Innehållsförteckning för November 2019 från Ideal Home

At this time of year, I feel zero guilt for closing the front door behind me on Friday and barely venturing out until Monday morning. It’s so easy to pass a joyful weekend pottering about in my badger slippers, conducting slow-cooker casserole experiments with tins of butter beans from the back of the cupboard, cleaning all the dusty lampshades with a lint roller (so satisfying…) and attempting artistic displays of pine cones and battery tea lights (the cat tries to sniff real flames). This issue is full of the simple pleasures of winter at home, so shut the door on all anxieties, pour the tea and indulge……

Japanese design is known for its extreme simplicity and beauty – and who doesn’t want more of those in their life? We’ve discovered that the high street is being inspired by the Japanese principles of kanso (basically, less is more) and wabi-sabi (embracing imperfections). Which means you’ll be spotting a lot of lovely bamboo and wobbly ceramics out there.…

MY GO-TO STORES… GRAHAM AND GREEN For handcrafted and unique furniture that’s stylish and comfy. SOPHIE CONRAN A great one-stop shop for dining sets, tableware and home accessories for modern living. ORIGINAL BTC I love its diverse range of lighting designs made by hand in Britain. STYLIST’S NOTE “In a simple all-grey scheme, include a pink floral arrangement and teal velvet curtains to add much-needed splashes of colour ”JESSICA TAVERNER , INTERIORS WRITER…

Yes “Cushions just get in the way and I can’t get comfortable on them!” Tom Murphy, 51, lives with his wife, Jane, in a two-bedroom Eighties conversion cottage in south London. He works in publishing. ‘My main objection to heaps of cushions is that they get in the way. I’ll be looking forward to a sit-down or rolling into bed after a busy day – but first I have to rearrange or remove all this unnecessary padding! If I attempt to sit on our sofa without getting the cushions out of the way first, they start sliding around and I end up in completely the wrong position. I have to readjust everything and can never quite get comfortable. When I buy an armchair, for example, it’s because it’s a particular…

Framed art This trick creates a focal point and can be cheaper than artwork. It works best behind a sofa, dining table, bed or sideboard to zone or highlight an area. Memo board Swap a scruffy looking pinboard for one covered in a hero paper. It’s a great way to add interest to a neutral wall or relieve an expanse of deep, block colour. Upcycled chest Make a cheap basic look expensive or revive a dated design. It’s a great way to add drama to your room without overpowering it. Bedhead panel Make a boutique-hotel-style design feature by hanging a couple of drops of wallpaper behind the bed, making it about a foot wider than the headboard. Gallery grid Frame samples or offcuts in identical frames, using a white mount…

1 TRY A DEEP, DARK GREY Already love grey? If your room gets lots of natural light, push it a step further and go for a deep charcoal shade to make it feel warm and cocooning for winter. It works brilliantly with neutral flooring, broken up with white or paler grey on accessories. 2 BOOST THE LUXE FACTOR IN YOUR BOUDOIR Buy a sumptuous bed linen set with a high thread count in a chic design. Team with plain pillow covers in a contrasting colour. 3 CHOOSE OLD SCHOOL STORAGE Metal locker-style storage will give your home an industrial edge, and this glass-fronted design allows you to create a display out of your belongings. 4 UPDATE TABLEWARE FOR THE SEASON New crockery in seasonal shades is all…

RUNWAY GALLERY AT THE PHOTO NORTH FESTIVAL Runway Gallery will be exhibiting at the Photo North Festival, 30 November to 2 December, taking place in Harrogate Convention Centre, located at the heart of the pretty spa town. Following on from its debut success last year, the event brings together exhibitions, talks, walks, workshops and portfolio reviews from highly respected and emerging artists. Visitors can also enjoy music, street food stalls and licensed bars. The photo collections on display cover themes such as mental health and homelessness, the politics of food and, of course, fashion, where Runway Gallery will headline. ‘There’s something for everyone’, says Peter Dench, curator of Photo North Festival. Tickets cost £7.50 for daily entry or £15 for three days. For more information, visit photonorth festival.co.uk…

Packed full of festive inspiration, a visit to the Ideal Home Show Christmas (sponsored by CLC World Resorts & Hotels) is a must, from 20 to 24 November at Olympia London. With more than 600 exhibitors – from on-trend home accessories and jewellery to wooden toys and personalised keepsakes – you’ll get through your Christmas list in no time. Whether you’re going for a traditional theme, or trying a decor that’s decidedly different this Christmas, you’ll find a host of fun, festive decorations to transform your home. And the free workshops at the Christmas Theatre give you the chance to brush up on an old skill – or master a new one. What’s more, your ticket gives you free entry to the Eat & Drink Festival Christmas, offering you the…

Ffion Francis lives here with her fiancé, Ollie Speck. THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Thirties terrace in Crystal Palace, south London. WHAT IT COST Furniture..............£5,000 Flooring...............£2,000 Curtains................£1,500 Paint..........................£120 Rug............................£129 Cushions.................£400 TOTAL..................£9,149 “We put a lot of time and thought into this room. It’s a grown-up space, where we love to read and watch films. It’s unique and reflects our personalities”…

HOW ANGELA AND ANDREW DID IT ‘Our old kitchen had a little electric Seventies cooker on one side and a sink on the other. We love entertaining, so the plan was to turn the existing kitchen into a boot room and extend to give us a big, open-plan space. We wanted to retain the character of the building, so the original brick was carefully exposed and restored. The work started in June 2017 and the new space was done by November, at a cost of about £30,000. The units only took two weeks to fit. We’d earmarked The Main Company years ago as the place to get our dream kitchen and went straight there. There are no wall cupboards, just open shelving – I like people to be able to…

W hisper quiet Serie 6 WTWH7660GB heat pump tumble dryer, £829, Bosch At a muted 62dB, this A++ rated, 9kg model (H84.8x W59.8xD59cm) is great for open-plan kitchens, while the AutoDry function monitors moisture to stop jumpers coming out like cardboard. Plus, it has quick-drying and allergy-prevention programs. THE BEST BIT Self-cleaning keeps it working efficiently, reducing running costs. High efficiency TCR860, £1,949, Miele This wi-fi connected heat pump design (H85xW59.6x D63.6cm) has a generous 9kg capacity and unbeatable A+++ (-10 per cent) energy rating. Sensors adjust energy and time needed for one item, a full load, or for knocking out creases with the handy steam mode. THE BEST BIT FragranceDos capsules inject a choice of two fragrances, for the scent of line-dried linen. The big one AXI ATD C10TKERX,…

Autumn salad of roasted squash with serrano ham and Manchego cheese TAKES 45min SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS • 1 medium butternut squash (around 900g) • 3tbsp olive oil • ½tsp paprika • 150g sliced serrano ham • 2 handfuls of watercress, thick stems removed • 50g Manchego cheese, rind removed FOR THE DRESSING • 1 garlic clove, peeled, bruised and bashed slightly • 2tbsp sherry vinegar • ½tsp Dijon mustard • Pinch of caster sugar • 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Peel, deseed and cut the squash into cubes, keeping the seeds to one side. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Toss the squash with 2tbsp of the olive oil, season generously and spread out on a roasting tray. Roast for 30min, until golden and soft. Set aside to cool to room temperature . 2 Meanwhile, toss the squash seeds…

One Small Step SUSTAINABLE FABRICS AT FRENCH CONNECTION HOME The new denim collection at French Connection Home is proof that sustainable can be luxurious too. Its textiles include rugs made from recycled plastic bottles (trust us, you’d never know…) while waste denim and leather make up the Sea Storm rug and Lunar Blue cushion. Surprise in Store Cute bar stools at Dunelm Bar stools have become a bit of an in-joke with the Ideal Home team – there are so many ugly ones out there. But there’s no danger of making a style slip-up here because Dunelm’s new selection of stools is a complete revelation. With statement looks designed to suit every kitchen, you can prop up your breakfast bar in total style. Whether your taste is glossy and glamorous,…

Well balanced ‘Teal is the middle point between blue and green so our eyes need little or no adjusting to it, giving a sense of calm,’ says Helen Shaw, UK director at Benjamin Moore. Cosy retreat ‘Use teal in spaces you retreat to – whether that’s a living room or bedroom. Teal can feel restorative and bring a feeling of cosiness, even in the brightest of rooms,’ says Helen Shaw. “I think rich jewel tones add a satisfying contrast to teal, for a luxurious and opulent feel”JODY HUDSON, STYLIST, GRAHAM & BROWN Tie it together ‘Layering different tones of blue and green together avoids colour clashes,’ says Jody Hudson. Teal is a fail-safe accent to add, ‘because it sits in the centre of the colour wheel,’ explains Helen Shaw. Go…

Living room ‘This room has French doors on two sides, which let in plenty of light, and the high ceilings make it feel open, too,’ says Antoinette. ‘We’ve kept the window dressings simple with natural linen curtains.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Vilborg curtains, £29 a pair, Ikea, are a match. Bridgeport coffee table trunk, £155.99, Wayfair, is similar After living in the US for a few years, the van der Berg family moved back to their house in the Netherlands, which had been rented out during their absence. ‘It felt like we’d completely outgrown the space, though,’ says Antoinette. ‘But I had my eye on this house, which was just across the road and much bigger. It had extensive grounds, including a swimming pool, hockey pitch and an orchard. I…

Framed art Wall in Setting Plaster modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Smooth bullnose architrave, from £2.90, B&Q. Allure Blush Pink fade marble wallpaper mural, £36sq m, Murals Wallpaper. Wooden pendant arc floor lamp, £225, French Connection Home. Purcell three-seater sofa in Meg 64, £999, Barker and Stonehouse. Moby accent chair in Pine Green velvet, £399, Made.com. Raleigh coffee table, £161, Perch & Parrow, would work here. Lohals rug, from £60, Ikea. Mila pouch in Mustard, from £24, Collard Manson. Burnt Orange velvet cushion, £55, Ella James. Bailey ribbed velvet cushion in Pink, £65, Habitat. Try cushion with fringe in Dusty Rose, £35, Collard Manson. Cotton velvet cushion in Ivy, £25, John Lewis & Partners. Inle round rattan tray, £52, Kalinko. Speckled side plate in Blush, £70 for…

Enticing colour and captivating pattern are among the best ways to breathe new life into your home. This autumn, there’s a subtle shift towards schemes put together with a lighter touch, using fabrics in sophisticated designs that offer a wealth of possibilities for any room. TEMPTING TEXTURES Inspired by nature, the beautiful new collection from Ashley Wilde, Fairhill, includes exquisite painterly designs, with leaves and stems trailing across fabrics and delicate leaf skeletons creating subtle hints of pattern. Made up into curtains or Roman blinds, the fabrics will fall in soft folds, highlighting the organic motifs and adding a luxurious accent to windows. Combine with a few carefully co-ordinated geometrics that come in smooth, reflective satin finishes and plain backgrounds, which are enlivened by raised lines that add tantalising interest.…

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Lighting can make or break a scheme, and as stylists and interior designers will often explain, there’s no space where it matters more than in our multitasking living rooms. Getting the balance right between lighting types, sources and styles can be tricky, so we asked three professionals – an interior designer, a lighting expert and a lighting designer – to share their knowledge. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? ‘Lighting helps create the atmosphere in a living room,’ says interior designer Amy Jones. ‘It’s the space where a multitude of activities take place – from entertaining friends and bingeing on box sets to reading – so you need a carefully considered lighting plan that facilitates all of those things.’ Simon Wallis-Smith, director and designer at Fritz Fryer Lighting, adds: ‘A well-conceived…

Gallery grid We started with 12 prints in identical black, portrait frames, but the number you need will depend on the size of your TV. Fix the frames to hinged MDF panels and screw onto a simple frame around your TV or to wall brackets at the sides.…

Angela Ward lives here with her husband, Andrew, and their children, Will, 17, Maisie, 15, and Edward, 12. THE PROPERTY A four-bed farmhouse dating back to the 1800s in North Yorkshire, bought in May 2017. WHAT IT COST Kitchen units......£18,750 Appliances .........£9,800 Sink..........................£550 Tap............................£430 Worktops.............£4,500 TOTAL...............£34,030 “This renovation has honestly changed our lives. It’s now a lovely family space, which it wasn’t before”…

Alex Hart lives here with her husband James and their children, Max, four and Ada, one. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Edwardian terrace in Brockley, south London. WHAT IT COST Bath.........................£400 Shower/bath mixer......... ..................................£600 Basin.......................£200 Basin mixer.............£400 Loo...........................£562 Flush plate...........£76.49 Tiles.......................£1,050 Vanity......................£200 Mirror.......................£260 Wall lights.................£40 TOTAL...........£ 3,788.49 “It never looks cluttered in here because of the storage. We share this bathroom with the children, so that was no mean feat! ”…

Jackie Finn, a doctor, lives here with her husband Rhod, a company director, and their children Kyle, 14, Jake 11, and Felix, two. THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom house in Winchester, Hampshire. Bought for £1m in 2013; now worth £2m. WHAT IT COST Preparatory and building work..................£325,000 Plastering, tiles and flooring...............£65,000 Kitchen and bathroom............£60,000 Utilities supply...£45,000 TOTAL..............£495,000 “We’re so happy with the way it has turned out – it’s exactly as I imagined it, but much better…

5 GAME-CHANGING BUYS The products you need to store and order all your wardrobe stuff – for quicker mornings and savvier clothes shopping 1 Customisable interior fittings Ikea’s Pax system has reached iconic status, thanks to its endlessly flexible choice of rails, drawers, shelves and baskets. If you have an entire wall to dedicate to clothes storage, it’s the next best thing to built-ins. Pax wardrobe, from £295, Ikea 2 The humble cubbyhole Your average freestanding wardrobe with a hanging rail leaves a lot of space wasted at the bottom. By arranging all your shorter garments on one side, you’ll create a gap for a small shelf unit – ideal for organising shoes, sweater stacks, rolled tees and jewellery boxes. Kallax shelving unit, £25, Ikea 3 Open rail system Most…

More than one million people sleep in Beaumont & Brown bedlinen every single week somewhere in the world, and we’re giving you the chance to become one of them with a special Ideal Home reader discount of 25 per cent off your next order. Established in 2005, the luxury brand now supplies linens to more than 600 hotels, including many Hyatt Hotels and W Hotels, as well as Cliveden House and The Pig Hotels. But why limit yourself to slipping between 400-thread-count sheets only when you’re away from home? Since 2010 Beaumont & Brown has been selling its much-loved, five-star bedding online, too, making it accessible for us all to enjoy. Alongside its range of stylish, contemporary bedlinen sets, Beaumont & Brown also offers UK-made pillows and duvets filled with…

A  Abode Living 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk AEG 0344 561 1611 aeg.co.uk Also Home 01483 608611 alsohome.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Angel & Boho 0845 2000 723 angelandboho.com Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Anthology 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/anthology Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com AO.com 0344 324 9222 Aram 020 7557 7557 aram.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arte 0800 500 3335 arte-international.com/en Att Pynta attpynta.com Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com Audio Technica 0113 277 1441 audio-technica.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Banbayu 0844 884 3360 banbayu.com Barker and Stonehouse 0333 920 1119 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Beko 0345 600 4911 beko.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Best Tile 00 353 51 354905 best-tile.co.uk Beth Pegler bethpegler.com Beut.co.uk 01225 292088 Blinds 2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Bobby Rabbit 01143…

It’s time to make it official: grey’s the new white where tableware is concerned. And it makes sense, considering how many of us now have grey walls. Grey ceramics make any surface look more sophisticated, but if you need more time, phase them in with your classic white. This collection from Danish design gurus Broste Copenhagen is the place to start. Tisvilde is timeless in its simplicity, with a touch-me matt finish. Form an orderly queue!…

‘Teal is really versatile, which is why it has such longevity as an interiors trend,’ says Melanie Adams. ‘I like to pair it with clean pastel colours and geometric shapes for a fresh, Scandiinspired look.’ ‘Using teal on all the walls can make a small room feel heavy and oppressive,’ says Jody Hudson. ‘To open it up, add metallic elements – a shimmer-effect wallpaper or copper accessories – to give movement to what would otherwise be solid colour.’ ‘The look and feel of teal will alter depending whether it’s used in a north- or south-facing room – ranging from a cool ocean blue, to a restful and tranquil green hue,’ says Helen Shaw. ‘It can look both warm and cool, depending on what colours it is paired with, as well…

Get the lowdown on regulations for listed properties to make sure any works have the correct planning approval. Q What is a listed building? It’s essentially a building with special architectural or historic interest. All well-preserved homes built before 1700 would generally be listed, along with most built between 1700 and 1850. The majority were built before 1945, but there are some exceptions. Q Is buying a listed property ever a good idea? If you’ve fallen in love with the unique character of a property and want to preserve it in its entirety then yes, tackling a sensitive renovation may be for you. However, if you see major flaws in the layout, are hoping to rework it or extend, then you may want to think again. Q What permissions do…

Having just finished transforming a semi-detached house in 2017, you’d think Fiona Brass would be sitting back and enjoying the fruits of her labour, but instead she was keen to find a new challenge. ‘I spotted a house for sale locally that had been left empty for eight years,’ she says. ‘It had been owned by just one family and still had all the original Art Deco details: panelling in the hallway; stained-glass windows; decorative shell fireplaces; Bakelite light switches; original bathrooms and a wooden kitchen.’ Most people would have left well alone, but Fiona and Chris could see an opportunity to gain space. ‘We also fell in love with its west-facing aspect,’ says Fiona, ‘and having daylight for longer has made a huge difference to how we live, relax…

This house had been on the Schellekens’ wish list for a few years. ‘We lived nearby and every time we drove past, we’d look at each other and knew it was exactly what we wanted,’ says Ellen. ‘Then, five years ago, it came up for sale and we finally got the opportunity to look inside.’ The property had been vacant for a while and hadn’t been modernised in any way by its previous owners. ‘We knew it would take some work, but many of the original period details were still in place so we could see its potential,’ says Ellen. With their four young children, the huge garden was the icing on the cake. ‘We like buying houses that need renovating and want to live in a home where we…

Dramatic and playful, the photographic works of Paris-based duo French Cowboy – aka Mia Macfarlane and Julien Crouigneau – are instantly recognisable. They join a number of artists featured at Runway Gallery, an online showcase of contemporary art. THE IDEA FOR FRENCH COWBOY WAS BORN ON OUR FIRST HOLIDAY TOGETHER We were in Mallorca, and we came up with this strange character – a French cowboy who tries his best to be a real cowboy. We spent the entire vacation imagining awkward, funny situations for him. It was the first story we created together, so we decided to keep the name. OUR CREATIVE PROCESS STARTS WITH A STORY By talking through ideas, we come up with a richer, more detailed story. Then we start researching all the elements; the location,…

HOW FFION AND OLLIE DID IT ‘When we bought the house, it needed redoing from top to bottom. This room had Seventies wallpaper and shag pile carpet. Sadly, all the original features had been ripped out and the lovely bay window was hidden behind thick, dark curtains. We didn’t want to change the space structurally, but it lacked storage and good lighting. Stripping everything out, including the fire, gave us a blank canvas. We asked a friend to build the storage in the alcoves and laid vintage oak flooring. The project took us about three weeks and we saved money by doing the plastering ourselves. I also shopped around for bargains, finding the flooring on the internet and the Sixties leather armchair in a local second-hand shop. We did invest…

Kirsty Carden lives here with her husband John, a graphic designer, and her son, Jaylen, 14. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Edwardian semi in Egham, Surrey. WHAT IT COST Units......................£7,300 Worktops and shelving... ..............................£2,500 Appliances.............£1,199 Flooring..............£287.88 Lighting....................£198 Paint...........................£50 Tiles....................£268.80 Larder door..............£200 TOTAL..........£12,083.68 “Instead of a corridor through to the back of the house, the kitchen now feels like a proper room ”…

As the name suggests, under-mounted lighting is installed underneath wall cabinets or, in Angela’s case, shelving. It can be used to provide useful task lighting on the worktop and is great for creating a gentler, more atmospheric glow. Q How is it installed? Lights can be recessed into pre-drilled channels, like Angela’s are, or surface mounted. The former is very discreet, but you can buy slim surface-mounted fittings for similar results. Both options come in plug-in, battery and hardwired format. Plug-in and battery are great retro-fit options – ideal for renters. Hardwired lights are usually installed with a new kitchen, but can be added later, as the wiring is easily hidden in cabinets. Battery-powered lights are not always as bright as mains and can dim as the power drains. Q…

A concealed cistern is hidden away, be it inside panelling or a wall. All you’ll see is the pan and flush, and as there is less pipework and ceramic on show, cleaning is easier, too. Q Which cistern should I get? It depends on your loo type. For wall-hung loos, you can buy a specialist steel frame pack, which carries the weight of the pan, plus the cistern and flush button that fits neatly inside the frame. For floor-standing loos, just buy a concealed cistern, which is screwed to the wall, and a flush button or flush plate. Many shops sell the pan, cistern and flush together, ensuring everything is compatible. Q How do I conceal it? The cistern can be built into the wall in a new-build, or within…

1 THEY OFFER CLEAR VIEWS Frameless glass ensures uninterrupted views out onto the landscape, blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors. 2 THEY GIVE THE ILLUSION OF SPACE Clear glass balustrades will lend even the smallest of balconies the illusion of more space. 3 THEY ALLOW IN MAXIMUM DAYLIGHT Transparent glass ensures maximum daylight enters the building keeping the interior light and bright. 4 THEY’RE PERFECT FOR A MODERN SPACE Glass balustrades offer a sleek, clean-lined finish that complements other materials. 5 THEY’RE EXTREMELY DURABLE Glass is very robust and will require less maintenance over its lifetime, compared with its metal counterpart.…

EDIT YOUR OUTFITS Be realistic when deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Don’t be hard on yourself if your first cull isn’t as drastic as you’d expected – you can build up to it. KEEP STORAGE SIMPLE People can make their wardrobe design overcomplicated. Shelves, drawers and rails are all you need. Anything more complex is a hindrance and makes it harder to see what you have. ORGANISE BY CATEGORY The most effective way to organise clothes is by category: casual shirts, then blouses, knitwear, jackets and blazers. Then sort by sleeve length and colour – sleeveless then short sleeves, then long. Hang long items on one side to free up floor area. MAXIMISE SPACE Skinny hangers will double the amount you can fit on a rail.…

Cook anywhere Generation 7000 KM7897FL, £2,849, Miele This does away with traditional cooking zones, so you can place up to six pans wherever you like on the surface. It comes in 62cm, 80cm and 93.6cm widths. THE BEST BIT Slide a pan across the hob’s surface and the temperature underneath it will remain constant. Faux-flame effect NZ6000K with Virtual Flame, £949, Samsung Virtual Flame technology replicates a gas flame using LED lighting that reflects onto the side of the pan, with each ring glowing high or low depending on the temperature of that particular cooking zone. THE BEST BIT The hob switches off if you’ve left things on the heat for too long without moving them. No more boiling over SensePro, £1,299, AEG With four cooking zones – two of…

Kate, 41, lives with her husband Andrew Daines and their daughters – Martha, eight, and Jemima, five – in a three-bed 18th-century cottage near Saffron Walden, Essex. She works as an interiors journalist. ‘Like pretty much every family, we needed some extra space. I needed a place where I could escape the chaos and distractions of everyday life and focus on our plans to renovate the cottage. But, more than anything, I needed a hideaway. ‘Andrew has been designing outdoor rooms for the last 15 years, so we came up with the idea of building a rolling cabin to sit in our garden. Andrew did it over a few months, during his spare time. It’s currently on the vegetable patch while we have the work done on the cottage, so…