-plan feel. Choose hinged or sliding; you can even lock them for security when dealing with sensitive documents. The screens cost from £2,500. MAKE AN ENTRANCE Keep your…

URBAN DINE Inject a sophisticated atmosphere into your soirée by choosing cool, contemporary pieces that add some attitude. Mix similar moody tones with pops of jewel colours while layering up materials to add interest and ensure the main event is trend-led yet tasteful. REFINED RUSTIC This charmingly relaxed dining space uses easy furniture pieces, interesting lighting and tactile tableware to create an effortless gathering spot. The solid table feels like it’s always belonged while green walls provide unique texture and colour. Forget formality, this is invitingly down to earth. MODERN COUNTRY This timeless look has a clean and calming aesthetic that feels entirely welcoming. Using a pale colour palette, beautiful oak wood and soft furnishings creates a bright, airy and comfortable dining space. Rural chic done to perfection. TOP TABLE…

The ONS reports that, thanks to coronavirus, working from home has become the new normal for almost half of British workers. For many, working from home has been a lifelong ambition, thwarted only by untrusting bosses hell-bent on monitoring every move. However, chances are they weren’t planning for it to happen full-time, overnight. The reality for many lockdown-enforced homeworkers has been makeshift office spaces (read: kitchen tables), a battle for desk domain and bandwidth with their partners, and carrying on the day job with children underfoot/ home-schooling. All while under the unprecedented mental and financial stress of a global pandemic. On the bright side, many companies have finally realised the benefits of not shelling out for corporate HQs, which means thousands of former office drones can celebrate never having to…

‘I’ve always run my interior design practice from home but during lockdown my husband started working from home, too. I gave him my studio and created a temporary working space in my daughter’s nursery, which she doesn’t use during the day. As it’s only temporary, I hope, I didn’t want to spend loads of money, so I ‘shopped our home’. I used an Ikea Malm chest of drawers already in the room and still used for my daughter’s clothes. I glued some strips of scrap wallpaper onto the gaps in the front and added flashes of neon tape to inject colour and fun. The top is made from scrap plywood found in the garage. Then I took an old bookcase to create a holder for the interiors magazines I use…

When Ali and Rob moved into their dated Edwardian terrace, which had been occupied by its previous owners since the 1930s, a full-scale renovation was on the cards. After months of living with parents, they were keen to get started straight away. But with just weeks until the arrival of their first baby, progress was limited. There was only time to make two rooms habitable before the new member of the family arrived, so the couple’s grand plans were temporarily put on hold. It wasn’t until almost a year later, when their carefully-considered open-plan extension was complete, that the house really came into its own as a space for family living and flexible working. With Ali’s experience as an interior stylist, their home is now both practical and pleasing to…

Rachel Barlow’s newly-extended kitchen-diner provides ample space to relax, entertain and play in the home she shares with her husband and two children ‘We knew we wanted to make our mark on the house when we moved in. However, we were expecting our first child so we prioritised doing what we could quite quickly and saved the big work until after the baby was born. Two babies later, it was obvious the kitchen was the pinch point. It was so narrow you couldn’t fit a proper table in. We went backwards and forwards between the kitchen and sitting room checking on the kids and watching pots on the boil, and we rarely had people over – it felt too chaotic. ‘We wanted a big kitchen-diner so we could cook and…

‘Bring the outdoors in – it’s well known that having plants or foliage in the house can be beneficial to your health and well-being as they release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Plants have also been proven to help with stress, anxiety and blood pressure. Studies have shown that having a plant in the house can evoke a feeling of calmness and peace, therefore lowering stress levels. ‘Create a room where you can switch off from technology and unwind. ‘Make your bathroom a sanctuary with candles or mood lighting, and invest in some new fluffy towels. ‘Turn your study into a den and surround yourself with your favourite books or a craft you like doing. ‘Don’t be afraid to show your personality. Your home should be a demonstration of…

THE transformation of Deborah and Jonathan’s kitchen is so dramatically different that it’s hard to visualise what their Victorian terrace house looked like before they worked their design magic. When the couple moved in, the kitchen had been largely untouched since the 1980s – a simple run of units with a separate pantry and outside toilet. In the spring of 2019, the couple forged ahead with their ambitious renovation project to expand the space, transforming how they live in their home forever. Here, Deborah reveals how she’s turned a dated design into a lustworthy kitchen-diner filled with gold and emerald green touches. STEP ONE 1 UP TO THE JOB ‘After years of living in Brighton, we wanted a lifestyle change. Owning a dog was on our wish list, so we…

ONE While black absorbs light, white reflects it, and while black is heavy, white is light, and these opposite qualities are the reason that black and white work together so well. Just like yin and yang, they balance each other out. This makes for a palette that is not only pleasing, but comforting to the eye, which is why monochrome works especially well in bathrooms. TWO The most popular way to introduce monochrome to a bathroom is with tiles. There any many patterned designs out there, but using a plain tile and contrasting grout colour is a simple and effective way to introduce the palette. If you’ve already got white metro tiles, regrouting in black can highlight the shape of each tile, and render inevitable grout stains invisible. It’s a…

BEST TO ZONE SPACES Tracked shutters are an excellent way to divide an open-plan space for multifunctional use. Draw them closed for a quiet office area or homework room or pull open and concertina neatly together to socialise with family or friends. Classic louvre shutters let light filter through while solid wood can have a fabulous finish. Solid single panel wood shutters in custom colours, approx 3m2 , around £2,000 including installation, Hillarys BEST FOR BATHROOMS If you want shutters that offer privacy, consider café style. The bottom half of the window gives discreet concealment while the top half is left clear. Bathroom shutters are available in waterproof PVC or affordable hybrawood painted with a smooth lacquer, so they are resistant to damp and the build-up of mildew. Shutters from…