Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från Style At Home

Early summer is the perfect time to get a head start on garden jobs and projects, so that when the warmer weather comes you can spend the time outdoors relaxing instead. In this issue there are plenty of ideas to help you get your plot looking great – for minimum effort. Start small with our mini outdoor makeovers to give your garden a glow-up (p66), then check out our genius ideas to make a compact garden feel bigger (p56) and tips on how to create the perfect pergola (p100). Or if it’s indoor inspiration you’re after, our three homes this month range from a stylish two-bed rental to a spacious semi, all packed with ideas, so there’s something to suit everyone. And don’t miss our fabulous offer (p80) where you…

1 SET UP A SHELFIE Displaying plants en masse is a fabulous way of creating instant impact. Simple wooden shelves can be used to stage an arrangement using different varieties with a mix of leaf shapes, sizes and colours, some trailing and some to add height. Choose pots in similar colours and styles to give your display a more cohesive feel. Planters, from a selection, Garden Trading 2 CREATE A GALLERY SPACE Instead of a picture wall filled with artwork, create a still-life arrangement that combines plants and pictures. Go for plants with interesting forms, such as shapely succulents and spiky cacti, teamed with botanical prints for a co-ordinated look. Position above a sideboard or console table, structuring the arrangement in a block to fill the space with plants arranged…

After making the big decision to move to England from Hong Kong, we chose St Albans in Hertfordshire as our base,’ says Meko. ‘We had friends living here already, there are good schools and you can get into London if you need to easily, but you also have the countryside on your doorstep. There’s actually a sizeable Chinese community here too. We rented for four years to make sure we’d made the right decision and give us time to save up and then it was finally time to buy a place. Finding a home All the properties we viewed that were already done up were at least 30 per cent more expensive, so it made sense to take on a project. We saw this house, which was a typical mid-terrace…

Make planted place-card holders Use tea light holders or thrifted teacups to make pretty place markers. Fill each one with moist sphagnum moss, then poke in flower stems. Either pick some blooms from the garden or use a few stems from a bouquet. Give it a twist… Swap fresh stems for dried to make an everlasting display. Make your own rustic planter Upcycle a basic plastic pot or one you no longer like the style of. Use a hot glue gun to stick crafting twigs vertically around the pot, then secure them in place with two lengths of thick jute twine. Give it a twist… Make a matching vase or candle holder by gluing craft twigs around a glass jar. Turn basic bakeware into planters Use lengths of chunky twine…

When we first moved into the house, the garden was incredibly uninspiring,’ says Sabrina. ‘The large vegetable beds were overgrown and the weeds would get out of control. It didn’t take us long to decide that we wanted to get rid of them – but rather than laying new flower beds or a lawn, we thought we’d install a summer house. It was something I’d always wanted and it made sense to put it on that side of the garden – it was close to the house so we could come and go easily, and we could enjoy the views when sitting in it. Getting started Shopping for the summer house was exciting and we looked at lots of different designs before we found this one from Garden Buildings Direct.…

Beat the morning rush with the latest kitchen organising idea. Known as a breakfast station (or breakfast pantry), all the morning essentials, such as kettle, toaster, coffee machine and cereals, are located together and away from the kitchen’s main cooking area. This makes it easier for everyone to grab breakfast without getting in the way. How you set up your breakfast station depends on the space available and whether you want to contain everything inside a cupboard or create a dedicated spot on an open worktop. Typically it might include storage for small appliances, shelf space for mugs, spoons and smaller items, plus a worktop area where you can then prepare drinks and breakfast easily with everything close by. KEEP THINGS OUT IN THE OPEN If you don’t have any…

Wooden garden planters often get faded and weather-worn after being outdoors in all seasons. Painting with a quality exterior paint will add colour and protect wood from the elements, but why not have some fun too and create your own unique piece by using paint to create different patterns and effects? YOU WILL NEED ✻ Paintbrushes ✻ Wooden vertical planter ✻ Painter’s tape ✻ Protek Royal Exterior paint (assorted shades) ✻ Protek Royal Metallic paint in Copper 1 SORT THE BASE FIRST Paint the legs of your planter with two coats of paint in your chosen colour and allow to dry thoroughly. 2 MAKE DIAGONAL SHAPES Use painter’s tape to mask off diagonal lines across each of the wooden troughs. Make sure the diagonal lines go in alternate directions on…

Dunelm RIVIERA CHIC Bold stripes and cool blues are the epitome of ocean-side living Next LAVISH LIVING Break all the colour rules with a luxe colour-clashing scheme Homesense PASTEL POP Elevate everyday essentials with a palette of mallow and mint George Home DREAMY ESCAPISM Create a bohemian feel with Moroccan-style prints…

SEAFOOD COCKTAIL There’s no need to shell out a fortune on Dunelm’s fab summer tableware. The seafood-themed collection features fun lobster, shrimp and crab motifs on table linens and serveware and is perfect for alfresco meals. From £3 for a dip bowl. Stripe up the band Sassy stripes never go out of style and this season sees them in rainbow-inspired hues popping up all over the high street. Go bold with fun multicoloured stripes for a playful look or team stripes with plains for a smart style that will work in any space. 3 of the best FLORAL CUSHIONS HABITAT IS 60! To celebrate its milestone birthday, Habitat has collaborated with some top creatives to launch The 60 Years of Design collection. Featuring pieces from design icons Sebastian Conran…

We were living in a great little flat right by the beach in Hove but parking was a nightmare and after Siena was born we wanted more space and a private garden,’ says Tori. ‘We couldn’t afford anything this big that was “move in ready” so knew we would need to take on a project. Our budget was tight but we were in no rush, waiting to find something that we could take our time over. Although originally a three-bed property, this place had the most potential long-term to extend out and up. We moved straight in and although it was really dated, thankfully it was clean and well maintained, so all very liveable. First feature The fireplace was the first big job we did, fitting it within two months…

1 STRETCH THE VIEW Make a small living room feel bigger with a large mirror strategically placed. Positioning a mirror on an end wall will reflect the room back on itself so it feels double the size. Opt for a mirror with a simple frame that blends into the background and position a few smaller items at floor level so people won’t accidentally walk into it. Make sure it is properly secured in position too. 2 BOOST LIGHT ON A LANDING In tight spaces such as landings or stairwells, mirrors can be a brilliant way of boosting the light and brightening up an otherwise gloomy space. Create a gallery of mirrors going up the walls, using a collection of vintage finds in different shapes and sizes. Position mirrors so that…

1 Hang outdoor greenery Brighten up old brickwork or a dreary rendered wall with a colourful arrangement of hanging planters. Make an easy pot hanger with some clever upcycling – use an old fence (as here), wooden bed slats or an old wooden ladder – anything with rungs/slats that can act as a frame will work. Simply attach your piece to the top of the wall using sturdy brackets and let it hang down loosely. Use S-hooks to attach baskets and flowerpots to the slats. Fill planters with a layer of gravel for drainage, some soil and a selection of easy-care geraniums and herbs. 2 BRIGHTEN UP A PLAIN TABLECLOTH Update a natural linen tablecloth with a contrast stripe trim in red or navy blue. Attach your ribbon to run lengthways along…

Summer is officially here! Make the most of the warmer weather and longer days by getting outdoor spaces spruced up and looking shipshape again. Clean garden furniture that’s been stashed away all winter and give grubby paving a going over. Or, if you’re planning a tidy up indoors, TV organiser Dilly Carter shares her tips on how to tackle it. Get garden furniture summer-ready Dust off your outdoor dining sets so you’re ready for the new season. Use a soft brush to get rid of dirt and cobwebs, then for a more thorough clean, use soapy water and a soft cloth to wipe down wooden, metal or plastic furniture. Use non-foaming detergent on woven furniture as soap residue can cause mildew to build up. If wooden furniture looks worn, apply…

WIND CHIME PLANTER YOU WILL NEED ✻ Small terracotta pots ✻ Thick twine ✻ Wooden beads ✻ Paints and brush 1 PREP YOUR POTS Use a selection of small terracotta pots to create a hanging planter that will gently chime in the wind. Paint pots in assorted colours before you start or use unpainted pots. 2 TIE WITH TWINE Take your largest pot (which will hold your plant) and use the twine to create a pot hanger by looping it several times around the top, knotting to secure and then adding four extra lengths of twine to hang it. 3 ADD MORE TWINE Position your pot upright and suspend it from the hanger. Before adding your plant, take a long length of twine, tie a bead to one end and…

CHICKEN WITH PEACHES AND LEMON SALSA SERVES 4 TAKES 50 MINS PLUS RESTING ✻ 1.5kg free-range chicken, spatchcocked/butterflied (ask your butcher) ✻ 4tbsp olive oil ✻ Zest 1 lemon ✻ 1tsp smoked paprika ✻ 1tbsp clear honey ✻ 4 firm ripe peaches, halved and stoned ✻ FOR THE LEMON SALSA ✻ 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil ✻ 1tbsp runny honey ✻ Juice ½ lemon ✻ 1tbsp preserved lemon, diced ✻ 2tbsp coriander, chopped 1 Put the spatchcocked chicken flat on a board. Using a sharp knife, cut a few deep slashes into the thighs and breast meat. Mix 2tbsp olive oil, the lemon zest, smoked paprika and some salt in a bowl then rub over the chicken. Set aside until ready to cook. 2 Put the remaining 2tbsp olive oil…

I grew up in France, where eating together is the most important and most pleasing part of the day,’ says Amélie. ‘A home needs to make you feel something and I wanted mine to have the happy feeling that I enjoy when I’m sharing a meal with family and friends. The challenge was how to do this within the limitations of our rental flat – and persuading my husband, Konstantinos, it could be done without spending a fortune! I had to be very creative with the interior. Property search I’ve lived in London for 10 years now and it’s where I met Konstantinos, who’s Greek. After living in separate house shares, we started looking for our first home together. We wanted to avoid the potential problems that sometimes crop up…

1 PUT UP A PARTITION For a solution that doesn’t involve the mess and cost of building work, try a temporary partition to divide up a large open-plan area. Ideal for creating a separate WFH space in a living area or bedroom, lightweight wall panels are kept in place using push-fit fixings so they can easily be taken down at a later date. For a similar modular room divider, try B&Q 2 SCREEN WITH SLATS Section off an area using sleek timber slats to create a Scandi-style room divider. A stylish way of zoning a space to create privacy for work or study, without closing off the space completely, open slats will still allow light to flow through. Slats are secured top and bottom with invisible fixings or battens. Cre8…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks ‘DON’T BE AFRAID TO USE A MIX OF PATTERNS, BUT TRY TO KEEP THEM TO A SIMILAR SCALE TO AVOID IT LOOKING CH AOTIC’ STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

Weigh up the options Flooring comes in all manner of materials, but for a high-traffic and often messy space like the kitchen, it’s one of the most important surfaces to get right. A major outlay in terms of budget, flooring is one of the largest surface areas on view, so will impact the overall look and feel of your kitchen, plus the material you choose needs to be durable and easy to maintain and clean. Make it durable Kitchen floors face more wear and tear than other areas of the home, so durability is a must. With a high level of to and fro, flooring needs to be hardwearing underfoot and able to withstand scuffs and scratches. Kitchens are also prone to heat and moisture, so a water-resistant flooring that…

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE SERVES 10-12 TAKES 25 MINS, PLUS 6 HRS CHILLING AND SETTING ✻ 250g shortbread biscuits ✻ 80g butter, melted ✻ 4 gelatine leaves ✻ 300g strawberries, hulled Juice ✻ 1 lemon ✻ 125g caster sugar ✻ FOR THE FILLING ✻ 280g tub cream cheese ✻ 200g Greek yogurt ✻ 250ml double cream ✻ 2tbsp Chambord liqueur ✻ FOR THE TOPPING ✻ 250g strawberries, hulled and quartered, plus extra to decorate ✻ 1 sprig basil, plus extra small leaves to decorate ✻ 50g caster sugar ✻ 1tsp cornflour 1tbsp Chambord liqueur ✻ Mini meringues, to decorate ✻ YOU WILL NEED ✻ 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin, greased and the base lined with baking paper 1 Whizz the biscuits in a food processor to make crumbs. Add the butter, pulsing until…