Innehållsförteckning för October 2021 från Your Home

Autumn is in the air and, as the nights begin to draw in, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up with your favourite interiors mag! So pop the kettle on, and get ready to be inspired… Start with some window shopping thanks to Trend Alert: Fireside Glow (p22), where we bring you all the finds you need to turn your home into a cosy, welcoming space. Then, continue onto page 40, to discover beautiful autumnal patterns and prints that are full of seasonal charm. Next, see our homes (from p75) and bathroom makeovers (from p26), which are packed with stylish ideas to steal, from our cover star Reena’s gorgeous rustic-Scandi renovation (p82) to Celie’s luxe-on-a-shoestring bathroom (p26), there are practical, budget-friendly tips and tricks aplenty. And finally, do check out…

Office antics At our small shop in Cornwall, The Misses Lobb, we’re always up for a challenge when it comes to transforming furniture, but this request was a new one for us. It was impossible for our customer to keep this formerly rusty filing cabinet out of sight in her little workroom, so she asked us if we could make it more presentable – and we think we smashed it! Painted in Frenchic’s ‘After Midnight’ paint and papered with a funky lemur paper, it gets attention for all the right reasons now. Sharron and Zoe Lobb, Cornwall Your Home says: Wow, what a transformation! We love the bright and beautiful rainforest theme you’ve gone for. Table service I found this table and thought it was the perfect upcycling project as…

Carpet stain remover, £3.59, Dr Beckmann This cleaner saw off stains in both carpet and upholstery with great efficiency. The brush-and-sponge head is ideal for mixing the foamy formula directly onto the stain, then all you have to do is wipe away the excess with a damp cloth and the grime is gone! Just a fresh, clean scent remains. One word of warning: when the instructions say to make a ‘small hole’ in the inner seal, they do mean small . Our first attempt was very frothy! Ecozone 3-in-1 carpet shampoo, £6.59, Ocado With the option to use for spot stain removal, to clean large surface areas or to be used in a machine, this product is a good all-rounder, and its eco-friendly credentials make it a strong contender. The…

MINI TREND Go figure Ever feel like somebody’s watching you? It may happen more often with this characterful trend. Figurative forms are popping up all over the latest collections, from cushion covers and bedspreads, right the way through to ceramics and wall art. The YH team loves the abstract style of Beaumonde’s Irini vase, while the Desenio print and Sass & Belle trinket dish both offer a more subtle take on this style. Get the look yourself by keeping tones natural and neutral, and let the designs do the talking… FIRM FAVOURITES Attention fans of the feature wall: MissPrint has released a range of wallpapers with some of its most popular patterns. The Signature collection includes new and improved versions of classic designs in bold and modern colour palettes, including…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Celie Horton (@milestone_cottage), 27, a Lead Clinical Paramedic Practitioner, and I live in a three-bedroom, semi-detached 1870s cottage in Ullesthorpe, Leicestershire, with my husband, Chris, 30, a Welder Fabricator, and our two dogs, Rogue and Logan. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The original bathroom was small, so we pinched some space from the larger main bedroom to ensure we could include a walk-in shower and a roll-top bath. WHY THE CHANGE? We had so much to do in the house I wanted to ensure we had a place to relax after a busy day. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? As we work full-time, it took us a couple of months from start to finish. TOTAL COST…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Emma Scott, 28, and I live with my fiancé, Jack Leslie, 30, and our pug, Spud. We’re both scientists and bought our three-bedroom, 1930s semidetached home in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, in June 2019. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The bathroom – a year and a half after moving in we ripped it out. We had to save up for a re-wire and re-plastering, so wanted everything done at the same time. WHY THE CHANGE? The bathroom was one of the worst rooms in the house. It was carpeted, with vinyl walls and a corner bath. We wanted a contemporary look. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took three weeks, so we moved in with my mum while doing the work. TOTAL COST…

Kids’ rooms are the one place in the house you can go all-out with colour, print and playful details, so make the most of it with a themed space. Inspire creative play with schemes that put little ones at the centre of the story, be it on safari, in a castle or as a comic book hero. Try these ideas for adding a touch of magic to your child’s room, from using glow-in-the-dark stars to create a night sky, to making an indoor jungle from faux foliage and animal motifs – and their imaginations will do the rest. Into the wild For a safari look with a full-on jungle vibe, get a menagerie of animal plushies and motifs, and layer up faux plants to replicate a forest canopy. It’ll work…

When updating our bathrooms, we tend to focus on choosing the fittings and flooring, and getting the colours just right. However, injecting some pattern and texture into the mix – on the walls, floor and accessories – can really lift the scheme by preventing the space from looking clinical, livening up a small room and creating drama in a larger one. From tiles and towels to wallpaper and window treatments, it’s surprisingly simple to bring warmth and wow factor to a family bathroom, en suite or cloakroom. CENTRE stage ‘Wallpapers with a larger repeat create a cohesive look that visually expands the sense of space. In rooms with short wall runs – such as a cloakroom – make sure you centralise the pattern. When the design is hung symmetrically, cropped…

The food won’t be the only thing that impresses your dinner guests with this stylish patchwork table runner. It may look tricky, but all you need is striped fabric cut into squares and triangles, then sewn together to create a funky geometric pattern. Neatly finished with binding around the edge and a tassel at each end, it’ll make a striking centrepiece whatever the occasion. SHOPPING LIST ✔ 1m striped cotton fabric (we used fabric with 2.5cm stripes) ✔ 1m plain cotton fabric ✔ Heat-proof wadding ✔ 6m binding in a co-ordinating colour ✔ Two tassels ✔ Iron ✔ Sewing machine ✔ Scissors ✔ Matching sewing thread ✔ Sewing needle 1 Start by cutting out nine squares from the striped fabric at a 45° angle to the straight edge of the…

WE ARE Carley and Fraser Kyle. I work as an interior designer and have my own concrete homewares business on Instagram @house_leopard, and Fraser is a Hospitality Operations Manager. We have a three-year old daughter called Sienna, and a whippet called Red. OUR HOME IS An Edwardian terrace in Edinburgh. We’ve lived here since 2018. MY BEST BARGAIN WAS The living room bench, which my mum found at an auction. She has an eagle eye for a bargain. We spray-painted it and reupholstered it in a designer fabric. OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS Choosing ceramic wood-effect flooring for the kitchen – it was beautiful but very cold and showed the dirt so easily. We laid engineered wood over it in the end. MY STYLE IS Eclectic, I love mixing old and…

‘We were really keen to finish a room and then move onto the next, rather than have lots of part-finished spaces.’ When Annalise and Pete first met, she was living in London while he was in Bath, so when they got together they decided to search for their first home in the South West. They were flexible when it came to the types of properties they considered, as long as the location in Bath was right. ‘We were happy to live anywhere that was walking distance into town,’ explains Annalise, ‘and we were both very open-minded about the style of property, viewing flats and complete doer-uppers. But when we saw this place, we both just got ‘the feeling’ and, as we were also planning our wedding at the time, the…

Gone are the days of a spoonful of instant coffee and waiting for the kettle to boil. Now, there’s a wide range of machines that can whip up a coffee in moments. If you’re looking to invest in getting your caffeine hit the way you like it, you’ve come to the right place. Most coffee machines make an espresso-style coffee, which forms the base of an Americano, cappuccino, latte, flat white and more. There are three main types of machine for this style: capsule or pod; bean-to-cup; and ground coffee. Capsule coffee machines use pre-prepared pods for a quick, mess-free brew. Each brand usually has its own capsule, so it’s worth checking the price of these, the range of pods available and if they’re recyclable or compostable. Bean-to-cup machines include…

One-pan chicken with apples and prunes YOU WILL NEED ✔ Olive oil ✔ 4 chicken thighs, skin on and bones in ✔ Sea salt ✔ Black pepper ✔ 100ml dry white wine ✔ 1 tbsp runny honey ✔ 1 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar ✔ 100g pitted prunes ✔ 2 large Jazz apples ✔ 4 sprigs fresh thyme, plus extra to serve DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas Mark 5. Heat the oil over a medium high heat in a non-stick casserole dish. ■ Season the chicken thighs, and brown them in a frying pan for a few minutes on each side until just golden. Remove from the pan and set aside. ■ Pour off any excess fat in the pan and return to the…

‘Although some properties may benefit from maintaining original features, updating windows in a considerate way can enhance the overall look without impacting its heritage. Not only will it give your exterior a new lease of life but it can also help to improve the overall insulation. Opt for double glazing to ensure your home is as efficient as possible and personalise with an individual colour finish such as a traditional Turner Oak or Slate Grey.’ Clare Higgins, Product Manager at REHAU…

Always double check that your project doesn’t require planning permission and falls within Permitted Development (PD) with your local authority. PD is a set of rights that gives homeowners greater freedom to improve and extend their homes without the need to apply for full planning permission, subject to appropriate engagement with neighbours. While many of the following projects comply with PD, there are restrictions on its use, including listed buildings and in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To make sure your project is exempt from needing planning permission and for more information, contact your local council and the Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk.…

Win a Viners Assure bundle, worth over £70 Iconic cutlery brand, Viners, is giving away seven of its brand-new Assure bundles, which brings together food and knife safety with a collection of clever tools. The Assure Colour Code knife block and board set makes for a colourful addition to your kitchen. The Assure knives have been designed with a square tip, making them safer to use, and feature colour-coded tips that correlate to the appropriate chopping board, preventing cross contamination with raw and cooked foods. The bundle also features the Assure scissors in a stylish teal colourway. For more information and to view the latest products, visit viners.co.uk. Win a SodaStream Spirit sparkling water maker Get the party started with a SodaStream sparkling water maker – we have five of…

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET Homesense The Seventies are seeing a resurgence in Homesense’s new AW21 range – the latest collection of furniture and accessories features groovy geometric shapes, big textures and a seriously bold colour palette to bring a distinctly retro look to your home. ‘Embrace colours with punch – rich greens, mustards, browns and shades of orange,’ says Diana Civil, Homesense’s resident stylist. ‘And if a fully 1970s palette seems too bold, go for a plain backdrop and inject colour, texture and pattern with a few carefully chosen accessories.’ Art and soul With party season almost upon us, Desenio’s latest Studio Luxe collection is getting us in the spirit thanks to its selection of fun photographic prints featuring sparkly dresses, champagne glasses and glamorous heels – we plan…

INTO THE WOODS When we moved into a very dated 1950s semi-detached house, updating the front living room was one of our first jobs. We decided to wood clad a wall and sourced materials from our local timber merchant. We created a stud wall to attach the panels onto, then whitewashed the wood for a soft finish. In summer the room has an airy Hamptons feel and in winter, when the fire is lit, we feel like we’re in a Colorado log cabin! Louise Trasatti, Cheshire Your Home says: What a clever feature wall you’ve created, Louise! This style will be versatile all year round. ★ Louise’s letter has won her a Fabulosa cleaning bundle, worth £50!…

SAVE ON craft supplies Not only is making things by hand proven to be good for your mental health, it’s also a way to boost your décor with unique finished projects, too – and there’s no need to break the bank buying materials. Try these easy ideas for stocking up your kit on a budget. Plan your project before shopping. It’s easy to be tempted by all the fabrics, yarns and trims on offer, but don’t buy anything unless you have a clear idea of what you’ll use it for. You’ll save by only spending on what you need, and you won’t have to buy any extra storage for an overflowing stash either – a double win! Join an online craft swap group. Whatever type of craft you’re into, you’re…

There’s no better feeling after coming in from the cold, wet outdoors than sitting in front of an open fire. And while we might not all have the luxury of a wood-burning stove in our living rooms, we can all recreate that cosy feeling by updating our interiors with a few key pieces of décor. Velvet furniture in rich tones of burnt orange, deep red and amber yellow emulate the flickers of real-life flames, while accessories such as faux fur throws and exposed wood detailing can help transport you to a log cabin look in an instant. Layering is key here so don’t be afraid to bring out an abundance of cushions and blankets to make your home feel cosier – mix and match colours and textures to add depth…

SHOPPING LIST Walls in flat matt emulsion in Ditch the Tie, £40 per 2.5L, Coat Paints. Egon by Anaglypta paintable textured vinyl wallpaper, £13.99 a roll, World of Wallpaper. Etive large round cloakroom standalone countertop basin, £31.99 each, ManoMano. Arezzo Matt Black grid wet room shower and tray, £339.95; Savoy traditional radiator, £259.95; Trafalgar Victorian shower, £299; all Victorian Plumbing. White metro wall tiles, £10.95 per sq m, Tile Mountain. Scintilla Black Star Pattern tiles, £19.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors. Taps, £25 each; bathtub, £110, both eBay. Solid Oak bespoke bath caddy, from £46, Gifts with a Cherry on Top. Elephant in a Bathtub print, £20; Bear in a Bathtub print, £20, both Fy. Monaco towels in Light Grey and Charcoal, from £7.50 for a hand towel; Escape…

SHOPPING LIST Affine Montbell free-standing 1500mm bath, £549.97, Plumbworld. For a similar bath tap, try floor-mounted bath filler and hand spray shower in Matt Black, £203.97, Shining Homes on eBay. For a similar sink unit try Habitat Nomad small oak-effect sideboard, £150, Argos. For a similar basin try Home Supplies basin, £59.99, Amazon. Monobloc basin mixer tap, £37.58, Lante Home on eBay. Bella rimless close coupled WC, £159.99, Bathroom Republic Outlet on eBay. Aica walk-in shower screen panel in Matt Black, £111.14, Online Showers on eBay. Black shower set, £89.99, Etrade Bathrooms on eBay. Towel radiator, £63, Luxury Home Life on eBay. Equipe Artesano Alabaster wall tiles, £33.08 per sq m; Victorian Penny Matt White Porcelain Mosaic floor tiles, £65.89 per sq m, both Tiles Direct. Walls painted in Dusty…

Panelling painted in estate eggshell in Brinjal, £28 per 750ml; walls painted in estate emulsion in Strong White, £28 per 750ml; floors painted in modern eggshell in Strong White, £73 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Mural Sonata tiles, £88.99 per 120cm x 120cm, Mainzu Ceramica. Metro tiles in Dark Green, £17.99 per sq m, Crown Tiles. Metro tiles in White, £15 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Mayfair 1700mm free-standing roll-top slipper bath, £569.99, Bathroom Mountain. Classic single lever handle swivel spout free-standing bath mixer tap with handshower, £239.99; classic exposed antique brass two-handle round rainshower and handshower mixer in Solid Brass, £279.99, all Homary. Aurora Stone rectangular shower tray, £244.95; Arezzo brushed brass profile 800mm wet room screen, £299.95; Bloomsbury Old English floor-mounted towel rail in Brass, £249.95, all Victorian…

Revamping the kitchen doesn’t need to cost a fortune. It may be that you can upgrade your appliances to something more stylish and efficient, or perhaps a new dresser or dining table can create instant wow factor. For smaller budgets, consider swapping the light switches and sockets or giving walls a lick of paint. To help you decide which elements to switch up, we’ve picked four price points and chosen our favourite mini makeover ideas to take your kitchen into winter and beyond. SWITCH UP ‘Often an overlooked detail, updating your switches and sockets from white plastic to tonal colours will help refresh a tired-looking kitchen and make it feel much more you.’ Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-owner at Dowsing & Reynolds FLOOR SHOW ‘Luxury vinyl floors are warm underfoot, scratch- and…

PRETTY POSIES SHOPPING LIST ✔ Selection of foliage such as grasses, seed pods and flowers with long stems ✔ A large plastic container with a lid ✔ Silica gel crystals ✔ Twine or string ✔ Thin rubber or latex gloves ✔ Vase 1 Cover the bottom of your container with a layer of gel crystals then lay your foliage on top. Press them in slightly and then pour more crystals over the top. Add another layer of foliage before covering with crystals. For larger blooms, try and get some crystals in amongst the petals so they’ll dry more evenly. Don’t make more than two layers as the weight of the silica might crush the flowers and distort their shape. Leave the foliage in the crystals for 1-2 weeks to dry.…

While we love a gallery wall packed full of prints, sometimes you have an artwork or two that deserve to take pride of place. With a battery-operated picture light, you can give your favourite piece the real art gallery treatment, without having to bring an electrician in. In fact, all you need to complete this project is a little DIY experience and a few free hours spread over a weekend. We love this classic look with tonal shades of paint, but for a more contemporary take you could pick contrasting hues – take inspiration from colours that feature in your artworks for a cohesive finish. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Dust sheet ✔ Tape measure ✔ Masking tape ✔ 3 paints in tonal shades. We used Dulux Trade Paint in 10YY 54/034…

WE ARE Annalise Holasz, 35, owner of Wallflower Vintage Art on Etsy, and my husband, Pete Mosley, 40, a physics lecturer, and we live with our two cats, Poppy and Evie. OUR HOME IS A four-bedroom, 1930s semi in Bath, Somerset. FOR INSPIRATION I go on Instagram for initial ideas, but then I use Pinterest to help refine the look I’ve chosen. MY BEST IDEA Was to take a risk with colours and styles, and adapt what I like to suit the space rather than worry about what ‘the rules’ are. MY BEST BUY Is my pink lacquered tray from Addison Ross; I love the scallop edging and the bright splash of colour it adds to the living room. NEXT TO DO Long term, I would really like to build…

Coffee comes in all sorts of strengths and sizes, so make sure you buy a machine that suits your family’s café order requirements Espresso A shot of black coffee, which can be served solo or used as the foundation of most coffee drinks. Americano A shot of espresso, diluted with hot water. Macchiato A shot of espresso, with a small amount of milk. Flat white A shot of espresso with steamed milk. Cappuccino A shot of espresso with steamed milk and foam. Often topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder. Latte A shot of espresso with lots of steamed milk. A longer drink, this one’s often a popular choice! Most coffee pod brands offer a range of flavoured lattes, too.…

Sally Hamilton and her husband George had been thinking of downsizing their Northern Ireland home for some years, when her dream property came on the market. In their ideal location and with a south-facing garden, they snapped up the very two-bedroom bungalow that Sally had had her eye on for years. ‘I couldn’t believe our luck,’ she says. The only change that it needed was the addition of a third bedroom and the couple employed an architect to come up with a plan that avoided building a costly extension. They sacrificed the garage to create space for an open-plan kitchen-diner and turned the existing living room into an en-suite master bedroom. They virtually gutted the property – they moved walls, renewed plumbing and electrics, installed a new kitchen and bathrooms,…

Influencer Danielle Zarb-Cousin, 29, beat stiff competition to win Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2021 with her Creme de Menthe shed. Danielle transformed an unloved brown shed into a retro cocktail bar over lockdown. ‘I’m drawn to the 1970s, and wanted my décor to be as authentic as possible,’ explains Danielle. After painting her shed a soothing mint, she filled it with charity shop and vintage finds. ‘I’m writing a book, and find my shed a peaceful, quiet space to work, where I can really focus,’ she smiles.…

A ACR Stoves 0121 706 8266 acrheatproducts.com Alice in Scandiland aliceinscandiland.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk And So To Shop andsotoshop.com Andrew Henry Interiors 0117 937 3511 andrewhenry.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 770061 anniesloan.com AO.com 0161 470 1200 ao.com Arcform studioarcform.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Artisan Homeware 07747 628609 artisanhomeware.co.uk Artylicious 01274 421410 artylicious.co.uk Asda 0800 952 0101 asda.com Atkin & Thyme 01727 227500 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com B Baked In bakedin.co.uk B&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bathroom Mountain 01782 405047 bathroommountain.co.uk Bathroom Planet 0333 444 9444 bathroomplanet.com Beaumonde beaumonde.co.uk Beija Flor World beijaflorworld.com Bellybambino bellybambino.com Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Bergin & Bath berginandbath.co.uk Big Bathroom Shop 0345 122 7569 bigbathroomshop.co.uk…

We’re reading… The Joy of Living with plants, £9.99 Small-space gardening expert Isabelle Palmer shows us how to create hanging gardens at home with easy-to-follow steps while sharing advice on taking care of your ever-growing collection of houseplants. We’re following… @edwardian_london_terrace A love of bold patterns and dark colours is apparent throughout Denise’s home. She has been bringing character back to an Edwardian terrace that was once stripped of all original features. Her Instagram is one to watch if you have a penchant for traditional style with a modern twist! We’re going to… Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, 22nd-24th October Taking place at The Pavilion in Bath, here you’ll be able to scour the stands of exhibitors from across the UK and Europe, hopefully snapping up some unique vintage finds. Tickets…

HOW TO... draught-proof your home As the evenings draw in and temperatures begin to drop, thoughts turn towards trying to keep warm indoors. So it’s time to batten down the hatches and prevent any pesky breezes from coming through… • First, try to establish where any draughts are coming into your home. The most common spots are around windows, doors, letterboxes or gaps in your floorboards. You may also find breezes are getting in through gaps in the wall where skirting hasn’t been fitted, such as behind kitchen cabinets or around pipework coming through the floor. • Some draughty areas are easier to fix than others. For windows, a set of thick curtains will usually do the trick, as will a rug for draughts through your floorboards. You can also…

Frequently asked questions... How much could I save? On average, households can save around £216 a year according to Uswitch.com, and the transfer will take around 20 working days. You can switch suppliers online or over the phone. Once you’ve given your details, you’ll be told the best deal available. What information do I need if I want to switch supplier? Ideally, have your latest energy bill to hand, as this will contain all the information you need: your name and address, current supplier and tariff (standard or fixed), your method of payment, energy use over the last 12 months in kWh (kilo Watt hours) and contract end date. For the new supplier, you should choose which method of payment you’d like (monthly direct debit or quarterly payments) as well…

INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE? Kirsty Wilson, 38, a television executive, and Ainsley Keeler, 35, a television director and cameraman, live in a three-bedroom detached 1800s cottage in Essex with their dogs, Squid and Goose. WHAT DID YOU WANT FROM YOUR NEW KITCHEN? The original kitchen was in good condition, but not in keeping with the period of the property or my style, as it was a white, sleek handleless design. I wanted to bring back a period feel and add some character. HOW DID YOU MEET THE CHALLENGES? After a bad extension done by cowboy builders, we were left with little money to redo the kitchen, so instead we had to work with what we had. The kitchen cabinets and the bi-fold doors have been transformed using paint and…

Sometimes all that’s needed to breathe new life into a piece of furniture is a little time, attention and a few materials. We took this plain pine stool that had been forgotten in the corner of a bedroom and gave it a whole new look with just a few strips of faux leather and some brass upholstery tacks. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Wooden stool ✔ Screwdriver or pry bar ✔ Sandpaper ✔ Damp cloth ✔ Tape measure ✔ Clear matt varnish ✔ Paintbrush ✔ 1m flame-retardant faux leatherette fabric in Tan, £11.50 per m, Textile Express ✔ Ruler ✔ Pencil ✔ Rotary cutter and cutting mat ✔ Staple gun and staples ✔ Upholstery tacks ✔ Mallet 1 Remove the seat from the stool. If it’s screwed into place, use a screwdriver…

Q As the evenings are getting darker, how can I use light in my home to help make the space feel more cosy? Zoe Cutler, Preston A Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director at Industville, reveals… Use mood lighting to create a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation. Approaching your lighting in a layered manner will create little pockets and pools of light to give a welcoming atmosphere. A decorative light hung above a dining table, for example, will provide ambient light and define the dining space giving it a cosy, more intimate feeling. If you have an architectural feature or piece of wall art in the home, consider accenting it with wall lights for a subtle glow. Use warmer, lower-level lighting such as table lamps to create a snug, relaxed feel…

Carley and Fraser Kyle bought their Edwardian terrace in July 2018, when their daughter, Sienna, was just 10 months old. ‘It was in very poor condition, but thank goodness we were able to stay with my parents for a few months while the basic structural work was done,’ Carley says. They rejigged the downstairs to create a kitchen-diner that opens onto the garden and a more spacious family bathroom, while the original kitchen is now a useful utility room. ‘We moved here from a modern apartment, so we were delighted with the character of the house. We knew we wanted it straight away.’ When they eventually returned from staying with Carley’s parents, there was still plenty of work left to do. ‘When we moved back into the house in November,…

WE ARE Reena Simon, a lifestyle blogger at hyggeforhome.com and on Instagram@hygge_for_home. I live here with my husband and our three daughters. OUR HOME A Victorian terraced house in Cardiff. TO SAVE MONEY I bought my kitchen worktop, sink and units separately. It also meant I could personalise the design so it’s exactly as I want it. MY STYLE IS Scandinavian modern-rustic with industrial vibes. MY TOP TIP IS To embrace any trends you like and use them to personalise a look you love. My home proves that you don’t have to stick to one look to create a beautiful and cohesive space.…

3 WAYS WITH… butternut squash Packed with antioxidants, this superfood lends itself to heart-warming dishes For a risotto, roast 1kg butternut squash (peeled and cubed) in 2 tbsp olive oil for 30 minutes at 220°C/Gas Mark 7. Bring 1½ litres of vegetable stock to a boil then reduce to a simmer. In a separate pan, fry 1 chopped onion in 25g butter for 8-10 minutes. Stir in 300g risotto rice and fry until shiny. Slowly add the vegetable stock until the rice is cooked al dente. Mash half the butternut squash into a purée and stir through the risotto. Serve with the remaining butternut squash on top. To make a spicy soup, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan. Add 2 finely chopped onions and fry until soft. Add…

Wild mushroom soup YOU WILL NEED ✔ 25g dried mixed wild mushrooms ✔ 1 medium white onion, finely chopped ✔ 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ Salt ✔ 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ 2 tbsp dried tarragon ✔ 500g chestnut mushrooms ✔ 100ml dry white wine ✔ 450ml vegetable stock DIRECTIONS ■ Rehydrate the dried mushrooms in 500ml of boiling water for about 5 minutes. Once rehydrated, strain the liquid into a jug and keep for later to add flavour to the stock. ■ Add the onion and celery to a pan on a medium heat with the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions are translucent. ■ Add the garlic and tarragon to the pan. Roughly chop the…

According to a survey by myglazing.com, 65 per cent of people said that an attractive exterior is important when they’re considering whether to view or buy a new house. The research also revealed that 63 per cent of people were deterred by damaged windowsills and 35 per cent admit that liking the colour and style of the front door is essential. Whether or not you’re planning to sell up, keeping your windows and doors in good condition will not only make your home more attractive, but also keep it better insulated too, and reduce energy bills as a result. Here’s what you need to know when choosing new doors and windows… I KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE Replacing windows and doors is costly and time consuming, so it’s an…

When it comes to mapping out your dream home, the thought of seeking planning permission can put the brakes on your aspirations. However, there are lots of ways to increase the value of your home, cut bills or reclaim space in your current property without the need to gain permission from the council. We’ve got experts on hand to talk you through making those home improvement dreams a reality. 1 RENOVATE YOUR KITCHEN Replace tired cabinets, worn flooring and faded countertops to breathe fresh life into your kitchen. Consider how you use the space; think an island, floor-to-ceiling cabinets or open shelving for extra storage or sleek laminate and marble-effect countertops for a modern update. To take your kitchen to the next level and create an airy open-plan kitchen-diner, you…

‘Always talk to your installer about how much glazing you’ll need. By installing the right number, type and size of windows you can perfect the daylight in your new space and realise your home’s potential; fitting multiple or larger roof windows will help maximise daylight. In a loft conversion, we’d recommend that your VELUX roof windows take up an area equal to 15-20 per cent of the room’s floor space.’ Grant Sneddon, Director of Regional Product Management and Business Insight, Velux…