Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från Your Home

As I write this message in mid-October, it’s becoming pretty clear that this is going to be a Christmas like no other. And while it might be far from the big celebrations we’re used to, with all of our loved ones around to share in the merriment, I hope we at Your Home can help to make it as special as possible. We’ve got affordable gifts galore (p46), beautiful reader homes (p81) all dressed for the season and, of course, plenty of decorating inspiration… One of the highlights of December has got to be getting the baubles out and the tree up! Turn to It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (p37) to see how to use your favourite decorations to create a look with an on-trend feel. And,…

FACT FILE 71% of people in a survey by the British Heart Foundation say that charity shops are becoming more important for society as they provide affordable items to those with financial concerns. Source British Heart Foundation YH Fab find Every year we buy Christmas crackers that we tear apart and throw away, then we keep the mini gifts in a drawer never to be seen again – unless you get lucky and win the fun-size screwdrivers, of course. But this year, you can say no to plastic and save yourself money with these reusable crackers, which double up as cotton napkins. Prior to the big day, you can fill each one with a personalised gift and some cracking jokes of your own. Personalised sustainable reusable Christmas crackers, £14, 2…

Wall panelling painted in Breathe Deeply Valspar, £46 per 5l, B&Q. Walls painted in French Grey Pale, £45 per 2.5l, Little Greene. Velvet headboard, £479, MADE.com. King Koil Hotel Elegance 2200 super king mattress, £1,721, Meubles. Dublin Twist carpet, £16.45 per sq m, Carpet Express. 130x180cm blind, £202.39, DecorativaDesign, Etsy. Gold nesting tables, £229.99, Zara Home. Strandmon velvet wing chair, £229, Strandmon foot stool, £65, both IKEA. Plain duvet set and sheet, £24.99, Aldi. Gatsby fringe cushion pink, £18, Sterling Furniture. Mongolian lamb cushion covers, £34.95, West Elm. Green Jacquard cushion, £9; jewellery box £18; candlesticks, £17,99, all H&M Home. Pink extra large throw, £12; small grey faux sheepskin, £10; pink velvet cushion cover, £2.50; small glass faux flowers; £3.50, draping faux plant, £6; gold stand faux plant , £20;…

Artificial trees have come a long way. From snow-tipped and pre-lit, to chic pink and authentic options filled with pine cones and berries – they no longer resemble the spiky, bottle brushes they once did. We’ve picked our favourite stand-out, investment trees that you’ll love to dress each season. Step into Christmas 2020 with a ‘Smart’ Christmas tree that you can control from your phone! With 300 LED bulbs, a dual chip allows the lights to be flipped from warm white to multicoloured at the touch of a button. A great feature if you like to change the look of your tree from fun and colourful to chic and timeless. The tree is easy to put together, with the poles slotting in and connecting, while the hinged branches drop into…

Judith Edwards and her husband, Adrian, moved their bedroom upstairs into the loft space and made do with the existing shower room for a few years. ‘The children got the nice bathroom downstairs, but sadly we got stuck with a badly decorated shower space,’ explains Judith. There was a catalogue of problems, but most importantly the shower doors were not watertight, which meant that the floor was getting very wet. The rubber flooring had not only become worn and sodden, but it hadn’t been properly laid out either, so the leaking water was seeping through to a bedroom downstairs. ‘There was quite a bit of water damage to the shower room floor and the bedroom ceiling, both of which were getting worse.’ The time had come to call in the…

Arezzo 600 matt black framed washstand with basin, £334.75; Arezzo black basin mono mixer tap, £79.95; Imperia black slate effect shower tray, £159.95; Arezzo close coupled toilet and seat, £219.95; Arezzo matt square toilet roll holder, £39.95, all Victorian Plumbing. Round black mirror, £60, John Lewis & Partners. Black quadrant corner shower enclosure, £420, eBay. Lily pad porcelain floor tiles, £69.12 per sq m, Artisan of Devises. Crosswater black shower kit, £243.75, Victorianbathrooms4u.com. Microline white tiles, £31 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Industrial metal wire wooden shelves, £15.98 for two; Wall-mounted basket rack, £11.39, both eBay. Canopy durable matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5L, Graham & Brown. Joshua bath mat, £31.99; Artificial Dracaena plant, £21.99, both Wayfair. Artificial hanging plant, £8; Scent candle jar, £2.50; Artificial potted plant, £6, all Wilko.…

WORDS OF JOY These glittering decorations will twinkle next to your tree lights and spread festive cheer! SHOPPING LIST 280gsm glitter card Crocodile clips Craft knife Cutting mat Strong clear craft glue Pencil 1 Print out the word templates from yourhomestyle.uk and cut out. Place the word face down onto the reverse of your glitter card, so that the letters appear backwards, and trace around using a pencil (this is so the words will appear forwards once they have been cut out). 2 Use a sharp craft knife and a cutting mat to cut out the design. Start by cutting out the holes in the letters first and then cut along the outline, as it will be harder to do the intricate cutting once there is less card to hold…

A speedy way to transform the feel of a room is to give your radiators a fresh coat of paint. In this bedroom, the beautiful original heaters now blend seamlessly into the blue walls and, with everything in the same colour, the room not only feels larger but also much more tranquil – an excellent thing in a bedroom. For more energetic rooms, you can also consider painting your radiators in a co-ordinating or accent colour. Make a striking feature of them in a monochrome room with a black finish, or pick out a hue from your cushions or other accessories for a look that’s just as stylish, if not quite as serene as this calm bedroom. While in an ideal world you might want to remove ornate radiators and…

Christmas is a special time for Amy Russett, who loves to fill her beautiful home with traditional decorations and twinkly fairy lights. However, the house that she shares with her partner, Elliott, wasn’t always the cosy, stylish affair that it is now. ‘I love lots of lights, green foliage and garlands to create a really cosy, seasonal space’ It took the couple over a year to get it into a liveable condition. ‘It was in such a poor state when we bought it that we knew we weren’t going to be able to move in straight away,’ says Amy. ‘Within an hour of getting our keys we were ripping up mouldy carpets and peeling off stained wallpaper, which we think must have been at least 50 years old! Even my…

OUR HOME is a new-build in the Scottish Highlands. It’s in a new village that’s been created with a heritage feel to the buildings. Our home was completed 18 months ago. WE ARE Shaunna Leitch, 29, a sports coach and social media manager, my husband, Kevin, 31, an accountant, and our two children, Millie, five, and Piper, four. SHOPS I LOVE ARE Anthropologie, Homesense, H&M Home and Zara Home, as well as antiques shops. I LEARNT to buy good-quality pieces of furniture that will last a long time. MY STYLE IS colourful, modern country (I’m not a minimalist).…

3 ways with... Chestnuts Go one step further than roasting chestnuts on an open fire with these nutty recipes * For a delicious fruity stuffing, soak 100g dried cranberries in 50ml port. Fry 1 onion and 2 rashers of bacon until cooked, then add 2 chopped garlic cloves and fry for 1 minute. Mix with 540g sausage meat, 150g breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, ½ tsp thyme, 140g chopped cooked chestnuts, 1 egg and the cranberries. Press into an ovenproof dish. Bake at 190°C for 40 minutes. * Jazz up Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and bacon. Boil 1kg Brussels sprouts for 5 minutes then drain. Fry 6 rashers of chopped smoked bacon until crisp. Set aside. Add 200g chestnuts to the pan and fry for 5 minutes. Remove from…

Vegan beetroot Wellington YOU WILL NEED PREPARATION TIME 45-60 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 10 For the filling ✔ 140g cooked quinoa ✔ 50g breadcrumbs ✔ 135g ground almonds ✔ 450g beetroot, washed and peeled ✔ 200g chestnut purée ✔ 200g cooked lentils ✔ 100g ground flaxseeds ✔ 20 sage leaves, chopped ✔ Small bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped ✔ 4 tsp onion powder ✔ 4 tsp ground cumin ✔ 1 tsp dried thyme ✔ 4 tsp salt ✔ 1 tsp black pepper For the mushroom layer ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 175g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped ✔ 1 small white onion, finely chopped ✔ 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced ✔ 1 tsp tamari sauce ✔ 1 pinch of thyme For the pastry ✔ 2 x…

Finger FOOD The big FEAST Vegetarians & VEGANS After DINNER Fill your GLASS Sweet TREATS…

‘Let in as much natural light in as you can by using window dressings that cover as little of the window as possible. Items of furniture in light colours such as pale lacquers and washed oaks are great, and pieces that have a slim profile and legs also work really well. Pale wooden flooring and carpets are good at creating the illusion of more light, and you should avoid clutter and too many ornaments, and keep surfaces clear.’ Gemma Roberts, Interior Designer at Vesta, vesta-london.co.uk…

Crafty Christmas December is one of the most exciting times of the year for children – and what better way to get them involved in the festivities than with an eco-friendly craft set? The Winter Glitter and Glue Box contains vegetable starch powder to make natural glue, as well as paper and card shapes in an assortment of colours, biodegradable glitter, and Christmas-themed stencils so you and your little ones can craft until your heart’s content. You can purchase the set for just £15 from The Paper Party Bag Shop. CHARITABLE CRACKERS Christmas is a time for giving as well as receiving, so choose these crackers from Advent of Change. Each one is completely plastic free and can be recycled or composted, plus when you buy a pack it will…

THINGS WE CONSIDERED ● How clear were the instructions? ● Did the gingerbread taste good? ● Did the icing hold the house together? DIY GINGERBREAD HOUSE KIT, £35 , BISCUITEERS The tin this kit comes in is so pretty you’ll definitely want to keep and reuse it. Inside, the contents are clearly labelled, with pre-baked house pieces, piping bags and plenty of royal icing sugar and decorations, as well as easy-to-follow instructions. It didn’t take long for the icing to harden, which was a positive when constructing the house, but meant we had to decorate it quickly! The biscuit itself only had a subtle ginger flavour, but the end result was super impressive. BAKEDIN GINGERBREAD HOUSE BAKING KIT, £7.95 , OCADO If you want to get the kids…

One of the things we’ve all missed this year due to the lockdown and Covid regulations is dining out. Whether it’s Sunday lunch with the family or a Saturday night supper, heading out to dine is one of life’s sociable pleasures. No cooking or washing up – what more could you want? But the drawback is that it isn’t often cheap. To cut costs, we’ve found some ways to save ££s next time you fancy eating out – or in with a tasty takeaway. GET APPY It’s time to get tech-savvy and download some apps: ■ Many fast food chains offer discounts and freebies to new and existing customers via their apps and membership clubs. ■ Places like Pret a Manger, Sainsbury’s and Costa Coffee give away food and drink…

When Marilena Margarito, 53, a PA, moved into her three-bedroom house in South Woodford, London, with her daughter, Alberta, 19, and son, Jamie, 21, she knew she’d have a lot on her plate in the decorating department. ‘The whole house needed so much work, so we spent the first few years going from room to room. Inevitably, my own bedroom was last on the list.’ Eventually, though, Marilena got around to revamping her bedroom and her brief was to make it super-comfy, with a pastel colour scheme. ‘The room is quite small, so I had to pull out all the tricks to fit everything in and not look cramped.’ Equipped with lots of ideas saved from magazines and online, Marilena was excited to put together a new scheme that makes…

Walls and mouldings in Aquamarine Pale absolute emulsion, from £47 per 2.5l, and intelligent eggshell, £32 per litre, Little Greene. Hummingbirds wallpaper, £115 per roll, Cole and Son. Decorative pine moulding, from £4.35 per 2.4m, B&Q. Soft Focus 100% Finesse polypropylene carpet, in Ice Crystal, from £20 per sq m, Cormar Carpets. Curtains in Lustre 1 Laminar fabric, £45 per m, Harlequin. Ashton extendable curtain poles, from £35, Dunelm. Made to measure Felicity True White Roman blinds with blackout lining, from £30.63, Blinds 2go. Headboard upholstered in Trentino Fir extra wide fabric, £62 per m, Designers Guild. White two-column vertical radiators, £179.95 each, Best Heating. Pink velvet bench, £129.99; patterned chair, £129.99; pink cushions, £5.99 each, all TK Maxx. Grey silk bedspread, £280; print cushions, £50 each; pink drum shade,…

We can almost hear the sleigh bells ringing, which means the most wonderful time of year is fast approaching! So, before the big day arrives, transform your house from top to toe into a winter wonderland with this year’s style inspiration. Christmas 2020 is all about decking the halls with traditional decorations that you already own and giving them an on-trend update with glitzy and glamorous touches. Think elegance mixed with your favourite nostalgic pieces in glossy gold, blush pink, deep teal and royal red tones. Season’s GREETINGS This year, the look for your welcoming wreath is glam! While an evergreen number is best for outside, this glitzy idea is nice for an indoor spot – in a porch or on the back of your door. Tie this into the…

Green with envy Bring the outside in with Wickes’ extension to its Chester Kitchen Range, Forest Green. If you’re looking for a warmer alternative to the ever-popular midnight blue, this deep and earthy green may be the one. The natural colour looks super stylish with both traditional shaker and ultra-modern, handleless cabinets, and we think it contrasts beautifully with white marble worktops and brass handles. Continue the natural design underfoot with stripped-back wooden flooring. To see what you can do with your kitchen space, visit the Wickes Virtual Design Service at wickes.co.uk. Price on application. KITSCH CHRISTMAS Spread some festive cheer in the kitchen with some cute decorative tea towels from Sainsbury’s Home. If kitsch is your style, you’ll love the ‘Rocking around the Christmas Tree’ novelty tea towel or…

WHO LIVES HERE? Teacher Judith Edwards lives in a four-bedroom house in South Woodford, London, with her husband, Adrian, and three children, Kitty and Joseph, both 16, and Charlie, 12. After finding a leak in a downstairs bedroom, Judith overhauled the bathroom to create a bold scheme. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE NEW ROOM? It’s got to be the floor. I’ve had my eye on these gorgeous tiles for a while – I just love how impactful they are. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS? No matter how small a room is, treat it like any other and use colour and bold patterns to create interest and drama. WHAT DID YOU LEARN? Laying tiles in a particular pattern, such as herringbone, can take longer than you expect, so leave…

From taking a speedy morning shower, to bathing the kids and unwinding with a long soak once they’re in bed, a family bathroom has to be versatile enough to accommodate the needs of everyone in your household, right around the clock. It should be safe to use, easy to clean, incorporate plenty of storage and, of course, look good, too. Adaptability is another important factor, so make sure fixtures, fittings and finishing touches suit your future as well as your current requirements.…

This fantastic project can be completed in just a few hours; all it takes to make this festive centrepiece is an old bicycle wheel, a lick of paint and some faux foliage. For a full, varied and festive finish, mix and match different leaves and berries in a range of Christmassy colours, or use real fir trimmings for a seasonal scent. YOU WILL NEED * Bicycle wheel * Bicycle wrench * Washing up liquid and degreaser * Paper towels * Clean cloth * Rust-Oleum surface primer * Rust-Oleum metallic spray paint in Bright Copper * Faux foliage, we used: Gisela Graham mini leaf blueberry branches, glittered fir branches with cones, silver/ green sparkle mini leaf branches, burgundy/green/gold berry leaf stem, frosted holly berry bunches, natural snowy cone pick bunches and…

Q I’m on the lookout for a wood-burning stove but I’m keen to go for a splash of colour instead of the usual black or grey designs. Do you have any suggestions? Leila McCarthy, Norfolk A Jon Butterworth, Sales Director at Arada Stoves, says… Although most useful and practical during the colder months, a stove can create an attractive focal point throughout the year. Be bold and add a pop of colour with a brightly painted stove, or use it as an opportunity to display plants and ornaments to accessorise the room. It may be winter now but think ahead to the summer months, too – greens, reds and oranges can make a real statement. Arada stoves such as the Solution 5 Wide model come in a range of seven…

WE ARE Amy Russett and Elliott Jones. We’re both primary school teachers and we live here with our nine-month-old cocker spaniel, Wilf. You can find me on Instagram@harptree_home_living. OUR HOME is a semi-detached house in Somerset built in the 1920s, with three bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen diner. OUR BEST IDEA was moving the staircase and extending the floor so we could fit a bathroom upstairs. OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS always centre around food! We have our favourite Christmas recipes we use every year and we make a gingerbread house. We always try to outdo our efforts from the previous year!…

OLD MEETS NEW ‘A key new trend we’ve seen for this Christmas is a glamorous pop of pastels, with pale pink and purple shades mixed with traditional silver and green hues. It’s a modern colour palette that adds a fresh dimension to the Christmas table. The more traditional scheme of green, red and gold continues to be popular, and within this trend, we’re also seeing a lot of woodland motifs, especially with familiar cheery characters such as reindeer and robins. One or two of these traditional pieces will bring the festive spirit to the Christmas table. We know that some people like to add more neutral pieces to their dining table so that they can be used outside of the festivities, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself…

A touch of luxury That indulgent feel of a soft carpet underfoot is oh-so-welcome during the winter, and when that carpet is easy to clean, it’s even better. Inglewood Saxony is the latest addition to Cormar Carpet Co.’s collection of deep pile floor coverings. Suitable for bedrooms, hallways and stairs, the plush carpet will stand the test of time thanks to the thick, hard-wearing material. You won’t have to worry about spillages as it’s stain resistant, and you can even use bleach to clean it, if necessary. For a dramatic colour scheme, pair Carbon with a deep navy wall or for something a little more mellow, we love Autumn Gold or Venetian Marble. The range retails from £20 per sq m. Care to repair For all those minor annoyances in…

Soon after moving into their early 1980s house in Rainhill, near Liverpool, Alison and Phil Ball realised that the existing layout would not suit their requirements for a family home. With no doorway from the conservatory at the back into the adjoining living area, the downstairs of the house was subject to seasonal temperature extremes, so much so that the conservatory doubled up as a wine cooler in the winter! So, the couple, who have two daughters, made the decision to knock down the conservatory and extend the back of the house. ‘My vision was always for a large open-plan kitchen and living area with a clean and contemporary feel, while also being really cosy and a great place for us to spend most of our time,’ explains Alison. They…

THRIFTY FUN This is the mud kitchen I made for our granddaughter during lockdown. It is made from a cabinet that was going to the recycling depot and a couple of pallets. I painted the kitchen in Sulking Room Pink from Farrow and Ball, which was left over from other recycling projects, then added old utensils and recycled feeding bottles. It cost £4 for materials and £10 for accessories. Our granddaughter loves playing with the kitchen – a small price to pay to see that smiling face. Graham Walker, by email Your Home says This is such an impressive lockdown project, Graham! We love how you’ve repurposed materials to give them a new lease of life for your granddaughter. ★ Graham’s letter has won him a three-wick Christmas scented candle…

If your furry friends often leave muddy footprints when the weather’s wet, you need to get your hands on the BISSELL SmartClean Pet Vacuum. The automated floor type recognition adjusts the suction power depending on the surface for optimal performance at all times. It also boasts a tangle-free brush roll, which picks up even the most thoroughly embedded hair and dirt. The extendable metal tube makes cleaning those hard-to-reach areas that much easier. The BISSELL SmartClean Pet can be purchased from major electrical retailers for £249.99.…

Duvet day Amid all of the decorating in the living spaces, don’t forget your bedroom deserves a festive flourish, too. This cheery bedset, ‘Home for Christmas’ from Sophie Allport, might be the cosy touch your sleep space needs. It’s made from 100 per cent cotton, has a thread count of 200 and comes in various sizes, from single, £45, to super king, £85. Mini trend: Think pink You may not typically associate blush tones with Christmas, but if you’re looking to steer away from the traditional red, gold and green theme then it’s time to think pink. This trend draws on luxe velvet finishes and elegant furnishings such as feathered baubles, plush textures, gold-legged chairs and delicate ceramics, all in soft blush tones. CHARMING WREATH Add some razzle dazzle to…

SHOPPING LIST Urbane Grey, Pink Slip, and Loft White Absolute matt emulsion, £47 per 2.5l; Urbane Grey and Pink Slip intelligent eggshell, £66 per 2.5l; Loft White flat oil eggshell, £69 per 2.5l; Loft White floor paint, £71 per 2.5l, all Little Greene. Arcus Snow roman blind, £105.30, Blinds 2go. Queen Bee tieback, £32; pompom curtain, now discontinued but similar to Mindra curtain, £88, Anthropologie. Shaker peg rail, £22, Great Little Trading Company. Made-to-measure contemporary flush radiator cover in Grey, £447, Jali. EKBY ALEX shelf with drawers, £35; LACK wall shelf, £9; LACK wall shelf unit, £50; PAX, MEHAMN and AULI wardrobe combination, £420; BALESTRAND small double bed, £229, all IKEA. Battersea brick wall-effect wallpaper, £16 per roll, I Love Wallpaper. Mauricette light grey chair, £87, Maisons Du Monde. Jessie…

In 2016, when Anne Marie Boyhan and her husband, Ivan, bought their new-build, three-bedroom, mid-terrace home, located in Drumcondra, Dublin, the builder offered the couple the opportunity to extend into the attic. ‘We put in a staircase and landing, which initially provided us with extra storage, so it became a bit of a dumping ground,’ explains Anne Marie. Two years on, with a second baby on the way and Ivan working from home, the couple needed the extra space, so converted the loft to add a main bedroom with an en suite. ‘As we were adding a fourth bedroom and putting in a dormer window at the front of the house, we needed planning permission. It took about six weeks and gave us a chance to de-clutter,’ explains Anne Marie.…

While the centre of a festive scheme is a beautifully bedecked tree, the surrounding area is just as important. For Christmas 2020, we recommend giving your living room a luxurious look. Keep the opulent theme going strong throughout the room by styling the space with gold-scattered accents in the form of mirrors, candles and a coffee table. Next, bring in furnishings with plush velvet chairs and cushions in soft pink and teal, as well as a matching, plain rug, which won’t distract from the tree. Remember, you don’t have to go OTT with the decorations around the tree to make an impact; a selection of simple accessories in a similar colour palette will be enough to set the festive scene and blend the scheme together. If you’ve got an on-trend…

GIFTS £5 AND UNDER GIFTS £10 AND UNDER GIFTS £25 AND UNDER GIFTS £50 AND UNDER…

Most kitchens, no matter how large or small, could do with a bit more workspace. As well as making meals and serving food, an island unit, breakfast bar, butcher’s block or mobile trolley can also be used for keeping an eye on the children while they do their homework as well as sitting at for a quick breakfast, leisurely lunch or a well-deserved drink after work. The key is to choose a design that suits your space, both in terms of size and style. Expert tip ‘The breakfast bar has become an informal must-have in any modern kitchen, as the space becomes more of a social hub. Including an overhang gives the perfect space to perch with a glass of wine while someone else is cooking, a relaxed work or…

choosing compact products to prevent them from dominating the small space. ‘We were really restricted with the space and sloping ceiling, so we just stuck to a similar layout as we knew it worked.’ Judith had her eye on some decorative floor tiles to create impact, though. ‘It was love at first sight with these tiles. I really wanted to create a monochrome patterned floor and knew they’d look amazing teamed with some white wall tiles laid in a herringbone pattern.’ The old flooring was stripped out and new plywood was laid down and prepared for the new tiles. The remaining walls were covered with a coat of dark green paint for contrast and a compact shower quadrant cubicle was fitted snugly into the corner with a black frame to…

‘Children don’t normally like showers as the water can get in their eyes, while a bath can help them to relax, ready for bedtime. To avoid waking them with night-time bathroom visits, install a back-to-wall or wall-hung toilet with an illuminated flush plate. That way, you don’t need to switch on the light or activate the fan, which can be extremely noisy at night.’ Joe Debono, Sales Director at Ashton & Bentley…

The most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us, so dig out the Christmas fabric, ribbons and trimmings, then whip up these quick and easy advent calendar bags, which can be used year after year. Once you’ve made your 25 drawstring pouches, it’s time for the ultra-fun part of stuffing them to the brim with sweet treats for yourself and your loved ones. YOU WILL NEED Plain and printed cotton fabrics Sewing thread Co-ordinating ribbon and ric-rac A rod or branch Bodkin or safety pin Iron-on adhesive Iron Sewing machine 1 Cut fabric rectangles, 20 x 30cm for the bags with a drawstring at the top, and 25 x 30cm for the ones with drawstrings further down the bag. For the stockings, first take a small scrap of…

WE ARE Kay Cullen (@the_old_chapel), a senior interior designer for a hotel group, and my husband, Paul, a mechanical engineer. OUR HOME is a three-bed former chapel built in 1880 in Carmarthenshire. MY DECORATING TOP TIP is to be creative with paint. In the corridor, I marked halfway up the walls with masking tape and painted up to it. It creates the panelled look, but at a much lower cost. The trick is to paint the skirting and door frame, too. I’VE LEARNT TO always double the time you think you’ll need. We did most of the work ourselves, saving enough for luxuries like the woodburner, but we underestimated how long and hard the process would be.…

Classic roast turkey with pork and parsley stuffing Keep it traditional this Christmas with a delicious roast turkey recipe you can rely on PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 4 hours SERVES 8 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 5kg oven-ready turkey ✔ 75g butter, softened, plus 5g ✔ 1 onion, finely chopped ✔ 450g sausage meat (or sausages with skins removed) ✔ 150g fresh breadcrumbs ✔ 30g fresh parsley, chopped ✔ 1 egg, beaten ✔ 3 lemons, 1 zested, 2 halved ✔ 2 tsp olive oil DIRECTIONS ■ Remove the turkey from the fridge 1 hour before cooking. To make the stuffing, melt 5g butter in a saucepan over a low heat. Add the onion and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft, then set aside to cool. Mix with the remaining…

A Advent of Change adventofchange.com Aldi 0800 042 0800 aldi.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk And so to Shop andsotoshop.com Annie Sloan 01865 713089 anniesloan.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com/en-gb AO.com 0161 470 1200 ao.com Applied Studio 020 8150 6616 applied.studio Arcade 01559 363277 arcadewales.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Artemide artemide.com Artifact 02381 943014 artifact-lighting.com Artisans of Devizes 01380 735888 artisansofdevizes.com Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com ASDA 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com At Home in the Country 01484 865359 athomeinthecountry.co.uk Atlantic Shopping 0121 230 1644 atlanticshopping.co.uk B 247 Blinds 01484 443790 247blinds.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3357 diy.com Baa Stool 01824 790882 baastool.co.uk Balsam Hill 02033 686726 balsamhill.co.uk Bathrooms to Love 0800 877 8899 bathroomstolove.co.uk Bathstore 0333 241 2701 bathstore.com Beautify beautify.co.uk Belvoir 01476 870286 belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk Bensons for Beds…