Innehållsförteckning för December 2021 från Ideal Home

Do I love the anticipation of Christmas more than the big day itself? Very possibly. There’s something undeniably magical about all the twinkly lights, festive scents, quirky traditions and (probably the biggest plus for me) getting to go to town when I’m decorating the house, that I find impossible to resist! The Advent calendar I’ve been making for my twins every year for the last decade (they’re 12 now) is what all of our Christmas family traditions are woven around. Each day contains an Advent activity – from easy things such as ‘listen to music’ for busy days, to family highlights like ‘buy the Christmas tree’ (it’s got to be a real one for me) and pre-booked treat days out. The calendar gives the whole of December a rhythm that…

Just when you thought the Christmas tree couldn’t be reinvented, Cox & Cox has found a new way to spin it. This year sees the fluffy fronds of the Blossom and Gypsophila trees, the weeping Willow and the snow-flocked Magical Wishing trees (all pre-lit). The extra large version at £1,150 is an investment indeed, but the cascading lights will create a spectacle inside and out. IH LOVES... Chrimas cushions Sequin Noel cushion, £125, Jan Constantine at Amara…

YOUR BEST DECORATING DECISION? I spent many nights worrying about paint choices for the kitchen island. My heart said to go for a bright colour, so we went for orange and I loved it! This gave me the confidence to use it elsewhere in the house. YOUR SECRET STYLING IDEA? There’s no right or wrong to using bold colours, but I like to use them fairly subtly. I tend to keep my walls neutral and inject colour in the accessories and the furniture. FAVOURITE CORNER OF YOUR HOME? My living room is my go-to space, especially at Christmas. I like to make the fireplace a real feature, so I always decorate the mantel with lots of foliage, but keep it simple. AN ITEM THAT SPARKS JOY? I love my Christmas…

What the experts say... “Why not bring a touch of warmth and NATURAL VIBRANCY to the kitchen with cabinets painted a RICH PLUM ?”REBECCA CRAIG, HEAD OF SANDERSON STUDIO Designers and stylists share their views ‘In colour psychology, plum is often associated with invoking wisdom, calm and creativity, so it would be perfect for a work space, study or library. It’s also steeped in the history of wealth and royalty, so it’s a statement choice for an entrance hall or dining room.’ NELLY HALL, BRAND DIRECTOR AT M&L PAINTS ’It’s important to use plum in a space where you won’t feel overwhelmed by its presence. Rooms that are used in the evening are ideal, while if used in a hallway, it will make the adjoining rooms feel lighter.’ JOA STUDHOLME,…

“Why limit yourself to wrapping gifts? Instead of a traditional Christmas wreath, a beribboned front door is surely the ultimate way to welcome guests into your home. Dressing the outside of our houses is becoming a bigger trend each year (and I don’t mean a neon Santa on the roof!) and while a floral wreath may be pretty, why not reserve those for internal doors and let the entrance of your home really entice and excite family and friends. If berry red is a little bold for you, try a silver or gold ribbon instead, or even natural hessian. Divide a length of fabric into three strips: a shorter one just longer than the width of your door and two longer strips each the length of your door. Secure each…

1 HOW TO RE-PAINT A CONSOLE Transform a hallway console with just a lick of paint and give guests a warm welcome as they come into your home this festive season. • Start by giving your piece of furniture a good clean with a damp cloth and leave to dry. • Remove drawers and all handles. Lightly screw in a piece of dowel or a screw so you can still open any doors while painting. • If using chalk paint, you shouldn’t need to sand or prime first, but if you’re opting for a satin paint finish, it’s good to do both to ensure the best finish. • Use a good quality brush with natural bristles to paint your furniture and always finish chalk paint with a wax or lacquer…

The right design is perhaps the single most important thing in any renovation project. It can be the best money spent on a build as it dictates how everything comes together. Design defines the look but also how the new project functions, how it stands up to the rigours of family life, how much it costs to build/run and its environmental impact. It can also be the hardest money to justify, when a budget is tight and spending thousands on meetings, emails and lots of drawings can seem a luxury. While employing an architect or designer isn’t cheap, the alternative is often no cheaper. Building is expensive, it only takes a few mistakes to rack up costs equivalent to paying for the right design work in the first place. There…

“In hard-water areas, regular descaling is a must to keep your coffee machine running smoothly”GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR BEFORE YOU BUY • As well as coming in all shapes, sizes and colours, the coffee machine you choose depends on the type of coffee you want to use, with pod, ground and bean-to-cup machines all widely available. If you’re looking for an affordable option, pod or ground coffee machines are great. These save you buying a machine with a coffee grinder mechanism, which cuts down on cost up-front. However, if you want a coffee machine for a super-fresh brew, a bean-to-cup offers distinct advantages. • Great for those who like an espresso in the morning, but a latte at weekends, some machines have a choice of different-sized beverages. Often there is…

With household finances, it’s easy to see why you may think some insurances are dispensable. But before you decide to give any a miss, it’s important to understand which ones will make you financially stronger and the ones you can do without. Our money expert, Kalpana Fitzpatrick, discusses the policies everyone should have. HOME INSURANCE If you’re a homeowner, legally you need buildings insurance as a condition of your mortgage. Contents insurance is optional, but before you decide to forgo this consider how much it would cost to replace your possessions if there was a theft, fire or accidental damage. One in four households* do not have home contents insurance, leaving them at risk. If you’re renting, then it’s still important to protect your possessions, although buildings insurance is the…

Take time to write Whether you love a list, pouring out your thoughts or just scribbling daily musings, try to carve out some quiet time to reflect on the past year, on your goals for the next, as well as must-dos for the holidays. Don’t waste these gems on scraps of paper though – invest in a proper journal to encourage you to put thoughts on paper and to revisit them later. Rifle Paper Co five-year diary set, £75, Papermash BRING OUT THE GAMES With everyone together, grab the chance to swap the screens for some games. Try classic cards or backgammon, go retro with family favourites, such as Monopoly or Scrabble, or try something totally new. For grown-ups, we love At Home: Sherlock’s Cocktail Experience, where you toast solving…

HADLEY FREEMAN JOURNALIST & AUTHOR A Guardian columnist and features writer, Hadley has also penned four books. She’s about to move house – a new project! NICKY PHILLIPS DECORATING EDITOR Nicky brings over 25 years’ experience to the table, and has been part of the Ideal Home family for 21 years. CHARLIE LUXTON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER Charlie juggles his roles as director of Charlie Luxton Design, TV presenter and public speaker. KALPANA FITZPATRICK MONEY EXPERT An award-winning financial journalist, Kalpana is a regular guest on TV and radio, and editor of themoneyedit.com. FEARNE COTTON BROADCASTER & AUTHOR TV and radio presenter Fearne’s Happy Place podcast is now in its ninth series, with over 40 million downloads.…

DO Join one of Hobbycraft’s 4,000 workshops. The sessions will take place in store and online, with Christmas-themed classes including gift and wreath making, personalised baubles and Advent calendars. They’re suitable for the whole family with specific kids’ sessions also available. Visit classbento.co.uk/hobbycraft/home, from £5 to £45 (including materials). LISTEN to The Adam Buxton Podcast. Between comical jingles the comedian carries out part-funny, part-serious topical interviews with everyone from Paul McCartney to Zadie Smith. Silliness ensues on the annual Christmas episode, when Adam’s accompanied once more by his former creative partner, Joe Cornish. READ Enjoy the countdown to Christmas with Advent by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura Fleiter. Try out new recipes and crafts, with winter warmers for one, simple ideas to bring the festive spirit home, and foodie treats to…

Blame the drive for an eye-catching Instagram post or a desire to make the ‘dining-in’ experience more of an event, but dressing the table for dinner is back. Layered plates, fabulous florals and foliage, napkins and statement candles are no longer the preserve of the Christmas dinner party. Bloom & Wild’s tablescaping kit has been created for a foolproof guide to styling – it includes candles and ceramic holders, glass posy vases to pair with flowers from its bouquets and paper hanging decorations for the final flourish.…

SPACE SAVVY Creating a den out of your cellar is a great way to deal with the paraphernalia that comes with a large family. As a dedicated space for children to let off steam, a basement games room allows the living room to remain an adult-friendly sanctuary. FAMILY MATTERS It stands the test of time, too. As the family grows older, the room can be re-purposed as a space for teens and adults alike, perhaps with a table tennis table and a small fridge. Games consoles and comfortable furniture are a fun use of the space. PRACTICAL NOTES Careful planning is needed before you start. Most local authorities require formal consent and Building Regulations Approval before any work can be started, and engaging an experienced architect from the outset is…

Family room ‘I like a real Christmas tree but always vary the decoration,’ says Suzan. ‘Last year I added pampas grass plumes. We often have several Christmas trees around the place so it feels really cosy.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Jamila coffee table, £255; Joss oak coffee table in Black, £235, both Perch & Parrow, are similar. Try brass candle holders, £10.50 each, Graham and Green Family room ‘We have several living spaces, each with its own purpose,’ says Suzan. ‘This room has less light than the others, so it's the place where we all like to gather and watch TV together.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Large Black Argyll industrial pendant, £109, Elesi, would work here. HK Living Christmas Tree canvas wall hanging, £25.99, Trouva, is comparable Living room ‘The…

BEST FOR A WARM BEDROOM Deep Mauve interior chalky matt, £47.50 for 2.5ltr, M&L Paints BEST FOR DINING AND RECEPTION ROOMS Vesuvius elite emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany BEST FOR NORTH-FACING ROOMS Pelt estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball BEST FOR PAIRING WITH WARM SAGE Aura Autumn Purple, £29 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore BEST FOR A CHIC FINISH Purple 03 matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Lick NEED HELP WITH YOUR ROOM? JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP, THE IDEAL HOME ROOM CLINIC…

Once purely for ‘entertaining’, today’s dining room can now fluctuate between playroom, home office and snug. As many of us look forward to having friends and family over, how can we make more of our dining space? We asked our experts... THE TRADITIONAL DINING ROOM ‘We are using our spaces in more of a multifunctional fashion, rather than just for a singular activity, so I don’t think the traditional dining room is as popular as it was,’ says interior designer Rukmini Patel. Yet Emma-Louise Marston of Neptune believes people still want a separate dining room. ‘I think we’re looking for a defined space to entertain, and being in the dining room for dinner still feels like an event,’ she says. ‘It stops work bleeding into home life.’ If your dining…

PROJECT DETAILS WHO LIVES HERE Virginie Haiat lives here with her husband Gilles and children Ethan, 10, Liam, eight, and twins Ella and Mia, two. THE PROJECT A kitchen refit in a four-bedroom purpose-built Victorian mansion flat in West London. TOTAL COST £85,149 THE PROBLEM An awkward layout that really didn't maximise the room's classic proportions. THE SOLUTION ‘Before we renovated, there was an L-shaped counter jutting out into the middle of the room, which effectively cut it in half, and, on the other side, an uninspiring TV area. We asked interior designer Stephanie Rackind to reconsider the layout. Everything fell into place when she suggested working in the full length of the room by designing a kitchen with a long, cantilevered dining table integrated into an island running down…

Due to the pandemic, large numbers of us are now spending a lot more time at home during the day. So investing in solar panels could be hugely beneficial for our energy bills at the end of the month. And that’s without even mentioning the positive effects that reducing our reliance on fossil fuels will have on our planet. So what types of solar panels are available? PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS Photovoltaic panels, also known as solar PV, power your electrics and are made of a polycrystalline material containing silicon cells and strips of wiring, known as ‘buzz bars’, framed in metal and cased in glass. They convert light into energy while the sun is shining. So it’s a good idea to get your washing done, run the dishwasher and carry out…

“Look for a slow cooker with a glass lid so you can keep an eye on your food as it cooks without having to lift the lid and let out any heat or steam”GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR BEFORE YOU BUY • Slow cookers range in size from a compact 1.5-litre to a large 6.5-litre bowl, so be sure to choose the right size for the way you intend to cook. As a rough guide, 1.5 to 3 litres will feed one or two people, while 3 to 5 litres is large enough for three or four people. Anything over five litres should suit a big family. A capacity of 6 litres or more is ideal for batch cooks who like to fill the freezer. • Most slow cookers offer three…

“These scented refills are made using a 100% natural blend of beeswax, soy and rapeseed wax” Making scents Never quite know what to do with a scented candle when it’s finished? Bring the pot back to life with Loaf’s ingenious new Smelly Wax Drops. Available in a choice of six evocative scents – Country Boozer, Granny’s Garden, Summer Holiday, Laundry Days, Making Marmalade and the perfectly timed Christmas Eve – they come in a pack of six refills, either as a mixed set or all the same scent. And if a glut of spare receptacles isn’t your problem, you can always treat yourself to one of the brand’s gorgeous coloured earthenware candle pots, priced at just £8 each. NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS If you’re looking for a gift that’s guaranteed…

HAVE A CLEAR OUT Often we mistake a hall that doesn’t work with one that is simply too full. Storing coats and shoes from several seasons means double the space is taken up. Before you plan a total redesign, or start buying new storage, remove what won’t be needed and store it elsewhere so you can see exactly what you are contending with. CHECK MEASUREMENTS Buying storage solutions that are too small, or that look pretty but aren’t practical, cause problems. A slimline shoe caddy might look great online but when it doesn’t fit a pair of size twelves, it becomes no use at all! KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR THE KIDS Make sure children’s storage is easy to use, so when they come in from school, they don’t need a…

Real Christmas trees – tips for choosing and looking after your tree Before you pick up your seasonal spruce, read our guide to choosing the perfect real tree Ideal Home approved: buying guides & reviews “Everything you could possibly need for the perfect home this holiday season”HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR From stand mixers to sofa beds, check out our expert buying advice and Ideal Home Approved buys for the best choices How to make your own wreath Follow six easy steps in our Christmas craft guide to make a stunning, original wreath to hang with pride on your front door Christmas living room ideas From country craft garlands to metallic marvels, these Christmas living room decorating ideas will transform your home and create a little magic for guests. Browse over 30…

While there’s a step away from glitter this year, that hasn’t stopped brands delivering the glamour. Paper decorations are a big trend and they’ve been given a grown-up colour swap. In place of pastels or primaries, we’re seeing chic tones of sage, olive, blush and beige at Rockett St George and Rose & Grey. Dunelm’s Tropics collection in rich jewel tones features paper fans and over-sized decorations that prove glitz isn’t required for a dramatic look. Paperchase has made an eco pledge for zero-glitter products and plastic-free gifts in crackers, with Wilko following suit – all wrapping paper and paper tableware are from responsible sources and fully recyclable.…

December: a time of simple joys and contented cosiness. Or, if you live in my kind of household, an eternal battle over the decorations. I am Jewish. My partner is not. ‘How lovely,’ you are no doubt thinking. ‘Your children will grow up with two cultures. What a delightfully modern set-up.’ And most of the time it is. Every spring, I look after the Passover duties and he sets up the Easter egg hunt, and every autumn I explain again to the children what Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are, and he tries to stop making bored faces. So multicultural! But December is complicated. Let’s just get the obvious stuff out of the way: clearly Christmas beats Hanukkah. Even on the Jewish calendar Hanukkah is a pretty minor holiday (it…

Living room A soft colour scheme adds to the cosy feel here. ‘This was originally two rooms, but we removed the dividing wall to create an open-plan space and added built-in bookcases,’ says Katie. BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Wattle 111 Pure Flat emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Fraser Fir 7.5ft Candlelight clear LED, £999, Balsam Hill. Selection of baubles, from £36 for set of 12, Cox & Cox Living room Creating a room that the family could snuggle up in was an important factor for Katie. ‘With the Christmas decorations up, this room looks even more special and is where we all gather in the evening,’ she says. BUY THE KEY PIECES Teal sofa, £1,880, Loaf. Archie large ottoman, from £615, Arlo & Jacob. Mistletoe…

STYLE DIRECTION “Add drama to a neutral or white space at Christmas; play with larger-scale pieces and add unique and unusual trinkets here and there”NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR STYLE DIRECTION “Let the tree do the talking and stick to a simple array of glitter stars and paper lantern decorations”NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR BALANCE BAUBLES Use statement decorations, from bejewelled VW Beetles to monogrammed ornaments, sparingly on the tree. Start by hanging simple baubles: largest at the base and smaller at the top, and finish by dotting feature baubles evenly spaced across the tree, where they can be seen clearly. PLAY WITH SHADES Midnight blue, emerald green and all the shades in between create an ethereal feel that's perfect for a winter feast. Navy has been a firm favourite for a…

Make it oversized Not just for the front door, a statement wreath can adopt the spot of a mirror or artwork in any room over the festivities. Dried grasses, foliage and flowers will not only add wow factor, but can be used year after year. Give it a twist… To make a big faux wreath, wrap a garland around a metal hoop. Secure it with florist’s wire. Dress up your seats Attaching wreaths to the backs of dining chairs with simple twine or ribbon adds an unexpected decorative touch and could also become an elegant keepsake for your dinner guests. Give it a twist… Hang a personalised place setting from a gift tag at the top of each wreath. Suspend over a table A delicate asparagus fern wreath hung above…

RUKMINI PATEL INTERIOR DESIGNER ‘Right now I’m seeing a preference for open-plan kitchen/ dining spaces that are light and bright.’ EMMA-LOUISE MARSTON STORE LEADER, NEPTUNE HOME, FULHAM ‘Giving rooms a purpose rather than blending everything together gives us more definition in our lives.’ ABBY HESKETH COLOUR EXPERT AND WALLPAPER & PAINT PRODUCT MANAGER, GRAHAM & BROWN ‘I love to see a pop of colour in a dining room, or a wallpapered ceiling to create a fifth wall.’…

PROJECT DETAILS WHO LIVES HERE? Anna Urban lives here with her husband Piotr Truszkiewicz and sons Mateusz, 18, and Szymon, 15, plus French bulldog, Frank. THE PROJECT Bathroom refit in a Victorian end-of-terrace in Upper Batley, West Yorkshire. TOTAL COST £3,420 THE PROBLEM The bathroom was a good size, but needed a complete update THE SOLUTION ‘A few months after we moved in, our friend, who is a fantastic plumber, helped us to move the pipes as we changed the bathroom layout. There was also some boxing in to do. ‘I spent hours sourcing second-hand items and offcuts – if you have time and patience, good online research can save you a fortune. We had a two-month delay on the taps but I believe good things are worth waiting for!…

IS THERE A CELLAR? If you already have a cellar, expect to pay £10,000 to £30,000. But if you need to dig out a new space, this can cost from £40,000 up to as much as £100,000. HOW MUCH PER M 2  ? If utilising an existing cellar, allow £1,200sq m. If the floor needs lowering, budget from £1,650sq m, and if it’s a new space allow £3,500sq m. Architects usually charge 12-15% of the build fee on a small project, and 7-8% on a large one. IS IT WORTH DOING? Depending on where you live, and the type and value of your property, it can still be a viable option. Alan King from estate agent Jackson-Stops & Staff reckons, ‘A basement can add £10,000 to £60,000 to the…

• For the average British home, you should budget £6,000 to £7,000 for the installation of photovoltaic solar panels. • There are no longer any government grants to help shoulder the costs of installation of photovoltaic solar panels. This means the only savings you’ll be making are the reductions on your electricity bill once the panels are up and running. • For solar thermal panels, ‘You should look to budget around £5,500 plus VAT for the installation of a typical two-panel solar thermal system,’ advises Richard Blackmore. ‘The VAT element is only five per cent, though, as long as there are no additional panels, so that’s quite positive.’ • If you enrol on the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme you can receive quarterly payments over seven years in return…

As a nation we’ve made what should be a cosy, joyful time of year, into a jaw clenching stress pit of horror. We think we have to buy everybody in our postcode a gift, then put an insane amount of pressure on ourselves to produce food to a Nigella level. “Take the pressure off yourself and prioritise atmosphere over stress and upcycling over shopping lists” These days, in an attempt to retain my sanity, I’m practising acceptance that things will go wrong. I will forget to buy someone a present. I will probably make too many Brussels sprouts and not enough potatoes. I want to create a Christmas atmosphere and sense of celebration with less pressure on myself. I’m a Virgo who likes to be in control so usually I…

IDEAL HOME TIPInstead of pears, you could also use nice crunchy apples, like Braeburn. Just treat them in the same way A Winter's Negroni MAKES 1 READY IN 5 MINS ● 25ml gin ● 25ml Campari ● 25ml vermouth ● 25ml freshly squeezed clementine juice ● Sprig of rosemary and slice of clementine 1 Put all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake hard so that you bruise the rosemary. 2 Pour into a low tumbler glass filled with ice and garnish with a slice of clementine and the rosemary sprig. Cin cin! IDEAL HOME TIPFor an even more joyful salmon en croute, decorate with festive shapes using the leftover pastry IDEAL HOME TIPThis is a great plan-ahead pudding – the meringue can be made up…

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF THE DAY AT HOME? First thing in the morning. I let the dog out, then make coffee and sit and go through my phone and plan my day. It’s quiet and peaceful as I’m usually the first one up and this allows me to plan my day ahead. Then I get dressed for the gym. ARE YOU A NEAT FREAK OR DO YOU PREFER CREATIVE CHAOS? A bit of both! I’m usually surrounded by creative chaos but I can’t handle it getting too messy for too long. Every couple of days I have a mad clear up and need it for a clear mind. My workspaces have always been messy though – I once read that ‘the messier a workspace the more creative’ so I’m…