Innehållsförteckning för Nov-2018 från 25 Beautiful Homes

As a lover of colour, I’m delighted by the current trend for maximalist interior design, from bold paintwork to lively pattern. It is quite incredible how a statement on the walls can transform a home. Take our cover story this month. This barn conversion in Yorkshire (page 80) looks beautifully contemporary thanks to its energising blue details – the paint is Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue. If you’re considering a dramatic approach, interior designer Naomi Carroll also shows how to decorate successfully with dark shades, so I urge you to look at her home as well (page 105). When crafting your personal scheme, start with the colour wheel, which shows what works with what. Then think about when you will use the room, how much sunlight enters and its footprint.…

‘The tropical trend has always been a perennial summer favourite, but our lust for lush palm prints and hot tropics styling has taken on a new popularity. The emergence of glamorous interiors goes hand in hand with all things tropicana, and retro luxe furniture and decor work especially well with the tropical trend’s exuberant and exotic motifs. A neutral base is a great place to start, then layer in tropical touches in vibrant emerald green, hot pink and gleaming gold, and add palm-print cushions, a parrot lamp or an eye-catching wallpaper. The flamingo is one of the trend’s most striking motifs. Give an unloved space such as the downstairs cloakroom or the inside of a cupboard a quirky makeover with striking flamingo wallpaper, and add wall art. To make the…

Taking on a 1930s semi in need of love and attention, Inga and Piotr Wojciechowski were confident they could turn it into the family home they craved. ‘Four years ago we realised we’d outgrown our previous home,’ says Inga. ‘Our boys Kamil, now 15, and Jakub, now 13, were growing up fast, and we wanted plenty of space. This house was ripe for renovation and we could see how it could be easily improved.’ The couple decided to convert the loft into a master suite, extend four metres into the garden to form a large kitchen/diner, and convert part of the garage into a shower room and utility. As co-owners of a design and project management interiors company, Amberth, the couple design and install bespoke kitchens, bathrooms and fitted furniture…

I’m thinking of converting my loft into a bedroom – what do I need to consider? With more of us choosing to improve our property rather than moving, a loft conversion is the perfect way to make the most of your space. Not only does it add value, it also turns unused space into an extra room that can be used for any purpose. An en-suite bedroom makes sense – either as a private zone for parents of growing families or as extra space for guests. Would I have to move or extend all the pipework? Sounds expensive. Moving pipework can be costly if there is major work involved, but fortunately there is another solution. Saniflo macerators mean you can install a WC, bath and basin anywhere. Saniflo also make…

Perched high in the Monmouthshire hills is an old barn that holds a deep, dark secret: within its thick, 200-year-old stone walls is an extraordinary family home that takes your breath away as you step inside, but only after your eyes have adjusted from the light outside to the cavernous interior. This north-facing property with barely any windows has been painted almost entirely in a palette of off-black tones. ‘I love the drama that darker hues provide,’ says Naomi Carroll, an interior designer with a passion for the unusual. ‘Besides, barns by their very nature are generally gloomier buildings, so rather than battle against it here, I decided to embrace it. ‘I am inspired by nature, too,’ she continues. ‘I love going for walks in the woods with my kids,…

This semi-detached Victorian home in Surrey is a far cry from the bungalow in Thailand that was Sally and Jay’s previous home. The couple met in Thailand and went on to live there for almost a decade and formed their leather accessories brand Konoc there. However, when Sally became pregnant with their first child, she soon found herself eager to return home to her extended family. The pair started their search in Surrey and were thrilled to discover a house perfectly located near Sally’s parents, in the town she grew up in. The structure of the property also gave them options to extend and adapt it to meet their own needs. Having purchased the house in 2013, the pair returned to England the following year and structural work on the…

Despite its monochrome colour scheme, there is a warmth to this stone cottage, thanks to the rustic hues of terracotta tiles that run throughout the ground floor, the honey coloured timber flooring upstairs, and the soft yellow tones of exposed stone. ‘I wanted the natural materials to provide the colour,’ says its owner Elizabeth Morleau, an entrepreneur and farmer’s wife living in rural Brittany. ‘With their varied textures, there was no need for fussy decor. I’m a fan of wallpaper, though, but have used just small strips in the kitchen and shower rooms. Other than that, I chose to paint the hemp-plastered walls soft white, warm grey and deep charcoal. I selected upholstery and bedlinen in that same simple palette, too.’ Her husband Conta inherited the farm, its old cottages…

A Abode Sofas abodesofas.com Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Amberth amberth.co.uk Andrew Martin andrewmartin.co.uk Anne Haimes Interiors annehaimesinteriors.co.uk Argos argos.co.uk Article article.com Artwood artwood.se Att Pynta attpynta.com B B&M bmstores.co.uk B&Q diy.com Benjamin Moore benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Bert & May bertandmay.com Bespoke Glass Design bespokeglassdesign.co.uk Blue Suntree bluesuntree.co.uk by Maria Pia bymariapia.tictail.com C Ca’Pietra capietra.com Camomile London camomile.london Casa Lopez casalopez.com Castle Galleries castlegalleries.com Castlegate Lights castlegatelights.co.uk Cathy Dean Interior Design cathydeaninteriordesign.com CB2 cb2.com Chesterfields of England chesterfields.co.uk City Cows citycows.co.uk Classic Cottages classic.co.uk Cole & Son cole-and-son.com Concreate concreate.net/uk Cornwall Rug Company cornwallrugcompany.com Cotteswood cotteswood.co.uk Countryside Kitchens countrysidekitchens.co.uk Cox…

In a semi rural area close to a tributary of the Thames, Chamil Liyanaarachchi and his partner Torquil Tomlinson found a two bedroom cottage in a charming enclave of houses built in the Thirties. ‘The building had a good feel about it, with great potential,’ recalls Chamil, ‘although as we progressed, we found ourselves changing everything about it, except the hedge. We never intended it from the start, but one thing led to another.’ When Chamil and Torquil first came across the property, the ground floor comprised five small rooms, which the pair reworked into three. ‘Once the walls came down and the brown swirly carpets, avocado-painted cupboards and white and gold fireplaces were cleared out, we could see the wood for the trees,’ says Chamil. As an interior designer…

Stepping inside Sarah Simonds’ house is rather like entering a lush, tropical paradise. Cascading greenery, dark walls, hardwoods, souk-inspired decor and an abundance of natural textures have all helped create a home that is as welcoming and cosy as it is creative and inspiring. ‘We run our business from here and we don’t get to go away a lot,’ says Sarah, ‘so it has to be a space we love.’ Sarah and husband David, and their two children, Toby, now 27, and Georgie, 24, had been looking for a place with more space when they viewed the property in 2005 and could not believe their luck when they saw the five-bedroom, detached house. But they also knew there was a huge amount of work to do. ‘The house needed gutting,’…

Designing a cohesive, creative and imaginative child’s bedroom is not always an easy task, but a combination of flexible elements and eye-catching accents is the secret to success. The sky’s the limit Designing a child’s bedroom can be creatively rewarding because you can allow your imagination free rein in this area of the home. Avoid following trends, but don’t feel obliged to stick to old-fashioned colour rules either. Instead, to promote longevity, look to adult schemes that can be tweaked with fun touches. ‘Children’s rooms can be most enjoyable to work on as you can really go to town showcasing your child’s personality and passions,’ advises interior designer Cat Dal. ‘Patterned wallpapers, two-tone walls, twinkling ceilings, cosy cabin nooks – the possibilities are vast when it comes to creative ways…

Holly Vaughan loves jewellery. From the jumbled pots on her antique dressing table that overflow with glittering pieces to her kitchen where two giant pendant lights hang like oversized earrings, her home is a masterpiece of accessorising. ‘The kitchen pendants are actually old chicken-shed heaters that I had rewired,’ says events and interiors stylist Holly, who runs her own business, Holly’s House. ‘They may be too large for some people’s tastes, but I just love industrial things.’ This sums up Holly’s approach of finding pieces she loves and making everything work around them. She has assembled a magpie mix to create her home, which she shares with her husband Will and cat Didier. ‘I like mixing different influences,’ she says, ‘but I didn’t want to take away from the building’s…

Vibrant fabrics can bring joy to any space,’ says Eva Sonaike. This is clearly apparent when you view the colourful living room of her London home, which is dotted with cushions and pouffes designed by Eva and inspired by the regular visits to West Africa she has made since she was a child. Eva’s route to becoming a textile designer began when she did a makeover on the small flat she and her husband first owned in London. ‘I was on maternity leave and I wanted to make it warm and welcoming,’ she says. Eva bought bolts of bright African wax fabrics and made them into cushion covers, throws and curtains. ‘As a quick fix, it worked,’ she says. ‘But from experience, I now know that upholstery materials need to…

We were looking for somewhere that would provide respite from the hustle of daily life,’ says Rebecca Keyzer of the sleek, steel-framed retreat that she and her husband Steven bought in 2017. Set in a peaceful plot with unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside, this simple bungalow is a far cry from the couple’s home in Toronto. ‘We are both estate agents leading busy lives in a bustling city, so this escape, in Prince Edward County, an island on the north shore of Lake Ontario, offered a slower pace of life,’ explains Rebecca. ‘Many houses in this area are Victorian in style – all very lovely, but we were looking for something just a bit different. This place, built in a mid-century modern style, features crisp lines and a steel-panelled…

When Federico Spiga moved from Sardinia to Newcastle five years ago to work as a chef, he fell in love with the vibrant city and now feels lucky to live in one of its most iconic buildings. ‘I was very keen to move out of my new-build apartment into something that had more character,’ says Federico, who is now training to be an architect. ‘I love old properties and I’d always admired the Turnbull Building, a converted warehouse overlooking the River Tyne, so when a two-bedroom loft apartment came up to rent I convinced my flatmate we should go for it. It has amazing views and great nightlife right on the doorstep.’ Originally a print work factory and then an ironmongers, the building was constructed in 1896 and converted into…

Obtaining planning permission for converting an agricultural building into a liveable space can be a lottery. ‘Some councils have a pragmatic approach; others want the traditional token gesture towards agricultural buildings of the 1700s and 1800s,’ advises Glenn Moore of GM Moore & Associates, design, planning and historic consultants in the southeast of England. ‘But recent planning law changes have made it possible to convert steel-framed buildings like sheep pens and Dutch barns as well as traditional brick, flint and weatherboard barns.’ Before you buy You must consider if the barn is structurally capable of being converted. ‘The space we work with and a client’s brief always end up as a compromise,’ says Glenn. ‘Low beams will restrict access to upper floors. There may be no room for multiple bedrooms.…

You might buy a pair of shoes on impulse or treat yourself to a latte on the go, but purchasing a sofa is a much bigger decision. As well as considering shape, colour and fabrics, it’s likely that you will be thinking about comfort, practicality and size – no one wants to end up with a sofa that’s too compact or awkward to share with all the family. Fortunately, there is a new range that combines smart shopping, inimitable style and modern classic shapes with a capsule range of fabrics you’ll love. BOLD by Louise is a series of sofas, armchairs and stools created by Harveys in collaboration with Louise Redknapp. Working with Harveys at each step of the process, Louise has added her signature style to every feature for…

When Marine Barbaroux and Dom Reed began house-hunting in 2011, they hadn’t planned to take on a renovation. ‘Although we both enjoy DIY, I didn’t want to live in a building site,’ says Marine. They made offers on several houses in Cambridge but, after being continuously beaten by other buyers, they changed tactic and snapped up a renovation job instead. ‘At least we could turn it into the home we wanted,’ says Dom. TAKING ON A PROJECT The property was divided into five bedsits over three floors, with a ground-floor galley kitchen and two bathrooms stuck on to the rear. ‘It was dated and dingy,’ says Marine. ‘There was more magnolia paint than anyone would be able to cope with. The kitchen had fake wooden units that were falling apart,…

When Julie Hole and her husband Vergard were looking for a new family home for themselves and their two children, Live, six, and Levi, one, on the outskirts of Bergen in Norway, they knew that they wanted to buy a new build. Explaining the practical reasons behind the decision, Julie says, ‘I’m a primary school teacher and my husband is a helicopter pilot, so we’re both busy with work. Plus, we’re not very handy. If we had to do lots of DIY, the house would never be completed. In Norway, we call them key-finished homes – literally, all you have to do is pick up the key.’ Crucially, while the developer and construction company were in charge of doing the actual decorating – everything from painting the walls to hanging…