Innehållsförteckning för Aug-22 från Your Home

During these lazy days of summer, is there anything nicer than to throw open the doors of an evening, and soak up some sun in the garden? Though my little plot doesn’t need too much work, I’m always on the lookout for easy updates that might elevate it, which is why I am thrilled with our round-up of holiday-inspired looks for your garden (p44) – all so achievable with just a few choice accessories! I’ve also got my eye on the affordable outdoor rugs on page 122 – these would instantly inject some extra style to my patio… but which to choose? If you’re ready for a new project, then we have plenty of ideas to keep you happy. Try the DIY outdoor kitchen on page 112 – it would…

Little rock star Inspired by the June issue, my 10-year-old daughter Lily has created these beautiful name labels for our vegetable patch. She loves crafting and gardening, so this was a perfect combination for her. Kerry Storey, via email Beth, Deputy Art Editor, says: We’re so pleased that we’ve inspired your daughter to make these. They look lovely and will brighten up your plot! Stylish sideboard I completed this renovation of our old sideboard using Frenchic Al Fresco Paint in Smudge, along with some lovely new handles. I’m really pleased with the result – it looks high end, but without the expensive price tag! Deb Scothern, Chesterfield Sophie, Editorial Assistant, says: You’ve made this look like a brand-new piece, Deb – the finished result looks as good as a luxury…

HOW TO... set up a business If you’re passionate about one of your hobbies, why not turn it into a business? It could be craft-making, art, clothes-mending or any creative activity – anything you already invest time, money and energy into could bring in extra money. • The first thing to do is some informal market research with family and friends to see if your idea is something they would pay for. Then search online to see who else is doing it and how. The best ideas will fill a gap in the market so think about your skills, experience and anything unique that you can offer. • Do you want to run your business online, from home or from other premises? Think about your existing commitments, as well as…

Turn your home into a comforting refuge, inspired by memories of idyllic rural retreats, with this fresh take on the cottagecore look. Everyone’s getting in on the act: ditsy florals have been replaced by gingham and check at MADE.com and Arket; lace has given way to linen, we’re seeing flounced cotton and scalloped dinnerware at DFS and Primark; and rattan furniture now reigns supreme at John Lewis & Partners and Dunelm. ‘Introduce pastel accents to enhance the romantic, pretty aspect of the style,’ advises Lou Peterson, Head of Design at DFS. ‘Tactile accessories such as textured rugs or blankets will add a splash of charm.’ Pluck your colour palette from fields in the early morning: the sky’s pale blue; the wheat ears’ buttery yellow; the sage-green leaves; and peachy-pink dog…

ZONE THE SPACE Nurseries need to work for sleep, play and everything in between, so use furniture to create different areas, even in small spaces. All you need for a reading spot, for example, is a small bookshelf (like my slimline DIY pallet shelf) and a beanbag or mini chair. START SIMPLE A Scandi look is great for nurseries, as you can easily add any colour or pattern to it as your little one grows. Build the scheme around neutral basics, like white and wood furniture and cream carpet. MAKE IT FUN Even though I love grown-up neutrals, I wanted to achieve the perfect balance of calming and fun for Monroe to enjoy, so mixed soft hues and textures with colour-pops and animal motifs.…

PLAY WITH PAINT Carry a painted wall design onto furniture as well – the wardrobe wasn’t in great condition, so Brian suggested we paint scallops on it, like the walls. It’s protected with Polyvine Decorators Varnish in matt. THINK AHEAD For long-lasting style, find rugs you can stick in the wash, and choose wall shades with longevity. If Rosie decides to move away from bright accessories when she’s older, the pink walls will still work. BALANCE OUT BRIGHTS I like combining three colours that I can repeat in the room, but they need to be balanced. Pink is the base, yellow is the accent, and I also added splashes of green.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Asa Vaid, 50, my husband, Saj, 52, and our children, Nimmi, 13, Tulsi, 20, and Arun, 23. We live in a five-bedroom house located in South Woodford, East London. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The wooden floor got a couple of coats of white paint; some new floral green wallpaper went up on one wall; and we got a larger bed, too. WHY THE CHANGE? The room hadn’t been updated since Nimmi was a baby and she wanted to incorporate her favourite colour, green. Nimmi was keen to put her own stamp on it. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? The decorating only took a week, but then we moved furniture around to make it feel cosier than its previous layout. TOTAL COST £886…

From buying loose vegetables to updating your wardrobe with charity shop finds, we’re all taking steps to reduce our impact on the environment. And you can apply these principles to your decorating efforts too, by seeking out recycled materials; looking for plastic-free products; and repurposing what you already own. Alysha Alli, Interior Designer at Redrow has this advice: ‘If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s to make the most of what we have. Create a scheme where the essential elements – kitchens, bathrooms, furniture and paint colours – will still look great in five or 10 years. The key is styling with accessories, which can be upgraded and recycled as your taste changes.’ 1 MAKE DO AND MEND Breathe new life and purpose into dated, discoloured or…

Known as the heart of the home, the kitchen is used for so much more than just cooking – it’s a place for socialising, entertaining, and even working. So, invest the same time and energy that you might spend on styling your living room or bedroom and stamp your own sense of style on this practical space. It doesn’t have to be a full kitchen reno: open shelving, a lick of paint, budget-friendly DIYs and artwork can all lift your existing kitchen for a personalised look. Tile style ‘The beauty of tiles is that they can be arranged in a laying pattern that suits your style, adding originality to the overall look and feel of your kitchen. There are lots of laying styles to pick from, such as brick bond,…

Toreno Matt Black 800mm shower enclosure and Pearlstone tray, £593.88; Reina Diva curved towel rail, £275.94, both Victorian Plumbing. Orchard Wye thermostatic bar valve shower, £169, Victoria Plum. Ashford WC unit in Ocean Blue, £89.96; Tabor back-to-wall toilet with soft-close toilet seat, £145.92; Ashford 600mm vanity unit in Ocean Blue, £152.70; Zana Square Matt Black basin mixer, £77.96; Ashford 600mm mirrored cabinet, £99.96, all Better Bathrooms. Savannah Oak floor planks, £44.19 per sq m, Karndean. Pietra di Elba tiles, £69.95 per sq m, Original Style Tiles. Pure Brilliant White matt emulsion, £9.99 per 2.5L, Dulux. Ultimate bath sheet in Ochre, £20; Dorma Tencel Sumptously Soft towels in Porcelain Blue, £12 each; bathmat, £18; Idris Ink abstract framed art, £94 for two; marble resin tumbler, £4; ceramic footed plant pot in…

Say goodbye to sleepless nights spent tossing, turning and seeking the comfort of the cold side of the pillow. From fabrics that wick away sweat to soothing scents that help create a calming atmosphere, turn your bedroom into a comfortable oasis for that all-important shuteye. Whether it’s the warmer weather, the wrong sort of bedding or your body running hot that’s keeping you awake, we’ve put together a guide to help you keep cool and reclaim your restorative rest. Beauty sleep has never felt so cool. REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE Keep the Sun’s heat at bay by drawing your curtains and keeping blinds closed during the day. As night falls, open the windows and doors to encourage air flow around your room. ‘The optimal temperature to avoid difficulties falling and staying…

‘I think it’s important to take your time with decorating and get a feel for the space, rather than hurriedly buying items to fill it’ Moving into a new-build home may have given Rejoice Gusha an empty shell on which she could flex her creative skills, but it certainly wasn’t without its challenges. The three-bedroom new-build house was a perfect size and in a great location close to her family, and she was keen to transform the white rooms, which felt somewhat devoid of character. But, after initially filling it with matching grey hues, Rejoice soon realised that it needed an injection of colour and individuality. ‘When I first bought the house, I saw pictures of all these grey homes and thought that was what I should have, too,’ Rejoice…

WE ARE Laura Tupman, 35, a learning support assistant, on Instagram @snap_happy_home, my husband, David, 38, an Operations Superintendent for an oil refinery, our daughter, Myla, eight, and Mally, the cat. OUR HOME IS a four-bedroom detached house in Pembrokeshire built in 2005, and we’ve lived here since June 2020. MY BEST BARGAIN was decorating Myla’s room. The look belies the cost, as the paint was leftover from other rooms and the spots are just cheap stickers. NEXT TO DO is herringbone flooring throughout the kitchen-diner. I love the interest it adds to a large space, and the floor here hasn’t been laid particularly well, so we are hoping we can just cover it with luxury vinyl tiles. MY STYLE IS seamless. I want the look to flow from one…

3 WAYS WITH… peaches This stone fruit is commonly used in baking projects, but it also contrasts well in savoury recipes and is delicious in drinks, too To make a speedy salad for four, toss 400g diced chicken breast in some olive oil. Grill on each side until cooked through, then set aside. Quarter 4 peaches and lightly brush on a little oil, then grill for 1 minute on each side. Toss a couple of handfuls of salad leaves with some salad dressing, then combine with 100g crumbled feta cheese. Serve with the grilled chicken and peaches. For peach iced tea, tip 200g granulated sugar into a saucepan with 250ml water. Bring to the boil slowly, then add 4 chopped peaches. Cook until very soft, then remove from the heat,…

• If you think your room has rising damp, you’ll need to update the damp-proof course before doing any renovations. Head to property-care.org to find a specialist in your area • Find trusted tradespeople for all sorts of jobs on checkatrade.com • At myglazing.com you’ll find professionals in your area who can install windows, doors and roofs • Get made-to-measure window blinds at hillarys.co.uk, blinds-2go.co.uk , thomas-sanderson. co.uk, 247blinds.co.uk, luxaflex. co.uk and appealshading.com…

BARBECUE BUDDY The top section of this H165 x W100 x D56cm unit can be used as a planter or drinks cooler! It’s made to order from pressure-treated timber Outdoor BBQ kitchen, from £179, cwoodcreationsshop at Etsy STORE AND ORDER This smart serving station with metal worktop measures H162 x W103 x D53cm and offers plenty of storage space for all your barbecue essentials Rowlinson barbecue servery, £259.99, Rowlinson Garden Products A BIT ON THE SIDE Made from FSC-certified acacia with a zinc-plated worktop, this H76 x W104 x D50cm trolley features a 40cm fold-up side table for those times when you need a little extra serving space Maclor BBQ serving trolley, £425, La Redoute…

British interior design consultancy and home décor brand, Sarah Fortescue Design, creates handcrafted upholstery pieces, bespoke lampshades, nature-inspired fabrics and eclectic wallpapers. Enter this giveaway and you could be one of two lucky Your Home readers to win two rolls of the brand’s stunning Chinoiserie Grandiflora Monochromatic Malachite wallpaper, worth £2,000. The hand-painted pattern is printed onto woven wallpaper to create a unique painterly finish that will elevate any room you choose. THE PRIZE  We have two prizes from Sarah Fortescue up for grabs! Each winner will receive 16 metres of Chinoiserie Grandiflora Monochromatic Malachite wallpaper. FIND OUT MORE  For more information, and to view the whole range of wallpapers, upholstery fabrics and homeware, visit sarahfortescue.com. Flater now Visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like…

The Deco Shop “We love functional, durable style that fades with dignity”Camilla Norberg, The Deco Shop Fenwick & Tilbrook Our colours are inspired by the natural world, particularly the Norfolk coast – its beautiful beaches, meadows and skiesClare and Simon Tilbrook, Fenwick & Tilbrook Ellie Mae Designs ‘I use mainly watercolour and gouache as I love the textures they add to a piece’Ellie Watkinson, Ellie Mae Designs Natural cotton linen cushion cover, £34 NEXT MONTH Shop our indie home office picks…

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET Dobbies No matter the size of your outside space, transform it into a haven with Dobbies’ summer 2022 range. Sleek and chic garden furniture, soft furnishings and dining accessories will make it as comfy and stylish as inside your home. You might even want to consider adding a few extra plants to add to your outdoor oasis. Cool collab Mrs Hinch, AKA Sophie Hinchcliffe, has a new collection with Tesco, which includes garden furniture and accessories that won’t break the bank. The four-piece lounge set (including a sofa, two armchairs and a table) is priced at £499 and is available in store and at tesco.com. Mrs Hinch says: ‘We’ve added natural rattan finishes, sage green foliage and hints of light blue inspired by the Mediterranean…

HOW TO... create a vertical garden You don’t need a sprawling garden to establish an outdoor haven – vertical gardening is a useful way to add greenery to a petite patio, as well as encouraging wildlife. Follow our tips to build your own vertical garden… • Reuse old pallets to create a planter. Firstly, make sure the pallet is safe to use by sanding it down and removing any protruding nails. Then, treat it with wood paint, varnish or a sealant. Depending on the style of pallet, you can hang pots off the slats on the flat side. Or, if you’re handy at DIY, you can take the wooden planks off a pallet and attach them to another pallet to create horizontal shelves. • You can also use drainpipes to…

Can I start a business without spending money? There are plenty of things you can do that don’t require you to make an investment. How about a dog-walking service, which you could advertise on your local Facebook page and with flyers in shops? You could repair clothes if you’re a dab hand with a sewing machine. Think about the skills you already have that won’t cost you anything to put into action. Do I need a business plan? Whether it’s just for you or to help secure finance, a business plan lets you set out your goals clearly and anticipate any challenges you may face along the way. It’ll also help you work out a budget for any upfront purchases and premises that you may need. Find a free business…

Rianna and her husband, Daniel, had succeeded in securing their ideal family home, a two-bedroom property in Birmingham, built in the 1930s. But although the searching, viewing, making offers and paperwork were all taken care of, the property wasn’t ready for the impending arrival of their first born, who was due to arrive just two weeks after they got the keys. Unsurprisingly, the couple’s priority was to get the nursery ready to welcome baby Monroe – the rest of the house could wait until Rianna wasn’t in the final stages of pregnancy. THE PROJECT Luckily, Rianna already knew exactly how she wanted the nursery to look. ‘I had my heart set on all the décor pieces and furnishings, the room’s colour scheme and the whole Scandi-inspired, natural aesthetic long before…

THE DETAILS PAINT £150 FURNITURE £592 CURTAINS £15 DUVET COVER £20 ART £72 RUGS £60 TOTAL £909 SHOPPING LIST Estate emulsion in Nancy’s Blushes, Citron and Arsenic, £52 per 2.5L, all Farrow & Ball. Dulux Heritage matt emulsion in Powder Colour, £42 per 2.5L, Homebase. Zipcode Design Gerard metal bed frame in Yellow, £299.99; for similar underbed storage try Ida Marie underbed drawers, £179.99, both Wayfair. Mustard Made Blush Shorty locker, £116, Urban Outfitters. Kallax shelving unit, 42 x 147cm, £35; Grimsas ceiling pendant, £60, both IKEA. Yellow 8-inch classic rod hairpin legs, £45.95 for four, The Hairpin Leg Company. For a similar chest of drawers try Indi three-drawer chest, £349; for similar desk lamp try Isaac, £12, both Dunelm. For a similar rainbow rug try Shiny Rainbow rug, £81,…

Give a teenager’s room a glow-up with a few simple changes, just like Asa and Nimmi 1. Use an expensive wallpaper on one key wall, or even just the chimney breast – you’ll get the same visual impact without the price tag. 2. If you have a wooden floor, just painting it in a lighter colour can make a room feel much brighter. Plus, you can paint over any wear and tear. 3. Rather than replace an old radiator, get an attractive cover to hide it. This solution will give you an extra surface for displaying accessories, too.…

Leaving the bustle of the city of Exeter and moving to the Devon countryside was a major change for Sylwia and Ben Jacob, but one they were thrilled to make. ‘We bought a Victorian house with a big garden that needed tons of work, but we knew it was the right thing for us. Ben has a real interest in plants and is writing a book on British orchids, so we’ve now got all sorts of vegetation propagating.’ When it came to the house, the couple decided to focus on renovating the existing bathroom and creating an en suite out of a large airing cupboard. ‘We were desperate for a shower room for us. Our bedroom is next to our son, Nathaniel’s, and the cupboard was in between. We saw…

WOVEN PLACEMATS SHOPPING LIST ✔ Natural raffia, around 200g, £7.99 per 300g pack, Amazon ✔ Tapestry needle ✔ Scissors 1 Begin by laying your raffia out flat. Take a bunch of strands, around 1cm thick when pinched together, then pick out a separate strand (see Top Tip, below) and wrap it tightly around the bunch. Once you’ve wrapped around 4cm of the bunch, trim the end of the bundle, then turn the bound section back on itself to start a loop. Wrap the loop several times to hold it together, then thread your wrapping strand onto a tapestry needle. Coil the newly wrapped length around the loop you created, then insert the needle through the middle of the loop from back to front. Pull the strand taut, then continue to…

This simple peony is one of the easiest paper flowers to make. The project is ideal for beginners as it covers almost all of the basic flower-making techniques and if you want fluffier blooms, all you need to do is add more petals! You don’t need any special equipment, and it’s thrifty too, as you only need small pieces of paper – so keep your scraps and you can keep curling, folding and wrapping until you have an entire bouquet! BOW TIE TECHNIQUE 1 Prepare a thin rectangular strip of unstretched crêpe paper. Make a half twist at the centre of the strip by holding it at both ends and flipping one end backwards. 2 Cup and stretch each end of the bow tie towards you. 3 Bend the two…

WE ARE Rejoice Gusha, 31, and I live here with my husband. I’m an Associate Director for a pharmaceutical company, and share my decorating journey on Instagram@rg_livingincolour. OUR HOME IS a three-bedroom, terraced house in Walsall, West Midlands. It’s a new-build property and I moved in in October 2018. WE BOUGHT THIS HOUSE BECAUSE it’s in a perfect location – close to family and in a quiet area, but also not too far from the city, so we get the best of both worlds. NEXT TO DO IS change the en suite and the main bathroom shower and tiles. MY BEST BUY is my Samsung smart fridge. It makes it so easy to do food shopping, and I can listen to music while cooking or cleaning. MY BEST IDEA was…

Charred sweet potatoes with watercress chutney PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 1 hour 45 minutes SERVES 4 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, sliced in half lengthways ✔ 2 tsp olive oil ✔ ½ tsp salt ✔ ½ tsp cracked black pepper ✔ crème fraîche and chilli flakes, to serve For the beer caramelised onions ✔ 6 onions, finely sliced (use a mandolin for this, if you have one) ✔ 50g unsalted butter ✔ 200ml lager For the watercress chutney ✔ 50g watercress ✔ 50g coriander ✔ 1 shallot, diced ✔ 1 tsp sugar ✔ 4 tbsp cider vinegar ✔ 2 tbsp olive oil ✔ ½ tsp salt DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the barbecue and make sure to bank the coals at one side. Score slashes in the…

If you’re lucky enough to have a sun room or conservatory, this extra living space can be used for all sorts of activities. Whether relaxing with a good book, taking up a new hobby or using it for home working, this area can be a valuable asset to your home. However, if yours is looking a bit timeworn and outdated, there are plenty of ways to spruce it up and breathe new purpose into the space. Go all-out with new windows, roof and a door or revamp the furniture and flooring to make the most of a sun-drenched room. FIT NEW FLOORING Swap out a cracked, damaged or draughty floor and update the look of the space with new flooring. Consider the room’s aspect and how warm the room is…

When Katie and Debbie Lemin-Stone first saw the 150-year-old New Forest cottage that’s now their home, they were bowled over by the view of the large natural common on their doorstep. Though the land is no longer a communal space for local residents to graze their cows, it’s an asset to the couple, who love walking their two cocker spaniels in the country. The cottage had been in the same family for 60 years and needed work. ‘It was going to be a challenge, but we bought it because it just felt right – we knew it could become a lovely home,’ explains Katie. It took a number of years before the house was ‘finished’ and fully modernised. There was no kitchen when the couple moved in, which was the…

Gardeners no longer need to rely on petrol or a mains connection to power their tools. Efficient, battery-powered garden tools not only make light work of most garden maintenance tasks but also make emissions and trailing cables a thing of the past. 1.Bosch Keo Cordless Garden Saw A powerful saw for cutting tree and shrub branches up to 8cm thick. It uses a powerful 18V battery, which can be swapped between all tools that use the Power For All system. £99.99, Amazon.co.uk 2.Flymo SimpliTrim Li Smarten up unruly edges with this easy-to-use cordless grass trimmer that weighs just 1.7kg. It’s perfect for smaller gardens and has an LED battery level indicator that shows you how much power is left. £83, Wickes.co.uk 3.Stihl HSA 26 Cordless Garden Shears A lightweight tool…

We’re reading… Planting for Garden Birds: A Grower’s Guide to Creating A Bird-Friendly Habitat, £12.99 Create a garden that’s irresistible to bird-life all year round with this practical and pretty illustrated guide. Keen amateur gardeners can learn about seasonal planting ideas and facts about our feathered friends. We’re following… @madaboutcushions Shaz and Mart share their DIY projects and stylish interior design hacks on a budget. They say: ‘We love colours, cheery interiors, and tend to mix old and new. We like to think our style is retro, but with a little industrial chic.’ We’re also obsessed with their self-built outdoor kitchen! We’re going to… RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, 19th-21st August Enjoy fabulous floral displays, inspirational demonstrations and live music at RHS Rosemoor, in Great Torrington, Devon. Standard garden admission…

Grow your garden for less The cost of tending our green spaces can certainly add up – a Statista survey revealed that people in the UK with a garden spend an average of £670 per person on it annually. But it doesn’t have to be so pricey. We’ve dug up the best tips for making your garden gorgeous on a budget. Save on seeds. Many plants have seeds you can harvest, instead of buying them from shops. If you’re looking for new plants to add to a green space, try organising a seed swap with family, friends and neighbours. Just make sure all your seeds come from healthy plants. Most seeds will also need to be stored somewhere cool, dark and dry until you can plant them. Make water savings.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Rianna Simmonds, 26, a graphic designer. I live with my husband, Daniel, 25, and our son, Monroe, 11 months. We moved into our 1930s property in Birmingham in August 2021, and I share my home décor progress@rii_designed. WHAT WAS UPDATED? The bedroom was a little worse for wear – outdated, unloved and unsuitable for a baby. So, the whole room got a refresh. WHY THE CHANGE? We needed a nursery for our soon-to-arrive son and the décor wasn’t up to scratch. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took a speedy two weeks to turn the nursery around, but it wasn’t quite ready for Monroe’s arrival. He was five days old when we finished.…

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Heather Craig (@heatherrosieolivehome), 35, an assistant in early years learning, and I live here with my husband, Brian, 41, an oil rig operations manager, and our daughters, Rosie, six, and Olive, four. We bought our four-bedroom 1940s house in Dunfermline in September 2017. WHAT WAS UPDATED? Rosie’s bedroom, which had a dark navy carpet and was painted a stark white that felt cold and uninviting. WHY THE CHANGE? Rosie turned three, so it was time she had her first, proper big-girl’s bedroom. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? About a month. Brian works offshore every two weeks, so we had limited time to decorate. Plus, I didn’t want to rush painting the scallop pattern. TOTAL COST…

THE DETAILS PAINT £210 WALLPAPER £102 BLIND £173 BED £279 RADIATOR CABINET £102 TOTAL £866 SHOPPING LIST Black Osby star lights, £29.99 for two; Rose Gold starburst fairy lights, £29.99, both Lights4fun.co.uk. Let’s Get Cosy wall plaque, £20; green stripe cushion, £22; Green cable knit throw, £55; macrame baskets, £65 for two, all Next. Rectangular stripe cushion, £8; Blush pom pom cushion, £16; macrame wall hanging, £16, all Dunelm. White wire basket, £12; green tufted cushion, £12, both Matalan. Artificial fern in White pot, £27.99; artificial fern in Black pot, £26.99; wire basket, £37.99 for three; Radiator cabinet, £102, Wayfair. Artificial Boston fern, £24.99; artificial Dracaena tree in pot, £19.99, Homescapes. Stockholm duvet cover, £18 for a double; knitted footstool, £55, Argos. Camengo Zurna Nude roman blind, £172.37, Blinds Direct.…

THE HOMEOWNER I’m Sylwia Jacob, 42, and I’m a Communications Manager for a tile company, originalstyle.com. I live with my husband, Ben, 46, an author and academic, our daughter, Nela, 16, and son, Nathaniel, three. THE HOUSE A four-bedroom Victorian semi in Crediton, Devon. We moved here in March 2021. THE PROBLEM We wanted to future-proof our home for when our son, Nathaniel, is older by adding an extra shower room in between our bedroom and his. THE SOLUTION We decided to transform a cupboard in between Nathaniel and our bedrooms into a shower room, as well as taking some space from the corridor to give us a larger room. We also added a roof light.…

I AM Tashoya Aird, 27, a Personal Advisor for Children’s Services Leaving Care Team. I also have my own interior design business, TMI Design Ltd, and post my interiors updates on Instagram@myhousemyhome101. MY HOME IS a two-bedroom new-build flat in a quiet cul-de-sac in Thurrock, Essex. MY MAIN CHALLENGE was to inject character into my flat, as often new-builds tend to lack it. MY FIRST DIY was an easy console table – I added silver-sprayed hairpin legs from eBay to a simple floating shelf. MY BEST FIND I could never find decorative Corylus (hazel) branches at the right height for a tall vase I have, so I searched for the perfect branch during a walk at the local park instead. It’s a long-lasting way to bring the outside in with…

Summer fruits and maple syrup pavlova PREPARATION TIME 25 minutes COOKING TIME 1 hour SERVES 10-12 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 10 egg whites ✔ 625g caster sugar ✔ 2½ tsp white wine vinegar ✔ 2½ tsp cornflour ✔ 3 tsp vanilla extract ✔ 1 litre whipping cream ✔ 120g pure maple syrup, plus extra for drizzling ✔ 250g strawberries, washed, stalks removed and quartered ✔ 150g raspberries, washed and halved ✔ 150g blueberries, washed ✔ 4-5 apricots, stoned and quartered DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 150°C/Fan 130°C/Gas Mark 2. On a sheet of baking paper, draw around a dinner plate in pencil to mark the shape for the meringue. Repeat to create a second template, then draw around a side plate to create a third template. ■ Using a…

‘Whether you use your sun room as a space to relax or to entertain in the warmer months, there are some easy ways to give the space a seasonal refresh. Upgrade light fittings with wicker shades – the natural material adds texture and contrast while complementing the outdoors. As the evening draws in, the shade will create a warm and inviting ambience as it cleverly filters the light, casting soft shadows across the room.’ Natalie Mann, New Product Development Executive at Iconic Lights…

Q How can I update my kitchen on a budget? Nadia Howell, Lancashire A Sarah Savery-Smith, Brand Director at ProCook, says… Gone are the days of hiding everything away in cupboards to maintain a clean look in the kitchen – now it’s all about displaying your cookware and accessories to add character. Refresh your kitchen by injecting stylish storage solutions and colourful cookware that work as both interior accessories and useful tools. Add a sophisticated touch by displaying a statement cast-iron pot in the open, or lean various-sized wooden chopping boards up on the countertop for an Insta-worthy kitchen shelfie. Just remember to vary the levels when styling shelves and surfaces (varied levels are the interior stylist’s best friend – they’re pleasing to the eye and make a space look…