Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från Style At Home

The weather has been a bit hit and miss this year, but I’m holding out for some late-summer sunshine so that I can make the most of the outdoors for as long as possible. I’m loving our cover star Lizzie’s pretty garden (p26) – she’s created the perfect outdoor space with different zones for relaxing and entertaining, plus planting that gives colour and interest all year round. September always sees me making plans to get the house back in shape again after the summer, and so this issue is big on seasonal updates and streamlining. Look out for fast fixes and room refreshes (p66), super-clever Ikea upgrades (p60) and tidying tricks and organising (p96). Enjoy the last of the sunshine! Style at Home’s PET OF THE MONTH This stylish gent…

TALK OF THE TON If the latest Bridgerton instalment left you swooning, ahem, at the interiors, then make a beeline for Sofology’s Country House range. Shapely sofas, armchairs and footstools with seductive velvet upholstery look every bit at home in a modern pad or period-style setting. Enjoy everlasting colourful blooms Who doesn’t love a floral display? And while there’s no beating the real thing, these faux flowers from Gisela Graham come a close second, offering year-round colour. Buy single stems and arrange in a vase as you would fresh flowers. 3 of the best SWIVEL CHAIRS IDEAL HOME x BLINDS 2GO Our sister magazine has teamed up with Blinds 2go to design a new collection of curtains and blinds. From tropical-inspired botanicals to punchy plains and muted neutrals, choose…

When I first saw this house I fell in love with its leafy location and the village green out the front,’ says Lizzie. ‘Plus, it’s a short drive from a mainline railway station, which was important to me at the time, as I used to commute daily into London. I moved here in May 2016 and set about making some initial changes. The house was built in 1985 and had been updated by the previous owners but still needed modernising throughout. There was a horrible, dirty shower room, which was black with mould, and dark, damp cork flooring. Elsewhere, there were lots of little jobs that needed finishing. The skirting board, for example, was held on with Blu Tack in one area, while other parts had no skirting board at…

1 CHOOSE A BOLD COLOUR Colour is a great way of making a kitchen island sing out. You could choose an island in a punchy bright that pops against neutral units or opt for dramatic black or navy to add contrast to a white kitchen. Repeat the colour throughout the space on light fittings, cookware, textiles and window treatments to tie the scheme together. Handmade Shaker kitchen, Olive & Barr 2 GO WITH THE GRAIN The outward face of an island will be on show from the living or dining area (in an open-plan space), so take the opportunity to add some decorative flair. Consider an accent panel in colourful acrylic or luxe metallic sheeting or tiles in a lively pattern. For timeless style, wood cladding is the perfect way…

Create a counter Give your bathroom or dressing area a bespoke look on a budget. A run of base units and worktop creates storage and counter space, and can be upgraded with statement fronts, handles and legs. Give it a twist… Prefer a more natural decor style? Go for rustic wood-grain fronts and legs, paired with a luxe-look limestone top. Glam up a chest After prepping the surface and painting it with chalk paint, the drawer fronts can be transformed with cut-to-fit rattan webbing. Fix it in place with beading for a traditional, panelled look, and finish with smart gold knobs. Give it a twist… Try big, statement-making modern knobs or go super-trad with drop ring-style pulls. Double-stack storage Make a one-of-a-kind storage bench by layering Ikea Ekby drawer units…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks ‘INSTALLING SLATTED PANELLING IS A SIMPLE TASK EVEN A NOVICE DIYER CAN DO, AND WILL GIVE WALLS AN ELEVATED AESTHETIC’ STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

People are always surprised to hear that my home is rented from a housing association,’ says Sarah. ‘We were originally renting a garden flat in a busy town but I yearned for a place in the country and this house, being detached and surrounded by fields, ticked all my boxes. I had to think hard about the decor because, being a new-build, this place felt like a bland white box. My last home was decorated quite neutrally, but I wanted to be brave with colour here. However, my biggest fear was tackling the hallway as it’s such a big, open space, so I initially found it daunting. First sight When I eventually move I may need to change the interior back to white, but as tenants we are allowed to…

Children accumulate a lot of stuff, from clothes and toys to books, crafts and dressing-up kit. So practical storage that is sturdy, safe and easily accessible is a must, but why not bring some fun into the scheme, too? These bright and playful pieces and ideas will not only liven up the room but also help to keep it tidy. Off-the-peg basics are an inexpensive option for kids’ spaces and are super-easy to upcycle or adapt if you want to get creative and give them a new look. Opt for plain white or simply shaped wooden pieces that can be repainted in a bold shade or revamped with a jazzy fabric or colourful wallpaper. SET UP AN AWESOME READING DEN Create a hideaway that kids can use as a play…

BEST FOR SIDE SLEEPERS PANDA HYBRID BAMBOO PILLOW FILLING Memory foamDIMENSIONS H40xL70cmMACHINE WASHABLE Yes (100% bamboo cover)PRICE £89.95 Memory foam pillows often divide opinions, with some loving the adaptive sleep surface and others less keen on the firmer feel. However, this bamboo pillow converted even our most memory foam-averse reviewers, with this pillow scoring highly among all testers, especially our side sleepers. The cool and silky bamboo rayon top layer gives the pillow a luxurious feel, and our side-sleeping testers found the malleable memory foam inner brilliant for spinal alignment. Several of our reviewers said they now won’t sleep without it. REASON TO BUY Offers excellent head and neck support for side sleepers REASON TO AVOID The semi-structured shape isn’t for those that prefer a malleable, fluffy pillow BEST FOR…

JEWEL-TONED TABLEWARE Stretch evenings outside with this colourful tableware from Dunelm. Cute woodland-themed dinner pieces and rustic table linens combined with jewel-toned glassware will bring a warm and cosy glow to any table.…

Like a lot of people, 2020 was a rough year for us,’ says Natalie. ‘My husband and I were living in London and our jobs were extremely stressful, particularly mine as I was working in the healthcare sector when Covid hit. When our lifestyles became unsustainable, we decided to change our careers and move back to the coastal town of Deal, where we are both from, for a more relaxed pace of life. Sam started up his own accountancy firm working with small local businesses, and I started assisting him. While we were renting, we started looking for a doer-upper that would satisfy our urge to renovate. We’re both huge fans of all things interiors, watching all the renovation shows and reading tons of interior magazines. We couldn’t wait to…

1 GO FOR A DARK BACKDROP Setting the TV against a dark background colour, such as deep grey, black or navy, will help to minimise its impact on the room. When the TV is turned off it will blend in with the backdrop and be far less noticeable. Paint the wall behind the TV a dark shade or opt for a dark-coloured storage unit to install it in. Shelves filled with books and ornaments will make it feel less prominent, too. 2 BUILD AROUND IT Create a made-to-measure media wall to accommodate the TV and associated equipment, such as Sky boxes, games consoles and speakers. Set the TV centre stage on the wall then configure a range of shelf units or modular storage around it. Once the shelves are filled…

OFFICE PINBOARD…

1 Stencil a new floor For a new-look floor without the price tag try stencilling. Wooden floors will need sanding, vacuuming, wiping and drying first. Use chalk paint and a brush to cut in a few inches around the edges, then a large roller with an extending handle on the rest, working from the furthest corner, back towards the door. Don’t be tempted to apply the paint too thickly – a thinner coat will actually dry harder. Once dry, find the centre of the room and secure your stencil with masking tape. Apply chalk paint in a second colour with a small foam roller, using a small amount to prevent bleeding. Remove the stencil and reposition until the whole floor is covered. 2 UPDATE A KITCHEN ISLAND Is your kitchen island pulling…

Like it or not (we see you clinging on to the last of the summer sun), autumn is fast approaching. Whether you want to make the most of evenings on the patio, or are looking forward to welcoming a new season, September is the ideal time to get organised. Start collecting seeds for next summer’s blooms, while getting your garden in order for the colder weather. And indoors, an organised hallway and tidy bookcase can make for an easier transition when the kids are back at school. Extend time outdoors Now the evenings are drawing in, it’s important to make garden seating areas more cosy. Usually either the cold or the bugs drive us indoors first, so keep a basket of blankets and thick socks by the back door. Citronella…

CHOPPING BOARD SIGN YOU WILL NEED * Old chopping board * Glass jam jar * Furniture paint and brush or small roller * Sandpaper * Contrast paint (for letters) * Stencil * D rings * Picture frame hook * Twine * Cable ties 1 WASH AND DRY Customise country kitchen classics into a welcome sign to hang on a garden gate or front porch. We used an old wooden chopping board and a vintage glass jam jar for this idea. Wash and dry both items first to get rid of any dirt or cobwebs. 2 PAINT THE BASE COLOUR Apply a coat of paint to the board using a brush or roller and leave to dry. To create an aged look, gently rub the surface and edges of the board with sandpaper so some…

SPANISH OMELETTE WITH SA FFRON AIOLI SERVES 6 TAKES 1 HR * 30ml olive oil * 500g waxy potatoes, unpeeled, sliced * 1 onion, finely sliced * 1 sprig rosemary * 1 garlic clove, bashed * 6 large eggs * 2tbsp whole milk * Shaved Manchego, flaked sea salt and chopped parsley, to serve * FOR THE AIOLI * 1 egg yolk * 1 garlic clove, crushed * Small pinch saffron threads * 1tsp white wine vinegar * 75ml olive oil * 50ml vegetable oil * Juice ½ lemon * YOU WILL NEED * 20cm frying pan 1 For the aioli, combine the egg yolk, garlic, saffron and vinegar in small food processor with a pinch of salt. Whizz to combine then, with the motor running, slowly pour in the…

Next MAXIMUM GLAMOUR Bring some glitz with this Rockett St George collab Dunelm COSY VINTAGE Create a snuggly scheme with ditsy prints, scallops and bobbins La Redoute MODERN RETRO Use on-trend browns to create a 1970s-style scheme Ikea PLAYFUL BRIGHTS Encourage back-to-school kids with a new bedroom set-up…

1 PICK A SUNNY TONE In a room where you want to feel energised and bright, try an upbeat colour that will instantly lift the mood. Using a single saturated shade on walls, woodwork and ceiling has the effect of bathing the room with colour – and choosing a feel-good tone of yellow, coral or blush pink will make the space feel sunny and warm. Giallo absolute matt emulsion, £29 for 1ltr, Little Greene 2 FOCUS THE COLOUR While colour drenching often means painting an entire room in one shade, focusing on a smaller area is a great way of trying the effect without totally committing. Choose the most prominent wall in the room to create a backdrop for furniture and furnishings, then paint the skirting, window frames, door and…

After living in London for 25 years, we were able to sell our two-bed Victorian flat in Beckenham and buy a 1930s home in Leeds that was ripe for an overhaul,’ says Russell. ‘We wanted a different pace of life and you certainly get more for your money up north. My husband, Paul, is from East Yorkshire and I went to Bretton Hall, an arts college near Wakefield, so we both knew Leeds pretty well. We’ve always loved the style of 1930s houses, so after the first lockdown we booked viewings for six properties in the hope of finding a blank canvas to renovate. This semi-detached property in the suburb of Gledhow was the first one we looked at and had been on the market for a year. The proportions…

Create an indoor greenery display with mini glass terrariums. Get creative with your container, whether glass cloche, vase or jam jar – just add a little gravel and potting mix, pop in your plants, then top with moss or more gravel.…

A huge source of style inspiration, Japan has already given us the easy-living wabi-sabi and Japandi trends – and shibori is another timeless aesthetic, which is perfect for adding colour and pattern to a simple scheme. This traditional technique involves folding, twisting and binding fabric then dyeing it indigo – think tie-dye, but without the hippy vibe! Team shibori with blonde woods, woven materials and simple furniture for a beautiful laid-back look.…

Think about layout Often the smallest room in the home, bathrooms can quickly become one of the most disorganised, especially when shared by several family members. Lack of space can leave little room for extras like storage. But by being clever with fixtures and fittings, and choosing space-efficient storage, it’s possible to find room for all the essentials without overcrowding your bathroom space. Work your wall space It’s an area we often forget to max out, but utilising wall space can provide useful extra storage without taking up valuable floor space. Opt for slimline shelves (less than 20cm deep) or narrow wall-hung cabinets that can be fitted above a basin, beside a loo or slotted into a gap at the end of a bath. Hooks are handy for hanging towels…

LIMONCELLO PANNA COTTA WITH STRAWBERRY SALSA MAKES 4 TAKES 15 MINS, PLUS SETTING * 300ml double cream * 250ml milk * 50ml limoncello or orange liqueur * 3tbsp caster sugar * 3 leaves platinum-grade gelatine * Zest ½ lemon * FOR THE TOPPING * 100g strawberries, thinly sliced or quartered * ½tsp sugar * Juice ½ lemon * YOU WILL NEED * 4 dariole moulds, 8cm diameter 1 In a large saucepan, gently warm the cream, milk, limoncello and caster sugar until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is just steaming but not boiling. 2 Meanwhile, bloom the gelatine leaves by soaking them in a bowl of cold water for 5 mins. Squeeze each gelatine leaf, then stir into the warm cream mixture until dissolved, along with the lemon…