Innehållsförteckning för Apr-22 från Your Home

We’ve asked a lot of our kitchens in the last two years. More than just cooking, dining and socialising zones, they have had to double up as offices and home schools as well. Well, we think that, with these extra duties, it’s time our kitchens became extra stylish too! In this special issue, you’ll find all sorts of ways to make your kitchen as pretty as it is practical, from easy updates, like how to add a breakfast bar or island (p52) to our guide to kitchen extensions (p112). You’ll also find lots of ideas to steal in our kitchen makeovers (from p26) – I love Beam’s thrifty upgrade, and I praise her patience for painting her floor! Look out for our Kitchens Special logo throughout the issue for more…

Wild thing I recently picked up an old display cabinet from a local free site. I decided to take a risk and paint it black as it already had a gorgeous, mirrored gold-and-black back. I then added some matching leopard-print stickers and twinkling lights to finish it off. It’s now taken pride of place in my dining room and it gets lovely comments. Sue Steer, Stockton on Tees Tom, Section Editor, says: We love this project, Sue – it’s such a statement piece! Drinks parties have never looked so stylish to us. Small spaces I have a little corner area between my bedroom and en suite doors and I could never find any storage that would sit right inside it. My dad, Ernie, is a self-taught handy-man and my mum…

How to DRIVE DOWN YOUR CAR COSTS Running a car can be one of the most expensive household outlays: the annual spend can easily accelerate to well over £1,000. From insurance and repairs to parking and fuel, there are so many expenditures involved. Here are our top tips for more efficient driving. Do a tyre check. According to the RAC, tyres under-inflated by 15psi (pounds per square inch) use around 6 per cent more fuel, so keep your tyres pumped up. Don’t fill up on fuel. By doing this you’ll be adding extra weight to your car, which will make it less efficient than putting in less fuel and filling up more often. Use parking apps. Save with apps, like AppyParking to see paid and free parking locations near you;…

What are my consumer rights? When buying from an individual seller, as opposed to a retailer, the Consumer Rights Act says that the goods you get must be as they were described to you by the seller. There’s no obligation on the seller to disclose any faults, however, though misrepresentation isn’t allowed. So they can’t say something is new when it’s secondhand but the onus is on you to ask about any faults or defects. Can I return an item after I’ve bought it? Private sellers aren’t under any legal obligation to provide a refund or return if you change your mind, so always make sure you are completely happy before handing over any money. How can I keep myself and my money safe? If you are collecting or viewing…

THE DETAILS PAINT & HANDLES £72 SPLASHBACK £22 WORKTOP £18 FURNITURE £80 FLOOR PAINT £53 ACCESSORIES £169 TOTAL £414 SHOPPING LIST Floors painted in Diamond Hard floor paint in White and Cotton, £34 per 2.5L, Ronseal. SRP Miracle Eco tile stone and grout sealer, £19.97 per litre, B&Q. Kitchen units painted in chalk paint in Louis Blue, £21.95 per litre; and clear chalk paint wax, £11.95 per 500ml, both Annie Sloan. Tiles painted in chalk paint in Pure, £21.95 per litre, Annie Sloan. Worktop covered in D-C-Fix White wood-effect self-adhesive film, £6; Dow Corning mould-resistant clear silicone-based sanitary sealant, £6.65 for 750ml, both B&Q. For a similar basket try Blue indoor woven basket plant pot, from £10.99, Gardenesque. Bagganäs handle, from £8; Förhöja kitchen trolley, £80; Vardagen jars, £3 each,…

INJECT LOTS OF COLOUR in an industrial scheme so it still feels homely. I chose lots of oranges, blues and greens to soften the look of my sleek stainless-steel and black cabinets. ADD COMFY SEATING It’s often reserved for living rooms, but don’t be afraid to break the rules and add cosy seating, like my window seat, so your kitchen is a place to relax as well as cook. MAXIMISE WALL SPACE I prefer the more open, spacious look of shelving, so I have added them to every possible alcove and wall to give me as much storage as cabinets would.…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Emma Solomon-Moore (@thesolomoores), 33, and I live here with my husband, Lee Moore, 33, and our French bulldog, Didier and we’re expecting our first child. We both work at the University of Bath and we bought our four-bedroom converted chapel in Holcombe in November 2017. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The small kitchen. We removed the wall to the living room to make more space and light. WHY THE CHANGE? It was a squeeze for both of us to be in the room at the same time! HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? About three months as we had to wait a month for the floor fitters. TOTAL COST…

Known as the hub of the home, we aim to make kitchens both a practical and stylish space suited to the whole family – and one way to do this is through embracing open shelving. Replacing bulky, closed cabinets with open shelves will create a spacious, inviting feel and add personality to your kitchen, too. However, unlike the clutter we hide behind closed doors, open shelving requires more thought. Matching your scheme, serving a practical purpose, being easy to keep clean – a lot to consider, right? But that’s where our interior design experts come in to guide you in the art (because it really is an art!) of styling open kitchen shelves. RUSTIC farmhouse In a country-kitchen scheme, opt for floating shelves made from stained or reclaimed wood. Or…

From damaged non-stick lining on the frying pan to a tottering tower of mismatched pans in your cupboard, if your cookware has seen better days then welcome to our guide to pots and pans sets. Essential to cooking, these humble vessels may not receive a lot of attention when thinking about kitting out your kitchen but choosing the right set will pay dividends in the long run. First, make sure your choice of pan is compatible with your oven or hob. ‘Quality stainless steel pans feature a heat-conducting base that provides excellent cooking performance. Rust and corrosion-resistant, stainless steel is long-lasting and dishwasher-safe. Stainless steel pans are also available with non-stick coatings making them a versatile choice,’ advises James Robinson, Product Manager at cookware specialist, Stellar. If you’ve got an…

For similar cabinet units try GoodHome Caraway 600mm base unit, £41; Santini Black high-gloss slab 300mm cabinet doors, £30; for a similar induction hob try the Cooke & Lewis CLIND60 4 zone Black glass induction hob, £175; Cooke & Lewis Farin Black Chrome-effect kitchen side lever tap, £89; GoodHome Luynes White brick textured wallpaper, £17 per roll; Cooke & Lewis CLAGB60 Black glass angled cooker hood, £165, all B&Q. For similar dining furniture try Chopwell dining table and benches, from £710, Funky Chunky Furniture. Hotpoint Black fridge-freezer, £599, Sonic Direct. For a similar double oven try Hotpoint class 2 built-in oven, £430; built-in microwave oven, £180, both Hotpoint. Alen Forest Mix wood-effect porcelain tile, £22.95 per sq m, Tiles Ahead. Vadholma Black and Oak kitchen island, £340; Småäta chopping board,…

TREAT JARS SHOPPING LIST ✔ Bunny templates ✔ Jars ✔ Masking tape 48mm wide ✔ White gesso ✔ Acrylic paint ✔ Ribbon ✔ Pen or pencil ✔ Small sharp scissors ✔ Pencil/pen ✔ Tweezers 1 Wash and remove any labels from your chosen jars, we found hot, soapy water and wire wool was effective for removing stubborn stickers. Cut out a smaller bunny silhouette and then trace around it onto your masking tape. Using small scissors, such as embroidery or nail scissors, cut out around the outline of the shape and then adhere to the front of your jar. Press down firmly to make sure there are no gaps around the edges. 2 Mix your gesso with some acrylic until you reach your desired colour and then use a sponge…

The idea of burning wood may seem a little hair-raising at first, but don’t panic – this incredibly useful technique is easy to master with a bit of practice. It’s such a striking way to create personalised gifts – this set of utensils and a chopping board makes a fab house-warming present, while the addition of a monogram gives it a personalised flourish that’s ideal for a romantic anniversary or wedding gift. Use unfinished, sanded wood to get the best burn effect, and remember to keep your patterns simple – we know how tempting it is to go OTT with a technique you’ve just learnt! SHOPPING LIST ✔ Pyrography tool (such as a Pyro Master) ✔ Wooden utensils or chopping board ✔ A spare wooden object so you can practise…

WE ARE Kura Dione-Warren, 33, a company director, my husband, Mark Warren, 33, an architect, and our son, Kalil, three. We are currently expecting our second child. We share our decorating progress on Instagram at @the_warren_ crew_52. OUR HOME IS a 1930s, four-bedroom semi-detached house with a one-bedroom annexe, in Merton, south-west London. MY BEST BUY was our dining table, found on Facebook Marketplace for £30. MY TOP TIP is to not be afraid of making things yourself. We made lampshades, built-in storage, curtains and cushions, and my husband even laid underfloor heating. MY ADVICE IS to be confident when picking colours for your home. Go with what you like! SHOPS I LOVE ARE Habitat, IKEA, Dunelm, Snug and Aldi. I’M INSPIRED BY I’m of Senegalese heritage and this has…

‘We only viewed this house because the one that we really wanted, the one that we had put an offer in on, had fallen through,’ says Imogen. ‘Alex and I were really disappointed and fed up after finding and losing our dream property, and although we weren’t wowed by this house when we first came across it, we thought it was worth viewing, just because it was across the road from the construction company we both worked for at the time and we could nip over and check it out on our lunch break.’ The couple were on the hunt for their first home. Keen to get on the property ladder as soon as possible, they were searching for a comfy two-bedroom house close to work, their friends and family,…

Best for… VEGANS NOMO cookie dough crunch egg and bunny, £6, Sainsbury’s Combine two sweet treats with this flavoured egg – the chocolate bunny also has a cookie dough centre. Best for… KIDS White chocolate bunny Easter egg, £4, Thorntons Children will love this fun white chocolate egg, which is slightly smaller than their grown-up counterparts. Best for… THE FAMILY KitKat Chunky Lotus Biscoff giant Easter egg, £5, Tesco This egg is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and it comes with three full-size chocolate bars to enjoy as well. Best for… SOMEONE SPECIAL Divine milk chocolate Easter egg with salted caramel, £10, Waitrose A hint of sea salt balances out the sweetness of the butterscotch toffee; perfect for an indulgent treat. Best for… GLUTEN-FREE DIETS Free From marble chocolate Easter…

Q I love following the latest trends, but how can I bring them into my home without starting from scratch each season? Evelyn Cole, Swansea A Nadia McCowan Hill, Resident Style Advisor at Wayfair, says… There are some simple additions you can make to your home to give it a refresh each season, without ever lifting a paintbrush! Just as you would accessorise an outfit, think of your living space in the same way. A splash of colour and pattern can be added with cushions and throws: the texture of which can make a big impact on the overall look, from luxe, plush velvet to fringe and tassel edging. A statement armchair in a block colour will instantly inject personality into your living space, while being a more cost-effective option…

Of all the members of the hydrangea family, mophead and lacecap are the most commonly grown in UK gardens. These beautiful cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla flower on the previous season’s growth so will only need a light prune. Always leave the flower heads on the plants over winter as this gives the new buds some protection from hard frosts. In April, cut off the old flowerheads to just above a pair of new buds and at the same time remove any thin or dead stems right back to the base of the plant.…

WIN £500 to spend on luxury lighting accessories from Wandsworth Electrical Do you prefer a classic square edge or a sleek penthouse style for your switches? Or, maybe, you’re searching for a burnished brass, dark antique bronze or a soft satin finish to complement your room scheme? Well you’re in luck, as Your Home has teamed up with Wandsworth Electrical to give away a £500 voucher to spend on luxury switches and sockets. A design feature that’s so frequently handled should reflect your design in both looks and quality, so don’t settle for the mundane. The voucher can be redeemed against any existing finish and standard switch, socket or electrical accessory from the dedicated online shop section. Browse the ranges at wandsworthelectrical.com/online-shop. WIN a spring gardening bundle from Hozelock! Hozelock…

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET Habitat Add a touch of retro with Habitat’s Fresh Vintage spring/ summer 2022 collection, which features layered prints and textiles in a sherbet colour palette. Elaborate details, such as scallop edges, embroidered cushions and hand-painted ceramics complete the look. Habitat’s Homewares Buying Manager, Anna Cross, suggests you try, ‘A statement bedlinen if you’re feeling bold or opt for a simple printed ceramic vase for a more subtle approach.’ Fresh florals Dunelm’s latest collection with Holly Willoughby features stunning bedding, as well as her first wallpaper and curtain designs. Holly says, ‘I adore nature and I’ve always been influenced by pretty florals and foliage. My vision with this new collection was to “bring the outside in”, so the designs are still pretty and feminine, but also…

HOW TO... transform your kitchen on a budget If your kitchen has seen better days, you don’t need to rip it out and start again. It’s likely that there are specific features you don’t like – so tackle those first. Find out how to revamp them with these top tips… • Kitchen cabinets visually make up a large part of a kitchen, which often become the focus. However, if you don’t like them, they can be changed over a weekend. If they’re wooden, make sure you prep them with sugar soap, sandpaper and primer before painting. Laminate cupboards can also be painted – just make sure to use a very adhesive primer and double check the paint can be used on laminate. • Worktops can also be replaced, but these…

By making savings on parking and insurance, why not treat yourself to Amazon’s Echo Auto, £57 from AO.com, for in-car entertainment? Just like at home, you can set diary reminders on the go, get news updates, play your favourite road-trip playlist, make hands-free calls and more just by asking Alexa. Plus, it has eight built-in microphones to pick up your voice over music and traffic noise. You’ll need the free Alexa app on your phone, compatible with Android and iOS devices.…

PEACHY keen Poised between pink and terracotta, peach marries the soothing feel of earthy tones with blush playfulness. Forget its past as the bridesmaid’s hue of the 1980s, peach has been given a modern makeover to radiate a muted glow through your interiors. From delicate blossom to ripe fruit, Benjamin Moore has a range of peachy shades to adorn your walls with. MADE-TO-MEASURE MARVELS Graham & Brown is pushing its interior offerings one step further with the launch of made-to-measure cotton curtains and blinds. Choose from a wide array of designs from the brand’s archive, which you can combine with matching wallpaper and paint for the ultimate pulled-together scheme. Dainty dishes Serve dinner guests or a laid-back breakfast in style with the new Porcelain collection from Denby. Handcrafted in Derby,…

WHO LIVES HERE? Beam Irwin, 34, an interior stylist (@aplacetogether and @bloomsbybeam) and my husband, Christian, 39, an IT specialist. We’ve lived in our three-bedroom, semi-detached, 1940s home since May 2019. WHAT WAS UPDATED? I painted the tiles, covered the worktops in vinyl, overhauled the existing units with a new colour, and hand-drew a geometric pattern on the floor. WHY THE CHANGE? The kitchen was in good condition, but the décor was dark, grey and gloomy. I wanted to brighten it up to make the most of the light coming in from its big window. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took us four weeks, working around when we needed to use the room. TOTAL COST…

When Sheila and her husband, Sandeep, moved to their home in Buckhurst Hill, they were thrilled with the location and the large outdoor space. ‘We have a great plot here with a stream running through the garden; that’s why we bought the house,’ smiles Sheila. She knew there were a few compromises, though, and the size of the kitchen was one of them. ‘Although it was small, I loved that the kitchen has a large window that overlooks the garden.’ A lot of the space was taken up with an unused chimney breast, which meant it didn’t have the storage they needed. ‘Not only that but we hardly had any worktop space, either.’ The couple didn’t want to add an extension, so they decided to look at other ways they…

THE DETAILS PAINT £94 UNITS £1,467 TILES £425 FLOORING £660 TAP £200 WORKTOP £520 TOTAL £3,366 SHOPPING LIST Hockley Matt Black 800mm base unit, £383.84; Hockley two-drawer sink unit, £456.69; Hockley plinth, £23.73; Hockley end panel, £72, all Howdens. TH113 Smoked sawn oak strip herringbone flooring, £66 per sq m, V4Wood Flooring. Iroko wooden worktop, £260 for 3m, Worktop Express. Black tap, £200, Hinton Plumbing. Eklatera storage jars, £4; Glass clip jars, £1.75; Sanela Dark Green cushion cover, £5.50; Sanela Olive cushion cover, £5; Hultarp Black container, £4; Hultarp rail, £4; Torvfly tea towels, £2.50 for four; Ostbit tray, £6.50; Nissafors trolley, £25; Ribba Black frame, £7; Sannahed frame, £5; Lerboda frame, £6; Risatorp baskets, £10, all IKEA. Green metro tiles, £150 per sq m, Milagros. Bo touch bin, £180;…

THE DETAILS PAINT £164 KITCHEN HANDLES £98 TILES £85 WORKTOP £2,885 FLOORING £400 APPLIANCES £518 SINK & TAP £338 TOTAL £4,488 SHOPPING LIST Cupboards painted in eggshell in Spruce Things Up, £49.99 per 2.5L; Window reveals painted in supreme matt emulsion in Make A Mint, £49.99 per 2.5L; Miami Pink Tinkisso kitchen tap, £139.99, all Dowsing & Reynolds. Equipe Artisan Rose Mallow 6.5 x 20cm tiles, £36.92 per sq m, Tiles Direct. Cosmos Black granite worktop, £540 per m (including installation), Avon Marble. GoodHome Dukkah Brass-effect cupboard handles, £14 for two, B&Q. Shelf: timber scaffold board, from £26, Wickes. HISENSE I6433C electric induction hob, £299, Currys. Bluci Turano 1.5 Black granite sink, £251, Sinks-Taps.com. Sylvia bar stool in Forest Green velvet, £139, Cult Furniture. Polyflor Camaro Cambridge oak parquet vinyl…

Enhance your daily routine by elevating your bathroom sink. From washing your face and hands to applying make-up, a basin and the area around it gets a lot of use. Spoil yourself and your bathroom to an area dedicated to self-care. Consider the basin’s shape, colour and whether you’d like it to be wall-hung, perched on a countertop or integrated into a chic vanity unit, then pair with period brass taps or a modern mixer. Leave space for fluffy towels, soap and accessories and then complete with task lighting and a gleaming mirror for the ultimate in an indulgent glam zone. ALL-INCLUSIVE ‘An all-in-one washbasin and worksurface is perfect for a contemporary look. The integral worktop space is invaluable for accessories and your daily beauty regime. Team with eye-catching furniture…

Give the classic garden trug a stylish update with this handmade design crafted from a single wooden pallet. The shaped feet provide a stable support when the trug is put down to stop it tipping over and spilling the contents. We’ve kept our trug untreated to celebrate its rustic character, but you could varnish it or give it a coat of pastel wood paint if you’d prefer it to be a kitchen or utility room accessory. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Wooden pallet, made from approx 10cm-wide slats ✔ Measuring tape ✔ Set square ✔ Pencil ✔ 80-grit sandpaper or electric sander ✔ Handsaw ✔ Waterproof wood adhesive ✔ Hammer or nail gun ✔ 30mm panel pins 1 There is no need to take the pallet apart, as all the sections can…

Workshop BRUSH UP YOUR SKILLS Spend a relaxing day in rolling countryside and go home with a host of furniture painting skills under your belt. The Boho Shed is running workshops from 10am to 3pm in Warrington, Cheshire on Saturday 12th March and Billinge, Lancashire on Monday 14th March, £120. First you will practise a variety of painting techniques, including one-coat distressing, multi-coat distressing, ageing, crackling, stencilling, dry brushing, waxing, finishing and paint protection. Then you’ll use your new-found talents to make over your own piece of furniture. Book at thebohoshed.co.uk. BOHO CHIC Appliqué is an enjoyable way to create unique items for the home, and we love this new book full of funky designs by Mandy Murray. These are truly one-of-a-kind projects to work up on a sewing machine,…

Jo Burke’s first property purchase was a 165-year-old cottage. ‘And I never thought I’d live in a new-build,’ she says, ‘although, while the cottage had all the charm that a new-build lacks, it also had all the problems you don’t get with a new property.’ The cottage holds fond memories for Jo, as it was her first home with husband, Arran, and their daughter, Evie, was born there. However, it didn’t offer enough space for their growing family, so it was time to move. Friends of the couple mentioned that homes were being built on their estate in Great Bentley, near where Jo and Arran lived, which piqued the couple’s interest. These new-builds offered them more space and had a driveway – number one on Arran’s wish list. Plus, Jo…

WE ARE Imogen Woodage, 28, an interior designer (@elm_terrace_interior), and my partner, Alex Marshall, 28. OUR HOME IS a two-bedroom Victorian terrace in Sale, Manchester. We bought the house in 2018. MY TOP TIP Don’t get swayed by trends and Instagram and Pinterest. They are great sources of inspiration but stick to what works in your home, for you. FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I look to magazines, books, homeware shops, hotels and restaurants. NEXT TO DO I’ll never say a room is complete as I’m always looking to improve spaces and our style evolves over time. Next, I would like to add reeded film to the bathroom shower screen, fit a new shelf in the lounge and change up some prints in the bedroom.…

Herby lamb with woodland dressing PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes, plus marinating overnight COOKING TIME 35 minutes SERVES 6 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 3 small lamb loin fillets, weighing around 350g each ✔ 3 tbsp Bonne Maman Berries & Cherries Conserve ✔ 9 slices Parma ham ✔ 3 sprigs fresh thyme ✔ 3 sprigs fresh rosemary ✔ 3 tbsp balsamic glaze ✔ 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ✔ 3 tbsp olive oil ✔ 150ml chicken or vegetable stock ✔ 225g small cherry tomatoes DIRECTIONS ■ The day before cooking, brush the lamb fillets over with 1 tbsp of the conserve. Wrap each fillet in 3 slices of Parma ham. Lay a sprig of thyme and a sprig of rosemary on each fillet and tie at intervals and secure with string. ■…

Whether it’s a side return on a Victorian property or pushing the rear of the house back to create a larger open-plan scheme, a kitchen extension is a great way to achieve extra space. It can make room for a dining table or island, allowing family and friends to sit and chat while you get on with the cooking, and it can create space for a sofa and TV or home-working area. An extension can add value to your home, so it’s an investment worth considering. 1 PLANNING THE BUILD There are lots of things to consider in terms of the build itself. First and foremost, work out your maximum budget and add 10 per cent as a contingency fund in case of any unforeseen extras. Make a spreadsheet to…

Escape to a charming retreat each and every night with this stunning Laura Ashley country cottage bed set-up from its brand-new SS22 collection. Worth £1,573, this ornate bedframe, linens and cushions will transform your bedroom into a serene scene, and we’ve got one bedroom bundle to give away to a lucky reader! Laura Ashley’s beautiful new collection reimagines heritage prints for modern homes, evoking memories of the brand’s long and rich history. One lucky winner will receive the elegant bed set-up pictured; this relaxed and traditional collection is bursting with vintage charm and will recreate the feeling of an early morning in the countryside. The winner will receive the king-sized Shadwick metal bedframe; a sumptuous Addington king-sized mattress; Harvest Ochre bed linen; a cotton fitted sheet for a king-sized bed;…

‘I follow my heart and hope that what I love will spark excitement and joy in my customers’ Describe a typical day I always start with coffee and the school run followed by heading to the shop. I arrive before we open so there’s time to prep the shop and unpack deliveries. We open at 10am and from then it’s non-stop. At lunchtime I walk our two whippets, then it’s on to the office where I plan new-season trends, source designs and organise events. The day is bookended by the school run. What is your favourite interiors style? I have really eclectic taste: I love mid-century design but I also adore modern styles. I like to pick and choose items that appeal to me and blend them together to create…

We’re reading… Extraordinary Escapes: Unique and Wild Getaways Across the UK , £20 The official tie-in to Channel 4 show Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig features captivating homes around the UK, from stylish builds to nature-inspired hideaways. We’re following… @the_onyejis_ We love Sade’s home for its cosy, lived-in, boho vibe. Her styling top tip is to use similar colours in every room so the scheme flows – it also means you can switch pieces around to make a space feel new, yet stay within your budget. We’re going to… Grand Designs Live, 30th April to 8th May The design event returns to Excel London with panel discussions, expert advice, and exhibitions across kitchens and bathrooms, upcycling and more. Tickets from £12.…

Mr Muscle oven cleaner, £3.50, Wilko This iconic brand is applied in a similar way to spray paint (which means no wrestling with a pump spray bottle) and is ideally left for 30 minutes before wiping. The cleaner smelt fairly strong – we found it best to ventilate the room. However, it didn’t linger once the oven had been cleaned. It took a bit of elbow grease to get some of the dirt off, and after two applications it still left behind some baked-on grease and grime, so it’s better suited to less heavy-duty jobs. For the price, we found it a good option for regular kitchen cleaning. Oven Mate daily oven cleaner spray, £5.99, Lakeland We expected serious cleaning power from this well-known brand, and it did a very…

HOW TO... find a bargain Following in the footsteps of fashion, fast furniture has become a real issue in recent years. There is a solution, however, as you can save money, reduce landfill and give a new home to a preloved item by purchasing from a private seller. • Online sites, such as Facebook Marketplace, Preloved, eBay and Gumtree allow you to search for specific pieces and pay a lot less than you would when it was new. • If you have something specific in mind you can search for that item. You may want to create a wider search to furnish a whole room. Get as much information as you can from the seller by asking to see photos from all angles and ask if there are any defects,…

From Grecian archways to art deco scalloped prints, curved forms have balanced architectural strength with relaxed comfort in interiors for centuries. This spring welcomes the return of the curve, as the revival of organic shapes goes a step further with 1970s-inspired seating from dwell, Dunelm and Furniture Village, soft furnishings from George Home and eclectic pieces from HomeSense. Lou Peterson, Creative Director at dwell, shares her styling advice: ‘Allow curved furniture to be the hero piece in the room, and pair with velvet to add comfort and warmth to the space.’ Refine the look with moody blues and earth tones for a scheme that marries relaxation with minimalism. FIVE BUYS UNDER £10 THE MOOD BOARD…

1. Research paint types that will adhere to the surface you’re painting and will withstand daily wear and tear in a busy kitchen. 2.I recommend using Photoshop or a similar program to create a mock-up before painting a patterned design to give you a template to follow – you could also draw it out on paper as well. 3. It’s inconvenient to not be able to use your kitchen for long periods, so plan your makeover around not only how long it will take to do the painting itself, but the drying time needed too.…

Emma Solomon-Moore and her husband, Lee Moore, were drawn to the character of this converted chapel when they moved to Bath, and since the building had only recently been turned into a house, the magnolia canvas was ripe for decoration. ‘The estate agent only had a back-door key, so we walked straight into the kitchen at the back, which was the most disappointing room in the house!’ Emma recalls. ‘It was small with wall cupboards everywhere and access through the dining room. We knew we wanted to make the kitchen bigger, but we weren’t sure how.’ So, they took their time – years, in fact – looking at the options for how best to make the most of this unique space. THE PROJECT The couple rejected the idea of extending…

Welcome a wealth of character to a box or bland room with these stylish updates that will take a plain space from humdrum to heavenly. Texture, colour and well-considered furniture are all key to breathing life and personality into the room, as well as keeping it practical. Create a cocooning feel with darker shades and rich textiles, a radiant sanctuary with pale woods and pastel hues or a multifunctional space with transitional furniture and a mood-enhancing palette. Discover our top styling hacks to make your dull rooms truly dazzle. LIGHT IT UP ‘Decorative lighting is like jewellery for your home – it transforms an ordinary room into something really special and enhances your décor. Choose lighting that features brass and clear glass to create a soft, playful atmosphere, and oversized…

WHO LIVES HERE I’m Sarah Brewster, 52, (@the_brewhouse_home) a self-employed contractor, and I live with my husband, Ian, 54, a publications manager, our sons, Charlie, 19, and Toby, 15, and our Cairn Terrier, Dougal. THE HOME A 1960s four-bedroom semi in Caerleon, Newport. We moved here in October 2015. THE PROBLEM The kitchen was tiny with virtually no prep space. I also like us to eat together, but the dining room was separate so we couldn’t chat as a family while cooking. THE SOLUTION We knocked down the dividing wall to create an open-plan space, which allowed for a family dining table and chose a kitchen island that can be moved around, so it’s perfect for larger gatherings.…

The best way to encourage kids to get into reading? Make it comfy! With its handy front pocket and carry handle, this cute reading cushion makes it easy for little ones to grab their favourite book to curl up with. Sew one for their bed, ready for bedtime stories, or add it to a beanbag or chair to create a dedicated reading corner in an instant. Get your child involved in picking out the fabrics – they’ll love that it’s personalised just for them with an appliqué name. SHOPPING LIST ✔ Main fabric: 50cm x 1m ✔ Accent fabric: 50 x 50cm ✔ 25cm Bondaweb ✔ Pencil ✔ Scissors ✔ Pins ✔ Iron ✔ Thread ✔ Sewing machine ✔ Pins ✔ 2m x 2cm wide covered piping cord ✔ 38cm…

WE ARE Jo Burke, 35, my husband Arran, 37, a project manager, and our children, Jack, 10, Evie, eight, and George, five months, plus our two dogs, Daisy, a Labrador, and Rosie, a Cavapoo. OUR HOME IS a four-bedroom, detached new-build house in Great Bentley, Essex, and we moved here in November 2018. I Instagram our journey at@the_house_and_me. MY BIGGEST MISTAKE I painted halfway up the hallway wall in black. It looked great, but was difficult to keep clean and didn’t work with the rest of the house. NEXT TO DO I would love to have a free-standing bath. Maybe when the kids are older and splash water around a bit less!…

3 WAYS WITH… spinach This iron-rich leafy green is popular in vegetarian dishes To make a hearty brunch, heat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC Fan/Gas Mark 6. Put 100g spinach into a colander, then pour over boiling water. Squeeze out excess water and place in an ovenproof dish. Mix 400g tinned chopped tomatoes with 1 tsp chilli flakes, then add with the spinach. Make four wells around the centre and crack in four eggs. Bake for 12-15 minutes. For a quick lasagne, heat the oven to 200ºC. Heat some oil in a frying pan and add a crushed garlic clove. Add 250g sliced mushrooms, then cook until they start to soften. Add 200g spinach and stir until it wilts. Remove from the heat and stir in 300g soft cheese and 1…

Easter rocky road PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes CHILLING TIME 1 hour SERVES 8-10 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 225g dark chocolate, broken into pieces ✔ 100g unsalted butter, cubed ✔ 2 tbsp cocoa powder ✔ 2 tbsp golden syrup ✔ 100g rich tea biscuits ✔ 50g mini marshmallows ✔ 50g dried cranberries ✔ 200g chocolate mini eggs DIRECTIONS ■ Line a 20 x 30cm traybake tin with 2 sheets of cling film (in a criss-cross pattern). Put the chocolate and butter in a large bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, and melt until smooth and glossy. ■ Remove from the heat and add the cocoa powder and golden syrup. Mix together until fully combined and leave to cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. ■ Put the biscuits…

The move from a small London flat to a four-bedroom house in Surrey stretched Leila and Ben Walker’s budget but provided them with the ideal home in which to bring up a family and stay put long-term. ‘We’d been living with Ben’s parents after we sold the flat,’ recalls Leila, ‘so it was great to find a place that was ready to move into, as nothing needed to be done immediately.’ However, a kitchen extension was always on the cards. The couple spent the first 18 months in the house saving up and revising their plans to create extra space. ‘It was the best thing we could have done,’ they agree, ‘because our ideas kept changing and the end result is wildly different from our original plans.’ With the help…

Plant seeds in trays or pots of peat-free multi-purpose compost, following the basic instructions on the back of the seed packet. Tiny seeds, such as those of nicotiana may need light to aid germination, while chunky seeds that include sunflowers or nasturtiums will need to be covered with soil at twice their height. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Keep pots in a frost-free environment (unless otherwise stated on the seed packet). Avoid growing above a hot radiator, as the seedlings will grow long and leggy.…