Innehållsförteckning för November 2023 från Style At Home

This is the first year we’ve really been able to enjoy our garden, now we have sliding doors leading out from the kitchen and a new patio and deck area. So I’m keen to use the outdoor space as much as possible, even over winter, which is why I loved the tips in our ‘Cosy up for winter’ feature on page 102. If being outside in the cold really isn’t your thing, how about some indoor plants instead? Turn to page 66 for creative styling ideas for your houseplants. As a houseplant addict, I’ll be trying a few of these out this month. Some news: this is my last editor’s letter, as I’m passing on the baton to our brilliant deputy editor Lisa who’ll be taking over. I will always…

Fruity shades of damson, berry and clementine are set to be this season’s juiciest colour trend. Rich plummy tones create a warm, enveloping backdrop that can be spiced up with sharper accents of raspberry and cranberry, and warm orange and saffron to create a deliciously inviting scheme. Choose plush finishes and materials such as soft velvety upholstery and high-gloss lacquer and glass for a sumptuous room you’ll want to hibernate in all winter long.…

We viewed a few properties before this house, all within a mile radius of Grimsby town centre, but we ended up falling for the cheapest and most dated house of all,’ says Leila. ‘Having rented on and off for years – and having got travelling out of our systems – Joe and I were ready to buy our first home. We lived on the rural outskirts before, so we wanted to be more central. I’d always loved my aunt’s deceptively spacious London terrace and Joe had grown up in a period home, too, so we were on the same page in our hunt for a characterful house. Luckily the three bedroom house we found already had central heating and a new roof, and we couldn’t wait to make our own…

1 Elevate a table display Go all-out decorating the dining table if you’ve got seasonal festivities planned. A hanging arrangement of foliage and lights creates a stunning focal point and leaves table space free for serving dishes and platters in the centre. Use a sturdy branch or wooden pole to create your display, suspended from the ceiling with rope or fishing wire. Decorate with a foliage garland and wind a set of micro lights around it to keep everything in place. Once set up it can easily be tweaked for other occasions, from Christmas and Easter to birthday celebrations. 2 BEAT THE CHILLS WITH A CURTAIN Keep draughts at bay with a thick curtain at the front door. Use a heavyweight fabric, such as tweed, velvet or a weave, plus…

TOTAL £8,997 TURN OVER FOR MY SHOPPING LIST I’ve always been drawn to period properties and when my husband Karl and I saw our 1650s cottage in Enfield it was love at first sight,’ says Sandra. ‘The place was in good condition, but it had been decorated in a very modern way, which didn’t suit the style of the house. Bit by bit we began changing it to a more traditional look, with lots of vintage buys combined with heritage colours and prints. We took our time and finally had it looking just how we wanted it. Then, in 2021, we made the decision to extend the house to include a third bedroom, which would not only give us a larger sleep space, but also a dressing area and…

TRY THIS... Enjoy a warming pick-me-up on a chilly Bonfire night with this Baileys hot chocolate recipe. Simply whizz together your regular brew using warmed milk and hot chocolate. Then simply stir in a serving of Baileys, top with a dollop of whipped cream, some mini marshmallows to float on top and finish with a grating of chocolate.…

BEST FOAM ONLY OPTION NECTAR MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS SIZES AVAILABLE Single/Small double/ Double/King/Super king TYPE Foam NUMBER OF SPRINGS None FIRMNESS Medium-firm DEPTH 25cm MANUFACTURER TRIAL OFFER 365 nights PRICE from £949 for a single This all-foam, no spring mattress provides a cushioned sleep surface that’s a good option for side sleepers, with very little motion transfer thanks to the dampening effect of the memory foam top layer. However, that pure foam construction means the mattress may be too soft for those on the heavier side or for front sleepers, who will find a pocket-sprung or hybrid mattress offers better support. There’s also a ‘new mattress’ off-gassing smell that our reviewer found took a little while to dissipate, but on the upside, Nectar offers one of the longest sleep trials…

George Home SCANDI BATHROOM Create a tranquil space with soft blues and greys and wavy lines M&S MID-CENTURY MODERN Combine geometric shapes with earthy tones of sage, ochre and rust Wayfair AUTUMNAL TONES Team burnt orange and metallics with a splash of green for a seasonal feel Dunelm HOMELY COMFORT Mix bobbin details and uplifting patterns with primary red and blue…

When we bought this house I wasn’t into DIY and didn’t have a clue,’ says Jen. ‘So when we heard a small developer was building some detached houses in Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, the idea of a blank canvas with no wallpaper to strip really appealed to us. Our previous home was an end-of-terrace house in the middle of Leyland, which felt quite claustrophobic and noisy. Having grown up on a farm, Nick wanted somewhere quieter, and four bedrooms were a must for our growing family. It took a year to build and we sold our old house before this one was ready. Luckily we were able to rent it back from the buyer for a few extra months. First steps A lot of the rooms were white for several years before…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks ‘CREATE A PERSONALISED SPACE WITH AN ECLECTIC MIX OF FUN AND QUIRKY BUYS’ STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

If you’re planning a separate walk-in wardrobe or perhaps a dressing area adjacent to your bedroom, the first consideration for both is the same – how much space is available? Once you know the size and shape of the area you’re working with, then you can start to think about storage needs. Decide on open or closed After you’ve measured up, think about what type of storage you’d prefer. Open rails and shelves work well in walk-in wardrobes, allowing easy access to clothes, but are best in closed-off areas so tidiness doesn’t become an issue. In a dressing area that’s visible from the bedroom, such as Sandra’s, built-in wardrobes with clothes behind doors can be a better option so everything isn’t constantly on show. Assess storage needs Next look at…

STORAGE A small kitchen or lack of cupboard space often means that worktops pay the price, ending up as home to all manner of kitchen kit, from small appliances and cookware to food ingredients and cook books. But having too much ‘stuff’ out on show not only looks untidy, cluttered surfaces can also slow you down when you’re cooking or preparing food. The first step is to find a home for as much as you can. Rather than cramming everything into overcrowded cupboards and drawers, a savvier option is to make use of wasted inches above, around and at the end of worktops to keep essentials within easy reach but out of the way. SLOT IN AT THE END Fill empty space at the end of a run of…

PORCH PUMPKINS YOU WILL NEED * Selection of pumpkins * Paint * Paint brush * Glass lanterns 1 PICK A FEW PUMPKINS Make a spine-chilling scene at your front door with pumpkin-loaded lanterns. Pick out two or three smallish pumpkins for each, enough to cover the base of the lanterns. 2 USE LEFTOVER PAINT Leave the pumpkins as they come naturally or give them a coat of paint to add drama. Use leftover white emulsion or tester pots of paint in dark grey or matt black for a spooky touch, painting the pumpkins all over. 3 ADD FINISHING TOUCHES Once dry, arrange pumpkins inside the lanterns higgledy-piggledy, adding a few autumnal leaves and fake spiders for a seasonal scary touch. BEADY-EYED BIRDS YOU WILL NEED * Glass cloches * Twigs…

SAUSAGE, APPLE AND CRISPY SAGE CASSEROLE TAKES 50 MINS SERVES 4 * 3tsp olive oil * 18 sage leaves * 8 free-range sausages * 40g butter * 2 apples, quartered and cored * 2 leeks, sliced into rings * 2 onions, sliced Few sprigs of thyme * 4tsp cornflour * 500ml vegetable stock * 600ml dry cider * 2 bay leaves * 2 x 400g tins butter beans, drained * Sweet potato mash 1 Heat 1tsp of the oil in a casserole pot and fry the sage leaves for about 2 mins until crisp. Set aside for later. 2 Heat the remaining oil and fry the sausages on a medium-high for 5-8 mins until evenly browned. Remove from the pot and set aside. 3 Reduce the heat and add the…

OMBRÉ WALLS Create a serene WFH space by painting the walls with ombré stripes in soft shades of plaster pink. Paint the skirting first then blend the colour into deeper hues as you go up. Add floating shelves to delineate the lines and create a focal point.…

We’d been renting locally for about four years, but our flat was tiny and only had two bedrooms, and as we were planning on starting a family we really needed more space,’ says Amy. ‘At the time, banks were offering mortgages for only five per cent deposit, so we decided to save and buy our own home. I really wanted us to buy a Victorian terrace as I love period properties with high ceilings, large rooms and built-in charm, but I didn’t want a massive project as by now we had Elliott who was only one. And to be honest, we didn’t have the spare funds to be able to do a big renovation. So, when we spotted this place it ticked all our boxes. It had been recently decorated…

Create a living wall Consider placing pockets of wall-mounted plants in place of artwork or a mirror. Choose trailing varieties and plants with interesting leaf shapes to make the best display. Give it a twist Take inspiration from retail installations and displays at restaurants and completely fill a wall or alcove with plants. Maximise worktop space Plants always enhance a workspace, but can clutter up a desk. Hanging them vertically is the ideal option. Create your own holders using wooden storage crates and leather strapping attached to a wire grid. Give it a twist Paint the crates with blackboard paint so plants can be labelled or memos left. Boost dark décor Moody blues and deep greens make a striking background for plants. Use a trailing string of pearls or frondy…

HALLWAY TIDY-UP Give your hallway a quick once-over so it feels neat and orderly when you walk in the front door. Woven baskets make great catch-alls for smaller odds and ends, while a row of hooks on the wall will keep coats, scarves, bags and dog leads tidy too.…

Pick a neat design Walk-in shower designs offer the spaciousness and level-entry access of a wet room but without having to tank the entire room. A simple way to install a walk-in shower is to buy a specialist enclosure with a low-level tray and screens on one or more sides – the entry will be semi open, but the tray means no worrying about tanking or draining gradients to ensure water flows away properly. Mix materials Make the walk-in shower the focus of your bathroom by opting for a mix of wall and floor tiles, instead of uniform tiles throughout. For an eye-catching effect, combine tiles in different shapes and size formats – but stick with a similar colour palette to help create a visual connection without looking overly busy.…

Autumn’s well and truly here, with the clocks going back, shorter days and longer evenings. Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations might mean you’re hosting a get-together and are out in the garden with festive fare to organise and outdoor fairy lights back in action. Indoors the focus is on hunkering down and ensuring your living and sleeping spaces feel super snug, from digging out thicker duvets and bedding to layering up with cosier throws, cushions and curtains. Tuck into a feast If you’ve a family gathering outdoors to watch fireworks or to catch up after trick-or-treating, then a sturdy table to set up a buffet on is a must. A garden table or trestle-style arrangement is ideal, positioned near the barbecue for easy access. Have plenty of serving platters,…

‘BUYING READY- M ADE SHORTCRUST PASTRY WILL CUT DOWN YOUR MAKING TIME CONSIDERABLY’ TOFFEE APPLE TART SERVES 8 TAKES 1 HR 30 MINS PLUS CHILLING * 320g pack rolled shortcrust pastry * 1kg Bramley apples, peeled, cored and chopped into small chunks * 100g unsalted butter * 1 cinnamon stick * 125g caster sugar * Zest of ½ a lemon * 2tbsp cornflour * 3 dessert apples, peeled, cored and finely sliced * FOR THE CARAMEL SAUCE * 65g caster sugar * 15g salted butter * 2tbsp double cream * YOU WILL NEED * 23cm tart tin 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Roll out the pastry to 3mm thick. Line the tin with the pastry, pinching the edges to crimp. Prick the base with a fork and chill…

Lack of space can be a problem in any home, but when it comes to finding ways to make a small living room look bigger, there are plenty of ideas that help to make a poky space feel more spacious. Start by taking a long, hard look at your room and decide which parts you think work well and which don’t work quite so well. Re-assessing the space, getting rid of items that aren’t earning their spot in the room, then reworking the layout can do wonders in a small living room, and taking it back to basics is a great place to start. Simplify your whole colour scheme Using a single colour in different tints and tones throughout the room helps stretch the space visually and make it feel…