Innehållsförteckning för August 2023 från Style At Home

I got a mega hit of nostalgia when I saw Jilly’s fabulous caravan (see page 82 for the full story) as, from the outside anyway, it’s a carbon copy of my grandparents’ van, which we borrowed for our family summer holidays every year when I was a child. Now I have my own summer home on wheels, only mine is a builder’s van we’ve converted into a campervan. Planning the inside took all the small-space interiors tricks I had up my sleeve to maximise every last inch – many of which I’ve used at home, such as built-in storage cubbies under my daughter’s cabin bed, and hanging storage in our teeny utility room. And the other bonus of a family trip away in our campervan (apart from the great outdoors,…

When it comes to kitchen flooring, tiles are top of the list in terms of practicality and style, whether it’s classic porcelain tiles in an elegant pattern, rustic country-style flagstones or bold and colourful terrazzo. Choose a material Tiles are hard-wearing, impervious to water and low-maintenance, so the obvious choice for kitchens and utility rooms. The type of tile you choose depends on the look you want and how big your budget is, from low-cost ceramic to pricier marble or real stone. Kitchen size will have the greatest impact on the price. The larger the room, the more square meterage you’ll need, and fitting costs have to be factored in too. Get the colour right Choosing a tile colour that complements your cabinets is a must, whether the units are…

There are no hard and fast rules about which patterns go together – often it can be a matter of trial and error. Creating a mood board of samples so you can work out which pairings work and which ones don’t can be a good place to start. Work out your style First, consider what type of pattern best suits the room you’re decorating. Whether you opt for a combination of florals and ditsy motifs, a mix of sharp stripes and geometrics or a clash of polka dots and leopard print, narrowing it down can help. Bring balance Start with a larger-scale design as the hero pattern then build your scheme around it. Work in a mix of medium- and small-scale motifs that will create visual interest and balance. Pick…

Sleek and seamless, industrial-style concrete flooring is often used in open-plan spaces, such as extensions or kitchen-living areas, to create a continuous run of flooring. Opt for a tough finish Concrete flooring is hardwearing, durable and low-maintenance, so ideal for downstairs spaces and high-traffic areas. Concrete flooring can be left in its raw natural state or it can be coloured and then polished and sealed to create a non-porous surface. Expect to pay upwards of £80-£200sq m, depending on the finish and installation method. Factor in fitting time Installation times vary depending on the fitting technique used. Most concrete floors are poured in a single layer, 10cm thick. Next-day expansion cuts are sawn into the floor to ensure shrinkage cracks are in a neat line. These are filled with an…

Max out unused garage space Create the perfect utility space along one wall of your garage or shed. Choose functional solid wood furniture to ensure a simple hardworking modern-country look. Give it a twist Replace solid drawers with rustic woven baskets or wire drawers to aid ventilation. Use alcoves for extra storage Chunky shelves and rustic baskets are all it takes to create a home for linens. Fix the bottom shelf high enough to fit a row of taller laundry baskets underneath it. Give it a twist Screen off the alcove area with a simple café-style curtain. Invest in inky tones Dark shades can work in even the smallest of spaces, creating a smart, relaxed feel. Team with a marble worktop and punctuate with sophisticated gold hardware. Give it a…

We bought the caravan as a treat while I was recovering from an operation,’ says Jilly, ‘and it was such a positive focus. It kept me entertained while I was recovering, as I researched on my iPad how to decorate the interior. ‘From my hospital bed it felt like a fantasy – a bit of fun – but over the following year it slowly became more of a reality. I started by tracing the interior from photographs and adding colour and patterned wallpaper digitally. Making it homely David began by gutting the caravan on our driveway. He replaced the roof light and repaired all the windows, as well as raising and re-laying the floor to create space for new pipework, and removing all the rust from the wheels. He was…

High summer is a time for holidays and days out, whether picnicking in the countryside, travelling abroad or staying at the seaside. Organised packing and a checklist to tick off can be a big help, from hampers and cool bags to suitcases and camper vans, so you have all the essentials you’ll need. And if you’re at home over the summer and want to squeeze in some DIY, there are plenty of speedy fixes indoors and out that can be tackled in an afternoon. Pack a picnic If you’re heading out for the day, pack cleverly to ensure that picnic fare stays cool. Organise your cooler bag with frozen water bottles at the bottom, placing the heaviest items and food that needs to be kept cold on top of the…

It’s a common misconception that water is an infinite resource as it makes up more than 70% of our planet. However most of this is actually sea water. Fresh water makes up just 2.5% of this, with less than 1% of this being easily accessible. So, it’s vital we respect the water we do have and treat it as the precious, life-giving commodity that it is. Saving water in your garden could not only help the planet, but if you’re on a water meter some of these tips will even help save money on your water bill. 1 LEAVE YOUR LAWN CLIPPINGS Lawns are super thirsty. To give your grass the best chance of survival, when you’re mowing set the blades high because long grass traps dew, providing useful moisture…

BEST OVERALL LAWNMOWER BOSCH ADVANCED ROTAK 750 TYPE Electric corded GRASS BOX 50ltr CUTTING HEIGHTS 20–80mm PRICE £309.99 This mains-powered machine not only looks like a stealth fighter plane – it sounds stealthy, too. Thanks to Bosch’s ProSilence tech, the 1,700 watt mower is 75% quieter than previous models, at just 89 decibels. The one-touch ErgoSlide control system makes finding the right height and angle simple, and there are a few triggers to activate the mower so you can change hand positions as you need. The grass collection bag holds a hefty 50 litres, while the LeafCollect system makes gathering up leaves – even in large amounts – a simple process. Thanks to its super-smooth action, working around the garden is really easy, making this the perfect mower for larger…

TIME AT HOME If you’ve a hot tub in the garden or are considering splashing out on one, chances are you’ll be thinking about running costs. Hot tubs can use a lot of energy, which can mean a hefty bill, so it’s worth doing the maths if you’re thinking about taking the plunge. We’ve used 30p per kWH to calculate the cost of running a hot tub (which is based on the new Ofgem energy price cap as of July 2023). However, for a more accurate figure, take a look at your energy bill to find out how much you pay per pence/kWH. What factors impact energy usage? The main factor that affects how much energy a hot tub uses is how much water it contains – the greater the…

COASTAL BUYS Capture that holiday vibe all summer long. Matalan’s coastal-inspired buys are perfect for the patio, with outdoor tableware in soft sand and sea-washed tones, plus weatherproof cushions and bolsters in breezy nautical stripes. We’re big fans of this solar lantern with its woven-rope decoration…

1 Pick a floral centrepiece Go big with table decorations if you’re celebrating a special occasion outdoors. In-season blooms will add a splash of colour to a plain table and if you pick a selection of foliage and flowers from the garden, it won’t cost a thing. Stand a hurricane lantern with candle at the centre of your arrangement to take it from day to evening. Use mini jars filled with water around your lantern to hold flowers (rather than using florists’ foam) and let them spill over so the base is concealed. 2 MAKE FABRIC POT COVERS Try disguising plastic planters or tatty terracotta pots by making a few inexpensive fabric cover-ups. Use fabric remnants in a mix of ginghams, florals, stripes or plains – or if you have…

Go for bold ‘The kitchen really is the heart of the home and an ideal place to make a statement with adventurous colour choices,’ says Ruth Mottershead at Little Greene. ‘When choosing a shade for a kitchen, it’s important to consider any existing colours within the space, be that furniture, flooring or appliances. And if there’s an architectural feature, colour is a fantastic way to highlight it.’ Try an accent shade ‘Playing around with colour can add impact, but there are other ways to do this if you’re more indecisive,’ says Ruth Lavender at Benchmarx Kitchens. ‘Try adding accents of colour through accessories, such as crockery or a statement splashback. If you do decide to mix things up again, it won’t require a total rework.’ ‘IF ALL-OUT COLOUR FEELS TOO…

TOTAL £7,200 TURN OVER FOR MY SHOPPING LIST After years of living in Brighton, we wanted a complete lifestyle change,’ explains Deborah, ‘so we sold our one-bedroom flat and moved out of the city where we could afford a house with a generous garden. We bought our new home from an elderly gentleman who had lived in the house his whole life. The property hadn’t been touched since the 1980s, so we had our work cut out. ‘Our plans included building an extension, plus adding a garden studio, so that I could use the space to host floristry workshops outside of the house. Though unkempt, the garden was in a better state than the rest of the house so we decided to keep what existing elements…

Also known as upcycling, furniture flipping is the art of turning an old pre-loved piece into something fresh. You can change its function to suit your needs, or simply add a coat of paint to enhance the character that’s already there, give it a new look and increase its value. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to say to family and friends: ‘I flipped that!’ In addition to painting a piece of furniture, updating the handles can make a huge difference, too. Old hardware can be given a new lease of life using spray paint or polish, or you may fall in love with new handles that don’t fit the existing bolt holes. The filler trick (see 2 and 3, right) allows you to change one bolt hole to…

B&M TUTTI FRUTTI Create a juicy scene with fruity prints and citrus brights Dobbies CLASSIC COASTAL Sail away with an ocean-inspired blue and white scheme Next SUMMER SCANDI Choose mono-style designs for an effortless set up Joe Browns TROPICAL VIBES Pack your garden with colour for a vibrant outdoor space…

An older house was always on the cards for me,’ says Esther. ‘I grew up with my parents renovating homes – my dad was a builder – and when the time came for my boyfriend Lewis and me to buy a property of our own, we knew we wanted a period project we could put our stamp on. Living at home while we saved up meant we were in a great position to buy a four-bedroom Victorian terraced house just around the corner from my family home. The house was on the market for a competitive price, so we knew it was the property for us. It had been empty for six months when we bought it, and rented out before, but structurally it was in pretty good condition, with…

After years of living in a Victorian house in south-east London, it was time for us to move out of the capital and so we started looking around north Essex,’ says Erica. ‘We arranged a day to view several houses and I went to see this one under duress; it was a new build and I had never lived in a new home before. I remember driving up to it and thinking “Oh, I actually really like it!” After living in London for 20 years, I couldn’t believe the space. The house wasn’t decorated to my taste though – it was all white and beige, and the kitchen was very dark with French doors leading into a conservatory, which was too hot in the summer and too cold in the…

When we decided to move back to the north of England seven years ago, after many years living in period properties in London, I had no idea that I was going to fall for a barn conversion,’ says Keelie. ‘We’d renovated several properties and our last house was an Edwardian semi in Ealing. We’re both from Cheshire and once the kids weren’t tiny any more, we felt it was time to move back home and give them the childhood we’d had, with family around and plenty of space. First steps I gave up a full-time position as a homewares buyer to launch myself as an interior designer and my husband also changed his job so we could make the move. We wanted a semi-rural area, and we identified the villages…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks COMBINE CHEQUERBOARD, COLOUR BLOCK AND ABSTRACT DESIGNS ON WALLS, CUSHIONS AND RUGS, FOR A BOLD LOOK STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

With alfresco dining becoming ever more popular, organising somewhere to store outdoor cooking equipment can be tricky. From barbecue kit and utensils to picnicware, serving platters and chopping boards, having everything within easy reach but protected from the elements is a must. ‘An outdoor kitchen is an extension of inside your home, providing a space to prep, serve and cook meals alfresco,’ says Dee Fontenot, resident style advisor at Wayfair. ‘Think about the space in the same way you would inside, to make it practical and functional as well as stylish. Clever organisation will ensure you have what you need, when you need it – no matter what size space you’re working with.’ GO FOR OPEN SHELVES Ease of access is a plus point when prepping food or firing up…

While black might not be the obvious choice for a garden fence, it looks super smart and can make a small garden appear bigger. Painting a fence black (or another very dark tone) will make it recede visually, blurring the boundaries and giving the effect of more space. And rather than blending in with their surroundings, the colours of flowers and foliage will stand out against black to showcase your planting scheme. Choose a fine day If you’re planning to paint your fence, choose a warm, dry day with no rain on the horizon. If it’s been raining, allow the fence to dry thoroughly first. Avoid very hot days as the sun will dry the paint before it can fully penetrate the wood. Prep the surface Use a stiff brush…

PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE POTS TAKES 30 MINS PLUS CHILLING TIME AND PREPPING THE PINEAPPLE FLOWERS MAKES 6-8 POTS * 1 whole pineapple, peeled * 110g pack digestive biscuits * 80g butter, melted * 300g full-fat cream cheese * 250g mascarpone * 150g caster sugar * Zest and juice of 2 limes * 150ml coconut milk * 3 sheets gelatine, soaked in cold water for a few mins * 1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced * Toasted coconut shavings * 30g crushed pistachios * YOU WILL NEED * 6-8 glass serving pots 1 Heat the oven to 140C/ Gas 1. For the pineapple flowers, halve the pineapple sideways and slice large, thin rounds from the top half. 2 Line a baking tray with parchment. Cover with 6-8 pineapple rounds and put in…

ROASTED VEG AND CREAM CHEESE TART TAKES 1 HR, 10 MINS (PLUS CHILLING TIME) SERVES 6 * 325g pack ready-rolled puff pastry * 1 fennel bulb, sliced thickly * 2 red peppers, de-seeded and cut into chunks * 2 red onions, sliced thickly * 2 courgettes, cut into chunks * 2tbsp olive oil * 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten * 150g packet of garlic and herb cheese (we used Boursin) * Fresh or dried oregano * Basil leaves (optional) 1 Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, score a rectangle 1cm inside the pastry edge, then score the rim in a criss-cross pattern. Chill for 20 mins. 2 Put the fennel into a large roasting tin with the peppers, onions…