Innehållsförteckning för November 2016 från 25 Beautiful Homes

Here we are in November, which usually brings plenty of cold, wet and gloomy days. On such occasions, it usually means it’s time to light a fire to make our homes feel warm and welcoming. We had our logs delivered and chimneys swept in September, ready for the winter. I love having fires – I know that they’re messy but, perversely, I don’t mind clearing out the grate and setting a new one. When I was a child, I used to offer to do it for my mum who probably thought I was mad, but was always grateful. A fire, whether it’s roaring up the chimney or just a few dying embers, adds something to a home and I do love the cliché of sitting in a room with a…

BUTTONED HEADBOARD I’m trying to find a deep-buttoned headboard for my existing bed. Can you help and do you know how I would attach it? CAROLINE JONES, PEMBROKESHIRE This is a fantastic way to make a bed feel incredibly inviting and luxurious. Loaf’s (0845 468 0527, loaf.com) Benji headboard sits on the floor and can be attached to the wall with batons or directly to your bed base. It is available in double, king and super-king sizes and a range of fabrics; for a king-size version upholstered in House linen-mix fabric, H111 x W154 x D29cm, the cost is £775. The plush Richmond headboard (shown) by The White Company (020 3758 9222, thewhitecompany.com) comes in two heights and eight fabrics, all in muted colours. It has mount fittings for beds,…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1930s semi-detached house LOCATION Southeast London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, office, two bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2005 PREVIOUS PROPERTY 'I moved here with my son Zak from an Edwardian villa in the same area,' says Jessica. A change in circumstances found Jessica Walker and her son Zak, now 17, looking for a new home. ‘I loved the southeast London area we lived in and wanted to stay near Zak’s school, but we needed to downsize,’ explains Jessica. With a somewhat limited market, Jessica’s choice was a pretty townhouse or a 1930s semi. ‘The townhouse felt more “me” but my architect brother thought differently, pointing out a few potential problems,’ she says. ‘Although this place, was a bit dark and…

‘Most properties, old or new, can benefit from underfloor heating. Bear in mind that whether you are renovating or not, there’s no need to dig up floors to install it. Slim retrofit systems sit directly on top of the existing floor and they offer good heat outputs. Begin by contacting at least two reputable, experienced suppliers. The BEAMA trade association website has a list of members and can be a useful starting point. Discuss all of the installation and floorcoverings options with potential suppliers. If your underfloor heating is going to be installed in multiple rooms, make sure that the system includes a detailed design that is tailored to your requirements and will take the fabric of your property into account. And do try to ensure that your underfloor heating…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1960s townhouse LOCATION Southeast London ROOMS Hall, sitting room/ dining area, kitchen, office, music room, bedroom, bathroom PURCHASED 2004 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, I lived in a 1960s flat in a nearby block,’ says Ben. When Mid-Century furniture dealer Ben Adams saw a 1960s house by award-winning British architect Norman Starrett for sale in southeast London, he just had to buy it. ‘I had admired the property for a while, as I lived close by,’ says Ben. ‘It was in complete disrepair and a lot of the original features had disappeared, both inside and out. But I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the place – it was begging to be fixed.’ With his extensive knowledge of the era, and a particular fondness for…

‘Neons give a room a fresh, optimistic look. There is a shade for every taste, from vibrant gold-yellows and oranges to calming lush greens. Introduce bold colour in a subtle way by painting furniture or unexpected areas of the home: the back of bookshelves, fireplaces or chairs. Adding cushions in a similar hue will enliven a room without overpowering it. Strong colours are returning to the home, particularly earthy shades like Yeabridge Green, an opulent botanical hue. Despite being a powerful colour, its natural tone makes it very easy to live with. It works well with a neutral such as Lime White on woodwork or its perfect partner Cooking Apple Green as an accent. For a stronger scheme, combine it with India Yellow. Deep, strong colours evoke intimacy, but it…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian end-of-terrace LOCATION Southeast London ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, snug, study, art room, utility room, cloakroom, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we lived in a Victorian semi in Wimbledon,’ says Barbro. The mantra ‘keeping it in the family’ is one that resonates with Swedish-born Barbro Hart and her husband Chris. When it came to downsizing from their London home, they decided to adopt a hands-on approach that saw the entire family pitch in to renovate their new house. ‘We wanted to help out our two girls Alex and Annika, who have since both found properties of their own,’ explains Barbro. ‘So we moved out of southwest London and bought an Edwardian end-of-terrace that needed plenty of attention in…

NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Period-style country house LOCATION County Kildare ROOMS Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, conservatory, eight bedrooms, two bathrooms BUILT 2003 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We had a six-bedroom detached house nearby,’ says Sophie. Having spent time living in the USA and London, Sophie de Brullier and her husband John moved back to their native Ireland to give their children a country upbringing. But it wasn’t a house they were looking for – more a spot where they could build their own. They soon fell in love with a perfect site close to their families in tranquil Kildare. And, as John is a chartered surveyor and project manager, he designed and supervised the building himself. ‘We wanted to have a house with a period feel that would have…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Part of a Grade II listed Jacobean hall LOCATION Yorkshire ROOMS Hall, kitchen-diner, sitting room, utility room, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2003 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a four-bedroom barn conversion nearby,’ says Rachel. An old house in the country was high on Rachel and Martin’s wish list when searching for a new property. ‘We’ve always lived in period homes and love their character,’ says Rachel. An avid fan of Time Team , Martin was also keen to find something with an interesting past, so when they came across a Jacobean hall formerly owned by a friend of Oliver Cromwell, they knew it was perfect for them. The house needed a lot of work, but having completed renovations before, the couple…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1920s detached LOCATION Kent ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, TV room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 1996 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a large Victorian house in Tunbridge Wells,’ says Louisa. It was a need for more outside space that led Louisa and Jonathan Browning to seek a new home. At the time, they were living in a spacious six-bedroom house in Tunbridge Wells, but its small garden was inadequate for their three sporty children, Alison, Peter, and Harry, who are all now grown up. ‘It felt as though I was continually taking them to the park,’ says Louisa. While reading the property section of the local paper, Jonathan spotted a house that looked ideal. ‘Although slightly smaller, it…

  REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached villa, built in 1895 LOCATION East Sussex ROOMS Hall, kitchen-diner/ sitting area, study, utility room, cloakroom, six bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms PURCHASED May 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a 1920s house nearby in Hove,’ says Lucy. After renovating their house in Hove, Sussex, Lucy Rutler and her husband Julien were keen to take on a bigger property to give their three children, Elise, now 15, Lara, 12, and Leon, 8, more space. So much so, that when they viewed a large Victorian villa nearby, they weren’t put off by its sorry state. The house was divided into three flats, and was in desperate need of a structural and cosmetic overhaul – but it was perfectly proportioned and just…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached Cotswold stone cottage, built in the 1880s LOCATION Gloucestershire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen, cloakroom, utility room three bedrooms (one en suite), office/fourth bedroom, bathroom PURCHASED 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a characterful three-bedroom converted stable block in Hampshire,’ says Sarah. Sarah Astman grew up in Gloucestershire and always longed to return to live in a cottage built from traditional Cotswold stone. The chance finally came last year, and she and her husband, Simon Colenutt, found the perfect place, set well back from the village lane. ‘And it has a lovely garden for our three-year-old, Tobias, to play in,’ says Sarah, ‘so we knew it was ideal for us.’ However, the cottage was rather dark and dated, not having been renovated since the…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semidetached house, built in 1898 LOCATION Lancashire ROOMS Hall, sitting room/ office, kitchen-diner, garden room, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a 200-year-old weavers’ cottage in a nearby town,’ says Cat. From the moment Cat Caton walked through the door of a Victorian semi in rural Lancashire, she was in love. ‘Even though it didn’t have all the details my husband Stephen and I wanted, I fell for its warmth and charm,’ she says. Unfortunately, the house didn’t strike quite the same note for Stephen. ‘This was the very first house that we viewed and he dismissed it based on its tiny bathroom and, conversely, the very large garden, as neither of us are particularly green-fingered,’ explains Cat.…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Converted stable built in 1870 LOCATION Leicestershire ROOMS Hall, sitting/dining room, kitchen, snug, office, utility room, four bedrooms (two en suite), office, bell tower PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a converted pub in north Essex,’ says Louise. Originally built to accommodate the horses and dogs of a grand country house, the distinctive home of Louise Jopling and her husband Steve Grime can be spotted from every aspect of their charming Midlands village, where its bell tower dominates the skyline like a watchful sentry. Louise and Steve have a love for buildings with an interesting heritage and had viewed several quirky properties before this one. ‘This house was the last we saw,’ recalls Louise. ‘As the gates swung open and we got…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached 1960s house LOCATION Rutland ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, cloakroom, studio, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before buying this place, we lived in a larger period home,’ says Sue. The ugly duckling of the high street’ is how Sue Johnson describes the house she and husband Dave bought in 2014. After a hankering to move into one of Rutland’s pretty market towns, they were happy to take it on regardless. ‘We had recently sold our previous home and were looking to downsize,’ says Sue. ‘So we moved into a rented apartment while scouting the area for something suitable.’ When the couple spotted a neglected 1960s house, they approached the owner directly with an offer to buy. ‘Luckily for…

Tackling a building job can be a daunting task, whether it involves a straightforward extension or a thorough overhaul. And the best way to approach it is to refine your vision, do plenty of research and manage your budget. Make a plan Whatever project you’re considering, the key to success is thinking it through in advance – from creating a moodboard to finding a good builder and drawing up a realistic budget. Time spent at this stage can save upheaval down the line. If the project is large, do consult an architect to make sure your plans are feasible. It also pays to build in some time flexibility, while keeping builders focused on completion by the agreed date. Carefully managing your finances is important, too, but avoid paying for the…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached Georgian farmhouse LOCATION Gloucestershire ROOMS Sitting room, family room, kitchen-diner, library, five bedrooms, bathroom, playroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a south London apartment before this,’ says Nico. We wanted somewhere with more space so the children could play outside,’ says Nico Yiannikkou. He and his wife Tze Ching Yeung were living in London with their two children, Jake and Maya, both now 8. ‘City life was great but when you have a family, your priorities change. We also wanted to be in an area with good schools.’ Because Nico and Tze Ching have an office in the capital, they wanted to be located somewhere along the M4 corridor, so they began looking in the Cotswolds. ‘We searched for about four…

  DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Double-fronted listed villa, built in 1822 LOCATION Gloucestershire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, snug, library, utility room, cloakroom, conservatory, five bedrooms, three bathrooms PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a little cottage nearby,’ says Fi. Fi Cherry’s heart missed a beat when she and husband Patrick first glimpsed their double-fronted listed Georgian house. Set on a steep incline just outside a pretty Cotswold town and surrounded by an acre of terraced garden, it was ideal for them and their children, Olivia now 17, Robin, 14, and George, 9. ‘Even before I walked through the front door, I knew it was the house for us,’ recalls Fi. Featuring high ceilings, large rooms and tall sash windows, the inside…

With more than 40 suppliers on the market competing for customers, there has never been a better time to check that you are on the best tariff for your home’s energy supply. 25 Beautiful Homes has teamed up with energyhelpline to make sure that our readers are not needlessly overpaying. As one of the UK’s leading comparison sites, energyhelpline helps millions of households save hundreds of pounds on their gas and electricity bills. Running a comparison through our easy-to-use website takes a matter of minutes, and it’s free. We compare all suppliers and all tariffs, so you can be confident of finding the best deal for you. Alternatively, contact our free UK-based call centre and one of our friendly advisors will be happy to guide you through the process. 3…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace LOCATION Southeast London ROOMS Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, study, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a Victorian flat in Hackney,’ says Nisha. ‘We totally blew our budget buying this home,’ Nisha Stevens says of the Victorian terrace in southeast London that she shares with her husband Tim and young son Kester. ‘Our relentless house-hunting finally paid off and we made an appointment to view it the day it was listed. We loved it immediately – it was the most expensive house we’d seen, but also the most spacious and homely.’ So the couple moved quickly and made an offer there and then. ‘We were lucky as another pair made an offer, too, but ours won the…

Getting a chic, coordinated look for your home has never been so easy with furniture, fabrics and accessories from The Dormy House. And with this exclusive discount for 25 Beautiful Homes readers, it’s more affordable than ever. Furniture from The Dormy House can be painted in your choice of colour from its own stylish paint range – or order pieces unpainted to customise yourself at home. Pretty fabrics, picked to complement The Dormy House paint collection, can be used to upholster the furniture you have chosen, or to make curtains and blinds – or send in your own fabric for The Dormy House to work with. Well known for its good-looking storage, The Dormy House’s range also features pieces for every room in the home, including sofas and tables, modular…

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1 COCKTAIL HOUR Marble trolley in white, £470, Out There Interiors 2 ORIENTAL ADORNMENT Palm tree candelabra, £25, Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams 3 GOOD AS GOLD Sloane cluster pendant, £120, Next 4 KEEP IT TEAL Heathfield & Co Grace Moire teal table lamp, £575, Luxdeco 5 REFLECTED GLORY Corum mirror, £2,444, Christopher Guy 6 MIDAS TOUCH Alison Cork gingko leaf trays, £24 for two, QVC 7 EXOTIC ACCENT Fleur cushion, £45, Biba at House of Fraser 8 TREASURE CHEST Teagen small console table with drawers, £345, Out There Interiors…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace LOCATION South London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, I lived in a flat in an Edwardian terrace nearby, and Stephen rented an apartment in east London,’ says Lucy. After completing the renovation of a small Edwardian apartment in southeast London, Lucy Dwyer and her partner Stephen Ratcliffe decided they needed a bigger home to move into together. Upon researching the local area they soon realised it had a lot to offer, with an increasing number of shops and cafés, but more importantly, properties with potential and character. It took the pair a few months to find and decide to buy a three-bedroom Victorian terrace. Although the property was in a…

‘No matter how carefully you budget for refurbishment works, there’s always a degree of uncertainty because at any time you could stumble upon an expensive hidden defect. A rotten floor joist, for example, may only become evident once an old bath has been removed. So it’s normally a good idea to include a contingency sum of at least 10%. Try to be realistic when budgeting. Labour costs will, of course, be a major component of the total spend, so if you have the necessary skills to do some of the work yourself it can generate significant savings. When it comes to materials, don’t forget to factor in delivery charges and allow for lead-in times for items like kitchen units and bathroom suites. Can any existing materials, such as old slates…

Design ideas MATCHING PATTERNS In the Browns’ spacious master bedroom, a large-scale patterned wallpaper and fabric with a similare design but in a different colourway has been used to great effect. Gone are the days when everything had to match, and the key to this look is creating balance. Having one other item in a contrasting tone, in this case curtains, is enough to make a style statement. The vibrant lime green shade has been picked out as an accent hue and also used on the dressing table stool. Adding a dash of colour to a neutral space like this is often what brings a room to life. When planning a colour scheme, remember that soft furnishings on a small scale are a much more flexible way of introducing bold…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS PROPERTY Terraced house built in the 1850s LOCATION West London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, two studies, studio, cloakroom, utility room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2004 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, I had lived in a flat nearby, while Joao lived in North London,’ says Elizabeth. Moving into their very first family home inspired Elizabeth and Joao Allen to come up with a set of ground-breaking design ideas. Their adventure began after six months searching for the right location. ‘We had been looking for a property in a particular area for a long time before finally finding a home that was within our budget,’ recalls Elizabeth. ‘And it was ideally sited near a beautiful park and some of London’s most interesting museums.’ However, there were plenty of…

   NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Barn-style house, built in 2001 LOCATION Wiltshire ROOMS Sitting/dining room, kitchen, utility room, studio, four bedrooms (three en suite) PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a seafront house in Hampshire,’ says Harry. When 20-year-old Harry Wood moved with his parents and brother from their converted barn in Somerset to a coastal property in Hampshire, it was with great regret. Although he liked the area, he felt unsettled in their new seafront home and longed to relocate to another barn. Then three years later while looking online, he spotted an ideal candidate – an architect-built barn-style house in Wiltshire. ‘It may have been in the wrong county, but it was definitely the right property,’ says Harry. Mum and Dad needed some convincing,…

DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER 2017, INCLUDES: Return rail* and Eurostar, or flights, taxes and transfers Five-star cabins with hotel-standard beds, private bathrooms and river views Exceptional cuisine, full board throughout Extensive, fully inclusive touring programmes DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2017, INCLUDES: Return flights, taxes and transfers Seven nights in hand-picked lakefront hotels with half board Comprehensive sightseeing tours of Lake Garda, the Dolomites, Verona and Venice Escorted by an experienced tour manager DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2017, INCLUDES: Return flights, taxes and transfers Six nights’ three- or four-star hotels with breakfast, staying in Seville, Granada and Mijas Tours of Seville, the Alhambra in Granada, Cordoba and Ronda Escorted by an experienced tour manager DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2017, INCLUDES: Return flights, taxes and transfers Three-star superior…