Innehållsförteckning för June - July 2023 från Real Homes

What does home mean to you? The answer to this question is likely to change as you enter different periods of your life. When you first strike out on your own, be it in university halls, a house or flatshare, home can feel like a convenient base where you sleep or study to fuel a life which largely happens outside. But as you gradually move on to affording a little more space, the pleasure of getting to explore your own decorating or renovation style kicks in, and your home becomes a source of joy in itself. The past few years have seen a boom in homemakers sharing everything from furniture upcycles and room makeovers to whole house transformations on Instagram – proof, if ever we needed it, of the interest,…

1 Colour burst Garden colour comes and goes depending on what you decide to plant and the season, but think about painting surfaces, such as walls or sheds, and you can bring year-round brilliance to your plot at low cost. Be sure to choose paint that’s suitable for exterior use, and for the type of surface you want to paint, and follow the instructions for preparation, so that the finish lasts. Shades of blue are ideal – they sit alongside greens on the colour wheel so they’ll harmonise with the tones of leaves and grass but still pop. Top tip Refresh garden furniture using a hand-held vacuum or brush to get rid of dirt and cobwebs. Clean with a washing-up liquid solution, rinse with a hose and leave to dry.…

Top tip IN OUTLINE When choosing the frame, balance visibility with cost. Aluminium framing has the slimmest sightlines (the visible frame between the glass panels) which can be as narrow as 20mm, optimising the glazed area. The budget option is uPVC, but this means a chunkier frame. Older home? Choose timber frames to complement its architecture. When creating the best connection between the inside of your house and the outside space, sliding doors are often the top patio door option. While it’s true that bi-fold doors can reveal a larger proportion of the opening in which they’re fitted than sliding doors, the latter have the advantage when it comes to creating an unobstructed view when they’re closed. And when they are open, they offer generous access between house and patio.…

Blur the boundaries In the height of summer, eating alfresco becomes a regular treat. Dress your outdoor space as you would your home to blur the line between inside and out. Use a mix of natural materials such as earth-toned linens, rustic ceramics, warm wood and rattan to create a calming vibe that’ll beckon you to relax outside. Play with waterproof rugs, throws and cushions to add layers of cosy comfort. Artistic flair Capturing her hand-drawn designs with modern technology, British designer and illustrator, Abigail Borg launches four new collections. Her work is inspired by her love of nature, playful interior design, pattern, and colour. ‘My designs start life as hand-drawn sketches which are then developed and refined digitally. I like the initial connection with nature and the irregular forms…

‘Even an accent or pop of colour is enough to bring positivity into your home,’ says Natasha Bradley, colour psychologist at Lick Paints ‘Consciously incorporating colours scientifically proven to boost your mood into your interiors can bring you joy each and every day,’ says Chris Harvey, interior expert at Stelrad ‘Maximalist design is having its fair share of the spotlight, showing us that bright colours, bold designs and clashing prints are here to stay,’ says Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village ‘Playful pink, calming green, zesty orange and golden hour yellow – these colours introduce a summer state of mind to the home,’ says Jane Rockett, of Rockett St George ‘Clever use of pattern and colour can transform a room – it can create a dramatic space, an inviting…

I’ve delved deep into many different colours over the past few years, but if there’s one colour I always end up telling my friends about, it’s orange. The word orange only became part of our vocabulary in the 16th century, when the fruit, first brought into Europe from India, became more widely available. Before then, orange was referred to as yellow-red. This may be why we say ‘red fox’ and ‘robin red breast’ when these animals are, in fact, closer to orange. The more accurate word simply didn’t exist when these animals were named. When it comes to decorating, orange is very much a love it or hate it colour. While more subtle hues like terracotta and peach can sit back with most styles, bright orange is one that takes…

PROFILE THE OWNERS Ambrice Miller, an art dealer (relicinteriors.com) and asset manager, lives here with husband Ben Joyce, an actuary, their young son, and dogs Theo and Edison THE PROPERTY Chapel House is a former malt master’s house with elements that date back to the 1650s and a late 19th-century brick façade Alabama native Ambrice first visited England aged 20, and it made a lasting impression on her, which is why, three years later in 2010, she willingly accepted a work transfer to London. Four years after that, Ambrice met her future husband, Ben. ‘We rented a flat in north London, but when the landlord decided to sell, it felt like the right time for us to look for our place to buy. We wanted a home that we could…

Adding a rear extension can be a relatively straightforward and affordable home improvement project – as long as you understand your goals, hire the right team and are smart with your budget. By utilising your garden space to extend your interior, you won’t just add value and square footage to your home, but you’ll also have the opportunity to rethink the rest of your living spaces and improve the way in which your home works for you and your lifestyle. Since they’re tucked away, rear extensions allow for more design freedom, so you can showcase your signature style while increasing natural light and improving that all-important indoor/outdoor flow. What’s more, if you build within set criteria, you might not even need planning permission. Here, we talk you through the various…

While tiling may still be our first instinct, there are so many other ways to keep your bathroom walls protected from splashes and humidity. Tiles may still be involved, but exploring alternative surfaces as well can produce far more compelling results. We’re talking about waterproof panels, which have upped their game in recent years, and regular wall panelling, like you might use in a dining room, but made with moisture-resistant board. Not to mention polished plaster, slatted wood panelling, wallpaper, glass splashbacks, copper and brass sheets. Provided it’s not porous, pretty much anything goes. And if it is a little porous, like regular wallpaper, a coat of Polyvine’s Decorator’s Varnish will sort you out. A decent extractor is key; there’s truly no need to suffer moisture-soaked walls, or the grimness…

Get your lights right with these inspiring ideas #SOREALHOMES FIND MORE TIPS AND ADVICE FOR STYLING YOUR BATHROOM AT REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOM…

ANNA WISCOMBE Beautiful, tactile, versatile and sustainable – it’s hard to name a better material than wood for the home. Whether you opt for wooden furniture or accessories such as bowls, stools or lighting, wood brings a fabulous natural warmth that feels impossible to achieve with man-made materials. Not only are there hundreds of different shades and varieties of wood, from oak and ash to pine, cedar and walnut; the techniques for crafting with it are also hugely varied. Smaller planks and pieces can be carved, turned, laser cut or steam bent, meaning the sky’s the limit when it comes to shapes and designs. What’s more, with a grain pattern unique to the tree it was cut from, no two pieces are exactly the same. When you buy something lovingly…

Floral tea Every now and then there’s a collab that gets us excited, and this is certainly one of them. Habitat has teamed up with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew to create a range of botanical homeware. Inspired by the rare and endangered plants found in Kew’s glasshouses, the ceramic tea pots, mugs, plates and tea towels are a celebration of its vibrant and exotic fauna and flora. With a bold colour palette of teal, emerald and coral, the designs will give any tea party tropical vibes, and we can’t wait to get our hands on them.…

FLOOR SHOW What connects a San Diego school, a railway station in the Scottish Highlands, and high mountain quarries in Italy? They have some of the character floors and materials that have inspired Karndean Design flooring’s newly expanded Van Gogh range of luxury vinyl flooring. In addition to nine new realistic wood designs, there are 15 stone designs featuring the veining and variation of the natural marble, slate and terracotta they so closely resemble. The quick-to-lay flooring offers the beauty of the real thing, with the waterproof, easy-clean comfort of luxury vinyl. It costs from £44.99 per square metre for a full-length plank of wood-effect glue down floor. It’s a wrap If your bathroom is awkwardly shaped or lacks wall space, a radiator that fits into or wraps round a…

REVIEW CORNER Weber Smokey Joe® premium charcoal barbecue We were impressed with the cooking ability of this small yet mighty barbecue as we grilled everything from burgers to a Tomahawk steak, kebabs and more. It comes with a briquette bowl to measure charcoal with ease, and is ready to cook in just 15-20 minutes. You can fit approximately eight burgers on – so while it’s perfect for barbecuing for two, you can also grill enough to serve a large group of people. There are a range of colourways to choose from, and a hinged lid for wind protection. Clean up is a breeze – just put the grates in the dishwasher. It can be left outside, but is small enough to easily store inside to protect it from the elements.…

See how to lay a brick patio in 10 easy steps #SOREALHOMES FOR TIPS ON HOW TO STYLE UP YOUR OUTDOOR TERRACE, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/GARDENS…