Innehållsförteckning för April 2023 från Style At Home

It will come as no surprise to regular readers that I have a few projects on my to-do list to tackle over the Easter break. We’re still working our way through our post-kitchen-refit snagging list, but in the true spirit of procrastination I think I’ll ignore that and start something new instead! Our downstairs loo is in a state of disrepair, and giving that a wow-in-a-weekend makeover seems like the perfect DIY win. I want to replace the limestone-effect tiles with wall panelling, and paint the whole room a bold colour. I may even add some high-impact wallpaper (Sophie’s house on page 30 has inspired me). If you’re also on the lookout for your next project, this issue is stuffed with simple, takeaway ideas, from Easter makes to upcyling projects,…

1 Make a pompom bunny Have a go at making this cute wall hanging. You’ll need 18 small pom-poms for the ears, 13 medium-sized for the head and 11 large for the body. Use a shop-bought pom-pom maker to speed things up, or make your own using cardboard. You’ll also need two wire wreath frames, large and small, to create the bunny shape. Secure the smaller one above the larger, using a piece of wire, then shape two bunny ears out of two 20 inch pieces of wire and attach. Once you have your bunny shape, simply tie on the pom-poms with wool, knotting securely at the back. Hang with ribbon. 2 BRING OUT THE BUNNIES If you’ve an egg hunt planned over the Easter holidays, have fun by decorating…

When it comes to renovating a bathroom, being savvy with what you spend is key to making your budget go further. While it pays to invest in quality fixtures, know where to invest money and where to cut costs. Invest in quality taps Taps and shower controls are the main touch points so need to be robust and durable. Features to look for include ceramic discs, which don’t wear out like rubber washers do and anti-limescale technology which prolongs a tap’s lifespan. Splash out on a composite bath If you love a long soak, then it’s worth investing in a cast stone bath, which is great at retaining water temperature, while the mineral-packed surface will resist wear and tear in the long term too. Spend on the shower enclosure The…

If the brighter days have put a spring in your step, now’s a great time to get started on any DIY jobs or chores that you’ve been putting off over winter. Organise the loft and use the extra space to stow bulky out of season items. Or switch up your weekly cleaning routine by working in a few extra jobs to get a head start to the big spring clean. Find new uses for lemons As well as livening up a G&T, lemons come in handy for plenty of cleaning jobs. Rub half a lemon over a wooden chopping board and it’ll kill bacteria and neutralise odours such as garlic and onion. Or add some lemon slices to a bowl of water and microwave for 2-3 minutes. After the microwave…

Next IBIZA VIBES Sandy shades and tactile pieces for a chic, relaxed feel Habitat GEMSTONE HUES Create a rich scheme with jewel tones of emerald, sapphire and amethyst Matalan MODERN FARMHOUSE Update a classic look with natural materials and fresh blues and greens M&S RELAXED RUSTIC Opt for jungle prints and neutral tones for a lived-in look…

Having bought our house in the Wirral, Merseyside, in February 2019, we knew it would need quite a bit of TLC,’ says Monika. ‘The big draw was the area as we originally lived just a few streets away, and I always liked the idea of owning one of these lovely Victorian-style houses. As soon as this house came on the market, we jumped at the chance to buy it. It was perfect for us – just the right size, yet there was room to grow if we needed it, and we could both see it had so much potential. However, we were under no illusion that it needed some work and in my head I was already removing a few walls and upgrading some of the electrics and plumbing! As…

We certainly weren’t looking for a project when we found this house,’ says Sophie. ‘We’d outgrown our little two-bed and wanted somewhere near transport links that had plenty of space, especially as I work from home as a content creator. Ideally, we wanted a four-bedroom house in the Colchester area, but we couldn’t find one that had more than two double bedrooms. When this house came on the market it was very affordable because it needed renovating completely, and although it had three double bedrooms and a big single bedroom (rather than the four doubles we originally wanted), we were drawn to its potential and fantastic room sizes. Surprise discovery We knew we’d want to decorate, whatever house we bought – but it wasn’t until we got the keys on…

Relocating from London, we struck it lucky when we spotted this farmhouse and cottage for sale,’ says Laura. ‘It’s in a really pretty village with stunning views of the Waveney Valley, not far from where James grew up. The two buildings were originally part of the Gawdy Hall estate – they would have been the farmer’s dwelling with the cattle sleeping downstairs! Our property is set next to a 15th-century church and it’s really tranquil; exactly what we’d been dreaming about. I was pregnant at the time and fed up with the daily commute to work – we wanted the peace and quiet of the countryside. Moving in Funnily enough, a friend of mine had originally sent me a web link to view this place as an example of how…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks KEEP YOUR SCHEME MODERN BY TEAMING MUSHROOM AND MUSTARD TONES WITH OLIVE GREEN STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

Consider the working triangle The working triangle is a key consideration when it comes to planning your kitchen layout. A design rule based around the three main work areas – the fridge, the hob and the sink – the aim is to place these in a triangle to minimise effort and distance between them. Go for a one-wall work space The single galley or ‘one wall’ layout can be a challenge but can still create an impactful design. With cabinets and appliances along one wall, the traditional working triangle isn’t possible, but by flattening the triangle it’s possible to create the same efficiency. Simply position the three points in a line with just a few steps to walk in-between. ‘A GOOD LAYOUT WILL ALLOW YOU TO MOVE AROUND THE KITCHEN…

1 LOOK AFTER BIRDS Don’t stop feeding garden birds just because spring is here. Although it’s easier for them to find food, in the busy breeding season they’ll need all the help they can get. Leave out a bird bath to provide water for birds to drink and bathe in – use a simple shallow dish with sloping sides so it’s easy for birds to access. 2 PREP YOUR POTS Organise pots and planters. Get rid of any broken pots, then give dirty containers a wash using hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush. Old soil left in pots can harbour bacteria that can cause disease. 3 DEADHEAD BLOOMS Bedding should be flowering well still. To keep it in good health, deadhead regularly so the plants put more energy into…

Spring is in the air, so what better way to welcome in the new season than a handmade wreath of fresh flowers and foliage to decorate a door or entranceway. Spring blossoms and florals like daffodils, hyacinth and tulips are in abundance right now, so you could easily use an assortment foraged from the garden or simply choose a few shop-bought blooms. Flowers with hollow stems, such as daffodils and tulips, will fade more quickly so be mindful of this when selecting your blooms. For a longer-lasting display, choose flowers with woody stems, such as hydrangeas and wax flowers that will last longer out of water and keep their looks as they dry out. YOU WILL NEED * Floristry wire * Green leafy foliage * 40cm rattan grapevine wreath *…

BEST ULTRA COMPACT AIR FRYER LAKELAND DIGITAL COMPACT AIR FRYER SIZE H30xW25xD18 cm CAPACITY 1.6ltr PROGRAMS Eight (manual, poultry, steak/meat, bakes, fresh fries and vegetables, frozen fries and vegetables) PRICE £89.99 If you’re short on kitchen worktop space, this is one of the smallest air fryers you can buy (it has the capacity to cook up to 450g chips at a time!). The controls on this compact model are very simple to use – the manual cook function can be set between 60-200°C in 5°C intervals, while the timer can be set for any time up to 60 minutes and it’s very easy to toggle between the two settings using the time/temperature button. It lacks an auto preheat so you have to switch it to your preferred temperature and preheat…

Peach is having a revival, and about time, for this fruity shade can be versatile, warming and contemporary. Peach shades, from the palest whisper to almost-orange, team well with many colours, but when combined with other sorbet shades, like pink, creates a dreamy scheme. Warm metallic accents such as gold or copper will amp up the feeling of indulgence.…

While Monika used faux wallpaper, panelling is a great way of perking up a plain space or covering up a less-than-lovely wall, adding instant character without spending a fortune. One of the most searched-for projects on Instagram, DIY wall panelling is fairly straightforward to do, especially if there are two of you to tackle it. Go for simple board-and-batten panelling created with slim lengths of MDF if you are a beginner. Do your calculations Measure the wall area to calculate how much MDF you’ll need. Work out the width and height of the area to be panelled. Then calculate how many verticals and horizontals of MDF you’ll need. Cut the panels Once you have all the measurements, next get the MDF cut to size. If you don’t have the equipment…

As much as we love meeting up with friends for an Aperol Spritz, getting a seat at an outdoor bar in the summer can be a serious challenge. Make your home the go-to spot by taking advantage of your very own garden bar. Garden bars are riding a wave of popularity – and for good reason. They bring a new dimension to your garden and allow you to show off your mixology skills. What’s the easiest way to build a bar? There are many garden bar kits available that you can easily build yourself in a weekend. They usually come with shutters for that all-important serving space, side access and a padbolt, so your spirits can stay secure when it’s closing time. How do you make a budget outdoor bar?…

There are three types of listed status for buildings in England and Wales: Grade I, buildings of exceptional interest; Grade II*, deemed particularly important; and Grade II, of special architectural or historical interest. Most listed private homes will be Grade II. Why do you need specialist insurance? If you own a listed building, you’ll have an obligation to keep it as close as possible to its original state. Owners are not legally obliged to repair their listed property. However local councils are allowed to force owners to repair listed properties according to their statutory listing. This might mean you need to source rare or expensive building materials and specialist tradespeople, which makes insurance more expensive than for standard homes. What kind of listed buildings insurance do you need? If you…

Hang a wall-to-wall peg rail Utilise a cabinet-free wall by creating hanging space for kitchen essentials – chopping boards, jugs and mugs, for example – while dispersing decorative bits and bobs like hanging plants and picture frames between them. Give it a twist Paint a strip of colour below the rail to frame the objects. Revamp a cabinet with glass film Use sticky backed plastic to transform a plain kitchen cabinet into an up-to-date storage piece. The film will also help to prevent chips and scratches. Give it a twist Replace the fluted film with a frosted or patterned, stained glass-style alternative. Upcycle an old window frame Create a handy kitchen noticeboard by fixing cork tiles on to the back of an old frame using a glue gun or strong…

When we moved into our house, the bathroom was originally downstairs and although it was a good size, it was quite dated, with brown tiles and brown walls,’ says Kate. ‘We lived with it for around four and a half years while we did other works to the house, but we always knew we’d relocate the bathroom upstairs eventually. Changing rooms We began to plan the new layout, and decided to turn the existing downstairs bathroom into a snug, with doors out to the garden – and it made sense to do all the work at once. Although we knew the old bathroom hadn’t been fitted well, it was only when we ripped out the bath that we found out it had been leaking into the floor and sub floor…

Our kitchen cabinets store pretty much anything and everything, from most reached-for utensils and cookware, crockery and glasses, food ingredients, cleaning kit and kitchen electricals. As a result, the contents of cabinets can quickly become messy and disorganised, and though the doors do a good job of keeping everything out of sight, often chaos lies behind. Instead of sticking with standard interior storage, fine-tuning the fittings and tailoring the inside so that it meets specific needs or solves storage issues can make a big difference in terms of usability, so cupboards will be easier to organise and the contents more easily accessible. ACCESS TIGHT CORNERS Corner cabinets can be notoriously difficult to access, with blind spots that make it tricky to see or reach what’s inside. Carousel fittings are…

Whether you want to create an indoor herb garden or display scented blooms to enjoy on a kitchen windowsill, these painted chalkboard pots are simple to do and take next to no time. Terracotta pots can be picked up cheaply from garden centres or DIY stores from as little as £1 for smaller sizes like these and a little chalkboard paint will go a long way. We used black chalkboard paint applied with a brush, but you could also use spray chalkboard paint for a super-speedy finish, or try using chalkboard paint in different colours to create a vibrant rainbow effect. YOU WILL NEED * Terracotta pots * Masking tape * Newspaper or dust sheet * Chalkboard paint * Paintbrush * Chalk * Compost * Seeds/ready-grown herbs * Saucer *…

TIME AT HOME ALMOND AND AMARETTO HOT CROSS PUDDING TAKES 50 MINS, PLUS SOAKING SERVES 4 * 25g butter * 9 mini hot cross buns, sliced in half * 5tbsp amaretto * 2 medium eggs, plus 1 egg yolk (reserve the white for glazing) * 15g caster sugar * 250ml milk * 100ml single cream * 2tsp vanilla extract * 30g toasted almond flakes * YOU WILL NEED * 1ltr baking dish, greased 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Spread the butter over the hot cross buns, then slice the bottoms into chunks and place in the baking dish. 2 Spoon over 2tbsp of the amaretto. Leave to soak. Whisk the eggs with the sugar. 3 Gently heat the milk and cream in a pan until warm, then remove…

GOURMET FISH FINGER AND TA RTARE OPEN SANDWICH TAKES 30 MINS SERVES 4 * 400g skinless, boneless cod fillets, cut into thick strips * 4tbsp plain flour * 150g breadcrumbs * Zest of 1 lemon * 2 eggs, beaten * 4tbsp sunflower oil * 2 mini ciabatta, halved * Rocket FOR THE TARTARE SAUCE * 6tbsp mayonnaise * 1tbsp rinsed capers * 4 finely chopped gherkins * 2tbsp chopped parsley * 2tsp lemon juice 1 Put the fish pieces into a large bowl and add the plain flour. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and gently toss together until the fish pieces are well coated. 2 In a separate bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and lemon zest. Dip each fish piece in the beaten egg, then in…