Home//Ideal Home/May 2016/In This Issue
Ideal Home|May 2016My to-do list for MayTech is taking over my life at the moment, with a big purchase on the cards, a digital-photo overload to tackle and some rather exciting developments to share with you…TALKING TECH If you’re a ‘flick-fromthe-back’ kind of magazine reader, you’ll have noticed that our technology pages look a bit different this month. It took a lot of head scratching and a bit of bickering, but we’re mighty pleased with our do-over. Ideal Home’s tech expert, Amy, has also rebooted her blog to match, so visit girlabouttech.com for no-nonsense buyer’s guides, tech tips, best buys and solutions – they all come with a jargon- and geek-free guarantee.STARTING A WISH LIST Amy and I took an early morning tour of the technology department at John Lewis’s Oxford Street store in London recently…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016DESIGN YOUR MOODBOARD1 CHOOSE YOUR BASE COLOUR Whether it’s flooring or a wall, the base colour will be the largest area of colour in your room, so place a generous sample of it onto your board. Including carpet samples will help you think about texture, too.2 ADD AN ACCENT TONE Want to try a dramatic contrast or an accent just a few tones away from your base colour? Use your moodboard to play with options and layer it with swatches of fabric, scraps of wallpaper and paint colour charts.3 FIND THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES These will really set the tone in your room – go for ones that share an accent colour and stick to a single theme. Don’t mix styles, or your finished scheme will look messy rather than effortlessly eclectic.…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Find all the details IN THESE PICTURESp 30KITCHEN DETAIL DECORATION AND FURNITURE For similar tiles, try the Fenlands, £240 per sq m, Fired Earth. ON SHELF Salt and pepper mills, £10 each; copper canisters, £5 each; all George Home. Core dinner plates, £12 each; salad plates, £10 each; pink side plates, £13 each; all Murmur range, Bedeck. Picardie glasses, from £6 for six, Heal’s. Greenwich jug, £20, Neptune. ON WORKTOP White jug, £14.50, Design Vintage. Paddle boards, from £16.50 each, Garden Trading. Copper jug, £48; marble board, £28; mug, £18; all Rowen & Wren. Rolling pin, £25;
Ideal Home|May 2016The Rosewood HotelLOCATION Just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of High Holborn in London sits this imposing Edwardian jewel. Nestled in a quiet, cobbled courtyard that has a Dickensian charm, The Rosewood Hotel offers the perfect luxury base from which to enjoy London thanks to its easy access to Covent Garden and the West End’s theatres.ROOMS Over seven floors, there are 262 guestrooms split between Executive, Grand Executive (shown), Premier, Grand Premier and Junior Suite, as well as three levels of standard suites and 11 signature suites. Created by New-York-based interior designers Tony Chi and Associates, the refined rooms are decorated in a contemporary, cool colour palette and have a really smart, cosmopolitan feel. Lacquered surfaces, textured woods and prismatic mirrors combine to produce a stylish blend of traditional…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016PICK THE Perfect pattern‘Invest in an archive print to give your scheme an authentic sense of elegance’GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITORChoose an archive designWHY WE LOVE THEM From an antiques-shop find to a treasured heirloom, homeware with a history has a unique layer of sentiment. Rather than hunting down a decades-old design, you can get the same impact from one of the many gorgeous archive prints out there. From intricate floral to beautiful bird prints, the story and provenance that they bring will give your scheme depth.WHERE TO USE THEM Archive prints often have a botanical theme, making them pretty versatile. Most wallpaper designs are near-faithful reproductions of the real thing – play on their painterly quality and give them pride of place on a feature wall, just as you would an artwork. Let…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016SMART IDEAS FOR DISPLAYSKnowing what to do with all those accessories that personalise your home can be tricky. Whether it’s nostalgic artwork collected over the years, precious family photos or trinkets picked up on holidays, these treasures deserve to be enjoyed and appreciated, not put in the loft or stuck in a cupboard – but how do you show them off to their best advantage?Creating a smart, carefully curated display is the perfect way to showcase all those treasured keepsakes – it can also give a room focus and add real character to a scheme, while serving as a regular reminder of wonderful memories. How you decide to display items will depend on what they are and how much room there is for them – for example, a wall in a large room…5 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Give your home a stately feelWe all long to design a look that delivers real impact, but it can be tricky knowing how to re-create a sense of stately glamour at home. Taking inspiration from country estates such as Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, the Manor House trend from Sainsbury’s uses a deep palette, bold prints and gilded accessories to give your interiors a sense of drama and elegance this season.Choose rich coloursFull of royal purple, bold aubergine and shimmering gold tones, this look is defined by its sumptuous colourways. Start with neutral walls, then complement simple, pared-back hues with lavish prints in vintage-inspired violet and understated taupe. Finally, add a touch of lived-in luxury with pieces in burnished gold, for a nod to the old-school glamour of country estates.Go for intricate patternsUnlike traditional summer florals,…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA three-bedroom, detached Sixties house in a Hampshire village.WHO LIVES HERESue and Terry Austin live here.WHAT THEY DIDThe Austins expanded the house with a two-storey side extension for a new main bedroom and a single-storey rear extension along the back of the house to create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space. They also reconfigured the rooms on the ground floor.WHAT IT COSTThe couple paid £630,000 for the house and spent around £340,000 extending and remodelling the property, which is now worth more than £1 million.…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016RENOVATION KNOW-HOWMany alterations can be made under Permitted Development, meaning you don’t need to get planning permission. For more information on planning and building regulations, visit planningportal.gov.uk and always check with your local authority before making any major changes.Keep your neighbours informed at all stages, and you might need to obtain party-wall agreements, too. Check the advice given at planningportal.gov.uk.For extensions and major remodelling, it’s usually advisable to employ an architect to draw up accurate plans: the Royal Institute of British Architects (architecture.com) holds a directory of approved architects.Get at least three quotes for all major purchases, including when you’re hiring tradesmen and, whenever possible, negotiate fixed prices for each job rather than paying a daily rate.It’s not usually advisable to undertake major roofing work on a DIY basis. Go to…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA two-bedroom, Georgian townhouse in southwest London.WHO LIVES HERELucy and Will Houston live here.WHAT THEY DIDThe old galley kitchen was ripped out and the room was extended into the side return and the back garden to create a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area.THE LOOKFresh and contemporary, with clean lines, on-trend copper accents and striking patterned flooring.LESSONS LEARNED" Don’t set pressing deadlines for yourself, such as getting your new kitchen fitted two weeks before your wedding, which is exactly what we did!"…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We made use of wasted space’WHAT IT COSTUnits............................£20,000Worktops......................£2,855Sink.....................................£598Taps..................................£1,477Appliances...................£5,935Flooring.........................£4,305Lighting.............................£300TOTAL.................£35,470When they bought their home in Streatham, London, in 2011, Louise and Ben Young knew the narrow patio area at the side of it was wasted space. ‘It made sense to bring the space inside and use it to open up the kitchen,’ says Louise. Taking out the external wall next to the patio, they extended sideways to create a large, open-plan room with the kitchen and dining areas separated by an island. ‘We have doubled the space and now I wonder how we coped before, especially with three children,’ she says.The style of the new kitchen was influenced by Louise’s time spent in the US. ‘I lived in New York for a while and spent a few summers in the Hamptons,’ she says. ‘I love that New…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘Subtle elegance was our aim’WHAT IT COSTSanitaryware..................£10,960Shower..............................£4,370Tiles.....................................£1,584Paint...........................................£91Blinds.....................................£800Lighting.................................£538Cabinet..............................£1,258Radiator..............................£1,650TOTAL..................£21,251Moving from London to Surrey, Becky Cawthorn-Smith knew that the Edwardian property she and husband Paul Maguire had taken on would need work. ‘Its proportions were great, but everything was dated,’ she says. ‘In the en suite, a big bidet took up space, and the bath jutted into the room.’The en suite also had an awkward layout, featuring two windows, two doors and an angled wall. ‘We decided to turn a spare bedroom into a dressing room, with the en suite between it and our bedroom, to create a private main suite,’ says Becky. There’s a second bathroom for their two young children, Jed and Kitty, to use.The original en suite had heavy sanitaryware and dated patterned tiles, so Becky was keen to lighten the room. ‘I wanted…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘A new shower changed everything’WHAT IT COSTBath.....................................£359Basin...................................£238Taps.....................................£149Shower..............................£648Tray and enclosure.........£776Loo.......................................£150Cabinets.........................£1,320Wall tiles.............................£336Floor tiles............................£317Towel rail...........................£143Blind......................................£35Paint......................................£48TOTAL...............£4,519Emma and Sean Steele’s original bathroom looked tired, lacked light and was badly laid out with very little storage. ‘The shower cubicle had one solid wall which obscured the window, making everything feel rather forced in,’ says Emma. ‘We wanted to make the bathroom look good and maximise its generous proportions.’Emma sought inspiration from a local bathroom designer, as well as friends’ houses, magazines, Pinterest and bathroom showrooms. ‘I didn’t want anything too dark or beige,’ she says. Instead, she opted for budget-friendly tiles with a shimmering green finish.Sean’s plumber helped to source the fittings, saving the couple money by buying at trade prices. Smart metro tiles and white walls have a classic look, while high-gloss finishes help to open up the room.…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Try something new THROW A STREET PARTYThere will be a host of celebrations across the country this year to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday. A street party will be held on The Mall in London’s St James’s Park on Sunday 12 June – a date which coincides with The Big Lunch (thebiglunch.com). This annual event aims to get people across the UK to have lunch with their neighbours, so it’s a great excuse to hold a street party and get to know yours better.Q WHY HOLD A PARTY?Street parties have been a British tradition since 1919, when they were held as ‘Peace Teas’ for children as a treat after the First World War. Today, they are still a great way to build community spirit and share resources, for example, a yard-sale-style swap of unwanted toys, books,…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Clean your windowsWHITE VINEGARMix with equal parts water for a cheap-as-chips glass cleanerSarson’s distilled white vinegar (568ml), £1, Sainsbury’sVACUUM CLEANERGive dirt the dust off with this handy rechargeable machineWV2 window vac, £59.99, KärcherTELESCOPIC BRUSHExtends to a length of 1.9m3-in-1 window cleaner with telescopic handle, £26.95, Leifheit range, Amazon.co.ukSPRAY SOLUTIONUsed by picture framers across the UK for its smear-free resultsNilglass glass cleaner (500ml), £3.98, LakelandPRO-STYLE KITTake window cleaning seriously with this smart setWindow-cleaning seven-piece kit, £24.99, ScrewfixCLEANING CLOTHSWith just water, one lifts dirt, the other adds sparkleWindow pack, £8.99 for two, E-cloth range, John LewisMINI SQUEEGEEThe perfect little tool for removing filthy water off small or multi-pane windowsMini squeegee, £5.50, OxoFRAME CLEANERUse to rid white UPVC frames of built-up grimeUPVC cream cleaner (550ml), £1.55, AstonishBASIC BUCKETFill this pail with up to 10ltr water…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016DO MORE WITH EGGSPoached egg potsSERVES 2 TAKES 25MIN•Small handful of baby spinach •4tbsp reduced-fat crème fraîche •2 eggs •2 slices of crusty white bread •Butter for toast •25g smoked salmon, cut into strips1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/ Gas 4. Wilt the baby spinach in a bowl in the microwave for 30sec on a high heat, then drain.2 Divide the crème fraîche and wilted spinach between two ramekins. Season with freshly ground black pepper, then crack an egg into each one.3 Place the ramekins in a baking tin and half-fill the tin with warm water. Bake for 15min until the eggs are set with runny yolks, or bake for a further 5min if you prefer your eggs to be completely set. Season with freshly ground black pepper.4 Toast and butter the bread,…7 min
Ideal Home|May 2016THE HI-TECH WAY TO BREAK FREE FROM THE OFFICEOh, to work from home, where you can wear fluffy slippers to meetings and won’t get a face full of armpit on the commute. Sure, staying focused when it’s time for Homes Under The Hammer takes willpower, but with the right kit and attitude, you can be motivated and productive, and won’t even miss out on office gossip.LOG IN If you haven’t already been assigned one, you’ll need either a desktop or laptop computer. The former will be cheaper, but the latter more convenient if you travel a lot. There is a third way – to get a desktop and either an affordable tablet or Chromebook that you can take out and about. With a Chromebook, you can access and edit documents wherever you have Wi-Fi, but no hard copies…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016THE BEST APPS FOR THE JOBVONAGE EXTENSIONSFree for iOS and Android If you have a Vonage call plan, this lets you take landline calls on your mobile using Wi-Fi, so you won’t miss out if there’s no mobile reception.SLACKFree for iOS, Android and desktop (Mac/Windows) This messaging app unites emails, to-do lists and docs – name a ‘channel’ based on a project, then the team can chat, upload files, work on presentations and more.TRELLOFree for iOS, Android and web A sort of ‘Pinterest meets to-do list’, Trello lets you set up Projects, which you can invite everyone involved in to view, then add ideas, to-dos or annotations, such as images, diagrams and notes.DROPBOXFree for iOS, Android and web If you don’t already use Dropbox for cloud storage and sharing files, sign up for a free…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016YOU’LL LOVE THIS TRAVELLER’S COMPACT CAMERA TZ80 COMPACT CAMERA, £360, PANASONICBUILT-IN WI-FIDownload the Panasonic Imaging app and control your camera remotely from your phone screen (useful in low light, where holding the camera steady is key), or share snaps straight to social mediaBUILT-IN VIEWFINDERThis helps to conserve the camera’s battery, as you won’t need to use the screen as much, and encourages you to hold the camera in such a way that it’s less likely to shake and ruin your shot4K VIDEO/PHOTOSRecords super-detailed Ultra-HD footage, from which you can select stills and save them as high-quality photos30X OPTICAL ZOOM LENSYour smartphone can’t compete with the zoom on this camera. Use it to shoot wildlife – or your child’s next birthday party – from a safe distanceCONTROL RINGThis ring around the lens can adjust aperture and other settings, rather than you…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016GIRL ABOUT TECH EXPLAINS HOW TO WATCH TV ONLINE1. Know the ways to watch online•LIVE You can watch certain Sky, Virgin Media and BT channels live through the Sky Go/Sky Q, TV Anywhere and BT TV apps, respectively.*•CATCH-UP Get up to speed with previously screened shows, usually from the past month – big players include BBC iPlayer and All 4.•ON DEMAND Services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV let you access films and TV box sets to stream anytime, anywhere.2. Select your screen and download some appsYou can watch online by installing the relevant app, or via a browser on your laptop, phone or tablet. Smart TVs often have built-in apps for sites such as BBC iPlayer – or try a streamer such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Google’s Chromecast. On-demand and…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Shopping directoryAAcer 0371 760 1005; acer.comAga 0845 712 5207; agaliving.comAJB Group 01536 267139; ajb-group.co.ukAlexander & Pearl 020 8508 0411; alexanderandpearl.co.ukAmara 0800 587 7645; amara.comAmazon.co.ukamazon.co.ukAnglepoise 023 9222 4450; anglepoise.comApple 0800 048 0408; apple.com/ukArgos 0345 640 3030; argos.co.ukArlo & Jacob 0333 122 1537; arloandjacob.comArt.co.uk 020 8435 6556; art.co.ukA Rum Fellow 020 8245 6779; arumfellow.comAscot Hats 4U ascothats4u.co.ukAshley Wilde 01707 635201; ashleywildegroup.comAstonish 01274 767440; astonishcleaners.comAston Matthews 020 7226 7220; astonmatthews.co.ukAuthentics 020 3633 0561; authentics.co.ukBB& 0333 014 3098; diy.comBarker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9046; barkerandstonehouse.co.ukBathroom Cash & Carry 020 8206 9955; bathroomcashandcarry.co.ukBathstore 0800 023 2323; bathstore.comBedeck 0845 603 0861; bedeckhome.comBHS 0344 411 6000; bhs.co.ukBHS Furniture 0844 411 6000; bhsfurniture.co.ukBlendworth 023 9259 4911; blendworth.co.ukBlock Design 01503 230003; blockdesign.co.ukBluebellgray 0141 221 0724; bluebellgray.co.ukBoeme 01483 217716; boeme.co.ukBold & Noble 01462 339011; boldandnoble.comBoråstapeter borastapeter.comBrewers 0845 504 5040; brewers.co.ukBroadleaf 01269…7 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We reinvented our dated home’When lawyers Natalie and Ragi Singh bought a dated Seventies house in Harborne, Birmingham, they already had plans to transform it into a contemporary home. ‘It was exciting to think that the run-down house was going to be totally reinvented,’ says Natalie.The Singhs hired Andrew Khoury at Khoury Architects (0121 236 9393; khoury architects.co.uk) to come up with a new design. Andrew drew up plans for a rear extension and a loft conversion to increase the number of bedrooms from four to five. The plans transformed the house’s internal layout, creating an open-plan kitchen and living area overlooking a large courtyard and a dramatic, triple-height entrance hall containing walkways and balconies, crowned by a large skylight.‘Planning went through really easily, partly because the front of the house was going to…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON ADDING A STOREYExtending upwards by building an extra storey on a bungalow or above a garage can be a cost-effective way to add more living space without encroaching on the garden. Some upwards extensions can spoil the proportions and character of the original, though, so careful design is important to make sure that the building still works as a whole.Before adding further weight to the walls of a building, it’s important to check the structure can bear the added load, and that the foundations are suitable and stable. An architect or design professional can advise on the best design and assist with a planning application, as well as producing structural calculations.Timber frame is more lightweight than conventional brick and blockwork, and is a popular choice for adding a new storey to an…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We doubled our living space’‘We’d worried that going open plan might be cold, but we couldn’t have been more wrong’While Sophie and Mark Anderson thought that their detached Twenties house in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, had plenty of space when they bought it 12 years ago, everything changed with the arrival of their son, Finlay, in 2006, followed by Hamish two years later.By the time Sophie was expecting daughter, Iris, in 2008, the couple decided a ground-floor extension would make all the difference to their home, providing an open-plan living and dining space for their growing family. ‘We wanted a more sociable, open-plan layout where we could all gather around the dining table and entertain friends, with easy access to the back garden,’ says Sophie.The couple employed local architect Allister Godfrey (01235 760693; allistergodfrey.com), as his…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON CLAY LUMPRuth and Craig needed to rebuild and repair the walls of the clay-lump barn, which had originally been made from clay dug on site and mixed with straw to form blocks. They used a lime and mud mortar to stick the blocks together after extensive research into the topic.This organic building material was once widely used in East Anglia and the Southwest for homes and agricultural buildings in rural areas. It’s one of the most ecofriendly building materials, as the clay is dug up on site, leaving a pond for wildlife.‘As long as the finished building has a good roof overhang to protect it from the rain, the clay-lump blocks can last hundreds of years,’ explains Ruth.Clay lump is a sustainable material that’s low in cost and creates a breathable…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We converted a derelict chapel’‘It’s been an honour to save the chapel and bring such an important building to life’Despite its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, when Steve Dodd first visited Holywell Chapel in 2012, he had to hack away ivy and bushes to reach the front door. Windows were boarded up and floorboards had been stripped out by vandals, leaving just an empty shell with rusty tin cladding and a corrugated roof. A separate music room further down the hill had fallen down, and all that remained were its foundations and a chimney breast.Despite its appalling state, Steve had a dream of converting the chapel into a country retreat, and knew that by preserving and rebuilding the chapel he could create a modern three-bedroom home on the plot.He also wanted…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON GLAZED ROOFSSally and John created a bright, light-filled extension that feels welcoming all year round.As the old kitchen was unbearably cold, the key was to insulate the new space thoroughly so that it maintained a comfortable temperature. The couple also wanted to include lots of glazing that would add impact. Their high-performance windows and doors are made from double-glazed, toughened, self-cleaning glass.Sally and John created a striking feature by installing glass bifold doors from German manufacturer Schüco (schueco.com/web/uk) across the width of the extension, with a large piece of triangular glass in the gable roof above.Three large frameless skylights illuminate the space. Each one cost around £3,000 – find similar designs at GlasSpace (020 7118 0448; glasspace.com).…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016The next big thing Organic layers“These serene designs are inspired by naturally formed linear patterns”MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITORTHE STORY SO FAR The natural elements are the story behind the latest trend for soothing pattern, with designers citing the disordered layers seen in clouds, seascapes and landscapes, as well as agate and precious stones as their inspiration. The result is flowing and organic linear patterns in watery ombre and marble effects. Colour palettes vary from the cool, pastel tones of icy landscapes to the deep hues of dusky sunsets, with rose quartz, pale amethyst and earthy ochre all playing a part.FABRICS AND WALLPAPERS This fluid theme lends itself beautifully to ethereal fabrics and wallpapers. Bluebellgray’s recent collection, Impressionist, takes its inspiration from Iceland’s landscape and uses the signature watercolour style to create lovely cloud-like layering. Casadeco’s…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Rachel’s inspiration...GET TO KNOW HER SIGNATURE STYLE Working as design director, it’s Rachel’s job to ensure that Ercol retains its cohesive look at every level of the business. In order to achieve this, she finds that it helps to draw inspiration from almost every aspect of daily life.‘My mum is a dressmaker and an artist, and I often take a look at her patterns for ideas,’ she says. ‘I’m also influenced by architecture – I particularly love Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and the way he balanced everything with nature.’Rachel has worked on all types of furniture design, but it’s the ethos behind 19th-century Shaker furniture makers that she has the strongest affinity to. ‘I think the Shaker principles of honesty, utility and simplicity are synonymous with its furniture and textiles,’ she…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016DECORATING?1 THE 70-20-10 RULE For a balanced scheme, keep 70% of the elements (say, walls and floors) as one colour, then add 20% in a second colour (fabrics) and 10% in an accent (accessories).2 THE PATTERN RULE When mixing patterns, use large with medium or medium with small, never large with small. Pick prints that share a colour in common.3 THE PAINTED BOX RULE The look of paint changes according to the time of day and the amount of light that is in a room. Paint the inside of a large box with a tester to create a miniature ‘room’ and see how the colour changes within a 3D space.AND FINALLY… Always add a surprise. A focal point – whether it’s a feature wall or a piece of art –…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘Every piece in our home tells a story’‘The previous owners had a lot of colours on the walls. We had to close our eyes and try to imagine the house without them. It was hard to do!’A house that’s bought as a family home can soon seem empty and lacking in life once the children have flown the nest – but that’s certainly not the case with this wonderful property. Lisbeth Bindesbøl and her husband Henrik Stig Møller bought their beautiful villa on the outskirts of Copenhagen 17 years ago, when their children were aged just 10 and 15. Now the kids have grown up and have homes of their own, but there’s still a real sense of warmth and welcome as you enter this characterful five-bedroom property.‘We were looking for a family home that had an…7 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘Our home is perfectly imperfect’‘I truly think that living with less frees you up practically and emotionally, and that a tidier space means a tidier mind’After expanding their search radius from the outskirts of Manchester to more rural areas beyond, Sara Tasker and her partner, Rory O’Neill, discovered their new home. ‘We weren’t supposed to love this house,’ says Sara. ‘We couldn’t afford it, but once we’d seen it, there was no going back. The speed and intensity with which we loved it shocked us. We ran around the house literally squealing with delight – it was so perfect for our family.’The house was converted into its current state in the Seventies, having previously been a wool mill, then three separate dwellings and finally a sweet shop. ‘It had been on the market for…6 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘It’s a blend of new and unusual’‘The house had been beautifully maintained and was immaculately kept, but it was like walking into an Eighties museum’Paul Kettlety was looking for a completely fresh start when he set out to find himself somewhere new to live. His previous home had been a 17th-century coach house, so this time Paul wanted to find a property that was different in every way and really make it his own.‘I wanted to move into the centre of Bath in Somerset, but so many of the properties there are Georgian townhouses, which are beautiful, but not what I was looking for,’ he explains. ‘I was abroad when I saw this property come on to the market. I knew exactly where it was and contacted the estate agent straightaway.’Built out of sandstone-coloured concrete blocks…6 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We mixed French and British styles’‘My father was an antiques dealer and he passed on to me the appreciation of beautiful pieces. We regularly exchange advice and tips’While studying in Québec City, Canada, Paris-born Josephine Lecouflé-Vinet met her husband Nicolas, who is from Montreal. The couple moved to London for work, where they initially rented a period flat for themselves and their son Alexis. ‘While it was a lovely space, there came a point when decorating it just wasn’t enough for us,’ says Josephine. ‘We wanted to invest in a real project and add our personal touch. Also, after our second son, Oscar, was born, we craved more space.’Josephine knew she had found an ideal creative investment as soon as she viewed a Thirties end-of-terrace house in the leafy enclave of Muswell Hill in north…6 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Update your BATHROOM‘For the ultimate light, bright bathroom, steer clear of coloured suites and stick to white walls, floor tiles and sanitaryware’Whether you’re planning a new bathroom from scratch or you’re just thinking about replacing your old sanitaryware, it makes sense to invest in innovative, top-of-the-range products. With its sleek, modern design, Geberit’s AquaClean range of shower toilets combine the functionality of a loo and the cleaning properties of a bidet.Keep clean in comfortRepresenting the next generation of loos, the AquaClean Sela will fit seamlessly into any bathroom scheme thanks to its streamlined design by Italian architect Matteo Thun. Simple to operate via buttons on the side of the loo or with a remote control, the AquaClean Sela cleans with a gentle, airy water spray set at body temperature – and its…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Front doorsNeed help choosing? Check out these top five names…DIRECTDOORS.COM01968 671681; directdoors.com This online-only retailer offers both timber doors and low-maintenance composite and UPVC doors. To prevent heat loss, doors with glass sections can be double or triple-glazed. Free delivery for UK mainland orders; prices from £207.HOWDENS JOINERY howdens.com Offers a wide range of timber doors and designs in both hardwood and softwood. Go online and type in your postcode to contact your local depot for a quote. Prices on application – trade only.JELD-WEN 0845 122 2891; jeld-wen.co.uk Manufactures engineered wood, which tends not to shrink or swell, and composite doors, made from fibreglass, which won’t dent, rust, or splinter. Find a retailer by entering your postcode on the website. Unpainted doors in the Redwood range start from £77.PERFORMANCE DOORSET SOLUTIONS…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016From dull Sixties house… to 21st-century showpieceHaving spent time travelling and working abroad, Sue and Terry Austin decided they wanted to return to the UK to put down roots. The couple had dreamt of building a new home but, unfortunately, it proved too much of a challenge. ‘Finding affordable land in the Southeast was impossible and, after hunting for more than a year, we decided to transform an existing property instead,’ says Sue.In April 2013, the couple viewed a detached house in a pretty Hampshire village and, three months later, moved in. Built in a neo-Georgian style as part of a small development, the property had a large garden and was situated on the edge of woodland. There were four bedrooms on the first floor and a small kitchen, dining room and living room downstairs.FORMING PLANS…4 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We went for a striking all-glass extension’After their grown-up children had left home, Alison and Peter Dudgeon wanted to downsize to a more manageable property for their approaching retirement, but ended up taking on a project instead. ‘We decided to challenge ourselves and bought the smaller house next door to ours, which was in a poor state of repair and quite gloomy,’ says Alison. ‘Trees were growing out of the roof, the chimneys were in a state of collapse and you could push your fingers through the rotten window frames.’The couple knew they needed to introduce more light into the house, so they approached local architects AR Design Studio (01962 864545; ardesignstudio.co.uk), who are known for their innovative work with glass. The firm’s director, Andy Ramus, designed a contemporary frameless glass extension that would open onto…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We wanted a kitchen we could entertain in’WHAT IT COSTUnits................................£17,000Worktops.........................£5,160Sink and tap.......................£800Appliances.....................£8,984Flooring..............................£500TOTAL..................£32,444Jo and Andy Clarkson always knew their detached Brighton house would work better for them if they extended to the side to create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room. ‘We’d previously lived in a terraced house, where the rooms were on different floors, so the chance to have a large space in which we could entertain was the main reason for buying this property,’ explains Jo.As soon as they moved in, the couple began speaking to a local design and build firm. ‘Our garden faces north, so the building company suggested putting a roof light in the new extension,’ says Jo. ‘They also suggested fitting structural beams to even out the ceilings, which makes the room feel much more cohesive.’When Jo and Andy started gathering…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA five-bedroom, Victorian, semidetached house in a conservation area in southwest London.WHO LIVES HERELouise and Ben Young live here with their daughters, Mya, 19, Florence, seven, and Minnie, five.WHAT THEY DIDThe couple doubled the size of their kitchen by extending sideways into a former patio area, and added glazed metal doors along an entire wall to let in sunlight.THE LOOKRelaxed New England style with an elegant rustic twist.LESSONS LEARNED" Make sure you know the lead times for any products you order. The glass doors took 15 weeks to be delivered, which delayed everything. Had I known how long it was going to take, I would have ordered them much earlier."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘A simple reshuffle created more room’WHAT IT COSTBath and taps.........................£1,100Shower.....................................£1,081Basin and taps.........................£565Loo..............................................£390Towel radiators........................£750Wall tiles.....................................£224Floor tiles....................................£510Underfloor heating.................£320Upcycled vanity unit...............£169Lighting and accessories.....£320TOTAL......................£5,429Buying their forever home in Brighton, East Sussex, was a big step for Katie and Kevin Flack, particularly as they chose an Edwardian house that needed totally refurbishing. ‘We considered doing everything at once, but decided that it was better to do things in small chunks over the years,’ says Katie. ‘The bathroom looked so dark, mostly due to its navy-blue carpet. I wanted a functional family bathroom and, with three children to potty train, it wasn’t really hygienic to have carpet.’Altering the look of the bathroom without incurring too many additional costs was essential. ‘We have two different-sized windows and I suspect that the room had once been divided in two to create a separate…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA three-bedroom, Victorian, terraced house in Twickenham, Middlesex.WHO LIVES HEREEmma and Sean Steele live here with their daughter, Rosa, seven, and son, Hugo, four.WHAT THEY DIDThe couple removed a partition wall next to the shower cubicle, replaced the window and had underfloor heating installed. The walls were replastered and tiled, and a new bathroom suite was fitted.THE LOOKClassic metro tiles and wood-effect flooring give a modern, neutral look.LESSONS LEARNED“Spend and save where it matters to you. I went for a basic loo, but splashed out on quality flooring, which looks fantastic. Our builder saved us money by buying items at trade price.”…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Pick the perfect PALETTEMuted, classic paint colours have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people using them to turn their homes into calming havens to escape to at the end of each busy day. With this in mind, new paint brand Hemsley has focused on creating a range of timeless shades designed to bring effortless colour harmony to your home.Choose co-ordinating shadesThanks to uniquely blended pigments, the water-based, premium-quality paint has exceptional depth of colour and a lovely ultra-flat matt finish. The range is made up of 56 beautiful colours that have been collated in 14 collections of four co-ordinating tones. They’ve been grouped in this way to give you the confidence to use a mix of different shades to transform your interiors. By taking the confusion out of which colours…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016NEED TO KNOW WINDOWS•Freshen up slightly dirty windows – ones that have the odd smudge or smear – using a cleaning spray and a cloth. However, if you haven’t washed the windows for months, get a squeegee out and do a proper clean.•Wash them on a cloudy day. Sunshine will create glare on the glass, making it harder to clean. It could also dry the cleaning solution before you have a chance to wipe it off, leaving unsightly streaks.•Start with the frames first, so you don’t drip dirty water on clean panes. A wipe with a wet sponge should do the trick, but if they’re very grubby, use mild detergent on wood or specialist cleaner on UPVC.•Clean the panes of glass by sponging them down with warm soapy water. Dip a sponge or…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016In the GARDENTO DO THIS MONTH...•REUSE RAINWATER Keep plants hydrated over the summer using precious rainwater captured in a water butt. Original Organics has a range of designs available, from rustic wooden barrels and sleek steel tanks to colourful slimline models.•TACKLE YOUR WEEDS As the weather warms up, nasty weeds will begin to take hold. Mulching now with compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure will help restrict their growth and keep moisture in the soil.•PLANT UP HANGING BASKETS Try using colourful foliage, such as cordylines and grasses, or edible herbs or nasturtiums for an unusual display. Ensure that you have plenty of plants to cover the container and be sure to water them well, as hanging baskets dry out quickly.•PLANT SUMMER BEDDING Lift your spring beds and replace them with summer-friendly plants…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘My work-from-home tool kit’EncorePro HW301N binaural headset, £99.99, Plantronics ‘Being “hands free” is crucial for me – talking to colleagues or clients while making notes is 70% of my role. I’ve tried various headphones before, but this call-centre-style headset is easily the best so far.’BetterSnapTool app, £2.29, iOS ‘This lets me “snap” multiple windows on my Mac screen, so I can have an email in one quarter, and a web browser, document, and calendar in others. It ups my productivity tenfold – such as when I need to check an email against a diary entry.’HoMedics Shiatsu massager, £114, Amazon.co.uk ‘You can easily sit in the same position for hours when you’re having a busy day. This massage chair allows me to keep working while getting rid of the aches and pains that surface…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016ENJOY 20% OFF home accessoriesThe latest bedroom and bathroom accessories from luxury brand Christy are perfect for updating your home this spring. Christy has a rich history dating back to 1850 – Queen Victoria was one of its first loyal customers. The original Christy terry towel is still known for its quality and long-lasting softness, and such high standards extend to the company’s beautiful bed linen, too.Christy is offering Ideal Home readers an exclusive 20% discount on its huge range of bed and bathroom linen and accessories. Choose from Christy’s wide selection of 100% cotton towels, bath mats and robes, or invest in one of its on-trend bedlinen collections, which have a high thread count and feature intricate embroidery and lovely woven designs – just the thing to guarantee you a luxurious night’s sleep.To…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Or try one of these PREMIUM COMPACTSLITTLE BIG SHOTPowerShot G9 X, £379, Canon‘Ideal for beginners stepping up, this is tiny and has excellent image quality and auto modes. Again, you can control some settings using the ring around the lens’PRO CHOICERX100 IV, £759, SonyGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘If money is no object, this is the one to beat. It takes pro-quality photos day or night, has a viewfinder and shoots video in super slo-mo – should you fancy yourself as the next David Attenborough’MONOCHROME MARVELX70, £549, FujifilmGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘Great for street photography, with spectacular results in black and white. The 28mm lens gives a great wide-angle view – there’s no zoom or viewfinder, but the screen can be angled for selfies’ALWAYS CONNECTEDDL24-85, £550, NikonGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘Has a 1in sensor for top-notch photos and a Super…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016BUY 72 BEAUTIFUL PERENNIAL PLANTS, WORTH £71.88, FOR ONLY £19.99Fill your beds and borders with colour and interest with this stunning collection of herbaceous perennials. Blooming year after year, these plants can also be cut to create a beautiful flower arrangement. The collection includes:1 Digitalis ‘Dalmation Mixed’ (foxglove)Height: 50cm. Spread: 40cm.2 Aquilegia ‘Swan Mixed’ (columbine)Height: 30cm. Spread: 25cm.3 Delphinium ‘Pacific Giants’Height: 150cm.4 Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’ (tickseed)Height: 45cm.5 Erigeron ‘Stallone’ (Mexican fleabane)Height: 30cm. Spread: 100cm.6 Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Parasol’ (coneflower)Height: 90-120cm.7 Armeria ‘Mixed’ (thrift)Height: 50cm. Spread: 30cm.8 Dianthus ‘Ever-blooming Mixed’ (carnation)Height and spread: 30cm.9 Geum ‘Blazing Sunset’ (avens)Height and spread: 60cm.10 Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ (English lavender)Height: 60cm. Spread: 75cm.11 Verbena bonariensis (Argentinian vervain)Height: 200cm. Spread: 45cm.12 Scabiosa ‘Blue Jeans’ (scabious)Height and spread: 45cm.BUY Six of any variety for £5.99BUY 72 (six of each) for £19.99 (RRP £71.88). Save £51.89. All…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016DESIGN YOUR OWN HOME‘Join us for five weeks in our international online classroom, and share your design problems, inspiration, and projects with me and your fellow students. Bring your latest decorating project to the course – I’ll bring mine too – and work through it as we study the design process, finding your style, colours, fabrics and window treatments, sourcing, lighting, and accessories. Though there’s something new in the classroom every weekday, you can do the work entirely when it suits you. And if you feel uncertain about your online skills please don’t worry. Jump in, and I’ll help – technical support is a feature of the course.’Morwenna Brett, My Design School tutorTO BOOKVisit klc.co.uk/mdsand quote IH0416 for the Early Bird offerMY DESIGN SCHOOL: DESIGN YOUR OWN HOMEFive-week online course 6th June -…1 min
Ideal Home|May 20165 FREE GREENS TO FORAGE FOREnjoy a day out walking and foraging for something delicious to cook, just keep in mind the basic rules: know what you’re looking for, wash everything well (especially if you forage on popular dog-walking routes) and never eat anything unless you’re 100% confident it’s safe. Don’t pick leaves if there aren’t many left – always leave some behind – and avoid foraging close to roads, on industrial sites or on farmland, where pesticides or pollutants might be in the soil.1 NETTLESYou’ll find stinging nettles almost anywhere that’s been left to grow wild. Only pick the tips and discard woody stems. Wear rubber gloves, tucking your sleeves into them, to avoid being stung, and don’t go bare legged! Once they’ve flowered, nettles don’t taste as fresh. Their earthy, spinachy flavour is…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON ADDING A SKYLIGHTThe Singhs opted for a sweeping skylight at the front of the property that lets light into the hallway.The 7m x 1.2m double-glazed skylight is made from 12mm toughened glass and 6mm toughened energy-efficient glass. Glass-to-glass joints are fixed with silicone sealant, while the glazing is fixed in with stainless-steel channel sections.New skylights don’t normally need planning permission as long as they don’t protrude more than 150mm beyond the plane of the roof slope and are no higher than the highest part of the roof. Skylights on side elevations should be obscure glazed and either non-opening or more than 1.7m above the floor level. If in doubt, check with your local planning authority.Skylights can be fitted from the inside or outside of a property, by a roofer, carpenter or specialist.…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON THROUGH-COLOURED RENDERSophie and Mark chose to render the external walls of their build, as its plastered finish has a smooth appearance.The couple’s extension was built from blockwork set on a red-brick plinth to match the original part of the house, which was built in the Twenties. The blockwork was then finished off in a cream through-coloured render.Render is usually built up in two or three coats. This results in a series of layers, which are less likely to develop surface cracks.Today’s finishes are a world away from the grey pebbledash of post-war housing. Through-coloured products means the pigment is added in the manufacturing process, which colours the entire render rather than just the surface, so walls don’t then need to be painted.Much like plastering, rendering is a job best left to…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We built an eco mega-extension’‘We made the house as energy efficient as possible – our fuel bills are greatly reduced’When Nick Wharton convinced his wife Vicki that they should bid at auction for a run-down Fifties house in Bristol, she secretly hoped they wouldn’t get it. However, within two minutes of bidding they had bought the ugly building, leaving Vicki concerned about their financial situation.‘We were paying rent and had a big mortgage to find for a house we weren’t even living in,’ she recalls. ‘It was dingy, with just two bedrooms and a small kitchen. The only redeeming feature was the large, south-facing garden.’The couple hired Designscape Architects (01225 858500; dscape.co.uk) to devise a sustainable home with an open-plan kitchen-diner. The architects came up with a timber-framed rear extension.Planning permission was approved in…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FYI, there’s more to Oliver Bonas than meets the eye‘Inspired by artisan style, our new range contrasts earthy and organic textures with energetic prints and washed-out neon tones for an off beat and f luid vibe’OLIVER TRESS, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OLIVER BONASWhile it’s long been our go-to for gorgeous gifts and greeting cards, Oliver Bonas is fast becoming a high-street favourite for furniture and homeware buys, too. Starting out in a small shop in West London during the Nineties, the British lifestyle brand’s founder Oliver Tress kicked it all off by bringing back unusual gifts for friends from his travels. With his creative flair and eye for buying, he has since cemented Oliver Bonas’s reputation as a homeware hot spot.After the brand launched its hugely popular velvet tub chair in 2009, it has continued to deliver beautifully…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Be inspired by our MOODBOARDSHESSIAN & COPPERFor similar flooring, try the COM1451, £49.99 per sq m, Quick-Step. Linen runner, £19.99; Rosa Stonewash napkin, £8.99; both LinenMe. Gold Titanium cutlery, £99 for a 16-piece set, Very. Pestle & mortar, £30, Debenhams. Side plate, £13; bowl, £10; both Murmur range, Bedeck. New York City Winter matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar. Knowle Leaf tile, £7, Rowen & WrenTEAL & TOMATOIMU1858 saw-cut laminate flooring in Oak Grey, £19.99 per sq m, Impressive collection, Quick-Step. Cushion covers, from left: made in Mendoza Lagoon, £40.50 per m;
Ideal Home|May 2016START A COLLECTION OF beautiful basicsHaving a strong foundation of key pieces in your home will allow you to dip into decorating trends as they come and go, without being a slave to them. But what makes a ‘beautiful basic’SIMPLE LINES It’s easy to be seduced by a pretty pattern or decorative device, but detail dates. Bland and boring? Maybe, but these pieces are just the skeleton of your scheme – detail can be layered on in the form of accent pieces, artwork and accessories. Simplicity means versatility in terms of spinning different looks around them and using them in different rooms and different ways.NATURAL MATERIALS Avoid choosing trend-influenced finishes and, instead, try to stick to untreated hardwoods (which are more durable than softwoods), metals, marble, stone, glass, ceramics, wicker and rattan, cork, linen, cotton…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Find more Scandi looks on the high streetLet a pattern kick-start your room scheme by choosing a retro-inspired carpet or a graphic wallpaper.TRY IT ON THE FLOOR... Go for a Seventies vibe with Carpetright’s Condo design. Team with soft accessories in geometric prints, then wake up the neutral look with hints of dusky rose and flashes of gold....OR ON THE WALLS Create a contemporary feel with the striking Modul print from Scion – use the palette of taupe, peach and charcoal to inspire the rest of your scheme.Floor fillerUse a large-scale geometric print on a big surface, such as a carpet, then add small-scale patterns in the same paletteCondo carpet, £34.99 per sq m, CarpetrightShape shifterGet a modern-retro feel with a bold angular motif and pops of peachModul wallpaper, £39 per roll, ScionMetal worksAdd an industrial touchNort…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016WHAT’S NEW AT ThibautPRINTS CHARMINGNavy and white gives this ornate pattern a smart, modern feelAshley Damask wallpaper, £89 per roll, Damask Resource 4 collection, ThibautTHE COMPANY Originally founded as a wallpaper company in 1886 by Richard E Thibaut, this US brand has evolved over the last 130 years into a design house, now producing a wide range of fabrics, too. Each year, the company launches between eight and nine collections, with new designs often featuring fresh interpretations of archive patterns, as well as exclusive artwork created by the in-house team. Never one to shy away from bold, uplifting colour and striking, graphic patterns, it’s easy to see why the brand has such universal appeal.THE NEW COLLECTION Thibaut launches two new wallpaper ranges every year under its Resource Collections umbrella. The latest range is…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA five-bedroom detached house in Hellerup, Denmark, which was built in 1910. The owners bought it in January 1999.WHO LIVES HERELisbeth Bindesbøl and her husband, Henrik Stig Møller, live here. Lisbeth owns a fashion boutique and Henrik is a lawyer and the managing director of a commercial-property company.THE LOOKCool and elegant, with white walls acting as a backdrop to wooden floors, furnishings in natural tones and unique accessories.LESSONS LEARNED"Don’t feel frustrated if you can’t get the look you want immediately. It took us time to find the right decorating colours, but now we’ve found a balance that’s right for us and the house."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURBOUGHT FOR £220,000SPENT £2,550NOW WORTH £260,000WHAT IT COSTTool hire.........................................£500Paint..............................................£1,000Kitchen accessories...................£200Furniture.........................................£350Electrics.........................................£500TOTAL.........................£2,550THE PROPERTYA two-bedroom, three-storey Georgian wool mill, near Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, bought in the summer of 2014.WHO LIVES HERESara Tasker and Rory O’Neill live here with their daughter Orla, two. Sara is a freelance writer and photographer, and Rory is an assistant head teacher.THE LOOKRustic minimalism with a calm white palette and original features.LESSONS LEARNED"Think ahead. My decision to sand the floors came after we’d painted the walls, which was too late. We’ll need to wait and redo them both in the future."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURBOUGHT FOR £750,000SPENT £188,000NOW WORTH £1.2 millionTHE PROPERTYA four-bedroom, detached, early Eighties house in Bath, Somerset. The owner bought it in 2014.WHAT IT COSTBuilding work.........................£35,000Project fees.............................£21,000Kitchen......................................£37,000Bathrooms.................................£8,000Flooring......................................£11,000Fitted furnishings and furniture............................£70,000Decorating................................£6,000TOTAL....................£188,000WHO LIVES HEREPaul Kettlety lives here and his sons George, 14, and Diddy, 12, stay at the weekend. Paul is an adviser for the oil and gas industry.THE LOOKPale walls and floors create a backdrop for an interesting mix of old and new furniture and eclectic pieces in a bright space.LESSONS LEARNED" It’s important to live in a property to get the feel of it before making any drastic changes, especially if you’re thinking of altering the layout I lived here for six months to see what worked for me and what didn’t, and the wait has really paid off."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURBOUGHT FOR £380,000SPENT £85,000NOW WORTH £550,000THE PROPERTYA three-bedroom, Thirties, end-of-terrace house in Muswell Hill, north London, bought in 2010.WHAT IT COSTBuilding work.........................£70,000Kitchen........................................£3,000Bathrooms..................................£1,400Flooring......................................£2,500Furniture.......................................£8,100TOTAL......................£85,000WHO LIVES HEREJosephine Lecouflé-Vinet and her husband Nicolas Vinet live here with their sons, Alexis, nine, and Oscar, six. Josephine is a designer and Nicolas is a software development manager.THE LOOKA melange of French and British style, peppered with vintage finds, designer pieces and splashes of uplifting colour.LESSONS LEARNED"The children stayed with family in France during the summer while the work was going on. This put the builders under pressure for a completion date and silly mistakes were made with the final touches."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016ENJOY THE BENEFITSSIMPLE TO OPERATE You can adjust the temperature and intensity of the water spray using the discreet hidden panel or the handy remote control.PERSONALISED FUNCTION Thanks to an integrated user-identification function, the water starts heating automatically as soon as you approach the loo.ECOFRIENDLY OPERATION When the toilet isn’t in use, it switches to standby mode, which means that it will save money and be kind to the environment.For more information…FIND YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST AND FURTHER DETAILS OF ALL THE AQUACLEAN MODELS ONLINE AT GEBERIT-AQUACLEAN.CO.UK…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016PROPERTY PROJECTS‘We feel so much more connected to the garden’Madeleine Wilson wanted an extension with wow factor for her semi in Kew, London, but her plans were restricted as she lives in a conservation area.Architect Paul Wiggins (020 8878 4850; paulwigginsarchitects.com) came up with the clever idea of an angular conservatory. ‘Because it’s a non-solid structure with a diminishing shape, we got permission to extend further into the garden,’ says Paul.By replacing the dark and narrow kitchen in the middle of the house and the poky living/dining room at the rear, the family of four now spend most of their time in the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.Frost-proof porcelain tiles cover the entire floor and extend out onto the patio, while the two-tiered garden has been landscaped to make the…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016IN DETAIL INDOOR-OUTDOOR TILESSue and Terry chose to lay the same large-format, matt, porcelain floor tiles in their rear extension and outside on the patio, with a flush threshold and a small slot floor drain for an uninterrupted appearance.Not all materials will suit an outdoor environment, so choose carefully. Look for a low porosity level, which means that the tiles won’t absorb dirt and water, making them frostproof and stain resistant.Find large-format porcelain tiles at Stone & Ceramic Warehouse (020 8993 5545; stoneandceramic warehouse.co.uk). Other indoor-outdoor flooring options include stone, slate and concrete. Alternatively, consider matching timber floorboards indoors with co-ordinated decking outside.Your builder or architect should be able to advise on floor levels and drainage to make sure that the flooring complies with building regulations. Contact your local planning authority for more…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘It’s full of amazing details’WHAT IT COSTUnits.................................£9,000Worktop..........................£3,000Sink and tap.......................£400Appliances......................£1,850Floor tiles.........................£1,200Lighting..................................£80TOTAL................£15,530With their wedding approaching, Lucy and Will Houston wanted a new kitchen to start married life with. Their existing kitchen was long and narrow, and looked a little tired, with tatty lino and bright red gloss doors – not ideal for a couple who love entertaining. ‘Our new kitchen needed to be a practical space where Will could test out his cookery skills and we could relax with friends,’ says Lucy.They started by calling in a team of builders, who extended the property into the garden and side return. ‘We wanted the space to flow outdoors,’ says Lucy. Top of the wish list were large bifolding doors opening onto the garden, plus patterned flooring. ‘We spent ages looking for exactly the right floor tile,’ says…3 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA six-bedroom, detached house, built in the early 1900s, in Brighton, East Sussex.WHO LIVES HEREJo and Andy Clarkson live here with their son, Jack, two.WHAT THEY DIDThe couple extended to the side and knocked down walls to link the kitchen and dining room with the extension. They also removed a fireplace and chimney breast, installed bifold patio doors and had new units fitted.THE LOOKContemporary, with white, handleless units and concrete-style floor tiles.LESSONS LEARNED"We found ideas from high-street kitchen companies disappointing, and can recommend going to a reputable firm that has plenty of expertise and understands what works in a kitchen."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA five-bedroom, detached Edwardian house in Weybridge, Surrey.WHO LIVES HEREBecky Cawthorn-Smith and her husband, Paul Maguire, live here with their children, Jed, nine, and Kitty, six.WHAT THEY DIDBy rejigging their upstairs space, the couple turned a dated bathroom with a difficult layout into a luxurious en suite.THE LOOKVintage glamour, with high-quality sanitaryware, antiqued glass tiles, nickel brassware and touches of pretty colour in the accessories.LESSONS LEARNED"Consider how to make something work in your room. I really wanted a wall of glass tiles, but they didn’t fit. There was no way we were going to cut the tiles, so we built out the wall to accommodate them instead."…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Take the 60-SECOND TOURTHE PROPERTYA five-bedroom, Edwardian detached house in Brighton, East Sussex.WHO LIVES HEREKatie and Kevin Flack live here with their children, Rosa, 10, Evie, eight, and Pippa, six.WHAT THEY DIDThe couple relocated the loo to create more space in the room and resited the hot-water tank to provide additional storage space in an existing cupboard.THE LOOKShabby chic, with traditional-style sanitaryware and unusual furnishings that add to the period feel.LESSONS LEARNED“Good communication between the project manager, builders and ourselves was key to the success of this project. I learnt to listen to my project manager’s advice and be adaptable with design ideas.”…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Upgrade your IKEA BASICSCOLOURFUL MAGAZINE FILESUse gorgeous giftwrap or wallpaper offcuts to transform plain files. Go to housetohome.co.uk/videos to see our step-by-step video.WHAT YOU’LL NEED•Wrapping paper or an offcut of wallpaper •Pencil •Scissors •Old newspaper •Spray adhesive •Soft cloth1 Lay your chosen giftwrap or wallpaper pattern-side down on a flat surface. Place a magazine file on top, with the side you want to cover facing down, and position over the part of the paper’s pattern you’d like to see. Mark around the edge of the file using a pencil.2 Repeat for the remaining files, making sure you butt the edge of each file against the previous template edge to ensure the pattern matches when the files are lined up. Cut out the shape.3 Lay newspaper down to protect your flat surface and spray…5 min
Ideal Home|May 2016CREATE A NEW SPRING LOOK• PITCOMBE Bring seasonal greenery inside with this fresh, nature-inspired collection of Pear, Orchard, Pea and Garden – great for a country kitchen.• YENSTON Mirror the colours seen in a spring sky with this collection of blues that includes Air, Day and Sky, as well as the more dramatic-looking, moody Tide, which would be perfect for creating a striking feature wall.• LOVINGTON Versatile grey continues to be popular. This collection includes Cloud, Flint, Pewter and Grey, which will suit all room schemes.• CHERITON Fans of pink will love this collection, which ranges from the delicate Blush and Bloom through to the bolder Berry. Use it for the prettiest bedroom.…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016In the KITCHENTo-do list forMAYEAT The Foraging Fox’s hot beetroot ketchup – infused with chilli and horseradish, it’s just the thing to perk up a bacon sandwich or barbecue, £3.49 for 255g, Ocado.DRINK Biostilla amaretto, a deliciously smooth Italian organic almond liqueur, £25 for 70cl, Vintage Roots. Try a dash of it in an espresso.TREAT yourself to a selection of British charcuterie, £29, from Market Porter – an online retailer championing artisan cheese, meat and chocolate producers, with new products each month.Try a new taste...FREEKEHMade from roasted green wheat grains, freekeh has a rich, smoky flavour and has been served in the Middle East for centuries. Simply simmer it in water or stock for 20min, then use in stir-fries and salads. You can also buy ready-cooked freekeh, £2 for 250g, Merchant Gourmet…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016SKY’S NEW SERVICE“HELLO! I’m Amy Cutmore, Technology Editor… but you can call me Girl About Tech. As you can see, my pages have a fresh new look that I hope you’ll love. And if you’re suffering from a tech-related trauma, feel free to tweet me @girlabouttech – I’m looking forward to hearing from you!”Meet Sky Q – a premium subscription of on-demand and live TV that lets you do clever things like pause a film, then pick up where you left off on another screen (say, the TV in the bedroom). You can even download shows from your planner to your tablet to watch offline later.FIND OUT MORE AT GIRLABOUTTECH.COMON GIRLABOUTTECH.COMRIGHT NOWHOW TO… GO ON A DATA DIETIt’s time to dump the excess data baggage and start storing your important photos, videos…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016THE KIT YOU NEED FOR REMOTE WORKINGHANDSOME HARD DRIVEBackup Plus ultra-slim hard drive, £59.99, SeagateGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘This stylish little storer can hold a mighty 2TB of your most important files – that’s roughly 320,000 photos or 240 hours of HD video’FLEXI TIMER11 Chromebook, £230, AcerGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘Not only does this device boot up in seconds, but its reinforced hinge also lets you use it as a laptop or tablet, or in presentation-friendly “tent” mode’MASTER KEYSK380 multi-device Bluetooth keyboard, £34.99, LogitechGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘Connects to up to three devices at once, so you can move seamlessly from working on a PC to controlling your Apple TV box or bashing out an email on your phone’SAFER SURFINGOsprey 2 Mini 4G Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, £39.99, EEGIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS‘Connect up to 10 devices at once – it’s…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016GET 20% OFF bespoke storageRevamp your home with the Shaker range of furniture at Sharps – the UK’s leading fitted-furniture specialist. With its muted style, the white Shaker furniture will blend into any existing scheme.Providing up to triple the storage space of freestanding equivalents, the expertly designed wardrobes from Sharps are fitted flush against the walls and ceiling, leaving no dead space above, behind or at the sides of the unit. Every wardrobe is fitted with an integral soft-close function, adding to their luxurious appeal.All of Sharps’ collections offer a selection of low-line furniture, such as bedside tables and dressing tables, which will blend harmoniously into your bedroom and provide more surfaces to display vases and precious momentos. Sharps can even create a stunning window seat with added storage as part of your scheme.Prices…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016GET 20% OFF paint and wallpaperWith more than 150 branches across the country, Brewers Decorator Centres have all the paints, wallpapers and tools you need to decorate your home. So whether you want a modern look or something more traditional, you’re sure to find the ideal colour or design. You’ll also discover all the best-loved brands, including Crown and Dulux.Brewers Decorator Centres are offering Ideal Home readers 20% off paints, wallpapers and accessories. To redeem your discount, take this page to your nearest store. To find a branch, visit brewers.co.uk/branch-locator.HOW TO GET YOUR 20% DISCOUNTTo redeem your 20% discount, take this page into any Brewers Decorator Centre. Offer valid from 29 March to 30 June 2016.TERMS AND CONDITIONSThis voucher cannot be exchanged for cash (cash equivalent value £0.001) and no refund will be given. The…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016CLAIM YOUR FREE fuchsia plantsLiven up your garden this summer with colourful fuchsias. These hardy, long-lasting flowers are easy to grow and are ideal for hanging baskets. Your nine free plants include ‘Dollar Princess’, a double bloom in cerise, pink and purple; ‘Shrimp co*cktail’, featuring a fusion of marbled hot-pink petals with a candy blush; and ‘Delta’s Sarah’, which has purple-blue flowers. Whether in borders or on a patio, this bright range will create real impact from June to November.AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OTHER GREAT OFFERS...FUCHSIA ‘BEAUTY QUEEN’These hardy white blooms have pink sepals, giving a dramatic contrast. Ideal for bringing a bright splash of colour to patio pots and borders. Height and spread: 60cm. Supplied as Postiplugs.BUY THREE FOR £9.99; BUY NINE FOR £14.99 – SAVE £14.98BEGONIA ‘APRICOT SHADES’Come rain or shine,…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016Update windows for A FRESH LOOK‘Open up a kitchen or dining room to your outside space with glazed bifold doors, or go all-out with a glass extension to really bring the outdoors in’VANESSA RICHMOND, EDITORWhether you are looking to replace windows to improve your home’s kerb appeal or add a show-stopping extension, get the most from your property this spring. With two decades of expertise in the double glazing industry, Network VEKA offers a range of options to modernise your home.Ask the expertsThis year marks Network VEKA’s 20th birthday, and the home experts behind the scheme have seen a lot of changes in interiors trends since they set up the company 20 years ago. Today, homeowners are confident enough to transform their homes inside and out by taking on exterior makeovers and adding bifold doors…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We made a bungalow stylish’“ Multiple floor-to-ceiling glass doors let natural light flood in while also helping to retain a cosy, homely feel ” JOHN OGILVIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NETWORK VEKA‘Everything changed so quickly – we enjoyed a new milestone each week’Clare and Jim Mansell decided to put down roots and create a family home for themselves and their son, Theo, but the squat, 100-year-old bungalow they ended up buying in West Sussex couldn’t have been less appealing.‘We called it “the ugly bungalow”, but we knew we could turn it into something more exciting, to make the most of lovely views across Chichester harbour to the Isle of Wight,’ says Clare. ‘As a family, we needed more space, but the loft was too cramped to convert, and the garden isn’t huge, so building upwards was…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON ALTERING A ROOFLisa and Tony completely altered the shape and pitch of their home’s roof to transform the look of the property. Changing the roof involves major structural work, which can be expensive and disruptive.Modifying the shape of a roof has a huge impact on the look of a house. Most period and new houses are built with pitched roofs, but flat ones are becoming more popular for ultramodern new-builds and extensions.Flat-roofing systems have come a long way since the Sixties and Seventies, when bitumen and asphalt leaked and needed to be frequently replaced. Modern single-ply roofing membranes are insulated and built to last.Planning permission isn’t usually required for reroofing your house, subject to certain conditions, but you might need approval if you want to completely change the roof’s appearance. To be…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We turned two barns into a home’‘We love entertaining, so we turned one barn into an open-plan living area’On discovering two Grade II-listed, derelict barns in a Suffolk village, Ruth Paternoster and Craig Beech were determined to design the conversion of the buildings themselves, and do as much of the building work as possible. Ruth and Craig run their own architectural practice (01379 678442; beecharchitects.com), and had been living in Cambridge while looking for a more rural property.After a six-month-long search, they found the adjacent barns within a quarter-acre plot of farmland. Despite the poor condition of the buildings, the couple decided to take on the huge project, and drew up plans to convert the dilapidated barns into a five-bedroom house.One of the barns had a timber frame dating back to 1700, and the other was…2 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON ECOFRIENDLY FEATURESVicki and Nick’s new extension is massively insulated for energy efficiency, with solar thermal and photovoltaic panels on the roof for added sustainability.The old part of the building has been externally insulated using 100mm of expanded polystyrene, which was attached to the front of the house and finished with Weber’s one-coat external wall insulation system (0870 333 0070; netweber.co.uk). This through-coloured mineral render will extend the life of the building by keeping the structure warm, and can be applied directly to all major insulation types.The existing wall cavities and loft space were also insulated and all windows have been replaced with high performance aluminium units from Velfac (01536 313552; velfac.co.uk). Large areas of glazing, including full-height windows and glass doors, are positioned in the south-facing rear elevation, with louvered cedar…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016FOCUS ON TIMBER CLADDING‘I didn’t want to use tin cladding on the chapel walls, so I chose Cape Cod cladding,’ says Steve. ‘Made from Canadian pine, it’s kiln dried and bandsawn to produce the finish.’Cape Cod cladding comes in 10 standard colours, or it can be produced in bespoke shades of water-based acrylic paint that comes with a 15-year coating guarantee.Other forms of timber cladding available include oak and Western red cedar varieties, both of which are popular choices. These types may be left untreated and will eventually weather, turning an attractive silver-grey colour, while softwood boarding will usually require some painting or staining.…1 min
Ideal Home|May 2016‘We supersized our kitchen’‘It’s a great space in winter now, too, and it’s where we spend most of our time as a family’Two of Sally and John Clarke’s favourite things when they viewed their Edwardian house in Twickenham, south London, were its impressive proportions and the enclosed rear garden. The kitchen, however, was less of a selling point. ‘The previous owners had extended it some years before by building a single-storey room that jutted out into the back garden,’ Sally explains. ‘The whole structure was showing its age and was very cold in the winter. In fact, for several weeks each year, we couldn’t use the kitchen without wearing thermals.’The family lived in the house for two years before deciding to replace the old extension with something that was both more comfortable and…2 min
