Innehållsförteckning för June 2023 från Style At Home

My much longed-for view of the garden, through our newly installed sliding doors in the kitchen, was of a patch that was 90% mud after the building work was finished! We hadn’t factored in a garden makeover this year but quickly realised we had to do something to be able to enjoy indoor-outdoor living over the summer. The ultimate aim is to build an outdoor kitchen: way too big a project for us right now. We needed small wins, so we laid new turf and fitted some DIY decking. These changes have made a huge difference, and if you’re looking for something on a similar scale there are some brilliant budget ideas for your outdoor space in this issue. Head to page 74 for 12 easy style updates, from painting…

Neglected outdoor spaces can look drab after the winter months, so the start of the season is the perfect time to clean up and get patios and decks looking bright again. Tidy up greenery Clear out any debris using shears or secateurs to strip away any loose or dead branches and trim back overgrown plants. Then sweep up the dead leaves and general detritus from around the patio. Wash down the patio Clear the area first, then give patios and decks a good clean using detergent mixed in hot water and a stiff-bristled brush. Scrub the surface well, before rinsing with clean water. For more stubborn grime, use an off-the-shelf cleaning product such as Jeyes 4-in-1 outdoor cleaner. Dust off furniture Garden furniture stashed away in a shed or under…

If you’ve old pine furniture that’s starting to look a little worn and tatty, don’t assume it’s destined for the tip. Whether it’s kitchen chairs or a shabby chest of drawers, upcycling dated wooden furniture with a fresh coat of paint in a cheery colour will make it look brand new again. Cut down on prep For a speedy option, opt for chalk paint. With a matte, chalky finish, it requires minimal prep work and can be painted straight over most clean, dry surfaces (except for metal and laminate). It goes on smoothly and is generally less likely to drip than standard paint. Clean down Start by giving furniture a good clean. Brush off dust and cobwebs, then get rid of any dirt and grime by wiping over with a…

Adding a dedicated pantry cupboard to your kitchen is a great storage solution, allowing all those store cupboard essentials to be kept in one place. Provided you have the space, all that’s needed is a little organisation. Take stock Start by removing everything from your allocated cupboard and going through the contents. Check expiry dates and get rid of anything that’s out of date. For items that are in date that you’re unlikely to use, consider donating them to a food bank. Once empty, dust and wipe down shelves to make sure the interior is clean. Narrow down storage Plan how you will divide up the interior of your cupboard and what you want to store. If shelves are adjustable, rearrange the heights so that tall jars and containers will…

CLEVER DECORATING Save on surface space in the kitchen Store mini chopping boards, cookbooks and canisters within easy reach and use an upturned spice rack to hang mugs and other kitchen utensils from s-hooks. Give it a twist Attach cup hooks to the underside of the rack to hang keys, mugs or tea towels. Organise your necklaces beautifully Prevent tangles as well as creating a pretty display by hanging jewellery from an upturned spice rack. It also provides a small ledge for arranging framed pictures and perfumes. Give it a twist Free up space on a bedside table by looping the cord of a hanging lightbulb lamp through the rack. Make a handy gift wrap station Build a custom storage system for keeping crafts, wrap and ribbons in perfect order.…

We moved to our current house to get more space, but although there was plenty of room downstairs, the upstairs was smaller than we originally hoped for,’ says Cindy. ‘We knew a loft conversion was the obvious way to add the fourth bedroom we dreamed of, but before we managed to get our plans drawn up and work underway, the country went into lockdown, so we had to think fast to find space where all four of us could work from home. Reuse and recycle The solution was staring at us through the kitchen window; there was a summerhouse at the end of the garden begging to be used. To be honest, it had seen better days, but although Adam thought it was past it, I was pretty sure we…

STORAGE The lawn mower tangled up in the washing line or shelves overflowing with plant pots can be a pain, especially if all you went into the shed for was to find the secateurs. But as well as being a hassle, a cluttered shed can be a danger too, especially if there are sharp tools and potentially hazardous equipment that isn’t safely put away. Getting the shed properly organised shouldn’t take too much effort or expense. Simple utility-style shelves are a good starting point and are so useful for stacking everything from planters to bags of compost. Then fine tune your storage with racks and hooks for holding garden tools and smaller odds and ends like twine, plant ties and seed packets, so you can quickly lay your hands on…

BEST OVERALL VAX STEAM FRESH COMBI CAPACITY 460mlDIMENSIONS H116xW31xD30cmWEIGHT 3.7kgPOWER 1600 wattsPRICE £99.99 This superb upright steam mop features a triangular floorhead, two cloths, and a carpet glider, promising value for money from the offset. You can pop the head off to reveal a medium-sized triangular brush that’s perfect for scrubbing. It never let us down during testing; in fact, our tester thought it was so excellent that she found it difficult to step away from it as she envisioned other things in her home she could clean. There’s a 200ml detergent tank and a bottle of detergent included. Our tester also liked the fact that it can stand up independently when you need to pause between cleaning. REASON TO BUY Added glider included for refreshing carpets, plus onboard tools…

Reserve your place outdoors this summer. Whether you’re after garden furniture, comfy cushions or picnicware, M&S’s outdoor living range hits the spot. We’re big fans of this chic four-seater lounge set with its lovely chunky cushions.…

1 Add a small outdoor water feature The sound of trickling water can be super-soothing outdoors and adding a DIY water feature makes an easy weekend project. Choose a shallow yet wide container – an old enamel basin or a vintage metal tub will do the job perfectly – then place it on level ground or raise up on a brick plinth. Decide what you want your feature to include, whether still water, a mini solar-powered bubbling fountain or a selection of aquatic plants, then fill with water and enjoy the peace and tranquillity. It’s great for wildlife too. 2 JAZZ UP A GARDEN PARASOL Pretty up a plain canvas parasol by adding a colourful ribbon trim. Use leftover remnants of ribbon from craft projects or gift wrapping and cut…

The simplest summerhouse or garden room is similar to a shed, with either shiplap walls or a log-cabin construction and usually supplied in pre-fabricated panels. If you’re a skilled DIYer, you could put one up yourself. More advanced designs, with sliding glass doors or a deck, for example, will need to be built on site by a specialist. Get the size right Consider how you will use your garden room to ensure you have adequate space. Allow enough room for furniture if it’s to be a home office or lounging space. If you plan to use it as a games room or home gym, ensure there’s enough headroom and space to stretch out – the floor might need reinforcing for very heavy equipment. Check planning permission If your building is…

June is officially the start of summer, so if you’ve lots of sunny days in the garden planned, then now’s the perfect time to get your outdoor space looking shipshape. Give grubby garden furniture a quick spruce-up and check that cushions, throws, canvas shades and parasols are clean and cobweb-free. And think about garden lighting too, so you’ll be able to stretch the time spent outdoors now that warmer days and evenings are here. Get ready for summer soirees Organise your al fresco kit so that you’re fully prepped now that summer’s here. Go through outdoor tableware, making sure you have plenty of plates, cutlery, linens and drinkware, as well as serving dishes and disposables. Keep an easy-carry basket or crate filled with all the essentials handy so you know…

HONEY CAKE WITH SWEET STRAWBERRIES AND A FRUITY ELDERFLOWER BUTTERCREAM TAKES 1 HR, 10 MINS PLUS COOLING TIME SERVES 12 * 150g organic runny honey * 5 medium eggs * 250g plain flour * 40g butter, melted * FOR THE BUTTERCREAM * 3 egg whites * 200g caster sugar * 350g soft unsalted butter * 2tbsp elderflower cordial * 300g strawberries, sliced * Edible flowers * YOU WILL ALSO NEED * 2 x deep 18cm cake tins, lined 1 Heat the oven to 170C/Gas 3. For the cake, heat the honey in a pan and boil for 1 min. In a mixer, whisk the eggs on high until fluffy. Lower the speed then slowly add the honey. With the mixer back on high, whisk for another 2 to 3 mins.…

CARAMELISED RED ONION QUICHE TAKES 1 HR 25 MINS, PLUS COOLING SERVES 4 FOR THE PASTRY * 75g butter, cold, cut into cubes * 150g wholemeal flour FOR THE FILLING * 30g butter * 1tbsp olive oil * 500g red onions, sliced * 1tsp caster sugar * 1tbsp freshly chopped thyme * 2 eggs * 170ml double cream * 1tbsp Dijon mustard YOU WILL NEED * 4 x 12cm tart tins * Baking parchment * Baking beans 1 Make the pastry by rubbing the butter into the flour and bring together using 2tbsp cold water. Chill, then divide into 4. Chill again. 2 Heat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6, and put in a baking tray. Roll out the pastry and line the tart cases. Prick with a fork, then…

B&M NEUTRAL BOHO Create a chilled vibe with tactile materials and subtle shades Habitat DOPAMINE BRIGHTS Bring out the happy hues with a colourful combo Matalan RUSTIC UTILITY Style your kitchen with smart, yet functional essentials George Home GLOBAL GETAWAY Team natural rattan and seagrass with animal-inspired designs…

I always knew we’d have to move a couple of times before we could afford our dream home,’ says Melanie. ‘So the plan was to buy a stepping stone house that we could add value to as a springboard up the property ladder. We’d almost finished renovating our two-up, two-down terrace when my friend said her next-door neighbour was selling up. Unfortunately we weren’t quite ready to buy it, but it didn’t sell anyway and they took it off the market. A few months later it was back up for sale at £20,000 less, so we quickly sold our house via an online agent and made an offer the next day. Although it had a new boiler and was in a desirable street, it hadn’t been updated in years. It…

My first thoughts when I viewed this house, was that it was a little bland,’ says Carla. ‘The previous owner had looked after it, but there was a beige carpet in every single room from the kitchen to the bathroom. The tiles were all beige and every single wall was magnolia – it felt boring! ‘Despite that, this house was affordable and as I live in Chester, which isn’t the cheapest place, this was a priority. I wanted a house, with a garden and off-street parking, but beyond that I wasn’t too fussy because trying to find something I could afford when buying on my own was quite difficult. I didn’t want to take on a massive house for my first project, instead l was looking for somewhere I could…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks A BOLD WALLPAPER BEHIND A HEADBOARD TURNS THE BED AND THE WALL BEHIND IT INTO A FOCAL POINT FOR THE ROOM STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

Choose soft colours Colour can be a game changer when it comes to making a small space feel bigger. Using pale shades and soft tones can help create a light and airy mood and enhance the feeling of space, but this doesn’t have to mean sticking to white or magnolia walls throughout. Opting for warm neutrals and barely-there tones will add a touch of warmth and won’t feel as stark as white. Use internal glazing to divide up rooms Another way to open up your home’s layout and make it look bigger is to install internal glazing. Instead of dividing rooms by solid walls, fitting glass doors or an entire glazed wall allows natural light to flow through the space, creating an open-plan feel while maintaining separate rooms. ‘PAINT SKIRTING…

We caught up with Billie Faiers, of TV’s The Mummy Diaries fame, at the launch of her new children’s craft and stationery range. Part of her Chapter B Kids Club collection for Tesco, the super-cute buys include make-your-own dinosaur and jewellery kits, journals, kindness cards and letter-writing sets. ‘We spent a lot more time together at home during the pandemic,’ says Billie, ‘and keeping Nelly and Arthur entertained was a huge focus. With the new collection, they love making models, cards and keepsakes. It’s great that they can express their creativity.’ ORGANISE A KIDS’ PLAY SPACE 1 UTILISE SPACE A roomy table that kids can use for making and building is a must. Try to keep it clear of clutter so they can spread out. And plenty of…