Innehållsförteckning för October 2024 från Ideal Home

EDITOR’S LETTER I was asked recently if the house I currently live in is my ‘forever home’ and I found myself unsure how to answer. I’m not a great forward planner – I’ve never been someone with a five or ten-year plan, and the idea of ‘forever’ blows my mind a little bit. I absolutely love my home – it’s a beautiful Victorian building, I’ve got green space on my doorstep, and we’ve taken great strides renovating the interior so it works for us. The garden isn’t huge, but it’s more than big enough for me and I don’t think I could keep on top of anything larger. “As long as where I live right now makes me feel happy, I’m all good” It got me thinking about all the…

LOOKS THAT LAST STYLE DIRECTION“Introduce natural wood accents to keep a pastel scheme from looking saccharine"HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BLOCKED OUT Use wide bands of complementary pastel hues to pick out separate areas of a wall. Adding slab-style doors in matching mint also makes a feature of the island STYLE DIRECTION“Deep colours create a perfect backdrop to display artwork and sculptural accessories"GINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE Go bold on both walls and ceilings, taking the same warm tones onto the furniture, too. Rich shades such as berry and ochre together create a snug, cocooning space BALANCE WITH NEUTRALS Incorporating natural materials, such as wood or sisal, and blocks of neutral shades will offset the impact of a bold colour, softening the look and adding warmth, making the scheme more relaxed…

The builders have finally left, and you have a great new space to decorate and make ready… but how can you create the loft room you’ve always dreamt of, when the blank canvas seems awkward and far from uniform in layout IRL? We asked a colour expert, an interior designer and a bespoke furniture company to share their thoughts on making a loft space into the perfect room. LOFTY SCHEMES ‘A loft conversion is a unique space that maximises your home, so why not maximise its impact too?’ says Hannah. ‘It’s a space that otherwise would be hidden or used for storage, so have fun with it.’ Anjelica agrees: ‘Choosing colour combinations for loft spaces can be particularly exciting due to their open, airy layouts and often industrial aesthetics.’ ‘I…

WHERE TO BUY…

BEFORE YOU BUY ■ Your favourite sleeping position can be a big factor in which type of mattress you’ll find the most comfortable. This is because the spine needs to be supported differently for optimum alignment in each of the respective sleep positions, and that’s where mattress firmness comes into play. ■ Sleeping on your side allows your spine to relax and therefore takes the pressure off the back. Side sleepers will generally prefer the cushioning of a medium-soft or medium-firm mattress that allows the shoulder and hip to sink in a little while supporting the waist so that the spine can rest in its most natural position. A hybrid mattress can be a popular choice for this style of sleeping. ■ If you’re a back sleeper, then a medium-firm…

They’re the staple of many British gardens and the national flower of England, loved for their full, layered blooms and heady scent. That’s why roses deserve the utmost attention when planted in your garden. One of the most important parts of caring for a rose plant is learning exactly how – and when – to prune it. If you master the technique, you’ll be guaranteed healthy flowers in your borders next summer. WHY DO IT Rose branches – if left to their own devices – will grow longer and longer until they get out of control, so it’s important to rein these in every once in a while. Pruning also often helps increase the size of the blooms, as it allows the plant more energy for flower production. ‘Roses have…

Eco-friendly florals Design house Divine Savages is one of the few small brands that will always strive for sustainability when creating new products, and its latest collection – The Brambles – ticks all the boxes of gorgeous design with an eco-friendly heart. The floral-packed prints are available on eco wallpaper, as well as recycled velvet cushions, recycled velvet fringe lampshades and recycled velvet fabric available by the metre. Choose from four classic colourways. “The eco wallpaper is made from 79% renewable fibres and zero polyester fibres” REPERFECTED PAINT Much like Little Greene’s Re:mix collection, Mylands has launched a limited-edition range made using cancelled orders, miscoloured batches and leftover paint ingredients, reducing its overall waste. The 20 shades available in this initial collection are some of Mylands’ bestselling colours. These will…

We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep, and with all the latest developments in sleep science we’re discovering more and more about how to adapt our homes and habits to make our bedrooms as sleep-friendly as possible. While there are some factors we can’t control (snoring partners, sleep-averse kids!) there are plenty of things we can do to help us get in the right headspace and mood to nod off at bedtime. From colours that will calm the mind (and the ones you definitely want to avoid) to how to start a good routine, we’ve spoken to sleep experts to bring you the best advice out there.…

Is your thermostat a battleground? Put an end to the fight for control once and for all and let the science decide. We asked the experts for advice on the optimum temperature for quality sleep, so at least you can enjoy bickering-free bedtimes. In addition to investing in good pillows, the best mattress and a sunrise alarm clock, their answers will help you sleep more soundly. After all, your health depends on it. For example, did you know that when the clocks go back and we get an extra hour in bed, heart attacks go down by 21% and the opposite occurs in spring? Professor Nick Franks of Imperial College London researches the neuroscience of sleep. Speaking at an academic health science centre seminar, he said, ‘Research has shown the…

1 BAN THE BINGE It’s best to stop eating three hours before bedtime to prevent heartburn and reflux disturbing your sleep. Avoid alcohol in the late evening, too. We like to think alcohol helps us sleep, but while it may help you nod off, the quality of the sleep you get will be poorer. ‘Just one glass of wine can impact on sleep quality and we need to sleep for longer in order to counteract the effects,’ says Dr Maja Schaedel, clinical psychologist and co-founder of The Good Sleep Clinic. ‘Our sleep is often more fractious following alcohol and alcohol blocks the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep which we need for dreaming and emotion regulation.’ 2 TAKE A BATH Having a hot bath or shower triggers your brain to sleepiness.…

WE KEEP SEEING Pumpkin season It’s officially that time of year when we go crazy for pumpkins, and cute toadstools too! And why not, they do have a certain appeal that amps up the autumnal feel. Fill a pumpkin-shaped pot with dried flowers or foraged finds for an aesthetic that’s more harvest festival, than novelty Halloween. Gisela Graham has a huge selection of stylish pieces in burnt oranges and rich conker browns (plus all the shades in between). We love the little velvet pumpkins, shown here, but there’s also knitted and earthenware versions as well. IH LOVES... Terracotta tones Elements Griffin compact bedside table in Burnt Orange, £79, Dunelm 'What to do this month... LISTEN If you love to embrace each season as it arrives you’ll enjoy the As The…

'What the experts say... Designers and stylists share their views ‘Black may seem a terrifying colour choice, but moving slightly away from a pure black with nuances of red, blue, brown or green can be an asset. “Off”-blacks can be brilliant for kitchen units – team with a soft mid-neutral on walls to warm things up or keep it fresh with a pink-tinged white.’ PATRICK O’DONNELL, INTERNATIONAL BRAND AMBASSADOR, FARROW & BALL ‘Cosy or chic, soft or bold, black is surprisingly versatile, and often the most successful rooms are those that create a sense of balance between light and dark. Opt for black walls against a light floor or furniture upholstered in neutrals and white.’ HELEN SHAW, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING (INTERNATIONAL), BENJAMIN MOORE ‘People are turning to colour combinations that…

1. STREAMLINED FURNITURE Scandi style is renowned for being simple in design, embracing light tones and minimalistic shapes, so bear this in mind when choosing furniture. Soft curves, pale wood and pieces that are easy to move around will keep your child’s room feeling streamlined and functional. Alskvard changing table, £219, Ikea 2. COSY FLOORING Minimal styling doesn’t have to mean bland – adding plenty of textures will help your child’s room feel nice and snug, especially underfoot. A shapely rug will add a cosy vibe but, again, keep colours soft and neutral rather than too bright or colourful. Lower wall in Seabed; upper wall in Puffball, both pure matt emulsion, from £27 for 1ltr, Fenwick & Tilbrook. Bedroom design, Nicki Bamford-Bowes 3. UNFUSSY WALLS Wallpaper and paint effects can be…

Ideal Home BEDROOM AWARDS WINNERS 2024 OUR JUDGING PANEL HEATHER YOUNG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GINEVRA BENEDETTI DEPUTY EDITOR REBECCA KNIGHT DEPUTY EDITOR DIGITAL AMY LOCKWOOD ECOMMERCE EDITOR RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNER FURNITURE VILLAGE ‘With 55 stores and an industry-leading customer contact centre, great service is always a real focus.’ HEATHER YOUNGEDITOR-IN-CHIEF HIGHLY COMMENDED THE PAINTED FURNITURE COMPANY BEST POCKET-SPRUNG MATTRESS WINNER FURNITURE VILLAGE Hypnos Majestic mattress ‘Hypnos mattresses are expensive, but once you’ve slept on one, you’ll understand why. Best night’s sleep ever.’ GINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR BEST HYBRID MATTRESS WINNER EMMA NextGen cooling mattress ‘We reviewed this and loved its cooling, zoned support.’ AMY LOCKWOOD, ECOMMERCE EDITOR HIGHLY COMMENDED ORIGIN THE ORIGIN HYBRID MATTRESS; DREAMS DREAM TEAM GOLD CAMBORNE COMBINATION MATTRESS BEST MEMORY-FOAM MATTRESS WINNER NECTAR Premier mattress ‘Memory foam…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Chloe Bates lives here with husband Pete and their three children, Thea, 23, Bibi, 14, Otto, 11, and Peanut the dog. THE PROJECT Complete gutting and reconfiguration of the bathroom to create a contemporary cottage feel with plenty of storage. TOTAL COST £30,000 Chloe and Pete bought their Victorian property – a former pub – in 2011 after falling in love with its old-world charm and cottagey feel. The couple had made headway opening up the ground floor to create a more suitable living space for the family of five, but the bathroom upstairs had been untouched for 13 years and had seen a lot of wear and tear. ‘Frankly, I was dreading another upheaval, but once the drawer runners stopped working and cupboard doors…

A good bathroom floor is key to a well-functioning, stylish bathroom. It should complement the room’s aesthetic, while being easy to keep clean and therefore staying in good condition for years to come. Having a new bathroom floor fitted can be an expensive job, so if you want to invest your money wisely and still be reaping the benefits years from now, make sure you make the right decisions from the outset. 1 CHOOSE A LOW-MAINTENANCE TILE ‘Ceramic flooring tiles are durable, they won’t scratch or dent, and they’re also resistant to water so you can be sure that they will last for many years,’ explains Christian Roberts, flooring expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk. The other popular, low-maintenance choice for the bathroom floor is porcelain, which is available in many appealing designs.…

BEFORE YOU BUY ■ Choosing the right duvet filling will depend on your sleep and care requirements. If you want a warm yet breathable duvet, then wool is a good contender, but if you’re after a more affordable option that can be bunged in the washing machine, then a synthetic duvet will tick all the boxes. ■ Wool – in our opinion – is one of the best duvet fillings you can choose. It’s insulating, making it great for cold winter nights, while its breathability and temperature-regulating qualities stop you from getting too hot and bothered come summer. It’s also hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers. Some wool duvets can be washed while others can’t, so always check this before you buy. ■ Another popular natural duvet filling…

Crab & citrus salad with crispbreads SERVES 2READY IN 40 MINS, PLUS PROVING FOR THE CRAB SALAD 200g white crab meat ● 1tbsp olive oil ● 1 lime, peeled and chopped ● 1 pink grapefruit, peeled and chopped ● ½ Braeburn apple, peeled and finely diced FOR THE DRESSING 2tbsp brown crab meat ● 1tbsp creme fraîche ● juice of 1 lime FOR THE CRISPBREADS 200g strong bread flour ● 7g sachet dried yeast ● 1tsp sea salt ● 1tbsp olive oil ● 1tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed TO SERVE 1tbsp chopped fresh dill ● 1tbsp chopped fresh tarragon 1 Mix the white crab meat with the olive oil in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the lime, grapefruit and apple. 2 For the…

1 CALM COLOUR Sleep consultant Amy Cheseldine explains, ‘Colour can promote sleepiness by creating a calming environment that allows you to relax and switch off.’ Your go-to colours should include soft pink: ‘It’s a comforting colour for everyone to surround themselves in,’ says colour consultant Jules Standish. ‘Cosseting and protective, it’s like being wrapped in a great big pink hug.’ Also on Jules’s list are greens, soothing blues and gentle purples such as violet, lavender and lilac. Natalie Mudd, creative director of The Wood Flooring Co, has a word of warning about white, though: ‘Contrary to popular belief, it can make a room feel stark and cold, so steer away from it.’ 2 LOTS OF LAYERS You’d layer clothes on a day of changeable weather, so approach your bedding the…

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW DESIGNS The M&S collection is a wonderful mix of textural pieces for the home, from vases and ceramics to bedding and cushions, throws and lighting. I wanted to create a casual collection that would melt into people’s existing interiors or kick-start new designs. This is the first collection, with more wonderful things to come. My pledge is that whatever anyone buys now, they can add further pieces and they will all work within a simple neutral palette. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION? I used my many years of experience designing homes for my clients as inspiration. The idea was to bring the luxury of my design ethos to everyone, with layers of textures, neutrals and clean lines. I wanted to create elegant, special pieces that are…

Build a hard-working headboard Instead of cluttering floor space with a bed plus chests of drawers and a wardrobe, use modular flatpack cabinets to make a headboard that doubles as clothes storage. Give it a twist… Colour-code your clothes storage with drawer fronts in different colours. Hang a simple clothes rail This is a great idea for a guest room or for holding outfits for the week alongside closed storage which protects clothes from dust. Use cup hooks to hang leather belts and thread through a metal pole stopped at each end with a cork. Give it a twist… For a Scandi look, try the idea with a foraged branch and hessian rope. Set up a vanity station Repurpose a shoe cabinet as storage, with sections dedicated to hair, body/bath,…

1 COLOUR DRENCH YOUR ROOM Add depth to your scheme by painting walls and ceiling in one colour. Don’t forget skirting, door and window frames too – opt for a slightly darker or lighter tone than your walls for these to make them stand out. Finish with some accessories that tie in with the look. 2 PAINT CABINETRY PINK Refresh your kitchen for the new season and give it a feminine feel by painting cabinetry in a pink shade. Whether you go for a light peachy-pink, a more dusty plaster pink, or a muted rose, you can balance out the pink with pops of black, wooden accessories and brass handles. PAINT CHEAT SHEE T 3 try out furniture in a different position, whether it’s putting your bed against another wall…

BEFORE & AFTER HOME HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Kelly Howlett, an interior designer (@khowlett.interiors), and Rob, a company director, live here with their children, Maggie, Leighton, Isobelle and Joel, plus dogs Teddy, Copper and Hippo. THE PROPERTY The farmhouse dates to the 1800s and sits in 150 acres in Ashwicken, Norfolk. Kelly and Rob’s renovation of this Norfolk farmhouse has been a tale of two halves – both in looks and their approach to the project. When they moved here in December 2019, the front half of the house had large Georgian windows and a mellow cast-stone facade, while the back was mostly flint with small windows that failed to fully capture the views across the fields. Before they tackled the ambitious job of uniting these two disparate styles,…

Whether you put your make-up on in the bedroom or need storage ideas for your dressing table, good organisation is essential to keep all your stuff tidy and easy to find. Make-up, skincare and jewellery can get messy, with mascaras and lipsticks rolling around loose in drawers, while smaller items, such as earrings, can be very easy to misplace. So, to get your dressing table sorted, think about storage that will keep everything in its place and make your favourite lipstick easier to pick out. Have a clear out Start with a clean slate. Take everything off your dressing table and out of the drawers, and lay it all on your bed. Next, bin any skincare or make-up that is past its use-by date. You can find this on the…

■ PLANT ORNAMENTAL TREES Check the height and spread of the tree when fully mature before buying. A large tree in a garden that’s too small for it will dominate the space and upset neighbours. Small trees are easy to prune to an allotted space, and some can be grown in containers. Conifers and evergreens give solid shade, while deciduous varieties give dappled shade. ■ PRUNE FRUIT TREES Pick off any rotting fruit that will spread disease if left on the tree. When a fruit tree is properly pruned in a timely manner, yields are more consistent and the fruit is of better quality. Harvest root vegetables such as carrots, squashes, leeks and potatoes so you can use them in warming soups and salads. Cover up any late root crops…

I’ve been reading all about happy triggers this week – little details in your home that spark positive reactions and emotions. They can come from memories, objects or general sensory stimuli, which activate the release of chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin to give us a feel-good response. I’ve been on a mission to identify the happy triggers in my own home so I can seek them out when I need a little mood boost on a down day. My happy place is pretty much anywhere I can be curled up under a blanket. Everyone in my family knows that the prized sofa spot – the corner with the chaise section – has my name on it. I love nothing more than being snuggled under a blanket there, and I…

The celebrity chef and author lives in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, with her husband and three children WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET IN THE DOOR? As I go through the utility and kitchen, the first thing I do is snap my bra off. It’s nice to be free! The kids hate it because I hang my bra on the banister. If we ever have accidental guests, they’re like, ‘Mum!’ WHAT’S ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE? Gaviscon – because I have bad heartburn, all the time – a sleep mask, my prayer beads, a book and a glass of water. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORE? John Lewis. My eldest son works there two days a week and whenever he’s in homewares, he’s like, ‘Mum, there’s a great deal on…

1 USE NATURAL FIBRES One of the best ways to retain heat is to use temperature-regulating materials for your bed. ‘Rather than leaving your heating on overnight, choose a natural mattress filling that will help keep you warm and regulate your temperature,’ advises Adam Black, co-founder of Button & Sprung. The same goes for your duvet and pillow fillings. ‘As soon as you get into bed,’ says Adam, ‘natural fillings such as wool respond to your body’s warmth, to keep you at a comfortable temperature. No external heating required.’ 2 BLOCK DRAUGHTS It can be a fiddly job, but spending a little time draught-proofing will make your bedroom cosier. ‘Put draught excluders at the bottom of doors and around the seals of windows. You can even get inflatable ones for…

Could your bedroom decor be disrupting your sleep pattern? Let’s be clear: the colour of your walls won’t keep you awake like heartburn, a crying baby or a party-loving neighbour will. However, there are colours that will pile it on if you’re already wakeful and struggling to wind down. If relaxation and sleep don’t always come easily to you, don’t put these shades on the walls. We’re not saying you should ban them from your home, just proceed with caution. If you absolutely love one of these colours and need it in your life, there’s nothing stopping you from using it in a way that won’t kill your chill. AVOID SATURATED SHADES Karen Haller, a behavioural design consultant, colour specialist and author of bestseller The Little Book of Colour explains:…

Are you getting enough sleep to function and live well? The latest NHS guidance advises that the average healthy adult usually needs between seven and nine hours’ sleep a night. However, a 2023 survey by bedding firm Woolroom found that 60% of British people are regularly getting no more than six hours of sleep per night. According to The Sleep Foundation, sleep is beneficial to mood and mental function, heart health and blood sugar regulation, an efficient immune response and stress relief. ‘Not getting enough sleep, especially over a long stretch of time, can harm both your mind and body, and even affect your skin, whatever your age,’ warns Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity. Apparently, there is also such a thing as beauty sleep. A poll of…