Innehållsförteckning för August 2022 från Style At Home

Wholly predictable: our kitchen extension has been delayed. Originally due to kick off in June, we’re now looking at the end of summer. And you know what? I’m actually feeling pretty zen about it. Is it down to improved patience levels? Or the fact I don’t have to share my garden with builders over the summer? Or is it really down to the extra time I now have to make the final design decisions? I’ve started gathering plates for a gallery wall for the finished space, but maybe I should prioritise choosing the more important elements such as worktops, wall tiles and flooring! If you’re in need of inspo for your own project, do check out our sister title Ideal Home’s relaunched website idealhome.co.uk, packed full of brilliant home ideas…

Hold onto that summery feeling by bringing a taste of California into your home. For a touch of Palm Springs inspo take a light backdrop and add colour with curvaceous furniture and eclectic accessories, all in pastel shades with pops of brights.…

ABOUT ME I’m Gemma Coward, 39, a design consultant, and I live here with my partner Robin, a business unit director, 40, and our two children Charlie, nine, and six-year-old Willow. MY HOME A three-bed mid-terrace house built in 1890, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, that we bought in 2017 (@faffingat34). WHEN I MOVED IN The house was pretty much a blank canvas that had already been extended. It was ideal as we wanted a project but didn’t want to be knocking down walls. AND NOW I am influenced by so many different styles that I couldn’t just stick to one – so it’s quirky and eclectic, and full of homemade ideas. STYLE TIP Don’t be scared to give it a go! I’ve learned how to strip walls and install coving…

H&M HOME It has a huge range of bargain and stylish accessories like cushion covers and vases. ZARA HOME Ideal for cute accessories for kids’ rooms, including bedlinen and toys. TK MAXX There’s always something different in store and some items can even be one-offs. It often has some good furniture or unusual mirrors. FLYING TIGER Great place to find gadgets to kit out the office or seasonal decoration for the garden and home. IKEA For a huge range of faux plants and flowers, and affordable picture frames for gallery walls. SHOP LOCAL Gemma is also a huge supporter of small local business so always buys accessories or unusual buys from selling sites and friends.…

People say that you just know when a house is the right one for you as soon as you walk in – and that was definitely the case for us when we went to view our Victorian four-bedroom property,’ says Louise. ‘Moving from Tunbridge Wells in Kent to live with my now husband Sean in Liverpool, I was instantly drawn to the house’s period features, such as the stained-glass doors and windows, along with the original fireplaces. Stroke of luck The previous owners had purchased the house from a lady who had lived there since the Twenties and, luckily for us, had gone on to renovate it, which meant all the hard work had been done already. It wasn’t to my taste but it did mean that we didn’t have…

Louise creates her own art, which is displayed around her house. If you’d like to make your own unique prints, there are various ways you can do so. Firstly, try painting a canvas – you don’t have to be an expert artist to do an abstract design. Simply sketch it out first and play around until you’re happy with the shape and colours. Try framing some wallpaper, fabric, maps or greeting cards for a personal touch. Tea towels with fun or graphic prints are ideal, as are a collection of postcards or large samples of wallpaper. Hang plates, baskets or a curated collection of objets on your wall as an alternative to artwork. Go for anything that catches your eye or that makes you smile when you look at it.…

Define the space with a pergola – you’ll need to cement the posts in place for stability. Add a deck around the pergola for low-maintenance flooring. Accessorise your space with wooden planters as alternative flower beds – fill with flowers. Paint all your fences in a soft colour to match the interior of your home, to add continuity. Treat yourself to outdoor furniture – a sofa set will make your garden feel like an extension of your living room. Finish with outdoor cushions, throws and a rug.…

Dress a bare wall with a living air plant display. Remove the glass and backing board from a picture frame and, using pliers, cut chicken wire to fit the aperture; staple in place. Gently poke the plants into the wire holes. Mist once a week.…

Scallop edge Brighten a plain wall by using a scallop stencil. Simply paint the top of the wall, extending down further than the line you want your scallops to fall at. Then paint up towards the stencil in your base colour. Give it a twist Change the scale of the stencil – small scallops create a pretty country feel; oversized ones give a bolder, contemporary look. Colour block Highlight architectural details with colour blocking. Painting blocks so that they break into a fireplace, or continue over coving, gives a real designer paint effect. Choose three or four shades in striking contrasting colours for a bold statement. Give it a twist Use large circular or arch shapes as an alternative to rectangles and squares. Painted square Love your framed print but…

After missing out on another property nearby, we fell in love with this three-storey house,’ says Jenny. ‘Our first home – a three-bedroom 1930s semi – was just around the corner, but we wanted an older property to do up. And as we planned to expand our family, this six-bedroom house with a side garden and rear driveway was ideal. After tackling the electrics, plumbing, plastering and flooring, we started decorating room by room, starting with our daughter Georgina’s bedroom. Then two years ago, we got around to the first-floor bathroom. Getting Started It was a slow leak from the bath that eventually prompted our revamp. We were going to live with the old bathroom for a bit longer, but when the ceiling started sagging in the kitchen below, it…

Vinyl is a great budget option, especially with a young family. It can withstand splashes, is slip resistant and comes in fun designs. Ceramic tiles come in a huge variety of designs in the mid range price bracket, but they can feel cold. Avoid highly polished designs as they can be slippery when wet. Marble or limestone have a great natural look and can be treated with a waterproof protective sealant, but they’re a pricier option. Engineered wood is warm and won’t warp like laminate. It can be used with underfloor heating too. Luxury vinyl tiles tick all the boxes for a bathroom and modern designs can look very authentic. They cost around £30sq m.…

ABOUT ME I’m Charlotte Evans and I run Betty’s Barn Interiors (@bettys_barn_interiors). I live here with my partner, Andrew, and my two sons, Alfie, 19, and Ned, 13. We live in a six-bedroom new-build house in Oxfordshire with Harvey, our fox red labrador. MY CHALLENGE Our garden was an open space without any real structure. We wanted to put our own stamp on it and create different zoned areas for relaxing as a family and socialising with friends. MY WISH LIST To improve the soil and lawn, and have an attractive, relaxing space with some of our favourite plants becoming focal points around the garden.…

Tired of toys taking over your home? Whether in a child’s bedroom, family living area or playroom, smart toy storage ideas can help to keep play items organised and make tidying up easier. Because a clutter-free home makes for a happy home. Remember that simple storage items such as boxes, storage baskets, hooks, hangers and wall organisers will all help to create an efficient space that still has plenty of personality – suitable for any room where kids are free to play. Good storage, multifunctional furniture that serves a child’s changing needs as they grow, and imaginative decor are all key. A balance between form and function will result in a hard-working layout that stands the test of time. ADD PERSONALITY Functional storage doesn’t have to be boring in a…

PEONY ‘DUCHESSE DE NEMOURS’ With a sweet perfume and silky crumpled petals, this blooms between May and July. LILAC ‘SOUVENIR DE LOUIS SPAETH’ Vibrant panicles of pink-purple blossom and a gorgeous scent, this flowers in spring and summer. HONEYSUCKLE ’BELGICA’ This easy-to-grow climber drips with heavily scented flowers in shades of deep pink and apricot. A great all-rounder. SWEET PEA ‘MATUCANA’ More old-fashioned varieties of sweet peas like this one tend to have the most intense fragrance. STAR JASMINE These bloom all summer from June to August with delicate star-shaped flowers, lush evergreen foliage and a sweet scent.…

CUTTING HEXAGON CORK TILES INTO RHOMBUS SHAPES MEANS THEY CAN BE SEPARATED INTO INDIVIDUAL COASTERS WHEN NEEDED There’s not much more stressful than removing a hot pan from the oven with nowhere to put it down. Making your own trivets from cork tiles is the ideal solution as they’re heat resistant, inexpensive and cork is also a sustainable material, so it’s great for eco-conscious makers! It cuts easily with a craft knife and takes paint really well, so you can make these on-trend geometric tiles in an evening. No more ugly heat marks! YOU WILL NEED Four hexagonal cork boards Masking tape Cutting mat Metal ruler Craft knife Fine sandpaper Chalk paint in Blue, Teal, Lilac and Yellow Paintbrushes Circular foam paint dabber 1 CUT THE CORK SHAPES Begin by…

Centrifugal juicers mimic a blender by shredding fruit or vegetables with spinning blades, before straining them against metal mesh to separate out seeds and pith. As well as being speedy, they are well suited to handling hard fruit and veg, such as ginger, apples and carrots. They’re also good for cutting down on food prep time as many have large feed chutes that can take whole apples and veggies. However, as the process adds more air into the juice, you may find that it doesn’t store for more than a day or two. Masticating juicers, also known as slow juicers or cold press juicers, work by ‘chewing’ fruit and vegetables before crushing or squeezing out the juice at a gentle rate. This provides a high yield and maximum nutritional content…

Whether you're heading off to the beach, the park or the garden, picnicking in style is easy with Wilko's great-value Eastern Delight range. Mix and match colourful melamine and bamboo tableware – there's even a woven basket to pack it all up in.…

1 A gallery wall can reflect your life and passions, bringing a stylish focal point to a bare space. Start by picking your images from family photos, kids’ pictures, posters or go with a more cohesive design that’s all the same colourway. 2 Once you’ve chosen your prints, you are ready to design the layout. With your chosen style in mind, you can decide whether you are going to keep it orderly with a tidy grid structure or mix it up with an array of different sizes. Try to make the space between the frames the same as this brings a pleasing balance to the display. Keep rearranging on a flat surface first until you are happy with the format. 3 Don’t be afraid to mix and match light and…

‘IF THERE ARE TREES CLOSE TO YOUR HOME, CHOOSE LAMINATED GLASS TO PREVENT IT SHATTERING IF A BRANCH FALLS ON IT’ With lots of us looking to extend and improve instead of moving, the popularity of renovations such as adding skylights and rooflights is on the up. Their key purpose is to bring natural daylight into your home to make it bright and airy. We explain the nitty gritty when it comes to installing skylights, from the costs involved to when planning permission is needed. What is a skylight? It’s essentially a window, located in the roof, that brings daylight into a room. Skylights have the added benefit of supplying a room with fresh air if you choose one that opens. When well placed, they can add value to your…

ABOUT ME I’m Louise Potter, 59, an interior designer, and I live here with my husband, Sean, 54, our daughter Martha, 21, and Elvis the Jack Russell. MY HOME A four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Liverpool, which we moved into in August 2011. WHEN WE MOVED IN The previous owners had completely renovated it, but it wasn’t to my taste. AND NOW The whole layout works so much better for us and it feels like our own home now that we’ve put our personal stamp on it. STYLE TIP Take your time and only have things in your home that you love, rather than following a trend.…

ROCKETT ST GEORGE Full of unique, authentic and quirky pieces, bursting with individuality. ARKET A cool lifestyle and shopping destination with an assortment of fashion, food, scents and functional homewares. It’s great for Nordic design. ANTIQUES FAIRS Louise likes to visit Arthur Swallow Fairs at the Cheshire Showground, along with various local vintage shops around LIverpool. She also finds great one-off buys on eBay. JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS Louise found various classic pieces at John Lewis, from her sofas and tables to her bedding. DULUX If you’re looking for affordable paint, then this brand is hard to beat. Louise has used a lot of Dulux’s White Cotton to create a fresh backdrop in her home.…

When lockdown started, I moved in with my parents so we could support each other,’ says Shelley. ‘My summer was spent relaxing in their garden, and it made me realise how much I wanted an outdoor space for myself. I put my two-bed maisonette up for sale and started house-hunting. My mum convinced me to look at a new-build development nearby, but I wasn’t keen. My perception of new-build properties was that they are poorly built, and the rooms can be ill-proportioned. But this house changed my opinion completely! Situated on a pretty street in a little village with woodland nearby, the area felt peaceful and calm. I’d been living in a busy town centre, and this house offered me a different of pace of life. New-build convert I couldn’t…

VIBRANT COLOURS ARE IDEAL FOR MAKING SMALL SPACES FEEL BIGGER AND BRIGHTER,WHILE ON-TREND DARKER SHADES ARE GREAT FOR LARGER GARDENS Painting the garden fence can be the instant makeover your garden is crying out for – and it doesn’t cost the earth. Unsure how to paint a fence? Don’t worry, we have all the know-how you need to tackle this satisfying job. Set aside a day to get the task done, although another pair of hands will make it go quicker! Choose the right day This is key, thanks to unpredictable British weather. The wood has to be dry, so tackle the job when no rain is forecast for a few days. Avoid very hot days though, as the sun will dry out the paint before it’s had time to…

1 Use pallets to make simple furniture Put together a relaxed seating arrangement using three salvaged wood pallets. Check the wood thoroughly first to make sure that there are no protruding nails or staples and give the surface a light sanding to remove any rough edges and splinters. Start by stacking two pallets, one on top of the other, to form your base and use a drill and screws to secure them together. Use the third pallet, propped in a vertical position to create the backrest, securing in place with screws. Paint in a colourful wood finish, then add cushions and throws to make it super-comfy. 2 MAKE AN EASY OUTDOOR MIRROR To make a chic window-pane style mirror you’ll need a frameless mirror and a garden trellis. Cut the…

ABOUT ME I’m Jenny Tumilty, 35, a freelance hair stylist, and I live here with my husband Kev, 36, a company director, and our children Georgina, five, and Max, two, in a six-bedroom, red-brick Victorian end-of-terrace house in Hartlepool, which we moved into in 2017. MY CHALLENGE Making better use of the space. There’s a separate toilet next door, but in the main bathroom everything seemed crammed at the far end of the room with a big unused area by the window. MY WISHLIST A large walk-in shower and deep bath were top of my list, along with panelling, tiling and flooring that would suit the age of the house.…

WALK-IN SHOWERS NOT ONLY LOOK SUPER-STYLISH BUT THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE IN INCLUSIVELY DESIGNED BATHROOMS Walk-in showers are trending hard, and for very good reason. Midway between a fully enclosed shower and a completely open wet room, they offer the best of both worlds. You get to enjoy the spaciousness and level-entry access of a wet room but without having to tank the entire room. What is a walk-in shower? Walk-in showers are similar to regular shower enclosures but without a door. However, unlike a wet room, they have some form of screen or partition that protects the rest of the room from spray. Why choose one ? While looking modern, on-trend and stylish, they are easy to use and access for users of all ages and abilities – the…

CROCOSMIA Enlivens the garden with its vibrant pop of colour, starting with fresh green, sword-shaped leaves, continuing with fiery-red flowers all summer long. HEUCHERA Has wonderful, colourful foliage from spring to autumn and looks effective when grown in groups. PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA Variegated grass with striking striped leaves. Easy to grow and looks good from spring to autumn. BAMBOO Great for height, but can be invasive so be sure to do your research before planting directly in soil.…

Summer is in full swing, so it’s time to scrub the barbie and get it pristine for garden gatherings. Why not use leftover paint to transform an old potting bench into a chic drinks bar? Perfect for serving jugs of Pimm’s to thirsty guests. If your attention is required indoors, follow our tips on painting over dark colours to give walls a fresh update. Or keep the family entertained with a DIY media unit made from MDF. That’s the summer holidays sorted! Paint over dark colours Without using a primer, it will be tricky to achieve a good finish if you are attempting to cover a dark paint colour with a lighter one. Dark colours and highly pigmented paints tend to bleed through lighter colours, which cause patchiness and discolouration.…

AIR-DRY CLAY IS A SUPER-VERSATILE MEDIUM TO USE AS IT’S EASY TO MOULD AND IT DOESN’T NEED TO BE CURED IN A KILN TO SET Never confuse your chives with your chervil again by making these cute herb markers to pop in your pots. Many of us are opting to grow our own food, be that tomatoes on the windowsill to a full-scale veggie patch in the garden. However, when plants are still seedlings, it’s easy to get mixed up with what you’ve planted where, so these easy-to-make ceramic labels are the perfect solution. We’ve chosen circles, but you can make them any shape or colour you like. YOU WILL NEED Rolling pin White air-dry clay 4cm diameter circular biscuit cutter Skewer Alphabet stamps Fine paintbrush Watercolour paints Fine sandpaper…

THESE CAN ALSO BE MADE WITH A MASHED POTATO TOPPING INSTEAD OF FILO FILO FISH PIES TAKES 40 MINS SERVES 6 FOR THE FILLING 300ml semi-skimmed milk 2 bay leaves 200g hake, cut into chunks 150g smoked haddock, cut into chunks 200g salmon, cut into chunks 1 onion, finely chopped 2tbsp butter 2tbsp flour 1tsp English mustard 125g peas 1 bunch of dill, chopped 4 cooked beetroot, cut into wedges Green salad and lemon wedges, to serve FOR THE TOPPING 6 sheets of filo pastry 30g butter, melted YOU WILL NEED 6 ramekins or 1 large baking dish 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. For the filling, in a pan heat the milk and bay leaves. Poach all the fish for 3-4 mins in the liquid, then set…

It can feel like every day is wash day! Between the kids finding creative ways to get dirty and the puzzle of the bottomless laundry basket, your washing machine can work overtime and that can result in higher energy bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust the average price (as of April 2022) per pence/kWh of electricity is 34.1p. We have rounded it to 34p. The main factors that affect costs are a machine’s efficiency rating, and wash length and temperature. How much does a washing machine cost to run? An example D-rated 9kg washing machine uses 0.76 kWh per cycle, which means each cycle costs 25.5p. Over a year of 270 cycles, that’s a cost of £67.50. Compare this to an A-rated machine which uses 0.49 kWh per cycle,…

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM LOAF CAKE TAKES 50 MINS, PLUS COOLING SERVES 8 FOR THE ALMOND CAKE 175g unsalted butter, softened 175g golden caster sugar 3 eggs 75g ground almonds 100g self-raising flour ½tsp baking powder 16g freeze-dried strawberry pieces 1tsp almond extract FOR THE TOPPING 180g cream cheese 1tsp vanilla bean paste 40g icing sugar, plus extra to dust 200g strawberries, halved YOU WILL NEED 20x10cm loaf tin, lined with baking parchment 1 Heat oven to 180C/Gas 4. For the cake, beat the butter and sugar until pale. Mix in the eggs and ground almonds. 2 Fold in the flour and baking powder, then the strawberry pieces and extract. 3 Spoon into the tin and bake for 40 mins or until cooked. Leave to cool in tin for 5 mins,…

B&M BRIGHT BAZAAR Create a cosy nook with opulent metallics and rich tones George Home COUNTRY GARDEN Pick prints in soft, delicate shades and combine with natural textures Matalan BALEARIC BLISS Combine beachy whites and blues with natural rattan for chilled-out vibes Habitat GLOBAL GETAWAY Bring holiday hues home with burnt orange and dark charcoal teamed with warm neutrals…

We had been living in north London for a few years in a rented home with our son Charlie,’ says Gemma. ‘However, when I discovered I was pregnant with Willow, we decided that a move back to the Midlands would be a better option for us as a family. We’re both originally from the Midlands and met working together in Leamington Spa, so it felt fitting that we should bring the family back here. We were both familiar with the area, which would make the move much easier for us. New beginnings We chose this house because of its location and its open spaces. It was also near good schools, the local park and shops – with a growing family this was really important to us and would make the…

1 Pick out your design and make sure it’s something you’re comfortable creating and nothing too complicated if it’s your first project. Work out the repeat and how the design will sit. 2 Next, ensure your flooring is squeaky clean. Lightly sand the tiles or flooring before applying a primer. 3 For best results we’d recommend chalk or water-based matt emulsion for the base coat and stencilling (the stencil will need cleaning after several applications and a more robust paint will be hard to remove). 4 The number one mistake when stencilling is to use too much paint. Remember less is more. This applies when using a brush or roller. Secure your stencil with masking tape in each corner to ensure it doesn’t move. 5 Once finished seal with at…

Consider whether you want a conservatory or an orangery, which is more substantial – and expensive – with a lantern-style glass roof. You don’t always need planning permission for a conservatory. If it’s no more than four metres high, lower than the highest part of your existing roof, and doesn’t cover any more than half the area of land around the house then you should be fine. If in doubt, seek advice at planningportal.co.uk. Think about what direction your conservatory will face as this will make a difference to the heating or ventilation you may need. For example, a south-facing structure will be ideal for winter sun, but it can get uncomfortably warm in the summer, so you’ll want to make sure you have some appropriate ventilation factored into your…

COMPARED TO OTHER EXTENSIONS, A SIDE RETURN TENDS TO USE UP REDUNDANT ‘DEAD SPACE’, RATHER THAN THE BEST PARTS OF YOUR GARDEN For many homeowners, the side return area – the strip of land that runs alongside the ground floor, often in a Victorian terraced house – is a redundant space. But by building an extension on it and squaring off the L-shaped property, you can make your home bigger and better. How much will it cost? A side extension design will cost anything from £20,000 to £50,000, depending on the area you live, how large the extension, design complexity, which contractors you use and the building materials. Also factor in internal work, such as adding a kitchen, and the style of the extension. What work is involved? A new…

ABOUT ME I’m Shelley Hammond, 39, and I’m an HR manager (@happy.newbuildhomemaking). I share my home with my rescue cat, Healy. MY HOME A four-bedroom new-build townhouse in Surrey. I bought it in October 2020. WHEN I MOVED IN It came with a brand-new kitchen and bathroom, but the rooms were lacking in colour or features. AND NOW I’ve decorated my home from top to bottom in vibrant prints and soft colours to create a home that expresses my personality and feels unique to me. STYLE TIP When decorating choose a limited colour palette throughout your home to create a cohesive look.…

START WITH SEATING If you’re big on entertaining, a dining set could be a good choice for your outdoor living room, or perhaps a large built-in banquette. If you’re more of a solo sun worshipper, then maybe a day bed or sun lounger will suit your space better for basking in the sun. PROVIDE SOME SHADE You don’t need to add a permanent structure – pergolas or a sail shade look fantastic – but a large parasol can work just as well for a smaller space to keep you cool. BOUNCE LIGHT Mirrors are a great addition to any size garden. Not only do they open up the space to make it seem bigger, they will reflect areas of garden that you might not be able to see from your…

STICK TO A LIGHT NEUTRAL BACKDROP TO MAKE THE BRIGHTS YOU ADD TO THE SCHEME REALLY POP SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

Similar Bromley freestanding bath, £489.99, Bathroom Mountain. Similar Orchard Winchester bath shower mixer tap, £87.20; Similar Arezzo Black wet room screen, £239.95; Similar Crosswater anti slip walk-in shower tray, £605.97; Similar Trafalgar thermostatic shower head, £189.95; Similar Savoy towel rail radiator, £239.95, all Victoria Plum. Similar Hemnes/Rattviken washstand with basin and tap, £339; Sjalsligt set of three ceramic cactus, £15, both Ikea. Similar Brovey accent mirror, £104.69, Wayfair. Blonde oak Herringbone Karndean flooring, £64.99sq m, Flooring Supplies. Similar Metro wall tiles, £10sq m, Tiles Direct. Panelling painted in Railings, £67 for 2.5ltr; walls painted in Ammonite, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Old Rose bath sheet, £12.99, H&M Home. Mosaic soap dispenser, £2, B&M. Monochrome Other World dispenser and tumbler set, £8, Asda. Similar Cube wall shelves, £17.99, Vida…

It was almost winter when Andrew and I moved into this house, back in 2018, and the garden was in a poor state,’ says Charlotte. ‘As part of a new development, the house had only had one previous owner – and the outside space felt unloved and in need of some fresh ideas. We wanted to be able to use it as a family and knew we’d need to take into consideration how the sun moved around the garden, so we could make the most of the sunny and shaded spots at different times of the day. From inside to out My passion is interior design and I wanted the garden to be an extension of our home. Entertaining is a big part of our life, so the design had…

‘PERK UP TIRED DECKING WITH A LICK OF FRESH PAINT OR A STAIN. USE A PROTECTIVE PRODUCT TO KEEP IT LOOKING FRESH FOR LONGER’ As the weather warms up, we’ll all want to spend more time in our gardens, so now’s the time to get things spick and span. Algae and moss can grow on decking, making it slippery. If its looking past its best, here’s how to smarten it up. How do I prep the deck? Start by removing everything – furniture, pots, barbecue, ornaments. It’s best to work on a clear day when the deck is dry; allow a few days to pass after a downpour. Give it a thorough sweep to remove debris from between the cracks as best you can. What cleaning product should I use?…

Scented plants can really help set the scene in your garden. They let you create ambience with blooms in the same way you would use candles and diffusers to evoke a mood in the house. Early mornings and balmy evenings are all the better if you’ve filled your patio pots and flowerbeds with intoxicating fragrance to add to the feel-good factor of being out in the garden. Don’t hide these magical plants away in a corner though. Instead, make them the star of the show. They are particularly welcoming if you position them near the path leading up to your front door or planted around the entrance so you can enjoy the fragrance every time you pass. Or plant up a windowbox so you can make the most of the…

A window overlooking the garden is the perfect spot for a compact outdoor bar - extend the exterior windowsill and pull up some stools. When it's time for happy hour, simply swing open the windows and serve your chosen tipple.…

BEST CITRUS JUICER SMEG CJF01 CITRUS JUICER TYPE Citrus DIMENSIONS H28xW16.6xD16.6cm PRICE £129 With attachments that are all dishwasher safe, this juicer is larger than most citrus juicers (about the size of a small kettle) but immensely easy to use and set up. It starts to spin as soon as you apply the pressure of lemon or orange, and this is strained by a removable pulp filter. Simply click down the side spout to fill a cup with fresh OJ or lemon juice and enjoy. You can’t juice anything other than citrus in this option, but it’s a fantastic brunch companion that comes in a massive range of colours. REASON TO BUY It’s a beautiful machine that’s easy to use and clean REASON TO AVOID Not very versatile RATING BEST…

1 FILL IT UP Wash full loads instead of half loads – two half loads will always use more energy than a single full load. For half loads, choose the correct setting if there is one. 2 CHOOSE COOL Where you can, wash at a lower temperature or use a cold wash. It uses less energy and is perfect for clothes that are not very dirty. 3 CARE FOR YOUR WASHER Every month, clean the filter and run a ‘service wash’ ie hot, without clothes, to whisk away build-up and bacteria. 4 SOAK AWAY STAINS Give stains a pre-soak for about half an hour before loading into the machine – then you won’t need a longer or hotter wash to shift them.…

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