Innehållsförteckning för November 2021 från Your Home

This issue, I am amazed by the amount of genius money-saving ideas that our experts and readers have shared with us. If you’re looking for easy, thrifty ways to transform your home, then you have picked up the right magazine! Jade Butcher’s home (p84) for instance, is packed with budget-stretching tricks – from her faux built-in storage that’s actually from IKEA, to a DIY kitchen-cabinet hack that saved her thousands, she’s one smart homeowner. For more kitchen renovation tips, flip to page 34 for a trio of makeovers. Check out Nicola’s preloved units (which she bagged for just £600) on page 38 and our cover star Karen’s stunning country kitchen-diner on page 42. It’s a cottagecore lover’s dream! With winter almost upon us, this is the time to treat the…

Microfibre weighted blanket, £24.99, Home Bargains Designed to add soft pressure to help you feel snug and secure, this stylish grey, microfibre, weighted blanket gives you that reassuringly cosy feel. Weighing 6.8kg, the pockets hide a layer of glass beads evenly throughout. It’s great for snuggling up and relaxing on the sofa, and comfortable to sleep under at night. We really felt the soothing benefits of this quality blanket. Weighted blanket, £39.99, Homescapes Crushed grey velvet on top with a dark-grey fleece lining beneath combine for a luxuriously soft blanket to curl up under and give your bedspread a stylish finishing touch. Weighing 6.8kg, the quilted pockets and piped lining enable the weight to be spread evenly as the blanket’s reassuring pressure covers you. While it’s great for a sofa…

MINI TREND Emerald green As one of the Your Home team’s favourite jewelled tones, emerald green is a staple of the autumn/ winter season. And it’s not just reserved for Christmastime – this intense shade is versatile and can be paired with monochrome schemes to stand out as a hero colour. Alternatively, you can achieve a luxury look by layering emerald-hued accessories alongside sumptuous velvet textures or rich metallics, such as bronze and gold – just like this gorgeous tablescape set-up by John Lewis. Your guests will be green with envy… LIFE IN TECHNICOLOUR The contemporary wallpaper and paint brand, Lick, has teamed up with London-based artist, Yinka Ilori, to create a bold and uplifting new range. Drawing on his British-Nigerian heritage, the Maximalist Brights collection features two striking wallpaper…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Nadia Murdock, 25, a marketing manager, and I live with my husband, Crae, 26, in an Edwardian, two-bedroom flat in Woodford Green, Essex with our cat, Bumpkin. We moved in one year ago because we love the area and work close by. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The whole kitchen was revamped with a fresh and light Scandi-feel kitchen. The units were ripped out and swapped for contemporary replacements and the old blue walls were painted and tiled in white instead, making the room feel much brighter. WHY THE CHANGE? The old kitchen felt dated and dark in the small space, and the old blue wall tiles made the room feel small, tired and cramped. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took three weeks from start to finish…

WHO LIVES HERE? Nicola Paige, 49, manager of a family golf course, my husband, Rob, 52, a facilities manager, our son, Finley, 22, and daughter, Summer, 11. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room was taken out and the wooden floor in the dining room was sanded and varnished. All the kitchen units were replaced with second-hand cabinets and an island was created. A log burner was installed and new flooring put down in the kitchen area and the whole space was repainted. WHY THE CHANGE? The kitchen and dining room were divided into two unsociable rooms. The kitchen units were straight out of the 1970s and although I loved the original vinyl it needed replacing. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? About six weeks in…

Capture that relaxed-yet-refined balance of a boutique hotel every time you step through the front door. The key to this polished look is combining luxurious materials in subtle shades and focusing on the details. Metallic elements, eggshell paint and wallpaper with sheen will add indulgence to the scheme, while also brightening the room. Choose hard-wearing fabrics like velvet or wool, which are not only better quality but will gain character over time. And don’t be scared to mix old with new – boutique styling is all about individuality, so celebrate your cherished pieces by giving them a new lease of life with considered accessorising.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Hannah, 29, a laywer, and Will Stebbings, 32, a media sales executive. They bought their 1930s townhouse in Tooting, London, in September 2020. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE NEW ROOM? It includes a separate bath and shower, which was always our goal, and still manages to feel spacious and luxurious. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PROJECT? With such a small space you have to be prepared to compromise and keep an open mind – and research to find the best prices. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS? Make sure the things you can’t see – the plumbing and electrics – are done to the best standard possible. It’s much harder to rectify mistakes after all the fittings are in. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD…

SIMPLE STAMPS SHOPPING LIST ✔ Carving tools – we used a lino cutter with both narrow and wide blades ✔ 2 x rubber stamp-carving blocks, measuring 5 x 5cm and 10 x 10cm ✔ Pen or pencil ✔ Paper ✔ Scissors 1 Plan out your design by drawing it out onto some paper first. We chose a rose-hip design, which has two colours, so we left a gap between the separate elements of the berry and the stem. 2 Cut out the elements and use these as stencils to draw around onto your rubber blocks. Transfer the berry shape onto the small 5 x 5cm carving block – you only need to do this once as this can be reused for all the berries. Then transfer the stem and leaves…

If you’re looking to put the charm back into a period property, then checking out the condition of any original fireplaces is a great place to start. Even if the chimney isn’t in use, you can still make the most of the mantelpiece to display artworks, and the grate itself to store candles, logs, houseplants or perhaps some sparkling baubles come Christmastime. As this guide shows, even a small fireplace that’s caked in layers of paint (and a few stickers!) can be brought back to life. It can be a bit of a tough job – if you have bad knees, you may wish to invest in a kneeling pad – but with some hard work and elbow grease, the results will be very impressive. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Protective sheet…

PLUS IDEAS TO STEAL See your home here! Have you just finished decorating your home? If so, we’d love to see your photos and, who knows, it may even be featured in a future issue. You can share them on Instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine…

It took just a 15-minute tour of their townhouse to convince Katie and Arthur that they wanted to buy it. Yet it was a further six months – following protracted negotiations and the final exchange of contracts – before they saw it again inside. ‘We were really excited to have finally bought a house together,’ says Katie. ‘We were living close by so we made a point of walking past it as often as possible. We spent hours planning what we would do with it.’ However, when they finally got the keys and saw it without furniture, it looked very different to the way they remembered it. ‘It was a dark, dull evening and this time the house was empty of furniture, so we saw all the things that the…

WE ARE Becca Larkin, on Instagram @renovationliving, 26, an account manager for beauty brands, and my partner, Jordan Sutton, 27, who’s a carpenter. OUR HOME A two-bedroom, semidetached bungalow built in the 1980s located in Peacehaven, East Sussex. MY BEST BARGAIN Was IKEA’s Ekbacken laminate worktop. It was really affordable, we paid £550 and I recommend it to everyone. SHOPS I LOVE ARE Creative Cables, my favourite independent for lighting, and the Decorating Centre Online is really handy – you type in the name of the paint, they colour-match it and send a sample pot. MY BEST PROJECT The floating shelf in the kitchen was made from a piece of scaffolding board painted the same colour as the living room, with ironmongery I spray-painted gold.…

Slow cooker stuffed peppers PREPARATION TIME 12 minutes COOKING TIME 5 hours 30 minutes SERVES 4 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 1 red onion, peeled and chopped ✔ 250g chestnut mushrooms, chopped ✔ 75g shredded kale ✔ 180g pack chestnuts ✔ 75g feta, crumbled ✔ large pinch dried oregano ✔ 4 large red peppers For the pesto ✔ 50g watercress ✔ 30g walnut pieces ✔ 25g hazelnuts ✔ 100ml extra virgin olive oil ✔ ½ lemon, juiced DIRECTIONS ■ In a large frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat and cook the onion for 3-4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the kale and stir-fry for 1 minute. ■ Remove the pan from the heat and…

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET Oliver Bonas Serving up some seriously sophisticated new collections, the AW21 range from Oliver Bonas has arrived just in time for dinner party season. At YH, we love the decadent mix of marble and brass tableware, as well as the rest of the brand’s latest pieces of décor that don’t shy away from bright and beautiful colours. Guest appearance Sofa beds aren’t always the comfiest place to rest your head, but that’s where Snug’s latest collection comes in. Three new designs feature sumptuously soft cushions and ‘marshmallow’ mattresses that can be pulled out at a moment’s notice. The Cloud Sundae three-seater sofa in Midnight Blue, shown, is priced at £1,544. SPOT ON Add something a little wild to your interiors – animal prints are what…

I’ve always wanted a lightbulb mirror for our dark landing but when I looked online they were so expensive and weren’t exactly what I wanted. Inspired by Your Home magazine, I decided to make my own by re-purposing an old mirror of my husband’s and using some USB lights, gold paint and acrylic jewels. I absolutely love my mirror and I got so much pleasure from working out how to achieve the look I wanted and spending hours sticking the jewels on while listening to a podcast. The lights can be bright white or multi-coloured, or even different colour patterns. I’m so happy with my unique mirror. Rebecca Harrison, Tunbridge Wells Your Home says: Wow – we love this dazzling DIY project, Rebecca! ★ Rebecca’s letter has won her an…

SAVE ON Christmas presents Browsing and shopping for friends and family for Christmas can be a lot of fun but the cost of the festive gifting spree is another matter. Try these tips for saving money while still filling stockings with wonderful and original presents. Make a list and check it twice. Draw up a list of who you need to buy presents for and how much you can realistically afford to spend on each. Keep a running tally of your spending to stay on track – you might find you’ve got extra left over to spend on your nearest and dearest, plus it will help avoid any impulse buying. Next month, we will be bringing you a budget-friendly gift guide, so look out for our thrifty ideas. Check out…

Smooth, soft and sumptuous – for those searching for a lavish update you can’t go wrong with furnishings that adhere to this textural trio. Show your love for the luxurious look with rich materials, such as plush velvet, refined wool bouclé and faux fur, all in the form of cosy throws, block-colour cushions and contemporary armchairs with clean, angular lines. Styling these swish furnishings with other sleek surfaces is key to dialling up the textural opulence. Bring in plenty of glamorous gilt pieces with photo frames and mirrors as well as white and grey-veined, honed marble with tabletops, serving boards and coasters. Mix these pieces with an abundance of other indulgent textures, including delicate pampas grass, smooth crystal-clear glass, deep-pile rugs and silky tasselled finishes. The colour palette for this…

SHOPPING LIST Metod/Kungsbacka kitchen units, £1,439; Vimmern kitchen mixer, £150; Möllekulla worktop, £120 for 186cm x 3.8cm; Kilsviken inset sink, £215; Norråker bench, £50; Norråker dining table, £149; Proppmått chopping board, £2.75; Bekvåm trolley, £45; Risatorp basket, £10; Skarrild rug, £60; Mariatheres tea towels, £7 for two; Forenlig vase, £2; Pepparkorn vase, £6; Ludde sheepskin, £25; Småäta chopping board, £15, all IKEA. Lampas Cloud tile, £69.78 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Woodland Click engineered flooring, £34.99 per sq m, Discount Flooring Depot. Pasta sauce print, £8.95; Aperol Spritz print, £4.95; Leon and Jug poster, £12.95; Les Forms Organiques poster, £8.95; Snake Plant poster, £23.95, all Desenio. Mostra kettle, £39.99; Mostra toaster, £39.99, both Breville. Zen Amber tumbler glass, £4; Elements Jaula candlestick, £6; Elements Vete ceramic cannisters in Teal and…

SHOPPING LIST For similar units try Dunham in Rose Bowl, from £4,001, Magnet. Solid oak wood worktop, from £168, Wickes. Baroque Lisbon non-slip vinyl flooring, £9.49 per sq m, Vinyl Flooring UK. For similar hanging lights try Pendial steampunk pendants in Antique Brass, £14, Iconic Lights. Patenaude 8-light candle-style chandelier, £339.99, Wayfair. Brass tap, £25, eBay. For a similar fridge freezer try American MQ79394FFB Fridgemaster in Black, £599, Boots Kitchen Appliances. For a similar range try Belling farmhouse 100cm gas range cooker in Black, £1,109, NE Appliances. For a similar radiator try Georgian 2-column cast iron radiator in Pale Gold, £122.23, Cast Iron Radiators 4U. Victoria metal bar stool in Walnut Elm Wood & Black, £99, Cult Furniture. For a similar table try farmhouse table, from £475, The Rustic Table…

SHOPPING LIST Kitchen cabinets and woodwork painted in architect’s eggshell in Stable Green, £71 per 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Little Greene Great Ormond St Signature wallpaper, £97.50 per roll, Go Wallpaper. Paintbox Avocado gloss green tiles, £36 per sq m, Mandarin Stone. Antique hammered copper Belfast sink, £679, Coppersmith Creations. Franke Old England traditional copper single lever kitchen sink mixer tap, £139.99, Taps UK. Stoves electric oven, £397; Stoves induction hob, £329; Belling hood, £89; Indesit fridge, £249, all AO.com. Shelves and worktop stained in Osmo Top Oil in Terra 3038, £19.25 for 500ml, Wood Finishes Direct. Perspex splashbacks, £650, splashbacks.co.uk. Dining table, £695, Peppermill Interiors. Victorian dining chairs, from around £40, eBay. Antique brass adjustable arm wall mount shade with box holophane shade, £162.80 each, Edison Light Globes.…

You don’t need a whole room to dedicate to a home library – any unused corner, window or alcove can be transformed into a snug place to get lost in a paperback (or, indeed, the latest issue of Your Home ). From a squishy armchair to sink into and a shelf for your to-read pile, to an easy-on-the-eyes lamp and textiles galore for dialling up the cosiness, we’ve got every plot twist covered. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin… Pull up A CHAIR Think of the chair as the main character and build your scheme around it – after all, you’ll be spending many hours there engrossed in stories. An armchair in bright velvet will give you a classic library look with a twist or, for the ultimate in…

Whether you’re planning a whole new kitchen or looking to update the one you have, there are plenty of ways to make sure your space has room for all the family. Think about creating zones for cooking, eating, relaxing and studying (if you want to keep an eye on the kids). Encourage little ones to help prepare meals or bake by adding a stool for them or a lower-level worktop that they can reach more easily. Add a table, island or breakfast bar so everyone can eat meals together and keep ovens at eye level out of children’s reach. Finish with colourful accessories and you’ll have a fun space for all ages. Design notes ‘Allowing the kitchen and dining space to flow as one will accentuate the family-friendly feel of…

Round mirror, £138, Dvalenti Furniture. Large seagrass baskets, £36 for two, From Wales with Love. GSI Kube X 45 x 35 wall mounted basin with towel rail, £291; Crosswater Totti basin 3-hole tap set, £227.50, both Sanctuary Bathrooms. nuie Cambria wall hung toilet with dual flush concealed cistern and wall hung frame, £250; Trojan Derwent single ended bath (1,400 x 700mm), £150, both Victoria Plumbing. Belgium Stone tumbled hexagon mosaic tiles, £260; tumbled Ibiza marble metro tiles, £539, both Starel Stones. Mira Leap Pivot shower door, £384; Mira Platinum rear fed, high pressure dual controller shower, £849; Mira Flight Low rectangle 1,200 x 760 shower tray, £187; Mira Revive bath filler, £159, all Mira Showers. Framed prints, £80 each, Heather Burton. Turkish towels, £6 each, Homescapes. Intelligent eggshell paint in…

Making everyday household items a little more luxe is far easier, and more affordable, than you may think. Take this upcycled IKEA tray as an example – a lick of metallic gold furniture paint and some marble-look detailing has elevated a plain tray into a decadent piece of home décor. It’s a good project for DIY beginners to start with, as all you need to do is follow a few simple steps to make a glamorous design statement – ideal for serving up cocktails this season. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Klack tray, £5, IKEA ✔ Sanding block ✔ Masking tape ✔ 2cm-wide paintbrush ✔ 125ml Rust-Oleum Metallic Finish furniture paint in Gold, £5.50, Homebase ✔ 125ml Rust-Oleum furniture lacquer in Clear, £5.50, Homebase ✔ Measuring tape ✔ Metal ruler ✔ Pencil…

Q What kind of window dressings do I need to ensure my home is insulated during the winter? Clair Collinson, Preston A Leah Aspinall, Head of Creative at Blinds 2go says… If you have patio doors or large windows, thermal pleated blinds are the perfect choice to keep your home insulated and the cold away. The aluminium-lined, honeycomb pockets trap the air and work hard to create a thermal barrier between the room and the window. These innovative blinds are designed to protect your home from the winter chills, while helping to reduce your energy bills. Layering blinds and curtains is also a great way to create a snug space. A combination of wooden Venetian blinds and curtains or Roman blinds and curtains make stylish and practical options for winter.…

Jade Butcher and her husband, Andrew, decided to relocate from London back to Jade’s hometown of Thorpe Bay, in Essex, when they found out they were having their second child, Eva. Freddie, the couple’s first born, was due to start school the following September, so they were in a hurry to find a home and get the family settled, though it wasn’t as smooth a process as they had hoped. ‘We sold our house in Chiswick quickly, but we struggled to find somewhere to buy,’ Jade recalls. ‘Time was running out and we had come to terms with the fact that it was looking like we might need to rent for a while, when we received a call from our estate agent notifying us of a property that had come…

WE ARE Katie Lewis, 37, and Arthur Silvente, 36. We are both senior sales directors at a translation services company. We have a son, Arthur, five. OUR HOME IS A 1980s, three-bedroom townhouse in Hoxton, London. We bought it in November 2017. MY STYLE IS Welcoming and minimalist, with inspiration from nature and plants. We don’t like to have much clutter. MY TOP TIP Ask for help from a professional designer. People think it can be an expensive option, but Olivia Clasper of Assembly Interiors knew where to source everything at the best price and came up with ideas we would never have thought of. OUR FAVOURITE ROOM Is the living room as the furniture is arranged to create separate areas – for reading, playing or watching television – which…

3 WAYS WITH… swede Add buttery warmth to dishes with this sweet-tasting veg To make crispy gnocchi, chop 400g potatoes and 600g swede into chunks, coat with olive oil and roast for 50 minutes at 220°C/Gas Mark 7. Pulse in a food processor. Add 1 tsp chilli flakes, 100g ‘00’ flour and 30g Parmesan and pulse to form a dough. Divide the dough into three 1cm-wide sausages. Cut into 2.5cm pieces and batch cook the gnocchi in boiling water for 30 seconds. Once cooked, fry the gnocchi over a medium heat for 2 minutes on each side. For a speedy spaghetti, chop 250g swede, 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves and fry in 2 tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes. Cover and fry, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes until the…

Chilli hot dogs PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 4 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 Packet of Gosh! Veggie Sausages with Sage and Black pepper ✔ 3 tbsp olive oil ✔ 1 small red onion, chopped ✔ 400g tin refried beans ✔ 4 tbsp tinned chopped tomatoes ✔ 10 cherry tomatoes, chopped ✔ 1 fresh chilli, chopped ✔ 15g coriander, stalks chopped and leaves reserved ✔ ½ lime, juiced ✔ Baguette, cut into 4 For the onion relish ✔ Olive oil ✔ 2 red onions ✔ 1 tbsp brown sugar ✔ 4 tbsp red wine vinegar ✔ 4 cloves ✔ Stick of cinnamon DIRECTIONS ■ Heat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Cook the sausages for 15 minutes. ■ To…

A surge in demand for extra space combined with the recently ended stamp-duty holiday has pushed house prices to an all-time high, making moving out of the question for many owners. So, it’s no wonder that many of us of are choosing to upgrade our homes instead, with mortgage broker Mojo Mortgages reporting record levels of borrowing to fund refurbishment work. A single-storey extension is one of the most versatile and cost-effective improvements, which, according to estate agency Douglas & Gordon, can add on up to seven per cent to a property’s value. 1 CALCULATE THE COSTS Expect to pay from £25,000 to build a 20 square metre extension, rising to more than £40,000 if you’re going for a complex design or bespoke fittings, such as made-to-measure bi-fold doors. You’ll…

WIN a £250 voucher to spend at DUSK As the nights draw in, refresh your home with a £250 voucher from DUSK. Created with the finest materials, from Egyptian cotton to cotton percale, the DUSK bed linen collections are the epitome of luxury for less, boasting a range of classic, modern and more relaxed styles. Every item is luxuriously soft, supporting a good night’s sleep all year round. Accessorise your bed or refresh the sofa with sumptuous throws and cushions in opulent velvet or tufted texture, in a range of colours from timeless white and soft sage to earthy charcoal and ochre. Add a new dimension for the senses with a candle or diffuser from the home fragrance range. The Allure Collection is bursting with seasonal amber and sandalwood notes,…

From the big, fluffy blankets to the gentle flicker of a stove, there’s not much I don’t adore about a home that’s all cosied up and ready for autumn. Before the chilly nights really kick in, there are a few practical things we can do to make our spaces warmer. Discover 10 ways to make your home more snug on page 14, learn everything you need to know about heating on page 18, and if your radiators could do with an upgrade, you’ll find styles for every room in your house on page 16. Draughty old floors aren’t much fun at this time of year, so discover 4 steps to a cosy floor on page 22. Warmth isn’t the only factor in building a cosy atmosphere – colour, texture and…

It might be wet, cold and windy outside, but this gives us the perfect excuse to retreat into our homes and cocoon ourselves in cosiness – and what better way to do this than with a stove? Our top choices won’t only keep you warm, but they’ll bring plenty of character to your space, too. Not sure where to start when it comes to electric, gas and solid fuel fires? Read on for our expert guidance. Opt for electric For maintenance, convenience and easy installation, an electric stove is the way to go. They provide instant heat and only need a three-pin plug socket to get started – so they’re a simple way to bring warmth and style to your space. QUATTRO BLACK WALL-MOUNTED ELECTRIC FIRE, £220, DUNELM This 25-inch…

Heating and hot water are essential for our homes, and if your system isn’t performing as well as it should, now could be the time to think about replacing it. The latest models are much more efficient and better for the environment, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. Consider your existing fuel type, how many people will be needing hot water and if you’re a bath or shower household, as this will determine how much hot water you’ll be needing day to day. WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF GAS BOILER AVAILABLE? COMBINATION OR ‘COMBI’ BOILERS are the most popular option in the UK, providing heat and hot water without the need for a water tank or cylinder. These are generally available in both gas or electric models. They don’t…

We’re reading… Hill House Living, £22 Are you a fan of cottagecore? Then you’ve probably already heard of stylist and blogger Paula Sutton, known to most on Instagram as@hillhousevintage. Inspired by her distinct vintage style, this debut book is bursting with ideas on how to bring the best of country life into your home, wherever you are. We’re following… @21_holmfield Sam’s interior style is an eclectic mix of old and new, and she loves using both colour and pattern to brighten up her home. ‘The master bedroom is my sanctuary so it’s important that as soon as I step in here, I feel transported away from all the hustle and bustle of busy family life,’ she says. We’re going to… Spirit of Christmas Fair, 1st to 7th November Celebrating its…

HOW TO... reduce your plastic waste We are all fully aware that we should be living more eco-friendly lifestyles and using less plastic day-to-day, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few tips to get you going… • Make sure you own a reusable cup and water bottle. Drinking vessels are one of the most common pieces of plastic that sadly end up in landfill, so it is a good idea to make carrying one around with you a daily habit. Many coffee shops will offer you money off your drink as an incentive for bringing your own cup, and you can refill your water bottle for free in plenty of places too. • Swap out your clingfilm for alternative beeswax wraps when…

Frequently asked questions... What sort of discounts can I expect? You’ll find great deals on top brands, such as Apple, Sonos, KitchenAid and Fitbit. Expect prices to drop by around 25% and remember that discounts and deals are widely available online as well as in-store. Some of the big-name retailers taking part include Amazon, Currys, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, Boots, B&Q, Bensons for Beds, Dunelm, Matalan and MADE.com. I’ve heard of Doorbusters but I’m not sure what this means? This refers to a specific product or a selection of items offered at an extra discount price for a very limited time. They are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and this strategy is often used by retailers to get customers through the door. What’s the difference between Black Friday…

Moving into their first flat was really exciting for Nadia and her husband, Crae. ‘It was quite a mission finding a flat that ticked all the boxes. It had to be within handy transport links for work, have a second bedroom and be within budget. It took quite a while to find a flat we both loved, but we knew straight away this was the one,’ says Nadia. The couple wanted to make their mark on it, starting with the kitchen. ‘It was quite dated and not to our taste at all. I’m a big fan of neutral colours and I love all things Scandi, so I knew which direction the décor was going in,’ Nadia explains. THE PROJECT Their first job was to decide on the layout – and,…

When Nicola Paige, 49, and her husband, Rob, 52, bought this four-bedroom, 1920s cottage in Glen Parva, Leicestershire, they weren’t overwhelmed by how much they liked it, but could see its potential. ‘It didn’t have kerbside appeal,’ recalls Nicola, ‘but it was spacious and felt really quirky, and because it hadn’t been touched since the 1960s, it was a chance to do a complete renovation, to suit our taste.’ As the hub of their family home, the kitchen needed an overhaul to create the open-plan living space they wanted. THE PROJECT The original kitchen had a separate dining room, which didn’t suit the family’s sociable way of living, particularly as during lockdown, there were nine of them living in the house, including three of their four children, their daughter-in-law and…

Crisp white sheets, rich textures and a room with a view are all hallmarks of a boutique hotel. While we can’t change what’s outside your window, we can show you how to achieve the sophisticated ease of boutique hotel styling inside your home. Ground your look with soothing, complementary shades then turn up the impact with luxe textiles, pops of metallics or prints and statement pieces of furniture. While the bedroom might be the most obvious place to start, these chic principles can be applied to every room. Keep reading to discover how to achieve those holiday feels without packing a suitcase. IN THE SPOTLIGHT…

Kelly Collins, head of creative and in-house interior designer at Swyft, offers advice on the best spots in the house to set up your reading area. Pick your room carefully. Your reading nook doesn’t have to be in the living room. In fact, this might be the worst place for it – the average family living room is busy, with plenty of traffic and activity. Bedrooms are often a good spot as they’re seldom used during the day. You could also choose a cosy fireside corner in the kitchen, or create a dedicated reading room in place of a home office. Make space for two. We tend to think of reading as a solo pursuit, something we do on our own when we want a bit of quiet time. But…

WE ARE Jade Butcher, 35, an interior colour consultant. You can find me on Instagram @aninteriorstory. My husband is Andrew, 37, and our children are Freddie who is six and Eva who’s two. OUR HOME IS A five-bedroom, detached 1930s bungalow conversion in Thorpe Bay, Essex. We have lived here since late 2018. MY TOP TIP IS To take your time and think about whether you are making a choice because it’s something you genuinely love, or because it’s something you’ve seen trending on Instagram. FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I feel very fortunate that as an interior colour consultant my job involves visiting lots of people’s homes to help them build schemes. I often leave with lots of inspiration from them. NEXT TO DO IS The utility room. It’s currently a…

On a chilly, autumnal evening, what could be nicer than arriving home to meltingly tender beef stew followed by a comforting sponge pudding? Or perhaps you’d prefer a succulent roast chicken for Sunday lunch, or a bowl of creamy overnight porridge for breakfast? When used correctly, a slow cooker can be a versatile and helpful tool in the kitchen – slowly simmering ingredients over hours to create hearty and wholesome dishes that are ready to serve as soon as you walk through the door. Slow cookers vary in price greatly, so it’s important to consider exactly what you’ll be using yours for before splashing out. Options range from affordable cookers with two heat settings, to investment-worthy multi-cookers with several functions (such as air frying, pressure cooking and even Masterchef-style sous…

Pedro Ximénez sherry, pear and stem ginger mincemeat PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes SERVES 6 x 300ml jars YOU WILL NEED ✔ 125g unsalted butter ✔ 200g light brown muscovado sugar ✔ 500g pack dried mixed fruit ✔ 150g crystallised stem ginger, finely chopped ✔ 50g dried cranberries ✔ 50g flaked almonds ✔ 2 ripe, firm pears (about 150g each), peeled, cored and cut into 1cm dice ✔ 1 orange, zested and juiced ✔ 2 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 2 tsp mixed spice ✔ ½ tsp ground nutmeg ✔ 250ml Tesco Finest Pedro Ximénez sherry DIRECTIONS ■ Put all the ingredients except the sherry in a large saucepan. Heat gently until the butter and sugar have melted, then simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set…

Location was the main motivation behind Jasmine Headley’s move from a three-bedroom house in Leeds to another of a similar size. ‘I was pregnant at the time with Milo, now five, and my husband Tom and I wanted to live in the part of the city where I’d grown up,’ she says. ‘We moved six days before my due date and knew from the outset that we’d have to extend as the old kitchen was so small.’ The solution was to add an extension and knock through the original exterior wall at the back of the house, creating a spacious all-in-one kitchen-diner that’s flooded with natural light. This freed up space for a utility and downstairs loo, and the old dining room is now a relaxing room for reading. While…

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SECTION EDITOR Tom’s picks ‘Just like my wardrobe, I switch up my cushions with the arrival of autumn and pile my sofa and bed high with lots of texture and darker shades. Blues, mustards and linens are usually my go-tos, but this year I’m going to warm up my scheme with earth tones and burnt reds.’ DESIGNER Beth’s picks ‘I’m a sun worshipper, so as soon as the days start to shorten I flick on the fairy lights and light candles to give my surroundings a sunny glow. From dainty lights to these TruGlow candles from Lights4fun, which create a flame effect without the worry of leaving them unattended, my living spaces will sparkle through the winter.’ Features editor Michelle’s picks ‘As the evenings draw in, you’ll find me tucked…

’In relatively airtight properties such as new builds, there must be an air vent permanently open to the outside. In older properties (pre-2008), the first 5kW of an appliance doesn’t require an air vent, but every kW over that needs an additional 55cm sq size hole.’ Annabelle Carvell, PR Officer, Stovax ‘Look for stoves that are approved for smoke-control locations – even homes in the most urban areas may be able to use stoves that are exempt from the restrictions.’ Annabelle Carvell, PR Officer from Stovax…

Not sure where to start when it comes to choosing a radiator for certain rooms in the house? John Lawless, Content Marketing Manager at BestHeating, is here to help. ‘In kitchens and bathrooms, vertical radiators and tall towel rails can help to maximise floor and wall space, leaving more room for all your other essentials. In the kitchen, avoid placing a radiator next to a fridge or a freezer, as they both get rid of their residual heat through a condenser at the back of the appliance. A hallway radiator is probably heating a much larger area than you may think, with open staircases and long spaces requiring a little more heat output than a dining or living room. So, consider a larger radiator to combat this. Heat may escape…

ECO is a scheme supporting energy efficiency improvements, including insulation and some heating systems in low income and vulnerable households. It’s not a government grant, but an obligation on large energy suppliers to support households. You may qualify if you claim certain benefits and meet other requirements. If there is a specific scheme in your area you may be able to get help even if you’re not receiving any benefits. If you install a renewable heating system, you may be eligible for RHI – a government scheme where you can be paid for every unit of renewable heat you produce for a number of years. For more details visit simpleenergyadvice.org.uk .…