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Space
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& light
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SEE TERMS &
CONDITIONS INSIDE
PAGES OF
MODERN
FAMILY
HOMES
◆ MAKE USE OF ALCOVES

+
INSPIRING
BEFORE
◆ SLIDING DOOR KNOW-HOW & AFTER
◆ GUIDE TO SMALL EXTENSIONS MAKEOVERS
Mary
Berry
‘I DON’T GO TO
NEW! SARAH BED WITHOUT A
RAVEN’S TIPS
Decorate
TIDY KITCHEN’
FOR COMPACT
GARDENS
for less
YOUR HOUSE
MANUAL
◆ SMART HOME
SYSTEMS
◆ SAVE WITH AN ISA
◆ TIDY TIPS FOR STYLE-SAVVY HACKS YOU CAN
BATHROOMS DIY IN AS LITTLE AS AN HOUR!
◆ HOW TO REFRESH
TILE GROUT + 20 UNDER £20: EDITOR’S FAVES
CONTENTS
In the
April 97
issue
Gorgeous
NEW & NOW
11 HOME NEWS Stylish finds
16 DESIGN EDIT High-end looks
on a high-street budget real homes
19 ◆ AT HOME WITH MARY STUNNING HOMES
BERRY The cooking legend TO BE INSPIRED BY,
shares her happy place FROM P26
22 ◆20 UNDER £20 ◆
IDEAL HOMES
26 ◆ SCANDI SIMPLICITY A
classic period bungalow is
transformed with a soft palette
36 ◆ ‘MY STYLE INSPIRES REAL
JOY’ Colour and wow features
add flair to this Edwardian home
48 ◆A FRESH CHAPTER How a
dream reno on a 1960s house
changed this family’s lives
58 ◆ LET THERE BE WHITE
Calming interiors enhance the
beauty of a Georgian rectory
68 IH READER HOME AWARDS
Enter your home, garden or
room makeover to win £1,000!
ROOM DECOR
88
70 FRESH BOTANICALS Layers
of green and foliage designs
11
77 HEADBOARDS
78 IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL
On the cover...
PHOTOGRAPH LISA COHEN/LIVING INSIDE
APRIL 2023 5 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

CONTENTS
82 ◆ CLEVER DECORATING
Make the most of your alcoves
88 ROOM RECIPE Ingredients for
a modern Scandi home office
96 DINNER PLATES
70
97 ◆EASY STYLE UPDATES Mini
décor projects on a budget
105 TREND TALK Matt Siberry on
what’s new for bathrooms
107 IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL
125
108 PLAN THE PERFECT...
Family bathroom
RENOVATION
119 ◆KITCHEN PROJECT A
Subscribe!
A GREAT GIFT OR A LOVELY
revamp of a cramped space
TREAT FOR YOURSELF,
125 ◆KITCHEN PROJECT An SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE
ambitious open-plan area
28%. TURN TO PAGE 138 TO
130 ◆BATHROOM PROJECT FIND OUT HOW TO
IH Reader Home Awards
2022 best makeover SUBSCRIBE
135 ◆BATHROOM PROJECT VISIT MAGAZINESDIRECT
A cool, tranquil en suite .COM/IHMD23
141 ASK AN EXPERT Charlie
108
Luxton on good ventilation
145 ◆ PROJECT PLANNING
Small kitchen extensions
149 EXTENSION PROJECT
A multi-level solution
152 ◆ PROJECT PLANNING
Sliding doors
WHAT TO BUY
156 STEAM CLEANERS
170 ◆ SAVE 20% AT
SARAHRAVEN.COM
HOUSE MANUAL
96
158 ◆CONSUMER ADVICE
Solutions to everyday hassles
160 ◆TECH SUPPORT Ecosystems
161 ◆ MONEY MATTERS The
lowdown on choosing an ISA
HAPPY HOME
162 FEARNE COTTON ON...
Making a bathroom less boring
163 FRUGAL FEASTING Hearty
budget-friendly recipes
168 ◆GARDEN NOTES Sarah
Raven on plant colour palettes
173 ◆TIDY HOUSE TIDY MIND
Sorting bathroom storage
177 ONE SMALL STEP Eco ideas
178 HADLEY FREEMAN ON... Visit facebook. Follow us at See our Be inspired at Sign up to our
Lifting the mood at home com/ideal twitter.com/ latest snaps pinterest.com/ newsletter at
home.co.uk idealhome @idealhomeuk idealhomemag idealhome.co.uk

EDITOR’S LETTER
Staying in is the
new going out...
Spending more time at home looks set for alfresco soirées come the warmer
to be the biggest trend this year, as months (our new column from top idealhome.co.uk
costs spiral and we’re all after ways to gardener Sarah Raven on page 168 THIS MONTH
save money. But the 2023 take on ‘stay has given me plenty of inspiration). DON’T MISS...
“
at home’ is a little different to the I don’t think I’ve been ‘out out’ more From barbecues to
lockdowns of previous years, as this than a couple of times so far this year, garden layouts –
Dinner
time we’re free to but there’s been no everything you
open up our doors lack of socialising. need for a summer-
parties or lazy
and share our Dinner parties and ready garden.
space with friends long, lazy Sunday
lunches at home
and family. lunches have been
This focus on the order of the day. SIGN UP TO OUR
”
are the order of
entertaining at For me, it’s a NEWSLETTER
home will chance to see more Scan the QR
the day
influence how we of people’s homes, code to enjoy
Ideal Home in your
use our space. something I’ll never
inbox with our
Flexibility is key tire of! This month email newsletter.
(dinner for 14? Not a prob!) but (let’s be we’re launching our annual hunt for
honest) we also want our homes to the UK’s best homes, so if yours (or
look their best when we have guests a friend’s) has got what it takes, you’ll
over. Personally, I’m on a fast-looming find all the details on page 68.
deadline to take our garden from You could win £1,000 – and I can’t
mudpit to summer sanctuary, ready wait to see your entries!
HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR
Ideal home experts
HADLEY FREEMAN MATT SIBERRY CHARLIE KALPANA FEARNE COTTON

JOURNALIST & STYLE & TRENDS LUXTON FITZPATRICK BROADCASTER
AUTHOR EXPERT ARCHITECTURAL MONEY EXPERT & AUTHOR
A Sunday Times As head of home at DESIGNER An award-winning TV and radio
columnist, Hadley Pinterest, Matt is Charlie juggles his financial journalist, presenter Fearne’s
has also penned perfectly placed to spot roles as director of Kalpana is a regular Happy Place podcast
four books. And the trends based on Charlie Luxton guest on TV and is now in its 17th
her new house is what we’re all searching Design, TV presenter radio, and editor of season, with over
keeping her busy! for on Pinterest. and public speaker. themoneyedit.com. 40 million downloads.
THE HOME OF GREAT IDEAS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

DISCOVER
INSPIRATION AND
ADVICE FOR YOUR
HOME WITH A
SUBSCRIPTION
TO BRITAIN’S
BESTSELLING
HOMES MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ON
PAGE 138 FOR
YOUR MONTHLY
INTERIORS FIX
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BE CANDLE SAFE Enjoy the special touch that candles add to your home; but take care to use them safely: Always place lit candles well
away from foliage, furniture, curtains and soft furnishings, and always out of draughts. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. Never
leave a burning candle unattended. Keep candles away from hair and clothing. Always place candles upright in suitable holders that can’t
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IH LOVES...
INSPIRE | INFORM | DISCOVER Decorative
oil bottles
Lila ceramic oil bottle,
£15, Oliver Bonas
W hat to do
this month...
READ You watched
the show, now grab
the book. Interior
Design Masters
(£22, Quadrille) is
packed with invaluable
advice, tips and
techniques on how to
make the most of your living space and
decorate your home. From creating a
mood board, to the best layouts for each
room, plus colour, lighting and flooring
advice, this is the handbook you need to
create a home you’ll love.
LISTEN Discussing
frankly the highs, lows
Hand-embellished and sheer chaos of
prints, £680 set of modern parenting,
four, or £200 each, the comedic duo
Cleo Barbour
Rob Beckett and Josh
Widdicombe will have you in stitches as
you listen to their popular podcast,
Parenting Hell. Celeb parents join the
SPOTLIGHT ON
Cleo Barbour
banter too, talking about all the things
antenatal classes don’t prepare you for.
DO Create a spring arrangement for

English artist and former shoe designer Cleo creates vibrant, graphic your dining, coffee or hall table.
artwork that brings positivity to the space it inhabits. We’re loving her Daffodils are plentiful in the garden now,
Art Deco-inspired pieces – combining mediums including photography, so transplant a few into a pot. To ensure
paintwork, digital illustration and geometry – that effortlessly complement your arrangement comes back next
any room. If you really want to ramp up the colour, check out her series of spring, clip off dead flowers and then
Miami-influenced travel prints in pastel hues, cleobarbour.com. the leaves when they have yellowed.

NEW & NOW
Wall painted in Pink Crystal

Beverly dead flat tumblers, £14 set
emulsion, £75 for of four, TK Maxx
2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Style
SAVER
IH LOVES
Jazz up a drinks
trolley, or your
breakfast table, with
these retro-inspired
glass tumblers
NEED TO KNOW
New paint finish

from Farrow & Ball
Following the launch of eleven new colours in 2022,
heritage paint brand Farrow & Ball is unveiling a new
paint finish, Dead Flat – its most-matt finish ever. At just
2% sheen, think eggshell but even more intense and
rich in pigment. It’s also a multi-surface paint, so use on
walls, ceilings, floors, woodwork and even radiators.
Drenching your space with colour will be a doddle.
STYLE STATEMENT
EASY
Wooden eggs,
£18 set of six,
EASTER
Layered Lounge
GLOW-UPS
We’re all for refreshing your
home for the season and with
the long Easter weekend in the
offing, these sweet hanging
wooden eggs are a chic and
sophisticated alternative to the
more, ahem, garish decs the
kids will want to display. Hang
from sprigs of blossom or
pussy willow, display under a
glass cloche or use as place
settings at the table. And
check out Layered Lounges’
other elegant Easter offerings.

NEW & NOW
WE KEEP SEEING
(anything but
boring) Beige
If you’re a frequenter of TikTok, you might recognise this
interiors trend as Vanilla Girl Aesthetic. We’ve noticed it has
somewhat of a Nineties feel to it, with neutrals firmly back
in business. Think beige, taupe, creamy latte and, dare we
say, magnolia. Mix in greenery and natural rattan or cane
for an easy, effortlessly calming, laid-back look you’ll love.
WE’RE FOLLOWING
@blossomingbirds
BEST DECORATING DECISION? I try
to choose colours that complement each
other and create a calming environment.
The kids’ room, however, is the exception,
as we let them choose the patterns and
colours they love, to have fun.
YOUR SECRET STYLING IDEA? I ensure
things serve a purpose, like pretty baskets
to tidy up toys, and use throws, candles
and lamps to create a relaxing mood –
much needed with such a busy family life.
Geometric bedspread, FAVOURITE CORNER OF YOUR
£100; Block-stitched
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

HOME? Our living room. It’s probably the
cushion in Natural,
£45; Carve cushion
smallest room, but it’s very cosy and there’s
in Caramel, £45, all nothing I love more than having everyone
John Lewis & Partners piled in with the stove lit.
AN ITEM THAT SPARKS JOY? Seasonal
flowers displayed around the house.
IH LOVES…
If your budget doesn’t

stretch to the Togo sofa
by Ligne Roset (nope,
ours neither) then this
Seventies-inspired
modular homage to it Babylon
makes a deliciously
two-seater sofa
in Mustard,
comfortable alternative.
£1,490, Sazy

NEW & NOW
I’m
available
as a
sofa, too
DESIGN
FOR LESS
High street heroes
THE DESIGN EDIT
Now and then, the high street comes up with something
so utterly fabulous, it looks as if it’s come from a designer
boutique. Here are some of our latest discoveries that will
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH
make your home look expensive without the big spend...

WHERE TO BUY 1 Harriet Bee Bodhi cotton indoor rug in Mango, £159.99, Wayfair 2 Vase Summer Floral
framed art print, from £14, Skudaboo 3 Koba rattan chair, £450, Habitat 4 Lemon cotton cushion cover, £75,
Broste Copenhagen 5 Bloom key tassel in Green, £60, Samuel & Sons

HAPPY HOME
home truths ‘My happy place

at home is in my
kitchen,’ says Mary
THE QUEEN OF CAKES GETS

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
WITH HER HOME
Cooking legend Mary Berry
lives in Henley, Oxfordshire
with her husband Paul and
two dogs Darcy and Freddy
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU
DO THE SECOND YOU WALK
THROUGH YOUR FRONT DOOR?
Tell the dogs to be quiet. If I’ve been
away, the first thing I do is go into
the garden and see what I can pick
to make the house home. There are
always flowers in the garden – we’ve
got some irises and they’re on the
kitchen table now. looking out for antique mugs. In my
English Garden Collection of
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIME tableware, I have mugs and jugs –
OF THE DAY AT HOME? At the where we do all the testing. People say they’re very simple and beautiful
end of the day, you know when my recipes work; it’s because they are china. From the very beginning, when
you’ve achieved what you’ve set out tried out until we’ve made them the signature range was produced, I
from your list, and the door closes. perfect for everybody else to make. wanted china which was very good
Six o’clock I think is about my quality, dishwasher proof, and also
favourite time; sitting down, WHAT’S ON YOUR BEDSIDE that you can heat, so you can have hot
perhaps having a drink and thinking TABLE? A clock, a picture of the plates – but a very simple design. I use
I’d better get on with some supper. children, my book of the moment. I’m it every day, particularly the dinner
reading Diary of a Modern Country plates, and I haven’t cracked any.
WHERE’S YOUR HAPPY PLACE Gardener by Tamsin Westhorpe.
AT HOME? I love my kitchen. We now WHAT’S YOUR HOME PET PEEVE?
live in Henley and the house is just WHAT’S YOUR HOME I don’t like to go to bed without a tidy
what we want. We have a main family ADDICTION? I can’t resist buying kitchen, because I can’t bear coming
“
kitchen, then we have a little kitchen jugs to put flowers in, and I’m always down in the morning to mess.
I love the scent of a good rose,

WHAT SMELL SAYS ‘HOME’ TO
YOU? I love the scent of a good rose,
”
and I love the smell of melting
such as Chandos Beauty, which has
beautiful peachy-apricot blooms.
butter for an omelette!

And I love the smell of melting
butter for an omelette!

HAPPY HOME
Mary enjoying
a bracing walk
along Charmouth
beach in Dorset
“
IN THE
HOT SEAT W hen I’m hosting,
Shoes – on or off in the
it’s important to spend time
”
with my guests, so I have
house? Definitely on.
Eat at the table or on
everything ready
laps? At the table.
Lighting – are your
rooms usually bright or
moodily lit? Bright if I
want to read. If we’re
relaxing, a little bit lower.
Quick shower or long flowers in the house. I try to have ahead, everything was done before
bath? I love a bath. some in the garden all year round. I do they walked through the door. It’s
Room décor – colourful like to have something to pick. important to spend time with your
or neutral? Fairly neutral.
guests and if you have prepared things
Are you a neat freak or WHAT CHORE DO YOU HATE well, and maybe you’ve frozen the
are you surrounded by
creative chaos? I like to DOING? Making up a bed from food if it’s suitable, or cooked it the
be tidy. But I do have scratch. I find it frightfully boring! day before or earlier in the day. Then
drawers that are a mess. I learnt my hospital corners early on, you can enjoy your guests.
BBC/SIDNEY STREET/ENDEMOL SHINE UK/JAMES PARDON, GEORGIA GLYNN-SMITH
Do you have music/ and I don’t like doing it anymore. FEATURE REBECCA KNIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS PA IMAGES, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO,
radio/TV on or do you WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE
prefer peace and quiet? DO YOU HAVE ANY ROUTINES AT TIME AT HOME ON YOUR OWN?
I love peace. HOME? Every morning I get up and I’m more than likely, if it’s a nice day,
I make a fruit salad for breakfast. I to be out in the garden, or if I’m on my
have done it every single day of my own I’m very likely to think ‘oh I’ll do
life. Then we walk the dogs. a bit of batch cooking for another day’.
DO YOU HAVE A BAD HOME
HABIT YOU’D LIKE TO QUIT? I like DO YOU THINK YOU’RE A GOOD WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST
everything back in its place – I think HOST? I hope I’m a good host. To me, ABOUT HOME WHEN YOU’RE
that must infuriate people. I’ve got a the secret of being a good host is to AWAY? The dogs. We don’t take them
lot of hooks near the cooker and there have done a bit of organising with us. We have two: Darcy, named
are sieves on one, a ladle on another beforehand. If you’re having a few after Darcy Bussell, and Freddy, her
and everything has to be put back in people round for drinks, it’s essential son. They’re lovely to come home to.
its place, so I know where it is. to have everything ready and prepared
so you’re not spending all the time in
n Mary Berry’s latest tableware
WHAT CHORE DO YOU LOVE the kitchen. I had all my children and collection is available to buy from Harts
DOING? I don’t call it a chore, but grandchildren round on Monday and I of Stur (hartsofstur.com). Watch Mary
something I enjoy is always having made three curries. It was all cooked Berry Cook & Share on BBC iPlayer

| EDITOR'S CHOICE |
Dustpan
and brush
set, £4.99,
Homesense
UNDER
Hexagonal
spice jar rack,
£15, John Lewis
& Partners
£20
Everyone loves a bargain –
Clear small
storage
container, £4,
Primark
and our editor Heather Home
has hand-picked her fave

savvy buys for this month
Small stacked vase

in Light Blue, £16,
Rose & Grey
Scented candles, £12 for
two; Green textured
vase, £12; White ribbed
lozenge vase, £12;
Ceramic reed diffuser, Faux bonsai
£14 for two; Pillar candle, tree, £20, Next
£11.25 for three,
all George Home
Cotton canvas
cushion
cover, £3.99,
H&M Home
Dalloway Dash Gingham floor

plant pot, £12.50, cushion in Blue,
Oliver Bonas £9.99, Homescapes

NEW & NOW
Style
SAVER
Happy Place
cushion, £10, Wooden tray
B&M with foldable
legs, £11, Wilko
Ceramic plant pots,

£10 for three; Bee
planter, £5; Wreath,
£12; Woven solar
lights, from £10;
Cushions, from
£8 each; Picnic
fleece blanket,
Inlight Lucia £8, all B&M
Ochre pendant,
£15, B&Q
Premier Housewares
pastel utensils,
£11.82 set of five,
Amazon
Vintage-style
glass dinner
plate in Green,
£19, Rockett Cleaning tin in
St George Pebble, £10,
Dunelm
Recycled plastic
tall rattan basket,
£18, Dunelm
Blue cake plate, £14.99,

Homesense Watinc Pastel
crates, £15.99 for
four, Amazon
Terrain ribbed
mug, £4.50,
Matalan

EXPLORE | EXCITE | INSPIRE
IDEAL IDEA
Floating desk
Can’t find a shelf, dressing
table or desk the right width
or shape for an alcove?
Hire a joiner (or have a
go yourself, if you have
the skills) to create a
made-to-measure design.
Add extra depth by painting,
wallpapering or hanging
panelling on the wall behind.
HEATHER YOUNG,
EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPH LISA COHEN/LIVING INSIDE

| FAMILY HOME |
SCANDI
NAT WHEELER
APPLIED HER
PASSION FOR
NORDIC STYLE TO A
RUN-DOWN PERIOD
BUNGALOW

IDEAL HOMES
WOOD PANELLING
Tongue and groove is
easy to install, bringing
warmth and texture
“
It’s all in the
DETAIL - add
layers, TEXTURES,
artwork and
TREASURED
possessions that
make your heart
sing and turn your
house into a HOME
Living area
‘Once a warren of small rooms,
this area has been opened up
into one airy space with access
to the garden.’
”
NAT WHEELER,
OWNER
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Figura side table, £439, Swoon,
would work in this space. Sherpa
rug by Armadillo, from £2,055,
Another Country

N
at Wheeler and her husband Dan found
this classic bungalow just a block away from
their previous home in a leafy suburb of
Melbourne in Australia. Within weeks of
taking ownership, the couple threw caution
to the wind and embarked on a fast-paced
five-month renovation, using the original footprint of the
property. In the process, they have transformed what was
once an ‘unliveable’ house into a calm and tranquil
Scandi-inspired home.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS HOUSE?

‘We were craving more space, a large garden - and another
renovation project, because we love to restore buildings
whose charms have faded. Renovation is my passion. I lie
awake at night dreaming of everything from lights to
HOME NOTES linens, and come the morning, I can’t wait to roll up my
sleeves and get started.’
WHO LIVES HERE?
Nat Wheeler, who runs WHAT WORK DID YOU DO?
homeware and interior ‘Our plans focused on reimagining the internal layout and
design brand Norsu Home our objective was to create a sightline from the front of the
(norsuhome.com.au), lives property through to the back, so that the eye is drawn
here with her husband from the hall to the rear garden, without interruption. It’s
Dan and their children
not all about having a big house – what is more important
Annabel and Harvey
is that every space flows. We removed several internal
THE PROPERTY walls, creating a wider hall leading onto a large, open-
A three-bedroom Californian- plan living space, which incorporates a kitchen, dining
style bungalow built in 1925 in area and living room. Knocking two rooms into one
the suburbs of Melbourne. resulted in a big bathroom with space for a freestanding
bath. And the property also gained internal height from
an unusual source. We found false ceilings in three of the
rooms. Removing them opened up the space to the roof.’
THE LAYOUT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

‘I used a palette of pastel pinks and calming greys with
The wide hallway leads to an open-plan living space, where marble and brass accents to decorate. We like to think
you can find the kitchen, dining area and living room. At the that we’ve given the bungalow a new lease of life.
rear of the living area, the kitchen has an L-shaped counter.
There’s also a large bathroom, utility, playroom and three
We’ve combined soft colours with texture, art and just
bedrooms in the bungalow. a little sprinkling of glamour to create a family home
that now truly feels like ours.’
HAVE YOU FINISHED ALL THE WORK?

‘Some call us crazy – and they’d be correct – but, believe
BEDROOM BEDROOM
KITCHEN it or not, we’re about to do it again but on a much larger
scale. Our five-year plan was always
to extend this property and now our
family needs have changed so we feel
the time is right. Our children,
Annabel and Harvey, are growing up
LIVING/
DINING and we are in desperate need for
ROOM
space and more than one bathroom.
BEDROOM
PLAYROOM I have to confess, I’m also interior-
obsessed and I definitely have the
renovating bug again!’

IDEAL HOMES
“
Living area
‘We painted tongue-and-
groove panelling in a pretty
Linen sheers CALM and shade of grey. It makes an ideal

backdrop to our collection
SOFTEN every room. They are

of framed prints.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
hung from ceiling to floor and For similar framed artwork, try
Desenio. Blossom coffee table,
give the ILLUSION of height
”
£161.50, Maisons du Monde, has
a similar shape to this one

It’s not all about having a
BIG HOUSE – what is more
“
important is ensuring that
”
every space FLOWS
Dining area
‘I introduced fluid shapes,
pastel hues and natural textures
for a chic look in this space.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
For a similar wall paint, try Chic
Shadow flat matt emulsion, £32
for 5ltr, Dulux. Corrine carver
dining chairs in grey, £119 each,
Dunelm, have this look. For a
similar dining table, try Dolmen
round matt concrete table, £811,
Maisons du Monde

IDEAL HOMES
Kitchen
‘We sealed off a door to the
garden to make an L-shaped
space with generous worktops.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Metod/Lerhyttan kitchen,
from £1,250, Ikea, is similar. Try
East Haven wall tiles, £179.92sq m,
Claybrook. Clearwater’s
Elara mixer tap, £169.99, Tap
Warehouse, is comparable.
Long John 3 pendant lamp, £774,
Maison Flâneur
‘As in the kitchen,

FOCUS ON brass accents up
WALL CLADDING the glamour in the
utility room’
Nat’s Scandi-style panelling has given her bungalow plenty
of texture. Here’s how to get the look…
CHOOSE A STYLE MEASURE UP

Adding panelling to walls is an Be sure to buy extra for corners
easy way to transform a room or and any fiddly areas, and choose
create a feature wall on a budget. a moisture-resistant MDF board
From Shaker-style squares to if you’re installing it in a
more of a traditional log-cabin potentially damp area such as a
feel achieved using tongue-and- bathroom. It’s perfect for boxing
groove vertical panels, it adds in unsightly pipes or hiding
architectural detail to an damaged walls without the need
otherwise shapeless room. to replaster. Ready-primed
options make the painting and
TRY A KIT finishing even easier.
Suitable even for DIY beginners,
ready-made sheets of cladding VISUAL TRICK
are available from hardware Nat’s used vertical wall cladding
stores and can be installed to make the low ceilings in her
using strong glue or a nail gun. living room appear taller. Try
Expect to pay around £30 for fitting it in the same direction as
an MDF sheet. you wish to stretch the space.

Playroom
‘All the artwork in this room
is by Australian artist and
illustrator Emma Labattaglia.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Pax and Art Pixie art print,
£40, Little Baby Co. Nofred
Mouse chair, £144, Skandium.
For a similar paint colour, try
Ammonite modern emulsion,
£59 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For
a comparable two-seater sofa,
try Matilda, £269, Dunelm
CHILDREN’S
GALLERY
WALL
Mix framed
pictures and
artwork with books
on shelving for
a fun wall display
in a playroom or
bedroom

“
IDEAL HOMES
Knocking TWO
rooms into ONE
resulted in a big
bathroom with
space for a
”
FREESTANDING bath
Annabel’s
bedroom
‘We added original art, favourite
furniture pieces and a dedicated
space for reading and play to
ensure that this scheme will
evolve easily as Bel grows up.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Bathroom
Walls painted in Mornington Half,
£20 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Juju Feather
‘We took down a dividing wall wall decal, £19, Nübie Kids, is similar
here to accommodate a bath and to the round wall hanging (left)
chose a palette of pinks, greys
and warm oak.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Antique Marble tiles, £69sq m,
Porcelain Superstore, have this
look. Try Mode Orion countertop
basins, £88.99 each, Victoria Plum.
Crosswater Belgravia MPRO
wall-mounted taps, £292.30 each,
Victorian Plumbing, are similar
Try Woven
cane-backed
armchair, £955,
The Farthing

Harvey's bedroom
‘A soft colour palette and mid-
century inspired furniture work
well in Harvey’s room and add a
Nordic feel, which I love.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
For a similar wall paint, try Graceful
Green matt emulsion, £25 for 2.5ltr,
Dulux. For a similar mango wood
cupboard, try HK Living cupboard
in Pebble, £1,195, Folk Interiors.
Ferm Living’s Cloud lamp, £65.39,
Nordic Nest, would work as an
alternative. For a similar bed, try
Slakt extendable bed, £139, Ikea
‘As with Bel’s room,

the scheme we
used in Harvey’s
will grow with him’
PHOTOGRAPHS LISA COHEN/LIVING INSIDE PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY

FEATURE EMMA J PAGE/ALI LOVETT
IDEAL HOMES
Main bedroom
‘Graphic accessories are
softened by a mix of textures
and pastel shades.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Noir semi-flush ceiling light, £119,
Lampsy, is comparable. Cebra Girl
print by Lola Donoghue; for a
similar look, try La Poire –
Reminiscing, £57.67, PSTR Studio.
For a similar bench, try Montreal
in velvet, £169, Dunelm
MACHINE
WASHABLE
FAMILY MUST-HAVES
Velvet cushion,
£15, M&S
INSPIRED BY NAT AND DAN’S HOME
NIGHT LIGHT
Cloud & Moon
children’s light,
£16.99, Lights4fun
STURDY
SHAPE
Montril side EXTRA
table in brass, SEATING
£249, Cult Tanso armchair,
Furniture £1,266, Nest

| STYLE HOUSE |
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE?

Kate Clare, founder of Loud
Architects, lives here with
her partner Gavin Sumner,
co-founder of Scalewise.com,
along with their one-year-old
baby, Wulfie.
THE PROPERTY
A five-bedroom Edwardian
terrace house in Wanstead.
MY STYLE KATE CLARE USES

HER CREATIVE
FLAIR TO FILL
HER EDWARDIAN
HOME WITH
COLOUR,
UNEXPECTED
FEATURES AND
STYLE SOLUTIONS
GALORE
IDEAL HOMES
“Our colour
choices follow
the light”
‘The library room is our adult haven
– Wulfie isn’t allowed in here much. I
say it has “gentleman’s smoking-room”
vibes. The room faces west so it gets
a beautiful ochre light in the evening
that bounces off the tobacco-coloured
walls. If I used the same colours in the
kitchen, which faces east, it wouldn’t
create the same warmth.’
WALL LAMP
The innovative design
BUY THE KEY PIECES creates a focal point and
Walls painted in Rufus, £56.50 for 2.5ltr, suits the elegant, adult
Paint & Paper Library. Serge Mouille feel of the library room
wall lamp, £244.50, Mobelaris. 1970
cushion, £185, Bella Freud
“The curtains
are the
starting point”
‘We extended and redesigned the
downstairs space when we moved in.
We’ve opted for one single door and
one double door leading from the
extension onto the garden and we’ve
hung gorgeous silhouette Pierre Frey
curtains, which were one of the first
things I bought for the house. The use
of linen and embroidery makes the
space feel more cosy.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Cabinets supplied by Handmade
Kitchens of Christchurch. CH24
Wishbone chairs, £481 each, Heal’s
IDEAL HOMES
“Our ceiling
is a fifth wall”
‘We painted the exposed beams in an
accent colour to bring flair to the living
area. I don’t think of pink as a particularly
feminine colour, I see it as unisex and
playful. It brings joy to our home. This
room would have been so different if
we’d gone for only neutral colours. That
being said, this won’t be our forever
home and we’ve designed with that in
mind. We can easily make changes like
painting over the more exciting colour
choices when it’s time to sell.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Ceiling beams painted in Passion Pink by
Johnstone’s, £15 for 2.5ltr, Home Flare
Decor. Walls painted in Sand IV, £56.50
for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Try Jivago
corner sofa, £1,275, Vivense London.
Paradise cushion, £22, Furn works here
BLACK ACCENTS
An elegant choice to add
depth to rooms with lots “Unusual
features add
of wood and neutral colours.
It contrasts beautifully
character”
with the white floor
‘We wanted to have fun with our design

and nothing says this better than a swing
in the kitchen! When we have people
round, we all gravitate towards the
kitchen island for drinks and inevitably
one person will always end up on the
swing. It was less than £100 and injects a
pop of personality. Plus, it is easy to take
down, which is important as we’ll be
swapping it for something baby-friendly.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Finn Hoop ceiling light, £350, John Lewis
& Partners. Try Lillagunga swing, £194,
Finnish Design Shop

“
I’m inspired by NATURE and
always start DESIGNING by seeing
where the SUN travels in the house
“A variety of
textures injects
warmth”
‘All the rooms incorporate different
textures and I think that’s what makes
the house feel inviting. In the kitchen,
we’ve got really hard surfaces, like
concrete and white chevron flooring.
We needed something playful to
balance it out, which is exactly what
the fluted finish to the kitchen island,
beautiful green cabinets and leather
bar stools have done.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Cabinets painted in Sage Green, £39.50
for 1ltr, Little Greene. Gibson bar stools,
£169 each, Where Saints Go. Columbus
pendant, £695, Graham and Green
IDEAL HOMES
“Pocket doors
transform
a nook”
‘Initially we planned to use this alcove
in the kitchen for laundry but changed
our minds. With a baby, the washing
machine would be on all the time, so
we banished it upstairs to eliminate the
constant noise and built a bar instead.
The pink interior and gold metallic
paint feel fun and glamorous and set
the tone for entertaining. Pocket doors
slide into the wall when the bar is
open and hide it away when needed.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Nook painted in Johnstone’s Passion
Pink, £15 for 2.5ltr, Home Flare Decor

“Colour links
the space”
‘We’ve used accent colours and pattern
in every room, which creates a sense
of flow as you move through the house.
In here, I’ve mostly decorated with
neutrals such as the limestone walls
and matching built-in wardrobes so
that the space feels relaxing. However,
I’ve accessorised with blue, pink,
orange and the bespoke jewel green
headboard. It’s a super stylish
centrepiece that creates a focal point.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Bespoke bed made by Sueno Beds.
Horse artwork by Tiff Landale
BUILT-IN
LIGHTING
The Flos lights save
space on bedside
tables and stop it
feeling cluttered
IDEAL HOMES
“Each floor
has its own
personality”
‘Splitting the house into sections was a
real help when it came to plan the design
and think about how we would use the
space. The middle floor has a luxe feel
compared to downstairs where we
entertain and upstairs where Gavin and I
have our studies. We knocked through a
wall to create a huge master bathroom
and reinforced the floor so it could hold
the bronze bath tub. It’s an investment
but feels so luxurious.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Walls painted in Whitehall, £61 for 2.5ltr,
Mylands. Conwy brass bath, £2,499,
London Encaustic. Sofia footstool,
£450, Soho Home
“Natural
textures create
warmth”
‘I was able to install wooden floors
without worrying about water damage
because our self-contained shower is a
step lower than the rest of the room. The
natural tones make the space feel inviting
and provide a softer counterpoint to the
marble. Plants are fantastic in a bathroom
as the humidity helps them thrive and
they boost your happiness levels.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Ceiling painted in Sage Green, £39.50 for
1ltr, Little Greene. Try Verde Marl honed
marble, £191.48sq m, Mandarin Stone. Try
Dione twisted ripple vase, £30, Aufora

IDEAL HOMES
STATEMENT
PIECE
Arely ceiling
MID-CENTURY light, £179, Cult
INSPIRED Furniture
Mid-century mirror,
£149, John Lewis
& Partners
COLOUR POP
Footstool, £39.99,
TK Maxx
STYLE
MUST HAVES
BE INSPIRED BY
KATE’S HOME
Style
SAVER PUNCHY
PATTERN
Floral bird
cushion,
£16, M&S
“Unexpected OVAL SHAPE
features pack
Lida bar trolley,
£345, Oliver
a punch”
Bonas
PHOTOGRAPHS ANNA STATHAKI STYLING MARY WEAVER
‘I’m a fan of making a statement, especially in

FEATURE GEORGIE RODGERS, JULIET BENNING
smaller spaces where you wouldn’t expect it.

I’ve paired a colourful basin with a green resin
shelf and decorated with patterned wallpaper
to make the downstairs loo memorable. There
was no way of getting natural light into this
room until we built a small internal window that SLEEK
CURVES
lets in plenty of light from the kitchen skylight.’ Theodore
BUY THE KEY PIECES armchair, £895,
Yasmin basin, £899, London Basin Company. Soho Home
Mars Meadow 01 wallpaper, £125 a roll, Lick. Try
Orman round wall mirror, £59, Cult Furniture

| FAMILY HOME |
A FRESH
A BRAVE MOVE FROM LONDON AND CONSIDERED

RENOVATION HAVE GIVEN JANE McCARTHY AND
HER HUSBAND JOHNNY A NEW LEASE OF LIFE IN
THEIR BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED DORSET HOME
Kitchen/dining
area
‘This space is so uplifting now,’
says Jane. ‘The full-height glazed
doors fill the space with light and
create a seamless link between
the interior and exterior.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Normann Copenhagen slice oak
dining table, £2,170, Heal’s. Uley
dining chairs in Natural Ash, £200
each, Garden Trading. HK Living
retro cabinet, £1,095, Mad Atelier

IDEAL HOMES
“
The new
downstairs
LAYOUT works
so well for us as a
FAMILY – we spend
most of our days in
the kitchen/dining
area and living
room – where
we can all be
TOGETHER but still
find a quiet corner!
”
LARGE DINING
TABLE
Sourcing furniture
that works with the
scale of your room
creates spatial
harmony JANE McCARTHY,
HOMEOWNER

L
eaving behind their lives in London wasn’t
an easy choice for Jane McCarthy and her
husband Johnny, but a move to the Jurassic
coast in Dorset gave them the opportunity to
do a dream renovation, start an interior design
business and restore balance to their lives.
WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS PROPERTY?

‘The location. Nestled in a picture-postcard village, and
only a short walk to breathtaking coastline, the cottage
was everything we had envisaged leaving London for.
Although surrounded by generous, mature gardens, the
cottage itself was a warren of small rooms and felt dark
and dingy. Johnny didn’t even think it was an option after
HOME NOTES our first viewing, but I could see that it had potential.’
WHO LIVES HERE? WHAT RENOVATION WORK HAVE YOU DONE?

Jane McCarthy, an interior ‘Since moving in, in 2018, we pretty much took the whole
designer, and founder of Salt house back to brick. Upstairs the layout stayed the same,
Haven Ltd, lives here with her but every room was replastered, redecorated and windows
husband Johnny, a program and bathrooms replaced. Downstairs, walls were knocked
manager, their two boys down between the kitchen, dining room and living room
Rufus, six, Gabriel, two, and
to create two large light-filled rooms, and a side extension
Buddy the tabby cat.
built for the kitchen where a timber-framed garden room
PROPERTY INFO had been. A small, larch-clad extension was added to the
A four-bedroom Georgian- back for a utility area. Connecting with the outside and
style cottage built in the bringing plenty of light into the cottage was achieved by
late 1960s in West Dorset. fitting glazed internal and external doors, large picture
Bought in 2018. windows and roof lights wherever we could. Finally,
Johnny landscaped the garden, adding a large patio for
seating and an alfresco dining area, giving a real sense of
completion – the garden was the missing piece.’
THE LAYOUT WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
The long entrance hall leads straight ahead to a ‘Reconfiguring the downstairs rooms to create more flow,
downstairs loo and small larch-clad extension,
while keeping the changes seamless, involved a lot of
home to the utility and boot room areas. The living
room is accessed to the left and leads through expensive structural work. The extra costs meant we had
double doors to the dining and kitchen areas. to rethink other areas, like cutting back on the cost of the
Upstairs is home to the family’s four bedrooms, two new kitchen, but these felt like worthwhile compromises.’
with en suites, and one main bathroom.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE RENOVATIONS?
‘The cottage has been completely transformed and given a
UTILITY/
BOOT new lease of life. There’s an
ROOM
abundance of natural light, even on
BEDROOM
the darkest days, and the layout
downstairs has changed how we
use the space as a family - we feel
completely connected, even if we
are in separate areas doing different
KITCHEN
DINING
ROOM
LIVING
ROOM things. The renovation has allowed
MAIN
BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM
me to hone my skills as an interior
designer and inspired me to start
my own business, Salt Haven Ltd.
I’m proud of the way it reflects my
GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR love of quality and timeless style.’

IDEAL HOMES
“
I wanted this house to showcase my
core values – sensitive renovation,
”
TIMELESS style and LONGEVITY
Dining area
The vintage cupboard has been
painted in a muted, earthy
green, tying in with the natural
elements within the room.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Vintage wardrobe painted in Dark
Olive Aura interior eggshell, £37
for 1ltr, Benjamin Moore. Try the
Original BTC Cobb ceiling lights,
£325 each, John Lewis & Partners

Kitchen
‘With a dwindling budget we
chose Howdens cabinets and
had doors and frames made to
my specification by a local
joiner, but invested in marble
worktops for a touch of luxury.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Cabinets painted in Wevet The new kitchen, built into ‘We have added tongue
modern eggshell, £81 for 2.5ltr, a small side extension, has a and groove panelling to
Farrow & Ball. Carrara marble
“
large walk-in pantry, home stop the walls feeling
worktops, price on request, to a run of tall cupboards flat. It is also a nod to
Cotswold Marble & Granite and open shelving our coastal location’
Once I knew the

KITCHEN needed
to MOVE to the
other side of the
house, everything
else FLOWED and
”
made sense

IDEAL HOMES
Kitchen
‘Having a sunny kitchen was
important to me. I loved the
glazed roof in the original
garden room, which inspired
me to design the large skylight
– it’s also a little bit different!’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Edit 2 handwoven rush runner,
180x90cm, £80, Edit 58. Mogg
Sbagliato bar stool, £410 each,
Go Modern. Diderot cone wall
light, €485, Lu’mart
SKYLIGHTS
A great way of
flooding the space
with natural light and
warmth from the sun

“
I really admire the SCANDINAVIAN ethos
to invest in QUALITY and how they make
”
living in their homes an EXPERIENCE in itself
Living room
‘I wanted a modern country look
with Scandinavian influences,
such as pale wood floors and
pared-back décor, pepped up
with industrial touches in the
steel doors and radiators.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Squishbag armchairs in Natural
Linen, £875 each, Loaf. Large
braided jute rug, £575, The White
Company. Pouffe reupholstered in
Harbour Stripe cotton fabric in
Black, £75m, Tori Murphy
IDEAL HOMES
FOCUS ON
PICTURE WINDOWS
Gaze upon a beautiful view through a framed aperture
WHAT ARE PICTURE more energy efficient than

WINDOWS? windows that do.
Picture windows are large
panes of structural glass that WHERE CAN THEY
are fitted in external walls of BE USED?
your home and create an Due to their robust
unobstructed, framed view construction, there aren’t
of an exterior space. really restrictions on the
size or shape of the window
WHAT ARE THE (aside from budget) and
BENEFITS? they can be installed in
They create a striking hard-to-reach places. The
architectural feature and simplicity of the design also
are also a great source of means they’re well suited
natural light. Also, because to both traditional and
they are fixed and do not contemporary properties
usually open, they are much and can work in any room.
Dining area
Glazed steel double doors separate
the kitchen and dining area
from the living room, but still allow
light to circulate throughout the
downstairs area. ‘We love the look
and the graphic element it adds.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Blackened steel standard double
doors, £3,131, British Standard. Walls
painted in Ammonite estate emulsion,
£54.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Living room
‘The north-facing aspect meant
we could have a large picture
window and seat to enjoy the view
of the garden, without worrying
about it getting too hot in the
height of summer,’ says Jane.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Large rattan table lamp in Natural
Cane, £127, Pooky

Nursery
The nursery has a Scandi feel
with calming colours, stripes and
natural textures. ‘I chose Farrow &
Ball’s Pigeon for the woodwork to
complement the neutral striped
wallpaper, with touches of subdued
red in the soft furnishings.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Josef Chierowski rocking chair in
Marble Creme and Light Oak, £995,
Rose & Grey. Anyday Elementary cot,
£129, John Lewis & Partners
Bathroom
‘It’s not the biggest room so I kept
the colour palette and tiles simple,’
says Jane. ‘We spent the budget
on nice taps and hardware, and
tucked the loo out of the way to
maximise the feeling of space.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Semaphore tiles in Victory, £39sq m,
Claybrook. Crossover wall hung
vanity unit in Windsor Grey with cast
iron mineral basin, £753, Drench. Milan
small round mirror in Black, £69, M&S
Layer up a neutral
scheme with
colour, texture
and textiles
FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES FRENCH
PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY
IDEAL HOMES
Main bedroom
‘The double aspect windows to
the south and west means this
room gets lovely evening light.
Simple panelling adds interest.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Superking Antoinette bed in
Natural Linen, £1,595, Loaf.
Long bed cushion made from
Annie Sloan ticking fabric
in Olive, £34.95m
READING
TIME FAMILY MUST-HAVES COMFY
Task wall light
in Black, £455, INSPIRED BY JANE AND JOHNNY’S HOME SEATING
Squishbag
Original BTC
armchair in
Natural Linen,
£875, Loaf
SIMPLE STORAGE MACHINE

Bembridge storage WASHABLE
baskets, £37.50 for two, Breton woven stripe
Garden Trading cushion, £55,
French Bedroom

| IDEAS HOME |
Daylight spills into

the hallway, which
features some of
the only pattern in
the house, a grey and
white chequerboard
floor, painted by
Janet and Dino
LET THERE
WHEN JANET PARRELLA-VAN DEN BERG AND DINO
PARRELLA ACQUIRED A GLOOMY AND DECREPIT
GEORGIAN RECTORY, THEIR REMEDY FOR RESTORATION
WAS WHITE, BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

IDEAL HOMES
COVERED Living room

LIGHT FLEX An antique Swedish Mora clock
Wrap less-than- brings a cool Scandinavian
lovely light flexes in design touch to the space.
white linen strips
for a softer effect BUY THE KEY PIECES
For a similar antique Swedish
Mora clock, try 1st Dibs.
Home-spun cushions, from £39,
White & Faded. Big Shadow floor
lamp, from £948, Aram. For a
similar chandelier, try Marie
Therese crystal pendant, £1,250,
The Lighting Superstore
h
aving lived in a Victorian townhouse in
Esher, Janet and Dino were longing for a
quieter home, with outbuildings, in the
country. The quirkiness, split levels and its
setting within beautiful gardens made this
historic house the one they couldn’t resist.
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE PROPERTY?

‘We loved the large, open spaces and the fact you have to
go down to the dining room from the reception room and
then up to the kitchen. In total we have six floor levels!’
WHAT WORK HAVE YOU DONE?

‘When we bought the property five years ago it was
gloomy and old-fashioned – dark green walls, dark red
walls, dark wood everywhere. The day after we moved in,
HOME NOTES we had it painted white, top to toe, creating a light, blank
canvas. Then we opened up all the bricked-up fireplaces
WHO LIVES HERE? and fitted reclaimed wooden floors where the original
Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg floors had been damaged by rot and woodworm, before
and Dino Parrella, who own working our way through the rest of the house.’
interiors brand White &
Faded (whiteandfaded.co.uk) WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
and two of their five children. ‘The kitchen, originally the coach house, was the biggest
THE PROPERTY renovation. When the ceilings were opened up, beautiful
A four-bedroom Georgian original timber beams were exposed. We use the roof void
rectory built in 1767 with above them to store our antique French harvest baskets.
Victorian extensions, in Kent, Fitting double French doors found at a reclamation yard
purchased in 2017. allows a huge amount of natural light into the space.’
WHAT’S YOUR STYLE APPROACH TO INTERIORS?

‘As co-founders of White & Faded, Dino and I specialise in
THE LAYOUT sourcing and restoring antique pieces of furniture from
across Europe. We apply our look to everything in the
The ground floor has an entrance hall, house, from stonewashed linen textiles to hand-thrown
living room, kitchen/dining room and
pottery, mixing in a few 20th-century design classics.’
Janet’s study. On the first floor is the main
bedroom with en-suite bathroom and
dressing room. Upstairs again, the second WHAT LESSONS CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT
floor has three bedrooms, a bathroom, RESTORING HISTORICAL SPACES?
en suites and a studio space. ‘An old house like this comes with beauty, but also with
hidden challenges, so renovations may take
DRESSING
double the time and budget originally
STUDY BEDROOM
LIVING
ROOM
envisioned. Previous upgrades such as lowered
ROOM HALL ceilings, partition walls and shoddy extensions
are often no longer fit for purpose, in which
case it’s best to rip them out and start again.
STUDY
MAIN
BEDROOM BEDROOM WHAT ONE DESIGN ELEMENT DO YOU
DINING
ROOM
BEDROOM
FIND TIMELESS?
‘The colour white! In my book White & Faded:
Restoring Beauty in Your Home and Life
KITCHEN
SECOND FLOOR (Thomas Nelson; published 29 August 2023,
EN
SUITE available to pre-order) I share tips on using
white in all styles of interiors. Truly, a white
GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR space never gets tired, it’s incredibly adaptive.’

IDEAL HOMES
Dining room
‘I love pairing modern design
classics like the organically
shaped Verner Panton chairs
with my beloved antiques. The
table was designed by me and
made by Dino,’ says Janet.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Panton chairs, £299 each,
The Conran Shop. Similar
pendant, Raphael chandelier,
£954, Dar Lighting
DISPLAY
SHELVES
Tall, skinny shelving
either side of a
window is a smart
way to show off
books and objects
Home office
Designer classics introduce
modernity to the stunning
architectural features such as
this impressive arched window.
A deep-pile rug adds warmth
underfoot and brings texture
to bare floorboards.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Barcelona daybed, £1,350,
Mobelaris. Zettel’z 5 pendant
lamp, £713, Connox, is similar
DECORATIVE
MIRROR
If a wall needs
something, but
a painting is too
colourful or
dominant, a mirror
is the answer
IDEAL HOMES
“
Our FURNITURE is
often for sale and once
it’s gone we REPLACE
it with another
”
LOVELY PIECE

Kitchen
Janet and Dino ripped out
everything but the Aga,
revealing hidden beams that
have now become architectural
features. They then lined the
room with wood panelling.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Baskets, £39 each, White &
Faded. Neeley barstools,
£99.99 each, Wayfair
IDEAL HOMES
FOCUS ON
LIVING WITH WHITE
Check out our tips on this most versatile shade, which
will instantly brighten while evoking a sense of calm
TEST FIRST considered it’s important to
Paint colour swatches in situ mix and match patterns,
to see how they appear in albeit neutral ones.
different light throughout the
day. South-facing rooms can ADD TEXTURE
take cooler whites, with their White is best when combined
undertones of blue or green, with texture to avoid a flat,
but warmer whites, with red one-dimensional feel. Adding
or yellow tones, work better texture through rugs and soft
for darker, north-facing rooms. furnishings creates an
inviting, cosy aesthetic.
LEARN TO LAYER
Layering off-whites against a LIGHTEN UP
white foundation creates a Good quality, layered lighting
palette of pale and muted is your best friend in a white
colour. Think beige, pale room. To counteract the
pinks and creams on top of starkness of white walls,
your base to alleviate white’s lights from varying sources
coolness. To make a white help bounce light around the
palette feel designed and room and create a warm vibe.
Kitchen
‘We like to take time to embrace
the ritual of pouring coffee
and enjoying that moment of
downtime,’ says Janet.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Artisan Collection mugs, £25 each,
White & Faded
Kitchen FABRIC
‘Timber, whether it’s in the form of SKIRTING
vintage furniture, contemporary An inexpensive
and pretty
flooring or exposed beams, is a
solution to
favourite material of ours,’ says concealing less
Janet. ‘It adds so much warmth attractive pots
and texture to white.’ and pans
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Similar flooring, Galleria engineered
European rustic flooring, £59.99sq m,
UK Flooring Direct. Crystal
chandelier by Timothy Oulton,
£1,895, Heal’s, is similar

“
Our BEDROOM gives me the
HAPPIEST FEELING. It’s south
facing and the SUNLIGHT
Main bedroom
‘We fitted a freestanding bath
in our bedroom to give it a
luxury hotel-room feel. There’s
lots of texture here too, to
ensure a warm, cosy feel.’
”
makes it SO MAGICAL
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Similar rug, Flokati rug, £695, The
White Company. Jute pouffe, £80,
John Lewis & Partners, is a match
ANTIQUE
FITTINGS
Purely ornamental,
but an original
fitting like this
Swedish water
boiler, can add
drama to a corner
IDEAL HOMES
KEEPING
PUNCTUAL
Zuiver Humongous
MACHINE grandfather clock,
WASHABLE £479, Cuckooland
Abigail Ahern
Isla continental
pillowcase, £20,
Freemans
CLEVER
CLEAR-UPS
Seagrass basket,
£35, National Trust
STYLE
MUST-HAVES
INSPIRED BY JANET
& DINO’S HOME
REMOVABLE
COVERS
An antique
Egerton sofa in
cupboard is the
Feather Grey, £925,
perfect space filler
Sweetpea & Willow
in this corridor
FEATURE RUTH CORBETT PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES MERRELL PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY=
Style
REPOSITIONABLE LIGHT
Harchies Matt Black floor
light, £70, B&Q SAVER
ROOM FOR ALL

Knightsbridge reclaimed oak dining
table, £1,245, Modish Living

BEST
HOMES
2023
Win £1,000 in our

reader home awards!
It’s that time again when we begin our search for the UK’s best homes
and gardens – and we want to hear from you! It stands to reason that our
readers have gorgeous homes, so if you think yours might inspire others,
enter our Reader Homes Awards 2023. We’ll feature the winning spaces
in an issue of Ideal Home, and the winners will win a cash prize of £1,000!
THE CATEGORIES ENTER ONLINE
■ BEST HOME ■ BEST GARDEN idealhome.co.uk/homeawardsentry
■ BEST MAKEOVER You will need the following information ready
to complete your application:
WE WANT TO SEE
Period homes to smart new-builds
■
SHORT INTRO Write up to 300 words about the home,
■ Country houses to cosy cottages
garden or room you’re entering. Tell us about your space,
■ Conversions packed with character ■ Stunning
mentioning key elements, how you’ve transformed it, any
before and afters ■ Beautiful, traditional gardens clever hacks you’ve incorporated, where you’re located
to modern outdoor living spaces and if you worked with an interior designer or architect.
PHOTOS Minimum 10 photos per entry. HOME Please
THE PRIZES! include photos of the living room, kitchen, main bedroom,
Our winners will be announced in the
■ bathroom, guest room/study or children’s bedroom, and
November 2023 issue ■ The winners of each of exterior. GARDEN Show the main layout/structure
the three categories will win £1,000 and any key features. ROOM MAKEOVER Show us the
room from a variety of angles so we can get a really good
Closing date 30 April 2023 sense of the space and include a before shot.
for full terms & conditions please see the website

TRANSFORM | UPDATE | CREATE
IDEAL IDEA
Be inspired
by nature
Nature layers on pattern and
PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/POLLY WREFORD
colour so effortlessly, so try

the same in your own
scheme. Stick to a palette of
two to three colours – green,
blue, pink or yellow work
well – and mix in floral and
leaf prints in varying sizes.
The common theme ties
them all together perfectly.
HEATHER YOUNG,
EDITOR

| LOOKS THAT LAST |
FABRIC
Bellis fabric in
Blue Clay, £101m,
Sanderson
PAINT
Hopper Absolute
matt emulsion,
£54.50 for 2.5ltr,
Little Greene
WALLPAPER
Natural History
Museum Little
Botanize Palm
Green wallpaper,
£150 a roll,
Divine Savages
Take a leafy wallpaper to a

new dimension, with fresh
foliage styled in front,
along with shapely vases.
Sandberg Hassel wallpaper
in Green/White, £93 a roll,
Wallpaper Direct
FRESH
TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT HERE’S HOW TO
GIVE THIS LOOK TIMELESS APPEAL
ROOM DECOR
Wall painted in Card Room

Green estate emulsion,
£54.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow &
Ball. Sofia armchair in
“
Artichoke, £1,595, Ceraudo.
Large caned side table, £595,
STYLE DIRECTION Trove. Wall panel covered in
Sage green makes a

Designers Guild Fleur
Orientale fabric, £165m, Your
restful backdrop in a living

Stylish Home. For similar vase,
try the recycled round
vase, £15, Matalan
room. Pair with botanical
"
prints and a striped armchair
to bring nature home
GINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR
QUICK ART
Cover a sheet of MDF
or a large canvas with a
botanical-design fabric.
Place on a low-level
shelf, where the eye
naturally follows the
trailing foliage
upwards

“
STYLE DIRECTION
Bring the outside in with

a wallpaper mural. Look for
a ‘bottom-heavy’ design, that
"
feels as if the botanicals are
growing up your walls
HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR IN CHIEF
GREEN SCENE
Move your home
office desk so you
can appreciate the
scenery – both inside
and out
Bird and Bluebell

wallpaper mural in
Pea Green, £244 a
panel, Little Greene
ROOM DECOR
Wall, as before. Curtain, Baker Lifestyle

Sherborne ticking fabric, £59m, Jane
Clayton. Daybed fabric, Casidy in Green,
£66m, Jane Churchill. Campbell
Collection print in green (unframed),
£80, Glassette. The Rhombus
rug, £450, Birdie Fortescue
PATTERN MIX
Start with a hero botanical
fabric, then mix in patterns
like a stripe or geometric,
to keep the look smart
FIND MIX UP BE CREATIVE WORK

INSPIRATION PATTERNS WITH ART BOTANICALS
Head outside for a nature Stripes and checks Not ready to commit to a AROUND YOUR
walk. Pay attention to help to give botanical botanical wallpaper? HOME
how different shades of designs a fresh, modern There’s plenty of beautiful There isn’t a room that
green foliage combine twist. Try layering a artwork that can look fresh botanicals won’t
effortlessly, with a variety selection of striped great against a painted suit. It’s a great look for
of flowers happily cushions on a sofa green wall. Either hang bathrooms, adding a
growing side-by-side. This upholstered with a a group of prints from the serene, fresh vibe, while
is the look you are aiming botanical print, place a same collection in a adding calm comfort to
to achieve, layering fresh striped rug on the floor uniform manner, or create bedrooms. In living and
botanical fabrics, next to a floral wallpaper, a more random gallery dining spaces, botanical
wallpapers and or style botanical wall, loosely botanical- designs pair brilliantly
accessories to reflect cushions against a classic themed, for a more with natural wood and
nature at its finest. ticking-stripe duvet cover. eclectic style. neutral upholstery.

ROOM DECOR
Ideal Home Dappled Ferns

leaf green roller blind, from
£38.45, Blinds 2go. Try
i-Line freestanding acrylic
bath, from £1,995, Waters
of Ashbourne
FEATURE JENNIFER MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/POLLY WREFORD
NATURE’S VIEW
Add botanical pattern to a
neutral bathroom with a
simple roller blind. Choose
a design that echoes the
view outside

Wall painted in Card Room
Green Estate emulsion, £54.50
for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Cardigan
headboard, £699 plus fabric,
“
The Headboard Workshop;
upholstered in Hester Pink/Green
fabric, from £64.90m, Linwood. STYLE DIRECTION
This look loves frills,

Cascade wall light, from £545,
Fosbery Studio. Ruffle pillowcase
flounces and shapely designs

in Olive, from £160, Trove.
Sage Green velvet quilt with
printed reverse, from £279,
Graham & Green
– just work in a strong green
"
wall colour to tone down
a little of the chintz
LEAFY NUMBER
Combine botanicals with
stripes for a fresh twist.
Try adding an accent of
rose pink to sage green,
for a beautiful pairing
ROOM DECOR
Style
1 SAVER
2 I’m available
in over 100
more fabrics
The shortlist
3
HEADBOARDS
Treat your bed to a new
season glow up
WHERE TO BUY
1 Rubin rattan headboard, £249, Wayfair
2 Beddy-Byes headboard in Butter Drip Clever
Vintage linen, £1,055, Loaf 3 Dara mother of
pearl headboard, W157.5cm, £1,515, Sweetpea &
Willow 4 Mousa half moon headboard, from
£539, The Headboard Workshop 5 Cedak rattan
cane headboard, £299 for a king size,
La Redoute 6 Flora Dusty Pink velvet
headboard, £545, Oliver Bonas
ALL PRICES FOR A DOUBLE SIZE HEADBOARD UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED
5
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

ROOM DECOR
IDEAL vs GREAT DEAL

Blend pastels and tactile accents for a spring dining area
SPHERICAL SUGARY
DESIGN SHADES
ORGANIC Federico Heidi cluster
FEEL SHELL
pendant, pendant, SHAPED
Mallorca Sand £216, Där £189, M&S Scallop dinner
Beige dinner Lighting plate, £3.50,
plate, £18,
B&M
Rose & Grey
TACTILE ANTHRACITE
EVERLASTING BOUCLE ACCENT COLOUR POP
DISPLAY Austen dining Rayner dining Rainbow Brights
Ione dried flower chair in Bouclé chair in Ivory dried flower
bouquet, £42.50, Cream, £319, White £69, bouquet, £32,
Oliver Bonas Heal’s Cult Furniture Lisa Angel
STYLISH STORAGE CHIC CHEVRONS

Grand Fandangle in Anderson oak-effect
Light Oak, £1,245, Loaf sideboard, £450, Next
FRILLED TRIM MINTY FRESH

Raffia placemat, Circular ribbed
FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS
£21 set of two, placemat in Sage,

Talking Tables £3, Walton & Co
DELICATE DETAIL ETCHED FLORALS

Fern wine glasses, Exotic Floral wine
£82 set of six, Not glasses, £59 set of
onthehighstreet.com four, Emma Britton

| PROMOTIONAL FEATURE |
START WITH A SOFA...

FIND YOUR SOFA SOULMATE AT SOFA.COM AND USE IT AS THE MAIN
INSPIRATION WHEN DECORATING YOUR LIVING SPACE
Iggy sofa, from EDITOR’S PICKS

£1,115, sofa.com
SUPER SHAPES
Our editor-in-chief Heather Young
picks her top three sofa styles
TRADITIONAL LOOK
Snowdrop sofa, from
£1,065, sofa.com
TIMELESS CLASSIC
Bluebell sofa, from £1,115, sofa.com
MID-CENTURY DESIGN
Iggy sofa, from £1,115, sofa.com
M
aking your sofa the heart of room in your dominant colour, 30% in and candles and so on - sofa.com has
your living room scheme is a the secondary shade and 10% in an an extensive range of furniture and
no-brainer – it’s the biggest accent colour. Each sofa.com piece is accessories to help bring your scheme
piece of furniture in the room and handmade to order in a whole host of to life. So if you start by deciding on
the most used, so it’s the smartest colours making your style choices far your dream sofa, the rest of the
starting point when decorating. easier to make. Once you’ve decided on decorating puzzle will fall into place.
the style of sofa, plus any matching
CHOOSE YOUR CENTREPIECE armchairs and footstools, the fabric and
If your old sofa has seen better days it’s colour options are a huge consideration FOR MORE INFORMATION
worth upgrading to a new style. And too. Thankfully, every sofa from sofa.com To see the complete collection, find your
if budget is an issue, sofa.com offers comes in a wide range of sizes and in nearest showroom, request free swatches
finance plans that let you spread your over 100 fabrics, so you can tailor your or place an order, visit sofa.com
payments over six months up to four choice exactly as you wish.
FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI
years. Need help deciding? Visit one of

their showrooms – they also offer free BALANCE PATTERNS AND PLAINS
virtual and in-store design consultations. Decorate the wall behind the sofa in
either a contrasting or a paler,
PICK YOUR COLOUR SCHEME co-ordinating colour, so that your sofa
Try following the decorating 60-30-10 really stands out. Next, add a clutch of
rule for a steer. Decorate 60% of the cushions, plus rugs, tables, art, vases
Ways with
| CLEVER DECORATING |
alcoves
SIX CLEVER IDEAS TO TURN THESE AWKWARD
SPACES INTO STYLISH STORAGE SPOTS
Vintage toddler bed
painted in Light Blue
modern eggshell, £81 for
2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.
Mindra curtain, from
£88, Anthropologie. For
similar rug, try Rug
ON THE Couture. Rod, £23.82;
SHELF end sockets, £12.68 for
A picture ledge two, all Amazon
above the clothes
rail makes for
a perfect spot
to display
favourite books
and artwork
Hang a
clothes rail
There’s no need to splash
out on fitted storage for
the little one, simply slot in
a rail and turn your alcove
into a mini wardrobe.
Tuck in lidded boxes for
shoes, blankets and toys.
Give it a twist...
Use a floor-length curtain
as a clever hide-all solution
for across the alcove.
ROOM DECOR
Walls in Silt and Rolling Fog,

both intelligent matt
emulsion, £59.50 for 2.5ltr,
Little Greene. Kallax shelving
unit, £45; Knipsa baskets, £22
each; Lack shelves, £12 each,
all Ikea. Dip-dyed cushion
cover, £40, Juream Box at
Notonthehighstreet.com.
Try Scion Snowdrop bicycle
cushion, £36, Wayfair.
Scotty Dog print, £23.50,
Madebyhandonline.com.
Jute rug, £55, La Redoute
DIVIDING LINE
Neutral paint on the
lower wall adds warmth
to a light, airy space
Create a
reading nook
Lay a narrow bookcase on
its side to use as an alcove
bench with storage, and
top with a piece of fabric-
covered foam – perfect for
a quiet break-out zone
in a busy family space.
Give it a twist...
Swap wicker containers for
relaxed belly baskets, labelled
for each family member.

ROOM DECOR
Walls and shelves in Hunter

Dunn pure flat emulsion, £56.50
for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library.
Bespoke bookcase, price on
request, Daclus Woodworks.
Ariella Chevron desk, £595,
Graham & Green. Heather chair
in Forest Green, £109, Cult
Furniture. Nexus Octagon rug in
Petrol, from £509, Rugs Direct
PAINT CHEAT
SH
EE Build statement
shelving
T
Rolling Fog, Make book storage

intelligent matt more beautiful, but still
emulsion, £59.50 functional, by arranging
for 2.5ltr, Little cube box shelves
Greene Denim Drift
matt, £30.66 diagonally. The perfect
for 2.5ltr, solution for stowing a
Dulux vinyl collection, too.
Malachite matt Give it a twist...
emulsion, Paint the internal sections,
£37.82 for 2.5ltr, the back and the sides in
Ideal Home contrasting colours.
for Albany

Anyday Scandi 50cm mirror,
£50, John Lewis & Partners.
JWDA table lamp in
concrete/brass, £143,
Nordic Nest. Skagerak
Georg stool, £309, Skandium
LINK IT UP
Colour-match
woodwork,
walls and fitted
furniture for
a streamlined
effect
Squeeze in a
dressing table
A wall-hung floating
desk can double as a
vanity unit in a bedroom,
while a handy display
shelf, cleverly hung over
a circular mirror, gives
designer detail.
Give it a twist...
Have a bespoke frameless
mirror cut to size so that it fills
the whole alcove space.
For similar picture ledges try
Avnede in Black, from £6 each,
JYSK. Button sofa, from £3,500,
Designers Guild. For similar
hexagonal side table, try
Retreat, £84, Amara
ON DISPLAY
Measure your
tallest books
to create the
perfect distance
between the
shelves, before
fixing them
to the wall
Install picture
ledges
Turn coffee-table books
into art by displaying
them on picture ledges to
make a gallery space of
an alcove, changing them
with the seasons
and your décor.
Give it a twist...
Replace books with framed
artwork, family portraits
and postcard collections.
ROOM DECOR
ART ADDICT
Fill empty wall spaces
between units with
framed artwork
Walls in Flanders Blue

1829 chalky emulsion,
£42 for 2.5ltr, Craig &
Rose. Kolex bamboo
modular wall shelves,
from £89.95 for two;
desk and shelf, £104.95,
all Sklum. Vitra Eames
House Bird ornament,
£190, John Lewis &
Partners. Giant pencil
sharpener desk tidy, from
£29.95, The Letteroom
SIMON WHITMORE, TIM YOUNG, PAUL MASSEY, DAVIDE LOVATTI, ANNA STATHAKI
FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/
Add a no-frills EAT

SHEET
workspace CH
Mount simple modular M
L
shelving, filling the alcove

FI
with as much or as little as Ribbeck Oak

I VE
woodgrain-effect
you need. Stick to an oak, self-adhesive film,
Cortes Silver
A D HE S
black or white finish as a £10.50 for 2.1m

Marble sticky
neutral foundation x900mm, B&Q
vinyl, £9.44
for decorative details. for 2mx
Give it a twist... 670mm, Vinyl
Warehouse
Protect shelf surfaces and Dohi colourful
make a statement by covering terrazzo-effect
them with adhesive film. vinyl furniture
wrap, £34.99 for
2.6mx650mm ,
87 IDEALHOME.CO.UK
Restowrap
APRIL 2023
Lack wall shelves in
White, £10 each, Ikea.
Ballatta desk, £895; Ava
chair, £340, both Ercol.
Metal planter with
stand, £49.50, M&S
Modern Scandi
| ROOM RECIPE |
home office
THESE SIMPLE DESIGN INGREDIENTS ARE
ALL YOU NEED TO CREATE AN INSPIRING
YET STREAMLINED HOME OFFICE THAT
PROMOTES BOTH STYLE AND PRODUCTIVITY

ROOM DECOR
1 2
3
1. LUSH GREENERY
If you spend long days at your desk, you’ll benefit from
sharing your space with a selection of houseplants.
Whether you opt for fresh or faux, they’ll breathe new
life into your space, introduce moments of calm and
bring a sense of the outside in. Make use of the walls,
ceiling and floor: trailing plants look great hanging in
holders and wall-mounted pots are good for air plants.
For similar faux foliage, try a selection at Wyld Home
2. MEMO BOARD
Having a dedicated spot to pin postcards, colour
swatches, magazine clippings and anything else that
inspires you will create a go-to spot to focus on when
you hit a mind-blank. Opt for a wire style like this one,
or choose a simple fabric-covered canvas board and
use with pins, to keep your ideas in one safe place.
For a similar wire memo board, try Metal Farringdon
memo board, £38, Garden Trading
3. STYLISH DESK CHAIR

If your home office also doubles as your bedroom/
living room/dining room, then opt for a desk chair that
blends your working space with your living space
more seamlessly. This velvet-covered option on metal
castors will bring a little glamour to your day.
Pink velvet office chair, £285, Rose & Grey

4
4. SLEEK BLIND 5
A modern Scandi space won’t suit heavy curtains, but
if the option of shutters feels a little cold for the room,
then go for a sleek Roman blind instead. An oversized
pattern will bring a bit of character to your scheme,
but stay away from blowsy florals or childish spots.
Another option for achieving privacy is window film.
The modern equivalent to net curtains, you can opt for
frosted or even on-trend reeded films that allow
natural light in, but keep prying eyes out.
Roman blind in Tranquil Mineral, from £121 including
measuring and fitting, Calm Living range, Hillarys
5. STYLISH STORAGE
No doubt you’ll have all sorts of ‘life admin’ that needs
a place to be stored, as well as the kids’ old school
work, photo albums and back copies of your favourite
inspiring interiors magazines, so a storage locker in
a sunny shade like this one is a great solution.
Fern Middle double locker in Tickleweed, £299, Bisley
6. CURVED ARMCHAIR
Providing the ideal spot for taking screen breaks, a
comfy armchair will be your saviour after an afternoon
of Zoom calls. For a Scandi vibe, choose one with
curves, light wood legs and in a warm, pastel shade.
For a similar armchair, try Iceberg Scandinavian Pink
armchair, £406, Maisons du Monde

ROOM DECOR
“ Clearly zone your office

space with a colourful
rug, or even a block
of colour on the wall
“
behind your desk
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/CAROLYN BARBER,
DOMINIC BLACKMORE, SIMON WHITMORE, TIM YOUNG
NEED INSPIRATION? HEAD TO IDEALHOME.CO.UK FOR MORE HOME OFFICE IDEAS

create a
natural
habitat
HABITAT’S TOP DESIGNERS SHARE HOW THE
STORIES BEHIND EACH PRODUCT HELP THEM
PICK THE ONES THAT FIT IN STRAIGHT AWAY
SAMANTHA BARROWS
Habitat’s senior designer for trend,
print and pattern, on the crafts and
colours you can take into your home
How do you find inspiration for

your colour palettes?
For me at the moment, it’s all about
positive escapism – fun, happy,
expressive colours. I find that nature is
such a wonderful source of expression
to turn to, but I also think vintage
shops are a great place to find unusual
posters, art and architectural
drawings. I love adding unexpected Samantha in the
colours too, a flash of something Moore leather
bold – like Habitat’s emerald and armchair in Tan,
£700, Habitat
lilac combinations.
How do you bring different tones What’s the attraction of mixing

and textures together? old and new together?
I have a very eclectic taste, I love It really appeals to me when a vintage
those Icelandic, deeper, darker tones product has had more life experience
and luxe tones like marble and gold. than I have. I like to think about who
But it’s all about having a well- picked it up and held it, who treasured
balanced mix. For example, Habitat’s it? Being a designer is a bit like playing
mango wood range is beautiful detective. When you bring these
and versatile because it has a lovely magpie pieces into your home they
warm, rich grain to it. can make a statement. It’s important
to mix the best of the old and new –
How do you bring crafts into and people trust Habitat to evolve and
the finished piece? play with new ideas.
We often play with different
techniques, but one idea was to use a How do you carry your own
woodblock printing process in our style into your work?
dinner set. It leaves behind a lovely I would describe myself as a country
raised texture on the surface – and creative, and I love bringing the
while the pieces are great for dining outside in. I’ve become a pressed
and entertaining, they work well as flower lady at the moment, and I love
decorative items, too. It also inspired foraging for new ideas. We either scan
the pattern for our tufted cushion, with or sketch botanicals and use them for
its mix of textures and an oblong shape new patterns and prints. I love the idea
that works well on any bed or sofa. of hand drawing and hand crafting.
Betal two-seater Tom beside the Xylo
rattan sofa, £800; coffee table in Dark
Xylo solid wood nest Wood, £200; Hashi
of tables, £110 for tall table lamp, £80;
two; Zelda side table, Ceramic vase with
£70; Arch metal handles, £22, all Habitat
wall mirror, £40;
Abaya spun bamboo
pendant shade, £28;
Geometric circle
rug, £80, all Habitat
Conical ceramic
table lamp in Beige
& Olive, £40,
Habitat
TOM SULLIVAN
Habitat’s senior lighting designer
creates timeless pieces and loves
finding the perfect light for the space
What makes lighting such an

important part of a space?
The great thing about lighting is that it
is highly functional – we literally need
it to see – and so it will always be a
statement piece. Your eye is drawn to it
in a room. The diffusion of light can
transform a whole space too.
Which lighting styles have most

inspired your work?
I was lucky enough to go to
Williamsburg and Brooklyn in architectural lines, and a matte
New York and these are amazing conical body that contrasts with
places aesthetically. But it’s great for the linen shade. Timeless styles like
learning about small space solutions this are popular at the moment.
too. I also love the ’60s and ’70s, as
they were playful with materials – Do you have a favourite lighting
from fibreglass to wood and ceramics. style at the moment?
They covered the whole spectrum. I like to bring the old together with the
new to add dimension to a room, using
What kinds of trends are you products that have familiar, mass
seeing in lighting right now? appeal without being trite. Our Hashi
I’ve noticed a few classic designs lamp is a great example of this, as it
that have come back into fashion – harks back to an older style and can fit
they seem to have longevity to them. into many design schemes. It is a nice
For example, the Conical lamp we big table lamp with a subtly textured
designed for Habitat has classic base – great for adding dimension.
Tufted cotton
cushion in Cream, Geo Technique
£12, Habitat cushion, £16,
Habitat
Block print
dinner set, £42
for 12 pieces,
Habitat
Large ceramic
vase, £22,
“
Habitat
I love how Habitat’s

ranges can evolve over time
depending on the rest of your Sophia double
”
decor - timeless pieces that
bed frame, £350;
Double duvet set,
suit so many schemes

£34; Global print
cushion, £10, all
Habitat
HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR
CHEAT SHEET
quick
fixes
To add warmth to your scheme,
look out for the natural tactility
of the wooden grain in Habitat’s
acacia and mango wood pieces
– from accessories to furniture.
Layer in natural shades using
accessories in mustard,
terracotta and red, or flora-
inspired prints and patterns.
FIND OUT MORE
Go for bold colours such as
emerald and lilac, as well as To see the latest collections, visit
geometric prints, to create a habitat.co.uk, argos.co.uk or visit larger
fun and eye-catching look. Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide
Opt for the cocooning feel of
pebble-shaped tables, as well
as the restful textures of
boucle, rattan and velvet.
ROOM DECOR
Style
1 SAVER
The shortlist
I’m made from

DINNER 4
PLATES
wheel-thrown
terracotta and
hand-painted
Serve up Easter lunch

in style on one of
these beauties
WHERE TO BUY
1 Kew Gardens living jewels Green dinner
plate, £12, Pure Table Top 2 Scalloped
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH
speckled stoneware dinner plate, £9, John

Lewis & Partners 3 Patterned plate, £6.54,
Søstrene Grene 4 Granada Ceramics Azul
dinner plate, £36, Bluebellgray 5 Kintaro 5
dinner plate, £95 for four, Oka 6 Chroma
plate II, large, £28, Lusophile

ROOM DECOR
Weekend
Oakridge dining
table, £1,300,
| EASY STYLE UPDATES | Garden Trading
decorator
CLEVER TRICKS TO MINI
DECOR PROJECTS… WE
ROUND UP THE SIMPLEST,
QUICKEST WAYS TO
MAKE YOUR HOME MORE
BEAUTIFUL NOW
HANG A SPRING WREATH

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas – they
can represent any season and be hung
on a wall or even from the ceiling. Pick
up a bare woven wreath from your local
florist or online supplier and intertwine
it with fresh foliage, seasonal flowers
and foraged branches. Suspend it over a
dining table to create a centrepiece for
hosting guests over Easter weekend.

Puzzle wallpaper in
Grass, £95.50m,
Neisha Crosland at
Christopher Farr Cloth
STYLE TIP
Framed wallpaper
or fabric swatches
make fabulous
inexpensive
graphic prints
PLAY WITH PATTERN

Don’t be afraid to step out of your
decorating comfort zone with a
wonderful large-scale wallpaper
design that will bring drama and
energy to your dining or living room.
The clean lines of this white cabinet
WALLPAP add to the contemporary flavour
ER of the space and ensure it still feels
ST calm, even though the pattern is
2 bold – so look to pairing simple
O
furniture with your chosen paper.

WO
3
W
WALLPAPERS TO WOW
1 Summer Meadow wallpaper in Sage, £98 a roll, Fiona Howard 2 Bloomin’
Marvellous Neon Nights wallpaper, £150 a roll, Divine Savages
3 Get A Wiggle On wallpaper in Retro Sunset, £45 a roll, Lust Home

ROOM DECOR
Update your
front door
with a stunning
new knocker. Try
Adamsandmack.
com for unusual
brass designs.
GO FOR GREEN IN
A UTILITY SPACE
Refresh your room
for spring by choosing a
nature-inspired olive green
paint shade for both walls
and cabinets. Drenching
the space in one rich colour
creates a cosy and calming
feel for carrying out chores
and keeps things looking
streamlined and organised.
Alibaba seagrass
basket (on floor)
£45; dustpan and
brush set, £35,
both John Lewis
& Partners
Koba rattan sofa,
£950, Habitat
HOW TO
CREATE AN EXPOSED BRICK
FEATURE WALL
This takes a bit of preparation but is ■ Cover everything with dust sheets
the perfect solution for a stylish yet and wear goggles and a mask – there
understated backdrop to a room. will be lots of dust! Hit the wall with a
■ Pick the wall you’d like to strip – those hammer to break up the plaster and
without windows and doors are easier. use a putty knife to pry it off. Give
Have radiators and sockets removed. yourself plenty of time to do this job.
■ Drill a pilot hole to make sure there ■ Sponge down the exposed wall to
is actually brick behind the plaster, then remove dust. Use a wire brush with a mix
uncover a test site (30sq cm) to check of equal parts sugar soap, salt and water
the quality of your brickwork. If you’re to give the bricks a deep clean. Once dry,
happy with what you see, crack on! finish the wall with brick sealant.

Addie standard
CHEER UP A DINING SPACE bookcases (four
WITH SUNSHINE YELLOW used), £45.99
each, Wayfair
If your room doesn’t get much natural light, fake it with a
splash of golden yellow. It turns a gloomy space into a warm, welcoming
one and looks gorgeous with natural wood, leather and neutral
upholstery. The pink tones in natural rattan make it the ideal companion
for sunny yellow, plus it will add a tropical touch to your decor.
Wall in Verdure
Yellow marble matt
emulsion, £61 for
2.5ltr, Mylands
BUILD A STACKED
SHELVING UNIT
Construct a
statement storage piece
by stacking together four
inexpensive bookcases
and painting the recesses
to create a dramatic
backdrop for everyday
objects. Make sure the
bookcases are secured
to the wall then choose
paint in harmonious shades
to add colour to each
cubby. Alternatively, swap
the paint for a wallpaper
that coordinates with
your room scheme.
Cover a simple display plinth with marble-

effect adhesive plastic to create an elegant
side table to showcase ceramic accessories.
ROOM DECOR
HOW TO
PAINT AN ORIGINAL MURAL WALL
A budget-friendly idea, a mural wall will ■ Next, give the wall a good clean with a
add colour and character to your space and damp cloth. Once it’s dry, paint on the base
offers the chance to create a one-off that’s colour, using a roller to cover more quickly.
unique to you. Plus there’s not much a tin ■ Once this is dry, sketch out your design
of white emulsion can’t fix, so be brave! lightly in pencil on the wall, then take your
■ First, work out your design and the colour chosen paint colours (tester pots are great
palette. Pinterest and Instagram are great for this project) and get painting.
places to look for inspiration or, if you’re ■ Use masking tape to achieve neat edges, and
feeling super creative, come up with your own have a small pot of your base colour to hand
design and draw it on a piece of paper first. to act as an ‘eraser’ if things go a bit awry.
STYLE TIP
Mountains, rainbows
and jungle scenes are
good themes for kids’
rooms, while geometric
shapes and patterns
work well in more
grown-up spaces
Mural in Tarnished
Brass, Rusty Rose
and Bridesmaid pure
matt plus emulsion,
from £29 for 1ltr,
Fenwick & Tilbrook

Lower wall in Marine
Blue intelligent matt
TRY THIS HEADBOARD HACK emulsion, from £30.50
for 1ltr, Little Greene
Paint the lower half of the wall behind your bed
in a deep shade, then add a narrow shelf along
the top line to add further definition and create
a spot for displaying artwork and knick-knacks.
If you fancy a little pattern, swap the paint for a
favourite wallpaper. This will keep costs down
and save you having to paper the whole wall.
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/DOMINIC BLACKMORE
COLOUR CHE
AT
2
SH
EE
3
T
1
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH
COLOUR CHEAT SHEET

1 Schinkel Green wall paint, £55.95 for 2.5ltr, Annie Sloan 2 Tea with Florence
intelligent matt emulsion, from £30.50 for 1ltr, Little Greene 3 Pink Harmony
walls & ceilings matt emulsion, £15 for 2.5ltr, Wilko

ROOM DECOR
Display a
Melcombe bottle shelf,
£35; medium Brading
baskets, £25 each,
both Garden Trading
statement
rug on the wall,
instead of paying
for a supersized
work of art.
OPT FOR
STORAGE
ON WHEELS
IN A BATHROOM
Save space by ditching a
fixed storage unit and using
a trolley as a bathroom
caddy instead. This compact
model slots into a corner
to hold all your bathroom
items in one portable piece.
You can even colour match
it to your scheme with a
coat or two of spray paint.
Raskog
1
trolley,
HOUR
£45, Ikea
HOW TO
MAKE A COSY CUBBY FOR
YOUR DOG OR CAT
Utility and boot rooms not only make cubby space is free of any electrical
the ideal place to store your pet’s outlets, sharp nails, hinges or peeling
food, toys and accessories, but also paint and remove or fix them if so.
a cosy spot for them to snooze in. ■ Make a simple cafe-style curtain
■ Start by choosing where you think by threading a length of curtain wire
your pooch or kitty might like to curl through a channel sewn along the top
up. Under a worktop is a fine spot, or of a piece of fabric, then fix it over
even at the bottom of a freestanding the opening to hide the bed from view.
cupboard – just ensure that it is ■ Pop some cushions or blankets or
secure and stable and remove the your pet’s favourite bed inside, along
lower doors or drawers first. with a treat or two to entice them to
■ Next make sure the inside of the curl up and settle into their space.

ROOM DECOR
TREND TALK
PINTEREST’S HEAD OF HOME MATT SIBERRY SHARES THE TOP THREE
BATHROOM TRENDS THAT PEOPLE ARE ‘PINNING’ THE MOST THIS SEASON
Bathrooms are becoming

functional sanctuaries
The bathroom is one
of the rooms we often With space at a
escape to, especially premium, showers
if we’re looking to are becoming
more popular
relax and have some
me-time. Parents will
know this all too well,
but aside from peace
and quiet from
children, the room also gives us a place
for pampering, sanctuary, ideation and of
course, utility. Many of us will be looking
for small moments of self-care, and our
bathrooms sit at the heart of this.
Admittedly, as the owner of a small
apartment with a small bathroom, I have a
lack of options, which is a total blessing
most of the time. When I’m not showering
down my dog, I’m ensuring my bathroom is
used for personal rituals, with smaller
details making it feel like micro indulgence.
Whether that’s with a powerful rainfall
showerhead, fluffy soft towels, or stylish
storage units – these all add to a feeling of
escapism and relaxation.
Regardless of a bathroom’s size, we all
have the power to create a functional
sanctuary in our homes. Our latest
Pinterest Predicts report has captured
what Pinners are searching for and saving
on their boards, so here are the major
trends that will break out in the bathroom. A smart storage
unit can be both
CHANCE OF SHOWERS To create a useful and stylish
tropical retreat at home, the shower has
to be elevated to its rightful place. Across
housing more generally, spaces have been
reduced and the same is happening for
bathrooms. That means baths are waning
in popularity and showers are taking centre
stage. Plus, a global push towards water
conservation has meant long soaks in the
tub are being replaced by their more
eco-friendly alternative.
The use of smaller elements can help
retain the indulgent feel, whether that’s
a scented shower bomb, a more powerful

ROOM DECOR
showerhead or something which has really

Wall panelling will picked up in recent years – fresh
help to add depth eucalyptus. Searches for ‘eucalyptus
and texture showerhead’ have increased by 30% over
the last year on Pinterest*, with Gen X
leading this shower bouquet trend. Not
only does it create a lovely smell and add a
tropical vibe to your bathroom, the leaves
from this aromatic Australian tree also
release essential oils, helping relieve nasal
congestion and sinus inflammation. So,
grab a couple of sprigs from your local
florist and hang from the shower, in what’s
set to become your new favourite room.
DETAIL-ORIENTED DESIGN The need for

essentials (a loo, shower or bath and a
washbasin) might make you feel that the
bathroom is overly functional, and not a
place you want to relax in. But, just as
we’ve learned about mood lighting in our
bedrooms and living rooms, this year we’ll
see a bigger focus on bathrooms.
From lights connected to the mirror, to
LEDs in the shower, we can use more than
just candles to get the ambience right.
Reminiscent of country manor houses,
panelled walls can add depth and texture to
bathrooms, while contrasting paint colours
such as navy and dark grey make luxurious
gold taps stand out as a focal point. If it’s a
Scandi bathroom you’re after – a highly
searched design trend on Pinterest – go for
lighter woods such as pine, spruce and
aspen. Putting plants in your bathroom will
help create a tropical feel and will release
oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide.
THE THREE R’S: REPURPOSE,

REUSE AND RELAX As with other
JAMES MERRELL *INTERNAL PINTEREST UK DATA BETWEEN DECEMBER 2022 VS DECEMBER 2021
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/HEATHER GUNN, RICHARD KIELY, DAVID WOOLLEY,
areas of life, we’re also looking for
CHEAT SHEET… more sustainability in the bathroom.
QUICK FIXES Most of us are choosing products

that are good for the planet, but if
n Swap out your old showerhead you’re looking to reduce your
for a new model that aerates the environmental impact, think about
water as it flows through and out. your design choices, too. Look at the
It’ll give you a more efficient elements you have already, whether
shower, while saving on water, too. it’s upcycled materials or repurposed
furniture – they all add an element of
n To ensure it remains a
individuality while being kinder to the
streamlined sanctuary, add extra
hooks or rails. Try Tesa’s easy-to- planet. We know this is set to be big
install no-drill accessories range, as Pinners have been searching for
from hanging baskets to hooks. ‘modern vintage bathroom’ 135%
more than last year.
n Consider redecorating with Ultimately, don’t let the size of
eco-friendly paints – they’re good your bathroom limit your me-time.
for both the planet and a quick Whether it’s swapping bubble baths
bathroom refresh. Plants are a great for soapy (sustainable) showers or
way to give the
n Install smart IP44 or IP55 rated incorporating mood lighting, through
space a tropical vibe
lighting so you can adjust the small changes we can turn the
brightness simply by just asking. bathroom into the perfect paradise. n

ROOM DECOR
IDEAL vs GREAT DEAL

Create a chic bathroom with fresh blues and Art Deco-style accents
TIMELESS GLAM
STYLE AESTHETIC
Peche mirror, Claddagh mirror,
£255, Sweetpea £219, Swoon
& Willow
RIBBED GLASS BRASS ACCENT

Cheltenham IP44 wall Long Roddy IP44
light in Antiqued Brass, wall light in Brass,
£199.50, Jim Lawrence £145, Pooky
LUXE MARBLE
SOAP SAVER White marble soap
Marble soap dish, dish, £10, John Lewis
£18, The White & Partners
Company
RAD DESIGN TOASTY

MPRO heated TOWELS
towel rail EliteHeat
BLUE HUES in Brushed heated towel
VEINED DETAIL
Charlie Blue hex marble Brass, £540, rail in Brushed
Calacatta Blue marble-
porcelain tile, £53.68sq m, Crosswater Brass, £249.99,
effect porcelain tile,
Easy Bathrooms Drench
£41.99 sq m, Tile Mountain
CHIC CHEVRONS
SUPER SOFT
L’Appartement
Cotton rich
hand towels in
quick-dry towels in
Dark Carbon, £21
Charcoal, from £1.50
each, Amara
each, M&S
SINK IN DOUBLE ENDED

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS
Acrylic 1,580mm boat bath Duke Blue 1,695mm

in Ultra Marine Blue, roll-top bath, £539.95,
£2,480, BC Designs Victorian Plumbing

Family bathroom
| PLAN THE PERFECT |
GET STARTED ON THAT DREAM BATHROOM

SPACE FOR ALL TO USE WITH OUR EXPERT HELP
BATH TIME
Tile ‘wet areas’, such as the
space immediately around
the bath, then choose a
bathroom-friendly paint that’s
designed to cope with moisture
for the remaining walls.
Enviro bath, £500, Britton

ROOM DECOR
MEET THE
EXPERTS
RUTH FOSTER, INTERIOR
DESIGNER, VICTORIA PLUM
‘The bathroom may be
one of the smallest
rooms in your home,
but its design can still
make an impact’
CLARE PASCOE, DIRECTOR,
PASCOE INTERIORS
‘Focus on the practical
challenges first then
subtly switch up
the ambience with
dimmable lighting,
plants or pops of colour’
KAMILA SWIATECKA,
HEAD OF MARKETING &
BRAND, TILE GIANT
‘Get the tiles right for a STYLISH STORE
Choose a vanity with a
family bathroom. Look countertop basin – easy to
for hardwearing tiles, clean and tidy things away.
Orchard Lee oak furniture
such as porcelain, with combination with loo,
large format designs for £499, Victoria Plum
a cost-effective option’
T
he family bathroom, often awash you can bet that they’ll be left standing beside it
with clutter – from lotions and rather than in the cupboard,’ she adds. For small
potions to rubber ducks – needs bathrooms, Clare says to look at under-used space.
to work hard, especially in the ‘Under the bath and along walls (as long as it’s away
pre-school rush. It also needs to be from splash areas) are made for storage – and it
a retreat once the kids are in bed. doesn’t need to be deep: bottles and toilet rolls favour
How do you strike a balance? We asked three people shallow storage.’ Both Clare and Ruth would ideally
in the know to share their insider tips… keep the bath in a family bathroom. ‘If it’s the only
‘Typically, bathrooms are compact, so you need bath in the house, then keep it, especially if you want
to plan carefully,’ says Ruth. ‘Think about the size to keep an eye on resale value. If you do decide to get
and layout of your current bathroom and how it rid of it, then opt for a walk-in shower with a footprint
serves – or doesn’t – each member of your family.’ that equals a bath, futureproofing the layout.’ Ruth
‘While a complete refit will provide the best overall adds: ‘The centre of a family bathroom is the bath,
result in terms of aesthetics and function,’ says Clare, with family rituals often surrounding bathtime. It’s
‘partial refits aren’t always cheaper as it can take also nice for parents to relax and enjoy a soak. You
more time and effort to combine existing with new.’ could fit a shower/bath combination, so young kids
can be bathed while on-the-go teenagers and parents
FAMILY FAVOURITES can shower more quickly. If you’ve space, a separate
‘A vanity unit with under-basin storage works best, shower will allow multiple people to use the
so you can clear away the clutter,’ says Ruth. ‘Try bathroom at once – no bad thing in a family bathroom.’
furniture that has a shelf or drawer for each family
member,’ says Clare. ‘Think about what you need to PRACTICAL, YET STYLISH SURFACES
store and make it accessible – if the WC cleaning ‘Bathrooms are wet spaces that attract soap,
products aren’t stored somewhere close to the loo, limescale and black mould in hard to reach and

ON THE LEDGE
Boxing in pipework gives a
handy ledge for essentials.
Eurosmart single lever
bath/shower mixer, £206;
Eurosmart half-pedestal
basin, £261, both Grohe
“ "
Gather together all your IDEAS before you get
started. The space must WORK for EVERYONE
RUTH FOSTER, INTERIOR DESIGNER, VICTORIA PLUM
clean areas,’ says Clare. ‘With the best will in the

SHOWER POWER world, every material is vulnerable and every
‘If you only have one bathroom will suffer to some degree at some time,
bath in the house, it’s but you can help yourself by making practical
worth keeping it,’ says material choices. Go for composite stone over natural
Clare. Hereford shower as it’s less porous, while large format tiles mean
bath with screen, £279.99, less grout to clean. Porcelain tiles are fantastic for
Bathroom Mountain
walls as they are dense, strong and available in
a huge array of colours and finishes.’
Kamila adds, ‘Accessories can be changed, but you
live with your choice of tiles for years. Try tiling the
lower half of walls with a hard-wearing porcelain tile
and painting or wallpapering above – just make sure
you remember to tile behind any wet areas.’
DECOR DECISIONS
‘Before getting too excited about introducing colour
and pattern,’ suggest Clare, ‘consider the permanence
of the materials and the disruption it would entail
should you wish to change them. Ask are they
colours that you always lean to and know you can live
with? Are the materials practical, and will they age
well (or be easy to care for)?’
‘Green has emerged as a popular colour this last
year,’ says Kamila. ‘Surrounding yourself with
ROOM DECOR
NEED TO KNOW…
PLAN A TROPICAL
SHOWER
RETREAT
Clare Pascoe, of Pascoe Interiors,
shares her top tips
n Think materials of the Tropics – bamboo
furniture, woven baskets, pebble-toned
walls and floors – and set these against
a dark green and white backdrop.
n Soften the space by layering in leafy
plants, combining large floor-standing
palms, countertop ferns and smaller
plants trailing from shelves.
n Boost the sense of luxury through
space, which feels decadent. A large
walk-in shower in place of a bath opens
up even the smallest of bathrooms.
TILE SHOW
‘Leave tile samples in a
prominent place to decide
if you like them,’ says Clare.
Zen Marble Reed Mosaic,
£300sq m; East Java
Flamingo marble brick tiles,
£275sq m, both Ca’Pietra

VANITY ACT
‘Storage is key, so I always
design family bathrooms
with basins over vanity
units,’ says Clare. Milano
Henley vanity unit with
round basins, from £539.99,
Big Bathroom Shop
“ RECTANGULAR or OVAL basins work BEST. You

don’t need a huge basin – 40cm wide is ample
CLARE PASCOE, DIRECTOR, PASCOE INTERIORS
"
energising green tones and botanical designs helps to an uncanny ability to go through plenty of towels!’
create a soothing, relaxing environment where you ‘When planning your new bathroom,’ says Ruth,
can escape. Alternatively, for a minimal look, keep to ‘consider if you’re having more children, or staying
a neutral colour palette of grey or white marble-effect until your kids are teenagers – these decisions will
tiles and use natural textures like cork, bamboo, inform your storage needs and design choices.
rattan and fluffy towels to keep the space calm, yet ‘Overall, you need to make a family bathroom
practical for the rest of the family.’ easy to clean,’ says Ruth. ‘Contemporary-styled
Don’t forget lighting either. Ruth says to use products don’t collect dust easily and are faster to
spotlights, ‘while a mirror with a built-in LED light wipe clean. Choose a handleless vanity unit
is good for early starts.’ Claire adds: ‘If you have and a wall-hung WC, for example.’
young children or elderly visitors, you might like to ‘It all comes back to planning,’ says Clare.
consider a very discreet low-level wall light in the ‘Bathroom showrooms and builders will be able to
form of a miniature spot, switched by a motion help you plan a practical space, but if you’re looking
FEATURE JENNIFER MORGAN
sensor (PIR) to come on as a night light.’ for something more, contact the British Institute of
Interior Design (biid.org.uk) to find an interior
LASTING THE TEST OF TIME designer in your area who can offer stylish and useful
For a bathroom that will grow as the kids do, Clare ideas. They can walk you through all the options,
says to focus on including storage. ‘As our children considering the practicalities and aesthetics laterally
grow, they get bigger (and have more products). so you are sure you don’t miss any opportunities to
Remember to add ample hooks as teenagers have create the best design for longevity.’ n

ROOM DECOR
GO GREEN
It’s the now colour for
bathrooms, but keep
it serene and budget-
friendly by half-tiling
walls. Britton Saturn
bath, £1,235, Britton

Zest4Leisure Philippa wooden table

and bench garden set, £809.99;
recycled cotton herringbone throws
in Ochre or Grey, £14.99 each; Spode
Blue porcelain, from £25.99; eight-
cup stainless-steel cafetiere, £14.99;
Bodum double-walled glass mug,
£17.99 per pair; Kora wooden serving
tray, £20.99, all Robert Dyas
let's head outside

FIND ALL YOU NEED TO SET THE SCENE FOR
AN AL FRESCO BRUNCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
THIS SPRING AT ROBERT DYAS
Square vintage chopping Kilner 1ltr clip-top
board, £34.99; Spode bottle, £7.29; Kora
Blue porcelain two-tier olive wood serving
cake stand, £49; Kilner board, £35.99;
clip-top jars, from £5.29 White porcelain
each, all Robert Dyas butter dish, £6.99,
all Robert Dyas
Bamboo
board with
handle, £6.99,
Robert Dyas
W
ith the arrival of the new LAY ON THE STYLE
season, it’s time to throw Next you’ll want to impress guests with
open the doors and head a swoon-worthy tablescape. Mix Robert Price & Kensington
outside to make the most of your Dyas affordable yet stylish, crisp-white six-cup teapot,
£12.99, Robert Dyas
outdoor space once again. Entertaining tableware, such as the Price & Kensington
friends is just one of the joys our six-cup teapot and porcelain butter
gardens can bring us and for an easy dish, with fancier pieces of crockery
and stylish way to lay on a stunning from iconic ceramics brand Spode, for a
tablescape, head to Robert Dyas for classic English country-garden feel. You
all your furniture and table-top needs. might not have realised you can pick up
Offering everything from smart and such high-end style on the high street,
stylish outdoor furniture, to an array but Robert Dyas caters for the luxurious
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
of stunning tableware and glassware, as well as everyday basics.

and even soft furnishings like throws
and cushions, it’s your one-stop shop FINISHING TOUCHES
for all your home and garden buys. Finally, what is a spring brunch without
delicious food and drink, all piled up
OPT FOR RUSTIC CHARM on versatile wooden serving boards, Kilner clip-top
Start by choosing a dining set-up ideal accompanied by jam-filled jars and jars, from £5.29
for achieving a rustic yet charming, juice-filled glass bottles. The Kora olive each, Robert Dyas
contemporary feel in your garden. wood board makes the perfect platter to
This chunky wooden table with two serve fresh fruit and pastries, while the
matching benches and chairs will range of Kilner jars have multiple uses FIND OUT MORE
comfortably play host to the whole and are perfect for decanting cereals For more home and garden
family and provide the perfect spot and condiments, as well as storing dried essentials, visit your local store or
for al fresco dining all summer long. kitchen goods too. So if you’re looking head to robertdyas.co.uk
Layer up a couple of cosy herringbone for a way to entertain in style, without
throws and soft cushions for chillier breaking the bank, look no further than
evenings and your brunches can extend Robert Dyas to help you achieve the
to lunch, dinner, supper and beyond! perfect al fresco spring setting.
IMPROVE | EXTEND | CONVERT
IDEAL IDEA
Banquette
seating
For informal meals for
two to ten guests, you can’t
beat built-in bench seating
for cramming in as many
people as possible. Add
to that a dose of jolly
colour on the upholstery,
and you’re winning!
HEATHER YOUNG,
EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/DAVID GILES

trending on…
IDEALHOME.CO.UK
Organising the Small garden
linen cupboard projects
Our top tips will ensure you’re After being cooped up
never buried in an avalanche inside for the last few
of sheets and towels again! months, the arrival of
spring means alfresco
living is back on the cards.
No matter what size your
outdoor space – whether a
tiny terrace, bijou balcony
or little lawn – our mini
projects will help you
transform your space
“
without spending
a fortune
Discover oodles of
decorating inspiration
”
Kitchen for projects both
island ideas
These multi-tasking
big and small
kitchen heroes come in HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR
all shapes and sizes.
But in order to get the
most out of an island,
you’ll need to first think
about what you’ll use it
for. We explore this
unit’s many uses to
help you find the
perfect island for you
Best multicooker
They’re incredible value for How much does an
air fryer cost to run?
money and offer versatility if
you need a space-saving
solution. Find out which We’ve calculated what it costs to
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/MARK BOLTON,
multicooker tops our cook with an air fryer, so you can

BRENT DARBY, JOANNA HENDERSON, BREVILLE, SAGE
tried and tested list see how much money you’ll save
compared to using an oven
CONNECT WITH US FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS
Visit facebook. See our Be inspired at Find us on

com/ideal latest snaps pinterest.com/ flipboard.com
home.co.uk @idealhomeuk idealhomemag @IdealHome

RENOVATION
‘Being able to connect with

the garden was the main
focus. Floor-to-ceiling doors PROJECT
and up-and-over glazing
really helped with that.’
DETAILS
Bespoke units, £18,000,
David Percival. Herringbone
WHO LIVES HERE?
Parquet flooring in Iron, Lucy Hooker lives here with
£63.99sq m, Jordan’s her husband, David, and
Woodflooring. Bar stools, twin sons, Jack and Felix, 10.
£49 each, Cult Furniture.
Large Bubble light, £529.99, THE PROJECT
Dowsing & Reynolds A redesign of the ground
floor of an Edwardian house
in southeast London to make
a zoned kitchen/diner.
TOTAL COST
£30,000 (approx)
KITCHEN PROJECT
Three
become one
LUCY HOOKER FASHIONED AN ELEGANT
KITCHEN DINER FROM THREE
IMPRACTICAL ROOMS
BEFORE

RENOVATION
FIREPLACE
A contemporary
gas fire adds
warmth in an
open-plan space
THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION our garden. We used an the talented David Percival
A cramped architect from Mimodo (davidpercivalkitchens.
kitchen
‘We combined a dated (mimodo.info), who came co.uk), and the big island
kitchen, a conservatory and up with the up-and-over provides a barrier between
that had no
side return into one big glazing, which enables the business side of the
space with zoned areas. us to see the tops of the kitchen and the dining area.
connection to I’m an interior designer trees, and the exposed There are lots of verticals
the stunning
(atheltoneve.com), and brickwork. We went for in the room, from the bricks
knew what sort of look three metal-framed doors to the Scandi-style island
garden
I wanted to achieve, plus rather than bifolds. The battens. Now we use this
we were desperate to see kitchen was handmade by room all year round.’

RENOVATION
FOCUS ON
CHOOSING THE
RIGHT WORKTOP
Consider your lifestyle, kitchen and budget before
you decide on what to use for surfaces
n Granite worktops are treated. Both are heat and
quarried from the ground stain resistant.
in large blocks and shaped
and polished. Quartz n Other options include
worktops are engineered solid-surface materials,
stone, made from crushed which can accommodate
quartz and resin. extras such as draining
grooves, plus timber, which
n When it comes to needs to be regularly oiled
colours, granite worktops to keep in good condition.
are restricted to natural
stone, while manufactured n Natural stone is often the
quartz worktops come in most expensive. With
a wide variety of colours. quartz, the more complex
Quartz is also non-porous, the pattern, the more
but granite needs to be expensive it will be.
ABOVE ‘The kitchen originally RIGHT ‘I splashed out on an

ended where the new induction hob with a built-in
fireplace is, and a large range extractor, which takes away
cooker was set into the the need for having one
chimney breast. Although it on the wall. I teamed it with
has been completely rebuilt, side-by-side ovens, which are
it is in the same place where out of sight behind the island.’
the cooker was as it’s a big Pure induction hob with built-in
space and we thought it would extractor, £2,500, Bora. Serie 4
be cosy to have a gas fire in built-in ovens, £566 each,
the colder months.’ Bosch. Units in Light Bronze
Dru gas fire, price on request, Green eggshell, £72 for 2.5ltr,
Grate Expectations Little Greene

RENOVATION
SHELVING
Using the same
material means
that the shelving
blends in
ABOVE ‘The worktop RIGHT ‘I liked the idea

and splashback were of a separate larder
carefully chosen. I found cupboard. The inner
a white with bronze and fittings are all solid oak,
grey veins to pick up the and I specified how
metallic elements, and many drawers, so I can
had it bookmarked, so store all my dry goods
the pattern matches.’ out of sight away from
Cimstone Calacatta Venato my lovely worktop.’
quartz, from £618sq m, Larder unit, price on
Granite Revolutions request, David Percival
“
KEY SURFACES
Getting the right
colour for the units
was essential. It took
a long time and it
really pulled together
FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES
”
the updated
Edwardian feel LEFT TO RIGHT Island cladding Similar is SlatWall in Natural Oak,
from £129.99 for 1.44sq m, Naturewall Worktop & splashback Cimstone
Calacatta Venato 20mm quartz, from £618sq m, Granite Revolutions
LUCY HOOKER, HOMEOWNER Reclaimed bricks From £95 for 100, London Reclaimed Brick Merchants
KITCHEN SOURCEBOOK
Kitchen, David Percival (davidpercivalkitchens.co.uk). Worktop, splashback and shelving, Granite Revolutions
(graniterevolutionsltd.com). Flooring, Jordan’s Woodflooring (jordanwoodfloors.co.uk). Hob, Bora (bora.com). Ovens, Bosch
(bosch-home.co.uk). Lights, Dowsing & Reynolds (dowsingandreynolds.com); Pooky (pooky.com); Heal’s (heals.com)

RENOVATION
‘We opted for lava matt

black units in a streamlined
PROJECT design so the copper
DETAILS extractor would really sing.’
Schüller Uma-Uni Matt units,
WHO LIVES HERE? from £379.35 for 600mm base
unit; quartz worktop, £370sq m;
Karen Burdon Wave copper island extractor,
(@barnconversion_ £2,600, plus recirculation
northumberland) lives here plasma motor, £625, all
with her husband, John. InHouse. Bamboo pendants,
£150 each, Cox & Cox
THE PROJECT
A kitchen installation, which
is part of a project converting
a chicken shed into a
contemporary home.
TOTAL COST
£36,348
KITCHEN PROJECT
Modern
and open
KAREN AND JOHN BURDON MADE THE MOST
OF THE UNIQUE SPACE IN THEIR RENOVATED
INDUSTRIAL CHICKEN SHED HOME
BEFORE

DEEP DRAWERS
Keep crockery and
cutlery to hand near
where you eat
THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION the home. Top of my wish units were installed by
Installing ‘When we embarked on

list was a larder, which I
wanted to close off so it
Packham & Bell and the
tiling was done by Ryan
a kitchen from converting the original made sense to build it into and Ian from R I Tiling
scratch within
chicken shed, we wanted to the eaves. This gave us a Specialists (@r.i_tiling_
work with the exposed starting point for the layout, specialists), who did such
an unusual steels and columns to
create an industrial
which we designed with
Kye Ranson from InHouse.
a brilliant job. The
installation was part of an
open-plan contemporary look. I felt He came up with the eight-month renovation
space
the kitchen was central to breakfast bar creating the project and the kitchen took
the building and the hub of U shape of the kitchen. The around a fortnight to fit.’

RENOVATION
FOCUS ON
ISLAND EXTRACTOR
FURNITURE
A cooker hood is a necessity when it comes to
good ventilation. We explore a designer alternative
n With the rise in n When considering the
popularity of hobs on design of your kitchen,
islands, overhead extractor bear in mind that the
fans are a popular option. extracting process in an
island extractor is internal
n They are now being
so it does not require a
referred to as ‘island
flue or vent. The latest
extractor furniture’ as they
plasma filter technology
can come as lights or with
patented by Wave purifies
attachments such as glass
the air, eliminating bad
holders. Matching pendant
smells and bacteria while
lights are also available.
also self-cleaning. But a
n Order standard models or designer look like this
they can be made bespoke doesn’t come cheap – you
to a particular size or finish can expect to pay from
as a statement piece. around £2,500.
ABOVE ‘I considered the RIGHT ‘The oak breakfast

storage really carefully, bar adds warmth, making
including having lots of a lovely contrast to the
drawers to hand for emptying quartz worktop and defining
the dishwasher. We also the area.’
added tambour units, which Pink mugs, £16.50 each; side
are great for hiding the plates, £15 each; bowls, £21
toaster and coffee maker.’ each; jug, £17.50, all Charcoal
Schüller Uma-Uni Matt in Matt Teddington
Lacquer Lava Black deep pan
drawer units, £846.80, InHouse

RENOVATION
RIBBED
GLASS DOORS
Conceal the larder
while letting the
light through
ABOVE ‘The Quooker RIGHT ‘We wanted an

tap not only has chilled island where we could
and boiled water, but all get involved with
also produces delicious cooking, and where we
sparkling water, too.’ could eat together.
Black Undermount We are really happy
SilGranit Blanco sink, with the Belgian Blue
£548; Quooker Pro3 Flex limestone, which is
Black tap, £1,000, both extremely durable.’
InHouse. Blush Pink Island in Belgian Blue
reusable bottles, £15 for limestone, £768 sq m,
“
a set of two, Masons Jars County Stone
KEY SURFACES
I am so thrilled
with the finished
results – the kitchen
FEATURE AND STYLING DILLY ORME PHOTOGRAPHS ALASDAIR MCINTOSH
really works in the

open-plan space
”
and I especially love
the larder LEFT TO RIGHT Island worktops Belgian Blue limestone, £768 sq m,
County Stone Kitchen units Schüller Uma-Uni Matt in Matt Lacquer
Lava Black, from £379.35 for 600mm base, InHouse Wall tiles Ca’ Pietra
KAREN BURDON, HOMEOWNER Carter ceramic in Rose, £1.82 each, Westerhope Tile Centre
KITCHEN SOURCEBOOK
Kitchen, InHouse (inhouseltd.co.uk). Appliances, AEG (aeg.co.uk). Doors, Metal Services (metalservices.co.uk); Eclisse
(eclisse.co.uk); Sethcodoorstore (sethcodoorstore.co.uk). Lights, Cox & Cox (coxandcox.co.uk). Tiles, Westerhope Tile Centre
(westerhopetilecentre.com). Accessories, Charcoal Teddington (charcoalteddington.co.uk); Masons Jars (masonsjars.co.uk)

PROJECT BEST
DETAILS MAKEOVER
WHO LIVES HERE? 2022
Jessica Luper (@the_pink_
house_project) lives here with
her husband Tom Harris and
their children, Albany, five,
Indigo, two, and Cobie, one.
THE PROJECT
Transforming a bedroom into
a bathroom in a four-bedroom
detached Georgian house
in east London.
TOTAL COST
£8,000
BATHROOM PROJECT
Wow factor
STRIKING WALLPAPER, BOLD COLOUR AND
TRADITIONAL DETAILS HAVE TRANSFORMED
JESSICA LUPER’S DATED SPARE BEDROOM
INTO A FABULOUS FAMILY SPACE
BEFORE

RENOVATION
‘I wanted the bath to be a ‘We’ve got a brass light

contrast to all the green, so fitting over the basin for
I picked a raspberry pink when you want more of a
colour from the wallpaper.’ dim light, showcasing
Forest wallpaper, £487 a roll, some Edison bulbs.’
Cole & Son. Astonian Luxor Astonian Deluxe basin
bath on cast-iron feet, from stand in Brushed Brass,
£2,202.35; Acme bath/ £782.62, Aston Matthews.
shower mixer on floor pillars Try Baoden Brushed
in Scuffed Brass, £1,551.50; Brass bathroom wall
Burley high-level WC, from sconce, £49.99, Amazon
£887, all Aston Matthews
WALL PANELLING
Colour-matching panels
to the floor tiles ties
the scheme together
THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION saw it! Most people were saturate my home with colour
‘We wanted
surprised that I wanted to that totally envelops you
‘When we moved in, the wallpaper a bathroom, but I as you enter a room. I wish
a colourful house needed ripping apart knew it was spacious enough we’d added coving here, but
family bathing
and putting back together to disperse excess moisture. it didn’t occur to me at the
again. Our renovations ‘I’d describe my style as time; we added a ceiling rose
space with an
included turning the small maximalist, but with a nod after decorating though. I
fifth bedroom into a family to the traditional in terms of absolutely love our bathroom
enveloping bathroom. The starting the old-school WC, classic – it’s an incredibly soothing
luxurious feel’
point was the wallpaper – it panelling and freestanding space and such a luxury just
was true love when I first cast-iron bath. I love to to have a room for bathing.’

RENOVATION
ABOVE The traditional- RIGHT ‘To give us more

style brass heated towel storage, we added some
rail complements the shelves in the existing
rest of the fittings in cupboard, a typically
this exquisite scheme. shallow Georgian style.
Ambra hot-water wall- It’s tall so we manage
mounted towel warmer to squeeze a lot in.’
in Brushed Brass, from Similar tiles, Hayek Hex in
£900.04, Aston Matthews. Jade, £1.16 each, Claybrook.
Ultimate bath sheets in Similar chair, Mina rattan
Ocean, £20 each, Dunelm armchair, £149, Tikamoon
“
I didn’t think KEY SURFACES
about genres – I just

chose what I liked.
I’ve got botanical,
industrial, traditional
FEATURE AND STYLING ALI LOVETT PHOTOGRAPHS NATHALIE PRIEM
and geometric all
”
going on at once LEFT TO RIGHT Wallpaper Forest wallpaper, £487 a roll, Cole & Son
and it just works

Bath paint colour For similar, try Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch gloss
multi-surface paint in Baby Pink, £3.75 for 20ml, B&Q Flooring For
similar, try Hayek Hex in Jade, £1.16 a tile, Claybrook Studio
JESSICA LUPER, HOMEOWNER
BATHROOM SOURCEBOOK
Bath, sanitaryware, taps and fittings, Aston Matthews (astonmatthews.co.uk). Wallpaper, Cole & Son
(cole-and-son.com). Radiators, Best Heating (bestheating.com). Floor tiles, Claybrook (claybrookstudio.co.uk).
Round mirror, Habitat (habitat.co.uk). Wall light, Amazon (amazon.co.uk). Chair, Tikamoon (tikamoon.co.uk).
Towels, Dunelm (dunelm.com). Cushion cover, H&M (hm.com)

RENOVATION
PROJECT
DETAILS
WHO LIVES HERE?
Simon Niven lives here
with his wife Liz and their
children, Louis, seven
and Alba, five.
THE PROJECT
Creating a new en-suite
bathroom in a detached
Victorian family house in
Newbury, Berkshire.
TOTAL COST
£16,500
‘We wanted the serenity of

an all-white scheme, but it’s
not boring – the natural
marble on the walls and
floor adds character’
BATHROOM PROJECT
Walk-in fixed panel shower
screen, £996.36; shower tray,
White, light
£682.76, all Ripples
and calm
SIMON AND LIZ NIVEN EMBRACED
NATURAL LIGHT, NEUTRAL SHADES AND
SLEEK FITTINGS FOR MAXIMUM
TRANQUILITY IN THEIR EN SUITE
BEFORE

‘We wanted our
double vanity unit to
be a focal point. The
bold, symmetrical
design draws the eye’
Bespoke double vanity
unit, £4,363.36; Satin
Gold basin mixers,
£573.83 each, brushed
brass circular wall
mirrors, £185 each,
all Ripples
DURABLE FINISH
The matt white solid
surface is water-
resistant, practical
and easy to clean
huge, the en suite is full of we definitely wanted the

THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION light and we visualised a brushed gold fittings and
‘We had ‘We knew a different layout calm, relaxing sanctuary. simple, wall-mounted basin
plenty of
could transform the first Liz was keen to have a taps. We’d used Ripples
floor of our home, making roomy walk-in shower, (ripplesbathrooms.com)
bedroom it function more effectively.

Our plan included
and we both loved the
idea of a large vanity unit
before, and valued their
expertise in designing the
space, but converting a slice of one with good storage and layout and sourcing the
no en-suite
bedroom into a luxurious individual basins. A lot of products. It’s lovely having
new en suite for our master our style inspiration came our own space – it really
bathroom’ bedroom. Although it’s not from social media, and feels special.’

RENOVATION
WARM FLOORS
Luxurious underfloor
heating extends into
ABOVE ‘The loo is RIGHT The gold the shower area
tucked neatly out of fittings were a great
the way and the choice – they’re warm
wall-hung design is and elegant, and they
compact and pick out the natural
unobtrusive’ tones in the tiles’
Rimless wall-hung toilet, Satin Gold shower
£1,029, Ripples fittings, £2,639.64; similar
herringbone wall tiles,
£103.55sq m; try marble
floor and wall tiles,
“
£114.96sq m, all Ripples
We loved the KEY SURFACES
wall-mounted taps,
but I wish we’d
realised they could
easily have been
FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY PHOTOGRAPHS ADAM CARTER
made shorter, as they
”
do protrude a bit far
over the basins
LEFT TO RIGHT Walls Try Gauze intelligent eggshell, £75.50 for 2.5ltr,
Little Greene Floor tiles Try marble floor and wall tiles, £114.96sq m,
Ripples Wall tiles Try herringbone wall tiles, £103.55sq m, Ripples
SIMON NIVEN, HOMEOWNER
BATHROOM SOURCEBOOK
Taps, shower mixer, loo, tiles, vanity unit, basins, mirrors, shower screen and tray,
all Ripples (ripplesbathrooms.com)

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RENOVATION
ASK AN EXPERT
IDEAL HOME’S RESIDENT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
CHARLIE LUXTON SHARES HIS DESIGN KNOW-HOW
How can I better

ventilate my home?
The average person
in the UK spends 92% Moisture from cooking
of their time indoors, results in high levels of
the majority of which humidity, which can
is spent at home, so cause mould if not
controlled properly
understanding and
controlling air quality
in your home is really
important. VOCs
(Volatile Organic Compounds) and
formaldehyde are two of the key offenders
in poor air quality. A recently fitted carpet,
a redecorated room or new furniture can
be high in these chemicals and can result
in eye irritation, a runny nose and even
asthma-like chest tightness.
A second area that impacts internal air
quality, and therefore health, is moisture.
We live on a damp island. In addition to the
vast quantities of rain we get, showers,
cooking and drying clothes all introduce
more moisture into our homes, which often
results in humidity exceeding recommended
levels. If this happens for extended periods,
then the chances of mould growing in your
home increases massively and certain
common moulds are very bad for us.
So far, so depressing… but these problems
once understood are fairly easy to improve,
principally by ventilating your home properly.
There are two main strategies for
ventilation: mechanical ventilation or
uncontrolled ventilation. Mechanical
ventilation, to my mind, is the best route
to ensure that you are getting the right
amount of fresh filtered air to the right
places in your home. With Mechanical
Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR), damp
stale air from your bathrooms, utility and
kitchen is constantly extracted via ducts to
a central unit where it goes through a heat
exchanger to warm fresh, filtered air that is
pumped into rooms. Sensors monitor
humidity, VOCs and CO2 and boost the
flow accordingly to maintain healthy levels.
It can be fitted to existing houses, but it’s a
significant undertaking and requires quite

RENOVATION
a lot of space, as well as rooms being

airtight to a decent level, to work properly.
If you’re thinking of doing a whole-house
refurb, this should be your starting point.
There are other cheaper and less
invasive methods providing controlled
ventilation, but they come with compromises.
Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) uses
a centralised extractor unit connected via
ducts to all the moisture-producing areas in
your home. Having taken damp stale air
from these rooms, it extracts it outside,
dropping the internal pressure, and in turn,
drawing in fresh air. The units can monitor
moisture levels and respond accordingly to
keep your home at the right humidity.
Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) draws in
external air, often via your loft void or a wall
where it is filtered and heated before being
pumped at a constant rate into the home.
Usually introduced into a hallway, the air
increases pressure inside the building pushing
stale damp air out of the gaps and cracks.
The units are quite small and can be located
discreetly in loft voids where, alongside
some limited ducting, they can make a big
difference to the upstairs rooms.
Uncontrolled ventilation is a series of
holes in your building that allow air in and
out, and for the vast majority will be the
chosen option. The holes are usually the
gaps found in most homes that allow for
draughts or, in more modern homes, trickle
vents or air bricks. However, with this system
it’s hard to know how much ventilation you
“
are getting and if it’s going to the right places.
This lack of control also
HAVING CONTROL
leads to significant heat
loss as your warmed air is
OVER WHERE AND

replaced by cold fresh air,
raising your heating bill.
”
WHEN TO VENTILATE
There are a few ways
uncontrolled ventilation can
IS KEY
be improved. Nearly all
houses have extractor fans
in bathrooms, utility rooms
and kitchens, which augment general
ventilation. Rather than relying on these
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/DAVIDE LOVATTI,
being turned on/off manually or coming on

automatically with a light, install fans that
have a humidity sensor. As moisture levels
JAMES MERRELL, DAN DUCHARS, BRENT DARBY
rise, the fan comes on and extracts the

moist air, drawing in fresh air from outside.
TOP Positive Input Once the humidity levels drop, it stops.
Ventilation in a loft Having some control over where and
improves air quality when you need to ventilate is the key.
in bedrooms Air-quality monitors are perfect to work out
ABOVE AND when to open trickle vents or crack open a
RIGHT Extractor
fans with humidity window. Engaging with them will help you
sensors work become aware of how internal air quality
well in bathrooms changes according to your actions, the
and kitchens seasons/weather and how to manage it. n

RENOVATION
PROJECT PLANNING
small kitchen
extensions
LOOKING FOR DESIGN IDEAS THAT WON’T GUZZLE UP
YOUR ENTIRE GARDEN OR BANK BALANCE? HERE’S HOW
TO MAKE A BIG SUCCESS ON A SMALL SCALE
FIT IN AN ISLAND
An island can add a lot
to small extension –
extra seating, worktop
and storage space
– but make sure there’s
enough room to move
around it freely

M
ost people can achieve of design at Harvey Jones (harveyjones.
impressive kitchen com), points to the importance of early
extensions when size planning. ‘One of the most common
isn’t an issue, but mistakes when designing a small kitchen
there’s something extension is leaving the choice of
extra special and kitchen until late into the building
satisfying about a design that’s had to project,’ she says. ‘Planning the layout
work hard to make every inch count. and must-have features should be done
If you have some garden to spare, it alongside your architect and/or builder.
could be put to better use with a space- Often a few small architectural tweaks
boosting, light-filled extension. A small at the planning stage can make a huge
kitchen extension that’s well planned can difference to functionality and flow.’
transform the functionality and enjoyment Here, we’ve gathered lots of kitchen
of your home. If you are planning an extension ideas for small spaces to help
extension with a view to sell, work out if you get the most out of every inch.
the costs stack up against how much
value it will add to your property. A local 1. PITCH THE ROOF
estate agent can help with the maths. When adding a small kitchen extension,
Don’t forget to include less obvious one of the first decisions will be whether
expenses, such as rent if you’ll have to to go for a flat or pitched roof. Often
move out while the work goes on. Check the position of upstairs windows, or
that your services can supply a bigger planning permission rules, will make
house: a new boiler or fuse board may be the decision for you. But, if you have the
required. In older properties, the electrics option, there are plenty of advantages
and/or plumbing may need upgrading to choosing a pitched roof.
throughout to ensure that the extension Pitched roofs tend to be easier to
complies with building regulations. keep watertight than flat, and usually
Currently, it is virtually impossible to harness more sunlight throughout
put a figure on building costs, but with the day. They can be easier to insulate
prices of materials soaring, downscaling too, which will help to keep your
your extension ambitions is a good way kitchen warm in the winter and cool
to control the budget. Whatever its in the summer. ‘Inside, a pitched roof
dimensions, an extension is only worth extension feels bigger, especially if
what you’re willing and able to pay. there are generous skylights installed.
To harness the full potential of a small The benefit of height will compensate GLAZE OVER
kitchen extension, Melissa Klink, head for a lack of width in a small kitchen
Large expanses of
glass will make the
room feel larger
ADD COLOUR
It’s a great way to give
the separate space its extension,’ says designer Jane Powell of
own personality Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com).
2. ADD A CONSERVATORY
A conservatory-style extension can
prove a huge advantage if your kitchen
is spatially challenged. Conservatory
kitchens can also be easier to get
through planning control and may be
worth discussing as a Plan B if you’ve had
a regular extension turned down. A small
kitchen can gain a new dining space,
extra storage and lots of natural light by
adding a conservatory, transforming it
into a brighter, versatile living area.
3. BRIDGE THE DIVIDE

Achieving a smooth transition between
your property and a new extension can
be tricky, especially if the extension in
question only equates to one half of a

RENOVATION
kitchen. Continuing the cabinetry around

structural steel supports that divide old NEED TO KNOW
PLANNING PERMISSION
and new can help unite the two spaces.
‘A layout with an island can be effective
for small kitchen extensions as the island
will draw the eye down, away from any n You will most likely need planning detached,’ says Anna Parker,
awkward architectural moments. Wall permission if your home is listed, is in director of Intervention Architecture
cabinets in dark finishes can also help an area of special interest, is a flat/ (interventionarchitecture.com).
vertical joists fade into the background,’ maisonette or has had its permitted n To keep within PDRs, the
says Simon Bodsworth, managing director development rights (PDRs) revoked. extension should be less than 4m
at Daval Furniture (daval-furniture.co.uk). n However, in most cases, a small, high, or 3m if within 2m of a
uncomplicated kitchen extension property boundary, and not taller
4. GO LONG will not require full planning than the ridge of the existing house.
A long lean-to side extension needn’t be permission to legally proceed. n For full guidance on what can
very deep in order to accommodate an ‘It’s always worth checking your be achieved under PDRs, check
entire kitchen. Carrying bold colours property’s permitted development with your local planning office.
right up to the ceiling can also help to rights, especially if you are not n Even if your proposed extension
make a kitchen-diner feel like one large, looking to extend more than four complies with PDR guidelines, you
cohesive space. ‘Opting for open shelving metres from the rear wall of an will still need to obtain building
rather than wall cabinets will avoid attached house, or six metres if regulations approval.
closing in the sense of airiness,’ says

RENOVATION
PLAN IT WELL around it can prove more obstacle than

asset, but increasing a kitchen’s footprint
A clever compact
with a lean-to glazed extension could be
design can bring many
the answer. Often this type of project
benefits, from adding
comes under permitted development
a dining area to
boosting natural light rights, saving time and money.
An island doesn’t need to be huge to
have a big effect on functionality. Aim
for at least one deep (60cm) cabinet for
useful storage and add a small overhang
for breakfast bar seating and space to
spread out when baking. ‘Rounding the
corners of an island will improve flow,
while helping to soften the look,’ says
Stephen Nash, founder of All & Nxthing
Interiors (allandnxthing.com).
8. THINK CLEARLY
Glass extensions don’t have to be Grand
Designs-worthy structures to make an
impact. ‘Mid-terrace Victorian properties
typically have small kitchens with limited
natural light and small garden plots,’
says Michelle Martin, senior executive at
IQ Glass (iqglassuk.com). ‘A small but
well-executed glass extension provides
a great solution, allowing natural light to
flood in, magnifying the space and
enhancing well-being and comfort.’
9. BUILD IN SEATING
A built-in window seat in a small kitchen
extension makes a lot of sense. ‘It can
form one side of the seating around a
table, which prevents floor space being
taken up by chairs,’ says architect Brian
“
O’Tuama (brianotuama.com). ‘Drawers
can be incorporated under the seat,
even a tiny extension

providing practical storage. And a
window seat is a nice place to relax
”
can transform the way
and feel connected to the outdoors.’
Another option for gaining a window
you live in your home

seat without a full extension is an oriel
window. ‘These are protruding windows
that are supported off the exterior wall.
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/
cabinetmaker Jack Trench ( jacktrench. in summer. Slimline frames will offer They don’t extend to the ground, so do
co.uk). ‘You could also go for deeper better views when closed, while outward not require foundations, which results in
base units to gain more counter space.’ opening bi-folds won’t take up valuable quite a cost-effective way to gain a little
floor space inside. Go for flush-fitting more useful space inside,’ Brian adds.
5. WORK THE WALLS tracks to reduce trip hazards and use
Incorporating the original stone wall as the same flooring inside and out to 10. ZONE FROM ABOVE
a design feature in your kitchen means achieve a seamless transition. ‘Consider Skylights and roof lanterns are popular
CHRIS SNOOK, DAVID GILES, EMMA LEWIS
no precious cooking space is wasted on an integral blind system, permanently features in kitchen extensions, especially
wall cladding and/or plasterwork. Coat sealed within the double-glazing cavity, those lacking regular windows. However,
exposed stone walls with a clear sealant to protect your kitchen from the glare glazing in the ceiling can be about far
to achieve a hygienic, non-porous and heat of the sun,’ recommends Steve more than boosting the natural light
surface that’s easy to wipe clean. Bromberg, managing director of Express levels. With careful positioning, skylights
Bi-folding Doors (expressbifolds.co.uk). can be used to zone the room, helping
6. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN to create definition and purpose in a
A generous stretch of bi-folding doors 7. MAKE ROOM FOR AN ISLAND multi-use space. Full-width roof windows
will open up your small kitchen to the Dreaming of an island but short on space? or a single skylight can draw the eye
garden, effectively expanding the space An island with too little room to move through the room towards the kitchen. n

RENOVATION
Taking up only
26sq m, the new
extension exploits
the internal space
with varying levels
and a high ceiling
EXTENSION PROJECT
Smart split
ALEX RIDER, FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF RIDER STIRLAND
ARCHITECTS, EXPLAINS HOW A MULTI-LEVEL EXTENSION
HAS CREATED COHESION IN A DISJOINTED PROPERTY BEFORE

HOME NOTES
HOMEOWNERS
Mark and Gabi Ireland live
here with their three children.
PROPERTY
A five-bedroom 1960s
property in Buckinghamshire.
ARCHITECT
Rider Stirland Architects
(riderstirland.com)
BUILDERS
AYG Construction
(07590 011607)
TOTAL COST
£300,000
take up much more space garden from every one of

THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION than the conservatory did. the ground-floor spaces.
The existing ‘To make way for the new ‘The layout places the ‘The owners’ request for
conservatory
extension we demolished kitchen between the a low-maintenance facade
the rear conservatory,’ says original house and the was met with charred
felt detached Alex Rider of Rider Stirland
Architects. ‘We also removed
extension, like a bridge
between old and new.
timber cladding, while all
the windows and doors
from the house one of the two garages Following the natural slope to the house have been
and was rarely

and transformed it into of the site, we made the replaced with black framed
PHOTOGRAPHS FRENCH+TYE
FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI
a utility space that now most of the double-height units to tie in with the new
used as it was connects directly to the
main building. The new
space to create a library
mezzanine and install a
scheme. The extension
is highly insulated and
either too hot extension is 10 metres long wood-burning stove too. features composite glazing,
or too cold
and, sited perpendicular The configuration also as well as a clay tiled roof
to the property, doesn’t means you can access the with black zinc detailing.’

RENOVATION
The kitchen is bright FOCUS ON

Mezzanines
and airy with muted
hues that complement
the overall scheme
Architect Alex Rider shares his expert design advice
1 MAX YOUR SPACE need more natural light and

Zone a large area to new window openings or will
4
create a distinctly artificial illumination suffice?
separate area. Even a small FOCUS ON USE
mezzanine can help maximise Design the space with
the space you have, giving its purpose in mind –
2
you a room within a room. a library will have different
USE THE HEIGHT requirements from a bedroom
5
Ensure that you have or living area, for instance.
enough head height CONSIDER THE
within the mezzanine itself STAIRS TOO
as well as sufficient space Make a feature of
3
for the stairs to access it. the balustrade. There is
LIGHT IT WELL a wide variety of options
Consider how you will available, from metal and
light the area: will you masonry to timber.
Wide stairs ensure

a strong sense of
visual and physical
connection between
the different levels
The open balustrade

to the mezzanine
allows light to filter
through the space
It pays to live in a property

before doing major works so
you can understand and even
exploit its characteristics
ALEX RIDER, FOUNDING DIRECTOR,
RIDER STIRLAND ARCHITECTS

PROJECT PLANNING
sliding doors
FANCY UNINTERRUPTED GARDEN VIEWS AND EASY ACCESS TO THE
OUTDOORS? INSTALLING SLIDING DOORS COULD BE THE ANSWER
INSIDE OUT
If your home enjoys
IN ASSOCIATION WITH spectacular views,
sliding doors will help
to make the most
of them, and are
more suitable for
larger expanses
RENOVATION
BALANCED VIEW
Here, a sliding door
with three panels by
Origin complements
the garden design
perfectly.
W
hether you’re and need stacking space when opening. NEED TO KNOW
planning a kitchen
extension or just want
‘Sliding doors offer greater control than
bifold doors as they can be opened to PICK THE
to upgrade existing
patio doors, you
add just an inch of fresh air, if desired,
or a couple of feet to pop outside,’ says PERFECT
might be wondering
whether sliding doors are worth the
Ryan. However, it’s worth noting that
sliding doors won’t open up as much
FRAME
hype – and the investment. We asked as bifold doors. The material you choose
the experts for their advice. for your door frames can
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? transform your space
SLIDING VS BIFOLD DOORS ‘The costs of sliding and bifold doors n UPVC This is the most
‘Sliding doors are made up of two to six are comparable, but vary significantly affordable option, but the frames
panels of glass, which slide sideways depending on the specifications,’ says will be thick for strength.
along a track, as opposed to bifold Victoria Brocklesby, chief operating n TIMBER Go for hardwood or
doors, which fold concertina-style,’ officer, Origin (origin-global.com). ‘Size engineered timber if your
explains Ryan Schofield, managing is the biggest factor that impacts cost. If budget allows. If you choose
director, Thames Valley Window you need a bigger door, it will cost more softwood, make sure there’s a
Company (tvwindows.com). ‘They can be to manufacture, install and deliver.’ Your decent guarantee as these can
designed in a choice of configurations, installer will be able to recommend the be a little more flimsy. Frames
or even lift-and-slide variations for ease best value option for your build. can be stained or painted
of operation with heavier panels.’ – usually in any RAL colour.
Sliding doors naturally require less WHAT ARE THE SIZE OPTIONS? n ALUMINIUM This offers the
space than traditional doors, which The width of a sliding door ranges from slimmest profile, which equals
swing forwards when they open. Bifold 0.8m to 3m. Height also has an impact virtually uninterrupted views.
“
doors subdivide the glass multiple times – if the glass is very tall, it can’t be as They are more costly, but could
be worth the extra if you want
Sliding doors help

sliding doors that blend
seamlessly into your kitchen.
”
to create versatile and
Aluminium is powder-coated,
which is low maintenance and
open spaces
the colour options are vast.

RENOVATION
FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/COLIN

POOLE, RICHARD GADSBY, DOUGLAS GIBB; ANDY SHENNAN
CLEAR ACCESS
While sliding doors
can never open fully,
they can be designed
to give as wide an
“
opening as possible
”
sliding doors link inside and out
while using minimal internal space
wide. You also need to consider weight. remember that bifold doors are
An automated opening system is considered more versatile in terms of LET IN THE LIGHT
recommended for doors over 600kg. where they can be placed, and they fold
Sliding doors make a
‘If you have more than 4m in width, we back completely to offer more space for
smaller space brighter
recommend sliding doors,’ says Steve people to walk through. and seem bigger
Bromberg, general manager, Express ‘Bifold doors can also be installed with
Bi-folding Doors (expressbifolds.co.uk). either a level or weathered threshold,
whereas a sliding patio door cannot
WHAT ABOUT THE FIT? have a level threshold,’ says Victoria at
To keep the doors sliding smoothly, it’s Origin. ‘A level threshold removes trip
important that the walls above don’t hazards, creating a seamless transition
transfer any weight onto the door frame – a great option for those looking to
– a steel support beam may be required make homes as accessible as possible.’
in wide openings. The floor also needs
to be solid, to keep the tracks straight ARE SLIDING DOORS
and level. Lift-and-slide runners, with A GOOD INVESTMENT?
heavy-duty bearings, are preferable. Sliding doors make a small kitchen seem
The fitting process is critical; if the bigger, as they maximise light and help
sliding doors aren’t installed correctly, create the illusion of more space. They
you’ll know about it at some point down are worth considering if you’re looking
the line, even if they work fine at first. for a more budget-friendly alternative to
a full-blown kitchen extension.
ANY DISADVANTAGES? ‘Sliding doors are a great option for
If you know you want a clear view of the anyone looking to create versatile and
garden and doors that save on space, a open spaces, perfect for entertaining or
sliding design could be for you. Though for accessibility needs,’ says Victoria. n

open house
BREAK UP YOUR SPACE WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON NATURAL
LIGHT WITH ORIGIN’S NEW INTERNAL DOORS
Block out sound

to your home
office with
Origin’s glazed
internal doors
Screen off a
utility room with
O
ur homes have become so much small rooms that feel dull and dark. The reeded glass
more than just a place to sleep frames have a classic steel frame look,
and eat. We’re entertaining at but as they’re made from aluminium,
home more, and many of us now work they’re far more affordable and can be
remotely, too. These behavioural fitted with your choice of clear, frosted or
changes have transformed the way we reeded glass. This means you can have
live – while once homeowners knocked the doors installed in a wide range of
down internal walls to create open spaces, from living rooms and home
spaces, everyone is now longing for a offices, to utility rooms and bathrooms.
more broken plan layout. Yet as we
divide up our rooms, the natural flow of MAKE THEM YOUR OWN
light from windows and skylights to the The elegant steel-look frames are
rest of a home is inevitably interrupted. customisable, with the option to add
Thankfully, Origin has the perfect as many horizontal or vertical bars as
solution. Its new OI-30 internal door you wish. Want a traditional look? FOR MORE INFORMATION
range is designed to help you separate Add more bars. Prefer a contemporary
your home into practical spaces without style? Keep them to a minimum. To see our complete range or to find your
compromising on natural light. Available as a single or French door, or nearest showroom, visit origin-global.com
couple with a corner post to create an
A CLEAR WINNER entirely new space. Fixed screens are also
The new OI-30 internal door range available. Choose from over 150 RAL
allows you to separate areas of your colours, so there’s a look to suit every
home and provide protection from style. Plus, they come with a 20-year
noise and distraction, without creating guarantee, giving you peace of mind.
Buying guide
Steam cleaners
HARNESS THE POWER OF STEAM TO
GET THE SURFACES IN YOUR HOME
LOOKING SPICK AND SPAN THIS SPRING
BEFORE YOU BUY

n Steam cleaners come in three models:
mop, convertible (or two-in-one) and
cylinder. A steam mop is the best option
if you plan to use it only to clean your
floors, as they tend to be the most
lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Convertible versions are upright
steam mops with a detachable steam
generator in the centre that can be used
as a smaller, separate hand-held cleaner.
Cylinder cleaners generate a constant
flow of powerful steam, which is perfect
for tackling almost any surface, but
they are generally more expensive
and bulkier than the mop designs.
n Because they use such high-powered
Live in a hard water

steam, these appliances are perfect
for cleaning and sanitising a whole host
area? Always use

of surfaces in your home, not just floors.
To get the most for your money, invest
filtered or distilled
in a mop with attachments that will
extend to hard-to-reach areas, such
water in your steam

as hobs or behind the fridge.
n Large cleaning heads are perfect
cleaner to reduce
for gliding over wide expanses of
flooring – ideal for open-plan kitchens.
limescale build-up
But they can be a bit tricky when
cleaning into corners, so a mid-sized
head is probably a better option.
GINEVRA BENEDETTI,
n Pricewise, steam mops tend to start
DEPUTY EDITOR
at £50, with convertible mops costing
around £150. Cylinder models have
far more steam power and can set you
back upwards of £300.
n Steam cleaners are ideal for use on
ceramic and porcelain tiles, and even
lino. They’re also fine to use on sealed
hardwood timber flooring, provided
you can reduce the steam to its lowest
setting. If a model has one set steam
temperature, don’t use it on wooden
flooring. Also avoid using a steam
cleaner on laminates, vinyl, bamboo,
cork or any unglazed tiling. If in doubt,
check with your flooring manufacturer
before buying a steam cleaner.

WHAT TO BUY
BEST FOR POWER Tried &Tested

POLTI VAPORETTO We believe that any product
SMART 100_B should be simple to use, stand
the test of time, look good and
CAPACITY 2ltr DIMENSIONS H52.4x
work brilliantly to make your
W32.4xD32.4cm WEIGHT 5kg
life easier. Our testing team put
POWER 1,500 watts PRICE £229
each product through its paces
This model is super powerful: even on it’s
at home, over several weeks,
lowest setting, the steam it produces
pitting them against everyday
matches that of most steam mops. You can
stow the head and two-part tube when situations. Those products that
not in use and there’s onboard storage for make the mark are awarded
tools. It comes with a squeegee with a cloth a star rating. And
cover for upholstery, a floor glider and one the very best are EST.
ES T. 1920
cleaning pad, plus a scraper, concentrator awarded our
and two sizes of nylon brush. Despite ‘Ideal Home
weighing 5kg, the arm is easy to use – ideal Approved’ APPROVED
for reaching high areas such as windows, 
recommendation.
walls and curtains. It’s great for tiled walls
too, so if you hate cleaning your bathroom,
this may be the model for you.
REASONS TO BUY
It’s very powerful and
features a large water tank.
REASON TO AVOID
Expensive purchase.
RATING 5/5
BEST OVERALL
VAX STEAM FRESH COMBI
CAPACITY 460ml DIMENSIONS
H116xW31xD30cm WEIGHT 3.7kg
BEST FOR HARD FLOORS POWER 1,600 watts PRICE £89.99
KÄRCHER SC 2 UPRIGHT
EASYFIX This superb upright steam mop has a
triangular floorhead, two cloths, a carpet
CAPACITY 400ml DIMENSIONS H119x glider and plenty of tools, promising
W17xD31cm WEIGHT 2.5kg POWER value for money from the outset.
1,600 watts PRICE £70 You can pop off the head to reveal a
Powerful and easy to control, this model medium-sized triangular brush that’s
has no carpet attachments, but its stick perfect for scrubbing. This model
design is pleasing for those who love never let us down during testing; in
convenience. It comes with only one fact, one of our testers found it difficult
microfibre pad, so there is no spare to step away from and went looking
for when the pad is in the wash. We around her home for other things
found that this was very effective on that she could clean with it. It features
hard floors, with strong steam that a 200ml detergent tank and a bottle
lifts dirt with ease. The descaling of detergent is included. Our tester
also liked the fact that this model
PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM/DARREN CHUNG
cartridge tackles limescale in tap

water, and the machine alerts can stand up independently when
you when it’s time to replace it. you need to pause cleaning.
REASONS TO BUY
FEATURE CARAMEL QUIN AND MOLLY CLEARY
REASON TO BUY
The slim and nifty design is There’s a glider for refreshing carpets,
great on hard floors. plus onboard tools.
REASON TO REASON TO AVOID
AVOID It’s not the best model for
No carpet glider. ease of manoeuvring.
RATING 4/5 RATING 5/5
FOR MORE STEAM CLEANERS, VISIT IDEALHOME.CO.UK/BUYING-GUIDES-REVIEWS

HOUSE MANUAL
NO-NONSENSE SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY HASSLES
SAVE ENERGY
Pigeon-proof
your solar panels
For solar panels to work efficiently they need to
be clean to ensure they let in as much sunlight
as possible. This can prove tricky if you have a
pigeon problem. If you find your panels are
being soiled or damaged, take action
immediately. Start by installing a solar panel
mesh. This wraps around the outer edge of your
panels, stopping any creatures getting comfy
underneath or standing on top. If this doesn’t
work, consider installing spikes. This may sound
cruel, but modern options aren’t sharp, they just
protrude awkwardly from the roof. This is just
enough to make it too uncomfortable for
pigeons to land and hang around, but not harsh
enough to cause any actual harm. It also means
they can be fairly low-profile so you wouldn’t ORGANISING
Sort cupboards
notice them too much from ground level, if at all.
1
Make the most of your kitchen cabinet space
MAINTENANCE
How do I refresh
TACKLE BLIND CORNERS
Q
For cabinets where it’s hard to reach
2
my tile grout?
inside, install a carousel unit so the
shelves swivel out when open.
Using an electric grout remover (you can hire one), RETHINK WHERE AND HOW
fit the rake into a line of grout, starting in the middle YOU STORE STUFF
of a tile, and draw it along the line. Next, mix the new Take everything out and restock the
grout – only as much as you can use in 20 minutes – contents, storing non-essentials on the
and apply it with a scraper or grout trowel, using the lower shelves. Introduce organiser
spreader to work it into the lines and going over racks – similar to a toast rack – to slot in
3
the tiles with the edge to remove the excess. Use a flat items like baking trays and pot lids
damp sponge to wipe the tile clean and leave to individually for easier access.
harden for about 30 minutes. Run the rounded
end of a grout finisher along the lines to tidy. HANG SPRAY BOTTLES ON A RAIL
Leave to dry for several hours, then use a clean Fix a length of spring tension rod
cloth to clean any residue off the tiles. (around £8, Amazon) in your under-sink
cupboard. You can then hook cleaning
spray bottles on it, keeping them out of
the way of the rest of the contents.

DIGITAL
Trade in
your tech
AMAZON LIKEWIZE (AMAZONTRADEINUK.
LIKEWIZE.COM)
Trade in your tablet or smart watch for cash via
this Amazon partner. Fill in the form, logging its
serial number and noting any damage, and you’ll
get an instant quote. They’ll pay for shipping, too.
CURRYS (CURRYS.CO.UK)
From tablets, smartphones and laptops to
consoles and smart watches, you can trade in any
device (it doesn’t have to have been bought at
PROPERTY
Should I
Q
Currys) and receive a gift card in return.
share to buy?
MUSIC MAGPIE (MUSICMAGPIE.CO.UK)
As well as old CDs, Music Magpie will also buy old
smartphones, laptops, games consoles, Kindles Designed to help buyers who are
and GoPro devices. Get an instant quote, send unable to afford a house on the open
your device for free and you’ll receive payment to market, shared ownership gives you
your bank account the day they receive it. the opportunity to get on the property
ladder. Often referred to as the part
Never miss a delivery with a

own, part rent scheme, you pay a
mortgage on the share that you own,
smart parcel box (from £139.99,

also paying rent to the housing
association on the remaining share.
smartparcelbox.co.uk) which The pros include the fact that a lower

deposit is needed and you’ll only
keeps your package in a locked need a mortgage for the share that
you own. At the end of the day,
compartment until you get home. regardless of what percentage you
own, shared ownership allows you to
become an owner-occupier and you
can eventually own the property
CLEANING outright. In most cases, you are able
to buy more shares in the property.
How to hire
FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI, LUKE EDWARDS, SOPHIE VENING, LISA FAZZANI
The process is known as ‘staircasing’.

On the downside, there may be
a cleaner
hidden costs as different housing
associations charge different rents.
Then, if the property is a leasehold,
Word of mouth is always the there are likely to be service charges,
best recommendation, so if you can hire too. Although buyers are allowed to
someone that your friends, neighbours or family decorate, there may be restrictions
use (and rate!), that’s ideal. If not, you can either on what is allowed and you may have
hire privately – check Gumtree or local Facebook to seek permission from the housing
groups – or via an agency (try Homeclean or provider if you’re planning structural
Taskrabbit). Always ask for their rates (expect to
ILLUSTRATIONS EMMA JACKSON
changes. If you decide to sell, your

pay between £10 and £18 an hour, depending on home has to be valued by an
where you live) and for at least three references. independent expert and is marketed via
Be clear on the jobs that you’d like them to do the housing association for around
so there’s no confusion and whether you or they eight weeks. If there are no takers, only
will supply cleaning products. And always agree then can you sell it on the open market.
on a notice period so you’re both covered should
either party’s circumstances change.

TECH SOLUTIONS
SMART ECOSYSTEMS
Simplify your life by

controlling all of your
smart home devices
using a single system
I
f smart home tech is all about using
automation to make life easier,
shouldn’t using them be a simple
process, too? That’s where smart
ecosystems – single-control centres
through which you can manage all of your smart
home devices – come into play. Here, we explain
ecosystems and how linking all your tech to one will
make your smart home work super smoothly. Alexa’ or ‘works with Apple Home’,
and so on. For instance, a Netatmo smart thermostat,
WHY WOULD I NEED ONE? a Tapo smart plug and a WiZ smart light all work
If you’re starting a smart home setup from scratch, with the Google Home ecosystem. When you’ve
it’s advisable to buy from the same brand wherever purchased a new device, you will need to download
possible so you can control everything using a single the product’s app to activate it, but after that you can
app. However, this isn’t always an option – you may link the product to your ecosystem of choice and
already have some devices from a variety of brands never bother with the device’s app again.
installed or you may prefer the look or functionality It’s also super-useful if you have two products from
of a device from another company. This is where a different companies that do the same thing. If you
smart ecosystem can make life a whole lot easier. have smart lights from Philips Hue and Lifx in the
Every time you buy a smart home product, you same room, they can still be controlled from one
need to download the brand’s app to set up and ecosystem, either as a group or individually, allowing
control the device. Perhaps you own a Philips Hue you to set up routines and schedules.
smart light, a Ring doorbell and a Swann video
camera? All three require you to download an app. DO I NEED THE ECOSYSTEM APP?
By linking the different products to one ecosystem, Not necessarily. Yes, you’ll have to link them all up
you can control them without jumping between apps. using one ecosystem app, but you can control them
FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI ILLUSTRATION EMMA JACKSON
by voice control. Furthermore, the addition of a hub

WHAT ECOSYSTEMS ARE THERE? device (such as Apple’s HomePod Mini, £99, or Apple
The three leading ecosystem apps are Amazon TV 4K, from £149; Google’s Nest Hub, £90; Amazon’s
(Alexa), Apple (Apple Home) and Google Assistant Echo Show, £55) will give everyone in your household
(Google Home). You can link third-party devices to access to voice control, and even security camera
these apps – not just the devices made by them – views on demand if your hub features a screen.
and control them all on your smartphone, sharing
the app with other household members. There are
other ecosystems, such as IFTTT (If This Then That)
and Samsung’s SmartThings, but they tend to have
Not sure if your product
less compatibility than the three big hitters. works with your ecosystem?
HOW DO THEY WORK? A quick Google search
should reveal its compatibility
Before you buy a smart home product, find out
which ecosystem it works with – most devices will
work with two or more. It’ll be labelled ‘works with

HOUSE MANUAL
MONEY MATTERS
IDEAL HOME’S COLUMNIST AND DIGITAL EDITOR OF MONEYWEEK.COM
KALPANA FITZPATRICK SHARES HER FINANCIAL WISDOM
ISAs - how to make

them work for you
Whether you’re saving for a new LIFETIME ISA
extension or a rainy day, having the If you’re a first-time buyer, and aged
backing of a savings pot will help. And 18-39, then you may want to think
as we approach the new tax year (on about putting your money into a
6 April), now is the time to make the Lifetime ISA (LISA) where you can earn
most of your ISA allowance, which can a 25% bonus from the government
help you save in a tax-efficient way. on savings up to £4,000 per tax
year. So, if you manage to save the maximum
WHAT IS AN ISA? £4,000, you can earn £1,000 from the
Put simply, an ISA (individual savings accounts) is a government. Remember, a LISA can only be used
tax-efficient savings account, where any money you to purchase your first home or towards your
earn in interest or investment return is not taxable. retirement. Find out more at gov.uk/lifetime-isa.
There are basically two categories of ISAs: a cash
one, where you earn interest just as you do in a HELP TO BUY ISA
cash savings account, and stocks and shares, in Help to Buy ISAs were launched in 2015 to help
which your money is invested in the stock market. first-time buyers with a 25% bonus on savings up
to £12,000 – worth £3,000. Unfortunately, you
CASH ISA can’t open a Help to Buy ISA any more, but if you
If your aim is to save for the short to medium term, have one, you can pay into it until November
a cash ISA makes sense. When considering one, 2029, and you have until 30 December to claim the
shop around for the best interest rate. If you get a bonus. Find out more at gov.uk/help-to-buy-isa.
variable/flexible cash ISA, beware the rate can
change but you can withdraw money and then JUNIOR ISA
replace it without it affecting the tax-free allowance. A Junior ISA (JISA) lets you save up to £9,000 for
your child per tax year. Once you put money into
FIXED RATE ISA a JISA, the money legally belongs to the child and
If you pick this, you basically agree to lock your only they will have access to it when they are 18.
money away for a set period (one, two or three
years) with a guaranteed interest rate at the end
of the term as long as you do not withdraw the An ISA is a tax-efficient way to
money. If you already have one, it may be worth
save money, where any money
earned in interest isn’t taxable
paying the penalty and moving to a better paying
ISA as interest rates have gone up in the last year.
STOCKS AND SHARES ISA

If you’re looking to save for your long-term future,
say five years or more, then there is potential to
What else to consider
ILLUSTRATION EMMA JACKSON
have better growth in a stocks and shares ISA. n The ISA allowance for tax year 2023/24 is the
One of the easiest ways to start is to pick what is same as the current tax year at £20,000.
known as a robo-adviser such as Wealthify, n A tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the
Nutmeg, or Moneybox. Robo-advisers basically following year. If you do not use your allowance
pick investments for you based on your risk each tax year, you lose it. It does not roll over so try
attitude. The longer you invest, the greater to make the most of this allowance each tax year.
the potential of growth is. But do remember, n Kalpana’s book Invest Now: The Simple Guide to
investments can go down as well as up. Boosting Your Finances is available now

FIND YOUR ZEN WITH MONTHLY
COLUMNIST FEARNE COTTON
b
ack in the 1980s, I used to love to
take a bath at my Nan Sylvia’s house
in Wembley. For a start, the floor was
carpeted in a thick pink shag-pile
and the bath was on a platform.
You felt like Cleopatra walking up to
that tub. From memory, the bathroom fittings wall is a fabulous print of flying leopards by
were all blush pink, too. It couldn’t have been any Emma J Shipley. It’s gone from being a dull room
more retro if it tried. that I would rush in and out of with my toothbrush
In our own house in the 1990s, my Dad, who in hand, to a vibrant, print-fest of joy.
is very handy, wood-panelled the bottom half of Interior designer Sophie Robinson, who I follow
the bathroom walls and varnished them, making on Instagram, has definitely inspired me to be much
them the colour of toffee. Then he wallpapered the braver with colours and patterns and to make each
top half with geometric prints. It was a cacophony corner of every room, even a bathroom, as bold and
of colours and shapes. interesting as possible. So when it comes to
“
After this, bathrooms got a bit boring, if you ask expressing your personality through décor, just
me. All a bit beige. I’m not suggesting we bring don’t forget your bathroom!
It’s gone from being

back pink carpet,
”
mainly because I seem
a dull room to a vibrant

to remember a slight
discomfort as your wet
print-fest of joy
foot sunk into the
PHOTOGRAPH ALEX CAMERON

carpet pile, post bath,
but I do think we can
give our bathrooms personality, just like we would PRINTS CHARMING
with any other room. ‘Neuro-diverse adults
create amazing art at
When we moved into our current family home,
Arthouse Unlimited’
the bathroom was VERY beige. A friend of mine SOFT TOUCH
who’s an interior designer, strained a fake smile ‘Cheeky Panda loo roll is
when she saw it and said it looked like it belonged skin- and eco-friendly!’
in a hotel. If you have seen how I like to dress, BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
‘Wallpaper by Emma
you’ll know I love colour and pattern, so the
J Shipley is up my street!’
comparison was swallowed bitterly. But for some
reason, it took me eight years to get moving with
the revamp of this space but sometimes you do
have to live with a room before you commit.
In a dramatic reaction to the hotel bathroom
comment, I’ve gone all-out with colour and
clashing prints in the new scheme – and I’m
so pleased with the results.
The floor tiles are dark blue with cream stars,
the dusty-pink wall tiles are narrow rectangles, LISTEN TO FEARNE’S HAPPY PLACE
fixtures are all gold and the wallpaper on one PODCAST ON YOUR FAVE PODCAST APP

HAPPY HOME
With everyone tightening their belts this

season, enjoy these budget-friendly delicious
recipes, courtesy of Gennaro Contaldo’s
latest book, Gennaro’s Cucina: Hearty
Money-Saving Meals from an Italian Kitchen
LINGUINE ALLA
PUTTANESCA
See page 166
for recipe

HAPPY HOME
PASTA E PISELLI
CREMOSI
See page 166
for recipe

FRITTELLE
DI RICOTTA
See page 166
for recipe
HAPPY HOME
Linguine alla puttanesca Pasta e piselli cremosi Frittelle di ricotta

Linguine with tomatoes, capers and Creamy pasta with peas Mini ricotta doughnuts
black olives
SERVES 4 READY IN 30 MIN MAKES ABOUT 40 READY IN 1 HR
SERVES 4 READY IN 35 MINS 20 MINS
● 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil ● 1 onion,
● 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil ● 4 garlic finely chopped ● 60g pancetta, finely ● 2 eggs ● 250g ricotta, drained ● 50g
cloves, lightly crushed and left whole chopped ● 360g frozen peas ● Approx. caster sugar, plus extra for rolling
● 4 anchovy fillets ● 1/2 red chilli, finely 1.5ltr hot vegetable stock ● 320g dried ● 100g plain flour or ‘00’ pasta flour,
chopped ● 40g capers ● 2 x 400g cans ditalini or tubetti pasta ● 50g grated sifted ● 8g (1/2 sachet) Paneangeli
chopped tomatoes ● Couple of pinches Parmesan cheese baking powder (or use 8g regular
1 Heat the olive oil in a large, deep frying
of dried oregano ● 80g pitted black baking powder) ● 1tsp vanilla extract
olives ● 320g dried linguine ● Handful ● Vegetable or sunflower oil, for
pan, add the onion and pancetta and
of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped deep-frying
cook over a medium heat for about
1 Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add 4 mins until the onion is softened and the 1 In a bowl, beat the eggs with a fork,
the garlic, anchovies, chilli and capers pancetta is golden. then add the ricotta and continue to beat
and sweat over a medium heat until the 2 Stir in the peas and cook for a minute. until well incorporated. Beat in the sugar,
anchovies have dissolved, about 2 mins. Add a couple of tablespoons of the stock flour, sifted baking powder and the vanilla.
2 Stir in the tomatoes, oregano and a and continue to cook over a medium 2 Heat plenty of oil in a pan suitable for
little salt to taste. Cover with a lid and heat for a couple of minutes until the deep-frying until hot, then add
cook over a medium-low heat for 15 mins. peas are cooked. teaspoonfuls of the mixture and deep-fry
Stir in the olives and continue to cook for 3 Remove from the heat and pour half of for a couple of minutes until golden. You
a further 10 mins. the mixture into a blender, then whizz will have to work in batches and keep an
3 In the meantime, bring a large pot of until smooth. eye on the oil; if you find the doughnuts
salted water to the boil, add the linguine 4 Return the blended mixture to the pan get brown too quickly, reduce the heat.
and cook according to the packet with the whole peas, place over the heat, The doughnuts need to be golden on the
instructions until al dente. stir in the pasta and pour in the outside and cooked and fluffy on the inside.
4 Drain the linguine, reserving a little of remaining stock. Bring to the boil and 3 Remove and drain using a slotted
the pasta cooking water, then add both continue to cook over a medium-high spoon, then place each batch on kitchen
to the tomato sauce. Cook over a high heat until the pasta is al dente (check the paper to absorb the excess oil. Repeat
to make the remaining doughnuts (you’ll
RECIPES GENNARO CONTALDO PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID LOFTUS
heat for a minute, mixing well. cooking time on the pasta packet).
5 Remove from the heat, discard the 5 Remove from the heat and stir in the make about 40 in total).
garlic, then stir in the parsley and serve grated Parmesan, then check for 4 Place a little caster sugar in a dish and
immediately. seasoning and add a little salt and toss the cooked doughnuts in the sugar
pepper, if required. Serve immediately. to coat. These are delicious served warm.
n Find these
recipes and more in

Gennaro’s Cucina:
Hearty Money-
Saving Meals from
an Italian Kitchen by
Gennaro Contaldo
(£25, published by
Pavilion Books).

GARDEN EXPERT SARAH RAVEN EXPLAINS
THE INS AND OUTS OF PERFECTING THE
RIGHT PLANT COLOURS FOR YOUR PLOT
O nce you get your garden colour right,

with a palette you love, you’ll be
revelling in it every day. But equally,
when it’s wrong, it will hit you and your
visitors in the face. And there’s nowhere
that this is more true than in a small garden space.
very pale-coloured flowers in all my dappled shade. In
spring, white tulips (such as ‘Exotic Emperor’ and
‘Purissima’) or pale daffodils (‘Thalia’ and ‘Silver Chimes’)
and in summer and autumn, cosmos (‘Sonata White’),
Here are five wonderful colour palettes to try. creamy-white foxgloves, and the night-scented tobacco
The first one is the simple Monochrome Mix, while the plant Nicotiana sylvestris ‘Only the Lonely’.
next four suggestions all use colour combinations in quite
strictly segregated groups. And each palette will give COLOUR COMBINATIONS If you want a mix of
your garden a different character. colour, knowing when enough is enough is key. I have four
Do you want a velvety and enveloping feel (Dark & Rich)? mixed palettes which I know work, and sticking with any of
Or a stand-out look that’s crisp and smart (Soft & Cool)? these always delivers.
A place to be calm in, with soft, gentle ‘cashmere-jersey’
colours (Soft & Warm)? Or do you want your space to PALETTE 1: DARK & RICH This combination is my
excite you, to stimulate and pull you out there to have a original love, a rich family of colours — conker-brown,
look (Brilliant)? I love all five palettes — and they suit almost black, copper, vermilion (or red-orange), olive-green,
different sites and situations — but, to ensure colour emerald, deep purple, indigo and, most of all, crimson.
success, it’s good to stick to some rules. They suck up the light — I think of them as the velvet
colours that you want to wrap yourself in.
MONOCHROME MIX When designing a spring
garden, or giving it a seasonal boost, it’s a safe option to PALETTE 2: BRILLIANT Next come the bright colours:
go for just one colour in all its tones. Bear in mind, green blackcurrant, raspberry, strawberry, orange, lemon, lime
doesn’t really count as a garden colour. We are sort of blind and cobalt-blue. These tend to be translucent, like stained
to it, almost indifferent, like the white of a page. It’s not glass. They are joyful and light on their feet, but we need to
always true, but you can assume the take care not to get carried away. This
darker greens are largely neutral — a palette can descend quickly into a
background colour. So, into green add primary school jamboree.
just one colour. However, you need to be
more selective with where you put dark PALETTE 3: SOFT & WARM This
or very pale colours. If the flowers are vintage-style mix is where orange,
dark, they become invisible as the light brown, gold and crimson have had
gets low and create a black hole. plenty of white added to create shades
Whites on their own, however, can of peach, milky coffee, ivory, apricot,
work anywhere, but they’re super-useful coral and muted, smoky pink.
in the darker parts of the garden, shining
light into what can be gloomy — on the PALETTE 4: SOFT & COOL Finally,
north side of the house or tucked in Adding pots of white
there’s the cool mix, where purple, blue
Tulipa ‘Exotic Emperor’
on the shady side of a wall. You can have and Hyacinthus and yellow are softened by a graduating
the lightest scattering of another colour orientalis brightens up scale of white. This creates mauves, soft
(such as purple or blue) but the overall a dull patch of garden blues, blue-pinks and primrose, fading all
effect needs to be white. I use white or the way to white in its purest form.

HAPPY HOME
1 2
CHEAT SHEET…
Colour
palettes
1 DARK & RICH
This palette needs a sunny spot
and a splash of one other colour.
2 BRILLIANT
Bright oranges, pinks or purples
3 can go anywhere on their own, 4
or in careful combinations.
3 SOFT & WARM
With its vintage 1970s air, this is
easy and comforting to use.
4 SOFT & COOL
A tricky palette to mix with
others, it’s best kept on its own.
FEATURE SARAH RAVEN PHOTOGRAPHS JONATHAN BUCKLEY

| IDEAL HOME OFFER |
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N
ow that spring has sprung, range of home and lifestyle items,
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From balcony gardens and petite patios been tried and tested by Sarah at her YOUR DISCOUNT
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wealth of products to help you transform purchases between 1 March
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This month, she’s offering Ideal Home Whether you’re a green-fingered pro or
readers 20% off all online purchases. a garden novice, Sarah’s online store
has everything you need to give your

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previous purchases, offline orders, any discounted items, courses, open days, gift wrap, products purchased from the shop at Perch Hill or other retail outlets.
For full terms and conditions, visit sarahraven.com/terms.

tidy
HAPPY HOME
Deep drawers
house
are ideal for
towels, toiletries
and loo rolls
tidy
mind
GET YOUR BATHROOM IN
GOOD ORDER WITH THESE
ESSENTIAL IDEAS AND TIPS
START BY GOING THROUGH EACH
CUPBOARD, drawer and basket to sort out what
you actually use and need and what’s been lurking
for far too long. The kids’ old bath toys can be taken
to charity shops, threadbare towels can be used for
cleaning – and mouldy sponges must be chucked.
CHECK THAT TOILETRIES AND BEAUTY
PRODUCTS ARE IN DATE – there is a symbol don’t want there to be any excuse to just open a
on the back that suggests how long after opening it
cupboard or drawer and throw something in – it
should be kept. Get rid of everything that’s past its
needs to be placed in its dedicated ‘home’.
best, recycling any plastic packs and glass bottles.
LABEL EACH STORAGE CONTAINER so
INVEST IN CLEAR PLASTIC STORAGE everyone in the family knows where things should
CADDIES to slot inside cupboards, preferably go. If you have enough space, give each family
with straight sides to make the most of the shelf
member a drawer or shelf of their own so they can
space. Opting for clear storage will help you keep
keep all their essentials tidy and in one place.
track of what you have so you don’t double up
or suddenly run out of something you need. ENSURE THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF
HOOKS OR RAILS for towels. Extra towels can
GIVE EVERYTHING A HOME, from cotton be neatly stacked in the airing or linen cupboard,
buds and bubble bath to cleaning products. You
in deep drawers or on high shelves above the door.
GET A LAUNDRY BASKET that can hold dirty
clothes stripped off before a shower. There’ll be no
excuse for things to be left in a heap on the floor!
CLEAR WINNER
HIDDEN
SmartStore compact
SHELVES
clear box, £11, Homebase
Cubiko Black
PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
storage
mirror, £105, HANG IT UP
Beaumonde Southbourne
standing towel
rail, £130,
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH
Garden
LAUNDRY BIN
Trading
Gustos large
seagrass basket,
£65, Sazy

HAPPY HOME
Little Botanize
wallpaper in
Historic Sage,
£150 a roll,
Divine Savages
IDEAS FOR A SUSTAINABLE HOME
“
green & pleasant
Caesarstone Being inspired by nature simply wasn’t enough for
design duo Divine Savages, aka Jamie Watkins and
guarantees that the Tom Kennedy. They wanted to create something
materials it uses in its

unique using nature’s renewable resources, too. Part
of a second collaboration with the Natural History
”
surfaces are free of Museum are two new wallpapers – The Fierce and
the Fabulous and Little Botanize – inspired by the
unwanted chemicals flora and fauna that the museum is renowned for
cataloguing. The wallpapers have been created
using 79% renewable PLA fibres, plant-derived
thermoplastics, producing 30% less greenhouse
gases than traditional non-woven wallpaper.
This month...
REUSE Neat’s new Daily Shower Cleaner is
a plant-based, biodegradable formula that
prevents soap scum and limescale build-up.
Starter packs including the spray
cost £7, with refills just £2.50.
Post shower, just spritz and go
– no need to rinse!
RECYCLE Want to plant a
tree in an area of the world
Worktops and splashback
that needs it, then follow its life
in Topus 4023 concrete
online? Treedom will help you
quartz, £400sq m
do just that. From as little as
including installation,
£10.90, you can plant a tree in
Caesarstone
countries like Haiti, Cameroon
Buy once, buy well

and Kenya, watch it grow,
absorb CO2 and bear fruit.
REDUCE We love
Kitchen worktops – at least, those made from materials that are Dr Beckmann’s new range
of water-soluble laundry
both hardwearing and long-lasting – can be rather expensive. And

sheets called Magic
the last thing you need after forking out a fortune on a new worktop Leaves, in either Bio or
is to have it lose its durability over time. Caesarstone, manufacturers Non Bio (for sensitive
of beautiful quartz and porcelain surfaces, has just extended its skins). They leave your
warranty to cover its products for life, reassuring its customers clothes clean and smelling
that its sustainable surfaces will remain just as durable and as fresh and cost £4.50 for
beautiful as the day they were first installed. a pack of 25 sheets.

HAPPY HOME
Nothing
better than
being in a
bright, pretty
kitchen
HADLEY FREEMAN ON WHY
DECORATING YOUR HOME IN
THE RIGHT COLOURS CAN (AND
SHOULD) LIFT YOUR MOOD
I
read an article recently – not in broken: do you think a brown room will make
this fine magazine, obviously you feel better? Or imagine it’s a rainy night
– saying that we should all paint and your plans have fallen through: does the
our homes dark, sludgey colours. prospect of spending the evening in a grey flat
Brown was mentioned quite a reassure you? No and no, dear reader, it does
lot. Ditto grey. Not since the not. That’s why you need to decorate your
time I accidentally read something in home for when you’re at your worst, not when
“
the Daily Mail in 2016 arguing in favour you’re at your most delusional.
of Brexit have I disagreed This doesn’t mean
with an article so
strongly. No! What is this I believe your decorating your home like
a CBeebies set. Chucking a
madness? Is the British
sky not sufficiently house should be load of primary colours
around isn’t going to cheer
sludgey that you have
the most delightful you up, it will just give you
place you see every

to bring it inside? a headache. But equally, I
Few things depress me am no fan of what interior
day. And make you

more than a dark house. I decorators call ‘calming
know some people insist schemes’, with their
”
excited to come
that they’re dramatic, or boring beiges and limpid
grand, or I don’t know greens. No, I want punchy
home to it
what. But who wants colours to keep it
grand when you’re at interesting, but not so
home on a wet Sunday in I feel punched in the face.
February? No, what you want is cheering. Nothing better than being in a bright,
Cosy, sure. But cheering. And not the visual pretty kitchen on a dark afternoon, and who
equivalent of Mogadon. wouldn’t want to wake up in a bedroom with,
So many times I’ve made the mistake of say, pale-blue chinoiserie wallpaper? I believe
decorating a room for the person I want to be, your house should be the most delightful place
or for it to inspire admiration in others. But you see every day. Because that will make you
this totally misunderstands what we need excited to come home to it. n
from a home. Your home is a place you can
retreat to, and it will make you feel safe and JOURNALIST HADLEY FREEMAN WRITES FOR THE
well. Imagine that your heart has just been SUNDAY TIMES AND IS AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS

NEW
®
HANDBOOK
Plan the +26
PERFECT in-depth
LAYOUT advice
pages
EXPERT
KNOW-HOW
◆ Shower enclosures
◆ Statement taps
◆ Bathroom lighting
◆ Wall & floor tiles
40 EASY WAYS TO
REFRESH YOUR
BATHROOM
MUST-HAVE
STORAGE
SOLUTIONS
36 PAGES OF REAL
HOME MAKEOVERS
Bathroom bliss
Edition
Digital
◆ Super smart family-friendly spaces

◆ Luxe bathrooms to relax and unwind in
◆ Design ideas that are low on cost and effort
EDITION
FIRST
BATHROOM
HANDBOOK
Usually one of the smallest rooms in the home, bathrooms may have a
primary purpose but they always end up serving a wide variety of needs.
They’re all things to everyone - from an early morning washroom to a
sanctuary to unwind in at the end of the day, a fun splash space for children
to a calm refuge for your daily ablutions. Get the design wrong and it may
struggle to serve all these necessities well. That’s why we’ve packed this book
with heaps of ideas and advice, from how to design the layout, what storage
solutions you may need and all the fixtures and fittings required to create the
perfect space. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to take the plunge...
The content in this book is aimed at providing inspiration for furniture,

decorating, and storage solutions that can work in your home. While
specific products are referenced within the book, the price and availability
of these products was correct at the time of original publication, but may
have changed since.
BATHROOM
HANDBOOK
Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA
Editorial
Editor Ginevra Benedetti
Designer Emma Jackson
Head of Art & Design Greg Whitaker
Editorial Director Jon White
Cover image
Futurecontenthub.com/Adam Carter
Photography
All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected
Advertising
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BATHROOM
HANDBOOK
12
126 39
36
Real home makeovers 58 ‘We were inspired by luxe Design ideas & trends
hotel bathrooms’
12 ‘ Modern style works in an Marble tiles offset the gold in 18 S
leek & Simple
old space’ Reflective surfaces and clean
this chic washspace
Removing the ceiling helped lines for an ultra modern vibe
make this space a success 64 ‘ We’ve finally got our
dream sanctuary’ 34 M arvellous modular
24 ‘ Great design can
A loft bathroom packed with Freestanding or wall-hung
transform a room’ - we love them all
elegant, sartorial style
Rethinking the layout gave 46 H eritage style
this bathroom a roomier feel 76 ‘We merged two tiny
rooms into one luxe space’ Classic, traditional looks
30 ‘ The wallpaper makes it
Packed with space-saving 70 L aid-back luxury
unique’ Chic and oh-so dreamy
wall-hung fixtures
Packed with pattern, this
small bathroom is a joy 86 ‘I smile every time I walk 80 Metallic glamour
into my en suite’ Fab fixtures and fittings
40 ‘ We made our tiny
bathroom bigger and
Pretty pattern in an upfifting 90 R elaxing spa
shade - what’s not to love? Find your zen right here
brighter’
Extending out created a 94 ‘ I got the best from a 109 E asy style updates
brighter, roomier bathroom tricky room’ Neat ideas for instant appeal
A clever use of space created a 121 Bathroom looks we love
52 ‘ We painted it black, but it
winning result
feels bigger’ Futureproof your space
Black & brass reign supreme
6 BATHROOM HANDBOOK
CONTENTS
55 94
102
61
PLAN THE PERFECT
BATHROOM LAYOUT
TURN TO PAGE 9
Expert advice 63 M
arble tiles 125 Sliding pocket doors
Luxe look bathroom surfaces Ingenious space savers
16 E
ncaustic-look tiles 68 B espoke vanity unit 126 How to heat your
Pattern-packed beauties
Made-to-measure elegance bathroom
17 How to plan a family 69 H ow to pick a shower Gen up on all the different
bathroom enclosure heating options
Clever ideas for a busy space Find the best for your space 127 Solid surface counter
28 Wall-hung fittings 79 W all-hung loo Seemless modern design
Fab, contemporary fixtures Space saving designs
29 Frameless shower 89 Concealed cistern
Less is definitely more Out of sight style The content in this book is
33 Awkward space solutions 93 Steam room aimed at providing inspiration
Make the most of your space Your own personal hammam for furniture, decorating, and
38 Your bathroom, sorted 107 Window shutters storage solutions that can work
Genius storage solutions Elegant window solutions in your home. While specific
44 Rejigging the layout products are referenced within
108 Statement taps the book, the price and
How to redesign your room Add ‘wow’ to your basin availability of these products
45 F lexible lighting 119 Pendant lighting was correct at the time of
Brighten up a dark bathroom Make a style statement original publication, but may
62 Bathroom sound system 120 P rivacy glazing have changed since.
Waterproof tech for the win Block the view, keep the light
BATHROOM HANDBOOK 7
ON SALE NOW!
Master the art of

modern rustic living
Whether you are transforming a historic home, updating an interior or just searching
for those final touches to complete the look you’ve always dreamed of, Modern
Country has something to offer for anyone hoping to enhance their property.
Ordering is easy. Go online at:
WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM
Or get it from selected supermarkets & newsagents
BATHROOM LAYOUT
PLAN THE PERFECT

BATHROOM LAYOUT
Whatever the size and shape of your room, nail a layout that works
W
hile it might seem
daunting, getting your STATEMENT BATH
bathroom layout right Use a freestanding bath
from the start will make the to create a focal point.
difference between an adequate Make your freestanding bath the
design and one that ticks all the star of the show by placing it in
boxes. First up, make sure your the centre of the room or sit it by
measurements are correct and a focal point, such as a window.
If you still want the look but space
then you can begin to experiment.
is at a premium, then a smaller
slipper bath or a Japanese-style
IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS dunk bath might be the answer.
Start by thinking about who will be Be practical and take advice on
using the room, as this will have whether your floor will take the
a big bearing on the scheme you weight of a cast-iron bath, as they
finally choose. Is it to be an en-suite are very heavy. If it won’t, then
composite or acrylic versions are
shower room for two or a family
good alternatives. If you decide to
bathroom that will require a bath
place your bath near a wall or
and plenty of storage for toys? window, do plan plenty of room
around it to get behind for cleaning.
PLAN YOUR LAYOUT Use finishing touches, such as
A scale plan of your space is a good luxe tiles or wall panelling and
place to start. Measure carefully striking flooring, to add a touch
as accurate dimensions are key of bath-time glamour.
and include features that are likely
to affect the design, including
windows, chimney breasts and
doors. Cut out to-scale shapes of OVER-BATH SHOWER
everything – loo, basin, bath and
If space is limited, then a good solution
shower enclosure, for instance
is to fit a shower above the bath.
– and rearrange them until you A family-sized bath can double as
find a layout that works best. a shower enclosure. Either install an
Incorporate plenty of space between electric shower above the bath or
the elements and consider how the swap your existing taps for ones with
room will work with more than one a hand-held shower mixer. Check your
person in there at the same time. water pressure will accommodate it first,
though. Complete with a glass screen
attached to the side of the bath.
ASK THE EXPERTS Alternatively, invest in a shower bath
Bathroom designers are great that bows out at the tap end, to give more
sources of information and advice. room to manoeuvre when showering.
They will also be able to tell you Remember, though, the wider end will
about the latest new materials and mean the bath takes more water to fill.
technology and will have lots of Combine the two by having a fixed-
head shower above and a hand-held
solutions for compact or awkward
spray on the bath taps below, which is
spaces. For more practicalities, such useful when bathing children or cleaning.
as water pressure, soil stacks or Go for style by incorporating
other plumbing issues, a builder or glamorous feature tiles, accessories
plumber should be able to help. or gorgeous freestanding storage.
BATHROOM HANDBOOK 9
BATHROOM LAYOUT
BATH AND SHOWER KEEP IT LEGAL

A bath and separate shower allows CHECK with your
you to get the best of both worlds. local council or
Design your space according to how it planning office for any
is most frequently used. If your family guidelines to make
prefers to shower rather than bath, then sure you don’t fall foul
think about a shorter bath for occasional of any regulations.
soaks and use the extra space to plan in
a walk-in shower. Or, if you prefer baths, DON’T have a loo
then a corner shower cubicle is a good opening directly off a
use of space and will allow for a full- kitchen, dining or living
sized fitted or freestanding bath. room. Also, if you only
For a clever space-saving solution, have one loo, then it
create a stud wall at the end of the bath shouldn’t be accessible
to form one side of the shower cubicle. just from a bedroom.
Think about adding ‘his and hers’
CONTACT the
basins if you have the room. Not only
building control office
are they very on trend, they are also
at your local council
extremely useful for families with children
planning department
as they provide enough space for
if your project will
everyone to wash and brush up before
include changes to
the school run. Space at a premium?
the soil stack or to
A trough-shaped sink with wall-mounted
your hot water system.
taps is a good alternative.
Keep it neat. You can never have too THINK about
much storage in a family bathroom. ventilation, particularly
Shelves can look untidy very quickly so if the bathroom doesn’t
opt for cabinets with doors that can be have a window.
closed to contain everything out of sight. Installing an extractor
fan to remove steam
is a good idea.
SPEAK to your
“ Make the most of space – choose storage options

that use a small amount of floor space and opt for
bathroom designer or
an electrician about
lighting before buying
fittings, to avoid costly
back-to-wall and wall-hung designs, which will mistakes. Lights must
create a sleek and modern look in the room
” have the correct IP
rating for the bathroom
area they’re in.
SHOWER ROOM
Don’t have enough space for a bath? with a glass screen or doors to create
A wet room or shower room is a a walk-in shower. Bi-fold doors will
modern, luxe alternative. save on space in a compact room.
Although it’s a big project to undertake, Choose wall-hung fittings wherever
a wet room is a seriously stylish possible. It will make your bathroom
option and perfect for creating a much easier to clean and give the
contemporary look. The whole room illusion of space, too.
will need to be tanked (waterproofed) Try to keep walls clear of clutter and
ILLUSTRATIONS EMMA JACKSON
as there is no shower enclosure – the consider fitting underfloor heating, so

water drains away through an outlet you can keep it toasty without taking
in the floor. If your budget is tight, a up space with wall-hung radiators.
sleek alternative is an almost invisible Finally, add a splash of colour. A
low-level tray with an all-glass screen. simply fitted shower room can be
Create a shower enclosure in a long, transformed with brightly coloured
narrow room by sectioning off one end mosaic tiles on the walls and floors.
10 BATHROOM HANDBOOK
PRACTICAL
FAMILY
BATHROOMS
In this section
REAL HOME MAKEOVERS
Take a peek inside five
fabulous family bathrooms,
packed with ideas to steal
PHOTOGRAPH COLIN POOLE/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
ESSENTIAL ADVICE
From frameless showers,
encaustic tiles and must-have
storage solutions - we explain
all you need to know
STYLISH TRENDS
Discover our top three family-
friendly bathroom trends,
perfect for busy homes
BATHROOM HANDBOOK 11
‘Modern style works
in an old space’
The Hardings mixed the simplicity of contemporary
fittings with the character of beams and sloping
ceilings to create a bathroom with unique appeal
BATHROOM PROJECT
‘I’d seen some gorgeous BEFORE

encaustic floor tiles, but
thought they’d be too
high-maintenance,’ says Jo.
‘Then I found a practical
porcelain version. The dark
green is calm, classic and
ties in with the beams.’
Lily Pad Eucalyptus floor
tiles, Ca’Pietra. Hexagon Matt
White mosaic tiles, Tiles Direct
Welcome to
my home
Jo Harding lives here
with her husband Joel
and children Dylan,
Flynn and Lila
THE PROPERTY
A five-bed detached
period house in
West Sussex.
“ I dim the lights,

run a bath and
relax in peace,
with a glass of
wine and a book.
It’s my haven
”
HOW JO AND JOEL DID IT
‘I was confident that the loft far wall was the only spot
would make a fantastic family for the shower. That left the
bathroom. It was a nice size, shallow side walls for the bath,
but had sloping walls, and a loo and basin, and I measured
low, sagging ceiling. The first carefully to make sure we
step was removing the ceiling wouldn’t be hitting our heads.
BELOW A platform hides
to reveal the height and the Installation took about three pipework and gives the
beams, which had to be treated weeks and cost around £3,000. bath impact. ‘It had to make
a statement, but be well-
for infestations and stripped The room works brilliantly for priced and practical,’ says
of paint. Stud walls went up us, and visitors always say Jo. ‘This one is a good
shape for bathing, too.’
along the sides, then I used they look forward to seeing Arles double-ended free-
masking tape to plan the our bathroom.’ See more of standing bath, Better
Bathrooms. Diamond heated
layout. Head-height was the Jo’s home on Instagram towel rail, Victorian Plumbing.
main issue. The centre of the @renovating_the_house. Namiko hand towels, Christy
MATT BLACK
RADIATOR
None of the
watermarks you
get with chrome
FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE BATHROOM PROJECT
SHOWER
CONTROL
Positioned so
you can turn
it on without
getting wet
ABOVE ‘The basin is made

of resin, so it’s light enough
to hang on a wall. The
double-length design means
two of us can use it at once
when we’re in a rush.’
Cotti double-hand basin, Luxe
wall-mounted basin mixers,
all Lusso
ABOVE ‘A concrete shower RIGHT ‘Once the false walls

tray was going to be were in, it left a gap under
expensive and heavy,’ says the window and our builder
Jo. ‘Whereas this composite suggested a bench,’ says
one was affordable and has Jo. ‘It’s really handy and
a natural-looking texture.’ the children use it a lot.’
Try Mode black-framed glass Homescapes bench cushion,
panel, VictoriaPlum.com. Amazon.co.uk.
Merlyn Truestone tray, Made-to-measure shutters,
Victorian Plumbing The Shutter Studio
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“improvise.
Sometimes you have to
When the basin
arrived, its matt white finish
clashed with the gloss white
bath. We had it sprayed by a
local garage to match the
shower tray
”
BATHROOM ADVICE
Make it work for you

ENCAUSTIC-LOOK TILES
Whether you go for the real deal or fake it, encaustic tiles are one of
this year’s hot trends. Here’s what you need to know…
With their tactile, chalky

finish, fabulous patterns and Q Exactly how high
maintenance are they? A dramatic
green floor
relaxed, vintage look, there’s They need a lot of sealant during lends a lush
a lot to love about encaustic and after installation, and the feel to this
tiles. There are also a few good sealant will need reapplying – bathroom
reasons to swerve them. Read once a year should do it. Even
on before you decide whether then, any spills are a stain risk.
encaustics are worth the effort
or if you should go for faux.
Q Are they easy to install?
Encaustics are laid just like
Q How do encaustics differ

from normal tiles?
ceramic or porcelain tiles. What
can make them trickier is the
Whether made from modern uneven sizes that come with
cement or traditional fired clay, handmade production, which
all encaustic tiles are unglazed can require thicker grout to
and thus porous. Unless sealed, get consistent lines.
encaustics will soak up splashes
and stains, whereas ceramic and
porcelain tiles are non-porous, Q How can I cheat the look?
Modern porcelain and
don’t need sealing and are ceramic replicas are readily
virtually stainproof. available, very convincing and
about half the price. The best
Q Why should I buy them?

The beauty of encaustics
ones capture the patterns and
colours of encaustic tiles, and
BEST FOR…
is that the designs are made also boast a similar matt finish.
by inlaying pigmented cement SEALING &
“
rather than surface printing. MAINTENANCE
The pattern remains, even when Encaustic tiles age gracefully – LTP makes a
specialist range
the tiles get worn down. They an attractive patina develops with of encaustic tile
are also handmade, which sealants, as well as
time and usage, lending a mellowness
”
means every tile is unique. non-acidic cleaners,
They have a soft, matt finish that’s really special colour intensifiers
and wax coatings
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
that’s naturally slip-resistant. that will help ensure

optimum longevity.
INSTALLATION
IDEAL HOME LOVES… ENCAUSTIC-LOOK TILES Bert & May is one
of the leading
encaustic stockists
in the UK and has
a great installation
guide on its website.
ECO-FRIENDLY
SHOPPING
Maitland & Poate
sources antique
PRETTY IN PINK PATCHWORK WORKS MOROCCO INSPIRED CHIC MONOCHROME encaustics, allowing
Soft, on-trend blush. Stylish, moody motifs Truly trad design. Classic black and white. you to recycle an
Amberley Orchid Pink Konkrete Grey Eastern Patchwork Durham Pattern existing material
porcelain tiles, matt porcelain tiles, porcelain tiles, porcelain tiles, rather than buy new.
Topps Tiles B&Q Tons of Tiles Tile Mountain
BATHROOM ADVICE
HOW TO…
PLAN A FAMILY
BATHROOM
Discover how to design a bathroom that’s perfect
for every member of your tribe, young and old
Whether you have young and keep razors and cleaning
Double
children or elderly parents products on higher shelves. basins are
moving in, planning a great for
bathroom fit for the whole
family can seem daunting. Q How about older relatives?
Electric-powered showers
busy family
bathrooms
We’ve broken down the top are a good idea - these allow you
tips you need to get going… to control all aspects of your
showering experience, including
Q Where do I start?
First, you need to identify
water flow and temperature.
Some shower designs also let
your ideal bathroom style. you set a maximum
Decide on whether you want a temperature, so there’s no
sleek, modern look or if you’d danger of accidental scalding.
prefer something a little more You can also keep an eye on your
traditional to match your home. water consumption by setting
the shower to run at a lower
Q How do I keep things

safe for children?
pressure and a shorter duration.
Fitted bathroom furniture is

an ideal storage idea in a space Q How can we fit it all in?
A shower bath is a great
that’s used by little ones. Sleekly choice for family bathrooms,
integrating your basin and especially where there isn’t room
toilet, fitted units have a for a separate bath and shower.
seamless look and feel, and Hand-held shower heads in
maximise the available space. baths are perfect for washing
The combination of low and your kids’ hair. And, remember,
high-level storage makes it the room is yours, too, so choose
a great choice for families with a bath you’ll love to soak in when
children – store bath toys and you finally manage to catch
FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT PHOTOGRAPH VICTORIAPLUM.COM
toothbrushes on lower levels some ‘me time’.
CHOOSE A SPACE-SAVING… TALL UNIT
BLUSH
CRUSH
Channel a chic
GOOD
WOOD
Go for open
TIMELESS
STYLE
Try a
“ Choose safe
yet stylish furniture
locker room shelving to traditional with rounded edges
vibe with this make your design in a
pink metal space feel less serene shade. if you have small
cabinet crowded The Bath Co.
children running
”
Mustard Made Southbourne Beaumont
skinny tall
locker in
Shelf Large
ladder,
Powder Blue
tall unit,
in and out
Blush Pink, Garden VictoriaPlum.
Rose & Grey Trading com
TREND
Sleek
& simple
Opt for ultra-modern, high-gloss or
matt modular furniture to give your
bathroom a light and spacious look
W
hile we can all dream colour of your floor tiles. Pale tiles with
of huge bathrooms matching grout will create a pared-
with enough space back feel, and larger tiles make a
to luxuriate in peace, space look more open, as there are
often the reality is a smaller room fewer grout lines to draw the eye. To
that needs to cater for several avoid an excessively shiny feel, add
people. Choosing the latest sleek some natural materials, such as stone
designs and light-reflecting and wood. Inside showers and around
materials and combining them with baths, composite panelling will give
freestanding furniture will help to a smooth, easy-to-clean surface – it
make any room appear larger. comes in a variety of colours and
effects that mimic natural materials,
RAISE YOUR GAME Opting for such as marble and stone. If you
wall-hung furniture or modular vanity prefer tiles, choose mosaics to create
units achieves a feeling of openness: a feature or opt for metro tiles laid in
as more of the floor area is visible, the a brick formation for a modern vibe.
eye is tricked into seeing the space FREE YOURSELF The choice of
as both bigger and lighter. freestanding furniture is huge, so
MATERIAL CHOICE Light-reflecting you’re sure to find something to your
materials, such as glass and mirror, taste. Wood or wood veneer is a good
also enhance the sense of openness. classic option although darker-toned
Pick glossy wall and floor tiles, but timber is best avoided in compact
make sure the floor tiles have a good rooms. High-gloss or lacquered white
anti-slip rating, particularly if you have cabinetry gives a cool, clean feel,
small children. This can be found on and a vanity unit in a strong colour will
most packaging but ask your supplier create a focal point. Dramatic colours
or builder if you’re not sure. Wall-hung – indigo, black and bold reds – will
units will give more emphasis to your be popular this year. Make sure your
flooring, so you should take that into furniture functions beautifully inside
account when choosing the size and as well as looking stylish outside.
“products
Less restrictive, free-f lowing
are becoming more of
a design feature within the
bathroom, such as washbasins
on the surface of consoles
”
BATHROOM TREND
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Underf loor heating not
only keeps toes toasty, it
also creates a sleek look,
leaving more space for
wall furniture
Hide and seek

Keep items in the bathroom
free from dust and moisture
but still visible in slimline,
wall-hung cabinets with
opaque glass doors, and
match them with a neat
floating basin unit.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Elements Premium Elegance
Blue Cloud mirror and light;
drawer and wall units, all
Catalano
BATHROOM TREND
⊳ ON THE LEVEL
Invest in wall-hung
sanitaryware and
furniture for a wet room
to ensure they don’t get
waterlogged every time
you take a shower.
Double vanity unit,
Concept Air range,
Ideal Standard
DITCH THE HANDLES ⊲

Keep things sleek by
taking a leaf out of the
kitchen design book and
opting for soft-closing
cabinetry without handles.
Geo modular furniture;
Snowstorm solid surface
worktops; Miro sit-on
basins; Paleto wall-
mounted basin mixers, all
Utopia Bathrooms
▼ BLUE MOOD
Make a feature of a
floating vanity unit with
geometric tiles, timber
cabinets and shelving.
Calidris bespoke
washbasin; vanity units
and base unit in bespoke
colour; framed light oak
mirrors, all Ripples
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Clad one wall in tiles that
match those on the f loor
to help elongate the space;
grout with a contrast
colour such as grey
COSY UP
Wood grain can warm
“
up a modern scheme.
Gola basin unit, basin
Modern modular and worktop; mirror,
all Alternative
furniture is the perfect Bathrooms
choice if you are looking

for different products
that you can arrange
to create a more
individual finish in
the bathroom
”
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
A large ‘rainfall’ head
gives a luxurious shower
but uses more water, so
take care if you’re on
a water meter
“ Look for stylish wall

units with lots of clever KEEP IT COMPACT
In a narrow room,
internal storage to create consider a bank of
slimline wall cabinets
and a narrow basin.
a sleek and clutter-free Cooke & Lewis Imandra
”
white wall units;
family bathroom Imandra vanity basin
unit, all B&Q
BATHROOM TREND
MODERN RUSTIC
Give white fittings
a chic country look.
Meisterstück Centro
Duo bathtub; Miena
washbasin, both
Kaldewei
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
If you’re mounting a basin
on a vanity unit, make
MAKE IT WORK sure it’s deep enough to

hide the waste trap
FOR YOU
and pipework
◆ Give the room a focal ◆ Plan your lighting

point by putting light bulbs carefully to ensure that
around the mirror on a you make the most of any
freestanding vanity unit, or glossy surfaces, using lots
set a mirrored cabinet with of directional spots to
an integrated LED above it. create pools of light.
◆ Large expanses of ◆ Family rooms take a lot
exposed flooring can of punishment, so make
sometimes appear stark, sure your furniture is as
so lay down towelling hard wearing and durable
bath mats and wooden as possible. Think about
duckboards to keep using stone surfaces, as
everything feeling they will look good for
comfortable underfoot. longer than wood.
◆ A budget freestanding However, if timber is your
option is a cabinet on choice, oil it regularly to
wheels. Great for a family keep it at its best.
bathroom, it can be filled ◆ Choose an ornate or
FEATURE YSANNE BROOKS
STORE AND ORDER

with towels, toiletries and decorative washstand that Mix open shelving and
even bath-time toys, looks more like a piece of closed drawers.
wheeled around into furniture for an en-suite, Washbasin; washbasin
unit; mirror with
place when needed and to blur the boundaries lighting, all Citterio
stored away neatly in a between the bedroom Series, Geberit
corner when not. and the bathroom.
‘Great design can
transform a room’
Getting help from a bathroom designer meant
Avril Taylor squeezed in a separate bath and
shower, without making the room feel cramped
BEFORE
CURVED SHELF
Turned a wasted
recess into a
storage area
Avril swapped an over-bath

shower for a roll-top tub and
a walk-in shower positioned
where the basin and towel
rail used to be. ‘The new
layout has made the room
feel twice the size,’ she says.
Bisley cast-iron bath; Vado
Kensington exposed bath
shower-mixer tap in chrome/
black, both The Brighton
Bathroom Company. Bath
painted in Railings estate
eggshell, Farrow & Ball
BATHROOM PROJECT
LED LIGHTS
Illuminate
the step at
night-time
ABOVE The loo was

Welcome to my home slotted in next to the
shower, separated by
a barely-there glass
“
partition. Its frameless
Avril Taylor lives here with
her five children, William, The bathroom is design keeps the look
open.
Jack, Thomas, Patrick and the one room in the
Walk-in wet room clear
Emily. house with a lock glass panels, Ionic
on the door, so with by Merlyn. Burlington
THE PROPERTY music and candles back-to-wall pan WC in
”
A five-bedroom Edwardian matt white, The Brighton
semi in Hove, East Sussex.
it’s an oasis for me!
Bathroom Company
HOW AVRIL DID IT
‘The bathroom wasn’t of projects. The company’s
working for our family. With designer visited and quickly
the over-bath shower, we tuned in to what I wanted. She
always ended up with water sourced the elegant ball-and-
all over the floor. We needed claw-foot bath, which was
a separate shower, but I our starting point, for a good
couldn’t work out how to fit price. The project took five
one in. I also didn’t want any weeks and cost £11,286. We
pipework to be visible, even had some problems laying the
if it meant reconfiguring underfloor heating because
the plumbing. I found The of existing pipework, but
Brighton Bathroom Company generally the project went
online and liked its gallery very smoothly.’
TRAD RAD
Small enough to
squeeze into a
tight space
‘I wanted a statement
feature, so chose
patterned floor tiles,’
says Avril. ‘Although
the design is bold,
the muted colour
means it doesn’t
overwhelm the room.’
Handmade encaustic
tiles, Demosaica
BATHROOM PROJECT
‘My dream was to have

a freestanding roll-
top bath,’ says Avril. ‘I
wanted the room to be
modern, but it had to
relate to the house’s
Edwardian character.’
Walls painted in Pavilion
Gray estate emulsion,
Farrow & Ball
ABOVE Floor tiles have

been used to finish the
recess in the shower.
Rustic Metro Blanco tiles,
PLATFORM Trade Price Tiles, are similar.
Defines the Try Grespania Meteor Negro
shower area Relieve tiles, Tile & Stone
and hides all Online, for the edges
the pipework
BELOW Wall-mounted taps

keep the washstand surface
free for daily essentials.
Vado Kensington three-hole
basin mixer wall-mounted
tap in chrome and black, The
Brighton Bathroom Company.
Mirins Copenhagen hand
wash, Life Story
WHAT I'VE LEARNED

STYLING DILLY ORME PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID PARMITER
“about
I would never have thought
FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER, VANESSA RICHMOND
having a sound system

installed, but the designer
suggested it and now I spend
many happy hours relaxing in
the bath with my favourite
music filling the room!
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

WALL-HUNG FITTINGS
Minimalist and low maintenance, wall-mounted loos, basins and taps
are the modern way to give your bathroom a style lift
Raised off the floor, wall-hung pipework and frame, whereas

sanitaryware is sleek and with a lavatory you’ll need to
modern, and is easier to clean conceal a cistern as well.
than floor-standing designs.
Q How is it installed? Q What if my bathroom

is only tiny?
Wall-hung sanitaryware is Go for a half-wall so that the
designed to be bolted to a steel space above waist-level is wider.
frame behind a stud wall. Once You’ll get a handy shelf for
the wall is plastered and tiled or toiletries in the process. Also
painted, all you’ll see is glorious look for compact cistern frames
sanitaryware. You can also buy – try Geberit and Roca. Building
furniture designed for wall-hung storage niches into the stud
fittings if a new wall isn’t needed. wall around sanitaryware
means no space is wasted.
Q What height should

fittings hang at?
Q How are leaks repaired?
There are no set heights, so if It’s rare that washbasin
you’re tall go for a higher wash- plumbing leaks but most
basin. In general, 80-85cm is fittings will be accessible by
considered a good height for unbolting the bowl. Lavatory
basins and standard loos cisterns, which have moving Achieve a
sit 40cm from the floor. parts, should have an access streamlined
point for maintenance. The finish with
wall-hung
Q Does wall-hanging take
up more space?
easiest solution is to fit a flush
panel that pops off for access.
fittings
BEST FOR…
FLEXIBLE
FRAMES
Building out a new wall, in front
“
Geberit’s renowned
of an existing wall, will reduce
the width of your bathroom by
Wall-hung sanitaryware makes Duofix self-
supporting frames
between 7.5 and 20cm. The cleaning the floor much easier, safely hang loos,
bidets and basins,
exact figure depends on what especially in a wet room, as there’s
”
and the range
you are hanging. A washbasin
only needs enough depth for the
nowhere for water to pool. includes compact
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
and height-
adjustable options.
SLEEK STYLE
IDEAL HOME LOVES… WALL-MOUNTED HAND-SHOWERS Livinghouse has a
slick collection of
designer sanitaryware
for wall-hung
installation that’s
easy on the pocket.
SPRAY CHOICE MODERN FLEXIBLE NATURAL FAB FURNITURE

One-click control METALLIC HEIGHT BEAUTY UK Bathrooms stocks
lets you choose Brushed An adjustable White Carrara a great selection of
between three brass provides riser rail suits marble adds lavatory and vanity
spray patterns. warmth and over-bath an elegant furniture designed
Rainshower texture. showers. detail. to conceal plumbing
SmartActive 130 MPRO Brogrund hand Marmo hand and safely support
hand shower, handle shower, shower, shower, from wall-hung fittings.
Grohe Crosswater Ikea CP Hart
BATHROOM ADVICE

FRAMELESS SHOWER
Love the contemporary style of an all-glass design? Get this modern look in
your bathroom with our guide to super-smart showers
If space allows, a separate end for towelling off. They’re ideal

shower enclosure is a real for creating the freedom of a wet
luxury, and the latest frameless room without the tanking cost.
models will bring a luxe-hotel Alternatively, you could opt for
feel to your bathroom. a simple screen on a tanked floor.
Q Which shape is best?

This is usually determined Q Which tray should I go for?
Enclosures often come with
by the shower’s location. The main an array of optional matching
options are square and rectangular trays. The most popular materials
cubicles, which will fit anywhere. include solid and composite stone,
D-shaped enclosures can be enamelled steel and acrylic. Low-
installed centrally against a single profile and flush-fit varieties are
wall, while quadrants and off-set currently popular, but do check
quadrants sit in the corner, so you have the floor depth to take
are great for saving space. If your any undermounted pipework first.
shower is recessed, you’ll only need
to buy one individual door panel.
Q Any advice on glass?
Standard shower glass is
Q How do I choose a door?

A pivot or bifold door is best
between 6-10mm thick, but it’s
worth buying the thickest you
for small spaces. Sliding doors are can afford – check that your
great if you haven’t got room for bathroom floor can cope with a
an outward-opening door, while weightier glass before you buy, Minimal metal
hinged doors offer the best access, though. Panels with self-cleaning framing adds
and can be left- or right-hinged. or limescale protection will stay to the feeling of
sparkly for longer. If you have light and space
Q What’s a walk-in enclosure?

These have a large footprint,
uneven walls or ceilings, get quotes
for a bespoke service where the BEST FOR…
open access and a ‘dry’ area at one glass is templated and cut to fit. LUXURY BUYS
l CP Hart always
has the most recent
“to ensure
Not sure where to start? Talk to a local bathroom retailer designer enclosures,
including beautiful
that you get the best enclosure for your space
” Italian sanitaryware.
Custom-made steam
showers and saunas
are also available.
SPECIAL SERVICE
IDEAL HOME LOVES… STONE-EFFECT TRAYS l Detail-focused
company Majestic
Bathrooms is top
of the list for interior
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
designers and
architects who need
bespoke enclosures.
BRITISH MADE
l Roman is a long-
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON
established British
brand with eco-
conscious values.
MULTIPLE COLOURS STATEMENT SHADE SIMPLY CHIC Its products are
Square slate limestone Imperia graphite slate-effect Rectangular white textured available in stockists
shower tray and waste, shower tray and waste, slate-effect shower tray and waste, across the UK.
Matki Victorian Plumbing Simpsons
‘The wallpaper
makes it unique’
Lucy Tiffney laid down a foundation of classic
basics, then gave her new bathroom a punch
of personality with her own palm-print paper
Welcome to
my home
Lucy Tiffney lives here
with her husband, Tiff,
and their sons Leo and
Frank.
THE PROPERTY
A four-bedroom
Edwardian detached
in Colchester, Essex. SUPER-WIDE
SCREEN
“ The bathroom’s
now fun as well as
Essential if you
choose a big
shower head
functional. The
colour lifts my
spirits every time
I walk in here
and now I love
showing people my
bathroom, rather
than hiding it!
”
BATHROOM PROJECT
BEFORE
HOW LUCY AND

TIFF DID IT
‘We bought this house five years
ago and tackled it room by room.
The bathroom was the last thing
to be done – and on the smallest
budget. It’s not a big space, so
we couldn’t change the layout.
The loo was the only thing that
was reasonably new and in good
condition, so we kept it, but
everything else had to go. I was
pleased to find the vanity unit,
which is much more streamlined
than the old basin and we can fit
so much into it. I spent a long time
choosing the shower, because as
our old one had been so feeble, I
was determined to get something
more powerful. Once I had put
‘This bathroom really
reflects me,’ says Lucy. in the basics – the sanitaryware,
‘I designed the wallpaper vanity unit and tiles – I felt that I
myself. I’m inspired by
tropical greenery and just had a base to build on and wanted
love the combination of to add colour with wallpaper. The
pink and green. It’s more
like a mural, really.’ plants echo it, and I added charity-
Straight 1700mm bath and shop glass, pottery and colourful
screen; panels; 200mm
shower, all Soak. Palm
toiletries. It took 10 days and
wallpaper, Lucy Tiffney cost £1,800 for the labour.’
BATHROOM PROJECT
ABOVE Lucy’s green metal

caddy was a vintage find
from eBay. ‘I’m not sure
what it was originally
used for, but it makes a
great toilet-roll holder.’
Atelier Geo floor tiles,
Tile Devil. White Gloss
brick tiles, Walls and Floors
ABOVE ‘I think the floor RIGHT ‘I love a bargain and

should be darker than the am a real scavenger,’ says
walls in a bathroom. Lucy. ‘The set of colourful
I love flowers and nature, hooks on the back of the
so searched online for door was salvaged from
floor tiles that form flower a beach hut that was
patterns,’ says Lucy. being torn down. I love
Melbourne vanity unit; the colours of the knobs.’
Gladstone II basin and bath Similar hammam towels,
mixer set, both Soak Hammam Havlu
FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH, VANESSA RICHMOND
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“loads
I did think about hanging
of real plants in here,
PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES
but the wallpaper is actually

more practical. You just need
to varnish it after hanging –
it’s easy to do it yourself
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

AWKWARD SPACE SOLUTIONS
A savvy approach to spatial planning can turn tricky architectural
features into your bathroom’s best assets
Sloped ceilings, uneven walls enters the bathroom – the less

and alcoves are common in distance waste needs to travel, Be creative with
the position
bathrooms, particularly in the better the performance. of your bathtub
period houses or where space
is tight. But it’s not all bad
news; irregular architecture Q How can I disguise
unsightly angles?
can result in a character-filled Experts use distraction
place to bathe and unwind. techniques, known as ‘focal
points’. This can be a vanity
Q Can I improve the shape?

Stealing space from a
unit, a statement bath or
patterned tiles and can help you
bedroom or relocating a water overlook a multitude of sins.
tank might provide extra inches Consider commissioning fitted
but do get costings in advance. furniture and turn unused
Moving a window is pricier than alcoves or corners into storage.
an internal doorway, for example.
Q How do I plan the layout? Q Which colours work best?

Sticking to the same shade
By prioritising. Compromise for the ceiling and walls is a
is inevitable so start by listing great way to iron out any
your must-haves and work out awkwardness. ‘Soothing pastel
the impact that awkward shades or off-whites will ensure
features will have on their the room feels relaxing and
positions. Sloped walls may spacious,’ adds Helen Shaw,
hinder where you can put a director, Benjamin Moore UK. BEST FOR…
shower, for example. Could VIRTUAL
“
compact sanitaryware, such as a PLANNING
Villeroy & Boch’s
corner WC, allow a bigger tub? Wall-hung fittings, such as a app lets you view
vanity unit, will help maximise clear fittings in your
Q What if I need to
floor space and can distract attention
bathroom, virtually,
”
move the WC? before you buy.
Professional advice is critical. away from wonky walls STRUCTURAL
First find out where the soil pipe ADVICE

The Institute of
Structural Engineers
(istructe.org) has a
IDEAL HOME LOVES… WALL-MOUNTED BASIN UNITS * database which
allows you to find
structural engineers
in your area. Also,
homeowner advice.
SPECIALIST
SOLUTIONS
Ideal Standard’s
Concept Space
range has tapered
SUSTAINABLE WOOD BAMBOO TOP COLOUR HIT baths, corner basins
Solid teak and white terrazzo. Drawers with high-gloss finish. Create a striking focal point. and short-projection
Basic Teak washstand 95 Godmorgon/Tolken two-drawer Plus vanity in Infinity Blue WCs, designed
and Orion terrazzo basin, washstand and Tornviken and Supersink basin in brass, by Robin Levien.
Tikamoon basin, Ikea Superfront
Noir know-how
Team black taps with
rich woods and clean-
lined washbasins for a
sophisticated scheme.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Noir Craft basin unit; Noir
Veneto washbasin; Noir
twin-handle mixer tap; Noir
round mirror, all Bathstore
TREND
Marvellous
modular
Invest in freestanding or wall-hung furniture to
create a contemporary, light and open scheme
F
itting wall-hung furniture worth thinking carefully about your flooring
and ceramic ware or installing choices. For floor tiles, you’ll also want to
freestanding vanity units in check their anti-slip properties before you
the bathroom will help to give buy, particularly if children will be running
the illusion of space in even the most about. Larger tiles with matching grout will
compact of rooms by exposing more work well with modern furniture, while wood
of the floor. Perfect for both modern and or faux-wood floors will enhance a traditional
traditional styles, it’s an ideal solution painted or natural timber scheme.
for family bathrooms where the need for FLEXIBLE FRIENDS The benefit of
hard-working storage is often high. using freestanding furniture is that much
CHOOSE YOUR MATERIAL While of it can be moved around or added to as the
much modular furniture is glossy and needs of your family change. Most modular
modern in style, there are plenty of natural ranges feature a variety of shapes and sizes
timber tones to choose from, too, to help you – from tall, skinny cabinets to wide, double
create a more classic scheme. Oak has been basin vanity units – so if you’ve found a style
the popular choice for a while, but darker you love, there are bound to be pieces that
woods are great for ramping up the drama in suit your needs. Internal storage is just
a space, particularly highly grained designs. as important as external design, so take
Exposure to water and steam on a regular this into consideration, too.
basis means natural timbers will need to SUPPORTING CAST Adding a wall-
be treated and sealed – adding a stone top to hung loo with boxed-in cistern will help
a wooden vanity will give it extra durability. to complete the free-floating feel, but it will
SURFACE ATTRACTION Modular require careful installation as the fittings
furniture will expose more of the floor so it’s need to be able to bear a person’s weight.
BATHROOM TREND
In the frame
Add natural timber
tones to baby blue
cabinetry by choosing
units encased in a
boxed-frame design.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Senzo vanity unit with
sit-in resin basin in Denim
Blue and White Mountain
Larch; Senzo tall unit;
Senzo mirror, all
Bathrooms to Love
“–Storage is essential
use open shelves
to keep things easily
accessible, plus closed
cabinets to keep
surfaces clutter-free
”
Make your
surfaces shine
Create a stunning
backdrop to your
modular furniture with
wall and floor tiles in
bold shades and faux
finishes, in a variety
of shapes and sizes.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Ruzzini floor tiles; Lampas
Peacock wall tiles, both
Topps Tiles
“visual,
Washbasins are highly
particularly when
sitting on top of modular
furniture so look for one that
has an interesting aesthetic
”
BATHROOM TREND
Black magic
Furniture and ceramic
ware suspended from
the walls will help to
make even the darkest
of rooms feel spacious.
IDEAL HOME BUY THE KEY PIECES
expert tip Acanto compact washbasin

unit; Acanto rimfree WC,
all Geberit
Paint walls and
cabinetry in the same
shade for a seamless
and streamlined
effect
Try traditional
Modular furniture doesn’t
have to be just for modern
schemes. A Georgian-style,
freestanding cabinet with
beading is the perfect
match for a classic design.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Wall-hung 65 vanity unit with
worktop and integrated basin,
Burlington
Hanging tough
Aside from these space-
saving wall-hung pieces,
added clever design kudos
goes to this mirror cabinet

that appears flush with
the wall.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
GeberitONE Vanity basin;
Mirror cabinet with lighting;
wall-hung WC, all Geberit
YOUR
BATHROOM,
SORTED
It’s hard to lie back and relax in the
bath when you’re staring at bottles
littered over every surface and towers
of toilet roll. Turn chaos into calm
with these clever ideas…
1
BATHROOM STORAGE
5 GAME-CHANGING BUYS
The solutions you need to turn a busy, cluttered
bathroom into a serene, spa-like space
WHAT
THE PROS
KNOW…
Professional
organiser Vicky
Silverthorn gives
us her tried and
tested bathroom
tidying solutions
ONLY BUY WHAT

YOU NEED
The items that cause
2 3 the biggest mess and
stress to my clients are
without a doubt toiletries
4 5 and beauty products. You
don’t need six different
types of shampoo
cluttering the side of the
bath, so make sure you
use up what you have
before buying new.
THROW OUT
THE OLD
Not knowing what you
have lurking at the back
of the cupboard means
things frequently get
wasted, as many of us
don’t want to use products
that might be old. Visit
checkfresh.com or
checkcosmetics.net and
type in the product codes
to find out what’s still in
date. Keep the usable
items visible in pretty
1 THE FREE-STANDING
SHELVING
Open shelves provide an
house everything from shower
caps and facecloths to perfumes
and hairbrushes, it’s perfect for
4 THE VERSATILE
WALL CABINET
In a bijou en suite or cloakroom,
baskets to encourage you
to get through them
while you can.
instant overview of the products storing everyday essentials. these shallow wall cabinets are
STORE SPARES
you have and those you are Over door rack, Wilko great for keeping toilet rolls and
cleaning products hidden away. IN CATEGORIES
3
running low on, as well as giving
you quick access to the items THE IN-DRAWER Make the most of a tricky nook, Try not to overbuy
that you use frequently. Keep ORGANISERS niche or space over the loo anything (even if you spy
daily-use items, such as soap Clutter-free counter tops will and hang a few together. a seemingly great deal –
and toothbrushes, at hand height help your bathroom to feel calm Lillangen wall cabinets, you’ll still have to find
and stack spare towels lower and clean. Store make-up and Ikea somewhere to store it all).
down, for a pleasing display. little bits and bobs out of sight in Categorise the spares that
5
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH
Vilto shelving unit, Ikea clear, lidded boxes inside your THE TROLLEY you do have to make
drawers. With everything in its Keep your necessities on
2 place, you’ll spend less time them easier to locate.

THE OVER-DOOR RACK a sleek trolley that you can
If surface space is limited looking for what you need. easily wheel between the bath Find out more at
in your bathroom, use the space Godmorgon smoked plastic and shower so you don’t need youneedavicky.com or on
on the back of the door. With boxes with lids, to double up on anything. Instagram and Facebook
four sturdy, wire shelves to Ikea Nissafors black trolley, Ikea @youneedavicky
‘We made our tiny
bathroom bigger
and brighter’
Naomi Peet and Ben Hadley expanded into
a spare bedroom to gain space – and a window –
for their practical and stylish bathroom
BATHROOM PROJECT
BEFORE
Welcome to
my home
Naomi Peet lives
here with her partner
Ben Hadley and
their daughter, Lilia.
THE PROPERTY
A three-bed Victorian
house in the Cotswolds.
“ It’s a beautiful
place to unwind
– the bath is such
a treat at the end
of a busy day
”
‘The bathroom was very

small and gloomy as it
didn’t get any natural light.
All it had was a shower, but
we needed a bath for Lilia.
Knocking down the wall into
the spare bedroom gave us
extra space and the light
made such a difference.’
Abbey Honed limestone floor
tiles, Indigenous. Aluna bath,
Better Bathrooms, is similar
Flush-fitted drawers and
Modular cube shelving were custom-
shelves can be made by Naomi’s dad. The
displayed with limestone floor tiles were
or without doors also used on the worktop
to create a for consistency and wall-
bespoke look. mounted taps were chosen
Eket cabinets, Ikea to save surface space.
Godmorgon mirror, Ikea.
For a similar countertop
basin and tap, try Casca;
Prism Contemporary basin
mixer, Bristan range, both
Victorian Plumbing
HOW NAOMI AND

BEN DID IT
‘We decided to gain extra floor
space by knocking down a wall
into our spare bedroom and
incorporating its window. This
would give us the space we needed
for a bath, which was an essential
for our young daughter, Lilia.
The layout was determined by
where we could position the bath
and there was only one place it
could go. Also, I didn’t want the
loo to be the first thing you saw
when you opened the door. We SHELF
FRONTS
wanted the room to be light and Extending
relaxing and feel spacious, so we beyond the
width of the
stuck to a simple palette of white gap, they add a
walls complemented with natural design feature
materials. We spent around £5,000
on the plumbing, electrical work,
plastering and tiling, but it was
all so worth it. The room has such
a calming atmosphere now and is
the perfect place for us to unwind.
Lilia enjoys splashing around at
bath time, too!’
BATHROOM PROJECT
TILED PANEL
Adds texture,
colour and
‘wow’ factor
‘I wanted to add some

texture to the room, so
put stone mosaics behind
the bath. I used them
sparingly, for maximum
effect within my budget.’
Oyster Split Face mosaic
wall tiles, Topps Tiles
STYLING ANN BROAD PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE
WHAT I’VE LEARNED

FEATURE ANN BROAD, VANESSA RICHMOND
“measurements.
Be sure to double-check your
I miscalculated the
dimensions for the basins. But I was
fortunately able to make them
fit by installing them lengthways
and now I actually prefer the look!
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

REJIGGING THE LAYOUT
Shuffle your fixtures and fittings and ace your bathroom design
with a practical, space-maximising new layout
The right layout can make low-level shower tray and divert
or break a bathroom. Draw up pipework. The thickness of the Careful planning
allows you to make
a scale plan or use an online walls and whether they are brick, the most of the
planner, and don’t forget to block or studwork affects the type space available
ask your plumber or bathroom of shower valve that can be used.
company to check your design
is suitable for the space.
Q Could a wet room work?
Expert drainage and
Q Can I move the loo?

It’s cheaper and easier
to keep the loo close to the soil
tanking (waterproofing) is
a must to make it leakproof.
Different methods of installation
stack (a vertical pipe that takes depend on whether your floor
waste from the loo to the main is concrete or wood. Consider
drain). It is possible to divert fitting a glass screen to prevent
pipework, but keep the run the loo or basin getting splashed.
short to avoid blockages.
Q Where can the bath go?

Give the tub prime position,
Q Essential planning tips?
Allow space around fixtures
for drying off and ensure there
centrally (if there’s room) or in is enough elbow room at the
front of a window. If you can’t fit basin sides, too. Some simple
in a freestanding bath, a back-to- space-making solutions for
wall style saves space but still small bathrooms include
looks luxurious. Check that the rehanging a door to open the
flooring will take the weight if other way or fitting a pocket BEST FOR
you’re fitting a cast-iron design. door, which slides to open. MEASURING UP
Room Sketcher
“
(roomsketcher.com)
Q What should I know

about moving the shower? Spend time considering the best is an easy app for
trying out a few
A new drain and plumbing position for the bath as it can be quite layouts. Draw up a
floor plan, furnish
supply will have to be carefully
dominating in a small space and obstruct the space, then you
FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
”
planned and connected. The can see it in 3D.
direction the floor joists run will the other bathroom fittings
determine how easy it is to fit a EASY ACCESS
The Pocket Door
Company supplies
doors that slide
IDEAL HOME LOVES… DESIGNER SHOWERHEADS away into a gap
in the wall instead
of opening from
a hinge – useful
when space is tight.
NEAT STORAGE
SOLUTIONS
Crosswater has
a huge range
SHEER ELEGANCE INTRODUCE COLOUR MODERN EDGE of cabinets and
Comes with the Easyclean system Choose from warm and cool, Go for minimalist style with this storage furniture,
to prevent limescale build-up. scratch-resistant, metallic shades. fixed design in polished chrome. both wall-mounted
Raindream showerhead, Rainshower Cosmopolitan 310 Plaza waterfall showerhead, and freestanding.
Roca head shower, Grohe Frontline Bathrooms
BATHROOM ADVICE

FLEXIBLE LIGHTING
Windowless spaces need more care and attention than those blessed
with natural light – check out the options
Many of us feel left in the dark these could be putting on

Good mirror
when it comes to getting bath- make-up or shaving so it’s likely lighting is an
room lighting right. A bit of you’ll need task lighting around essential in a
knowledge about which fittings your bathroom mirror. Installing bathroom
to choose and where to position wall lights either side of the
them is all that’s required. mirror works well, or you could
consider a mirror with integrated
Q Would a simple overhead

ceiling light suffice?
lighting. Don’t position a
downlight straight above your
In a word, no. Layers of light head: it’ll cast unflattering
from a variety of sources are the shadows across your face.
secret to making sure your
bathroom is a relaxing and
functional space that can easily Q What is accent lighting?
The best way to add a
adapt to different tasks. To relaxing quality to your
achieve this, you’ll need a mix of windowless bathroom is with
ambient, task and accent lighting. accent lighting, which highlights
particular areas or objects for
Q What is ambient lighting?

Ambient lights provide
aesthetic rather than functional
purposes. Highlight wall niches
overall illumination. Downlights with downlights or easy-fit strip
are popular, they are mounted on lights, which will provide a soft
or recessed into the ceiling and glow when you’re relaxing in the
direct light downwards. Avoid bath, while LED strip lights
laying them in a regular grid under a wall-mounted vanity or BEST FOR…
formation as it’ll create a flat, bath will create a floating effect. VINTAGE
bland effect. Instead, think about LIGHTING
“
Industville is great
where you most need overhead
lighting and focus on these areas. Dimmers are important in bathrooms. for industrial-style
lighting, from classic
Turn them up for bright, invigorating Edison-style lights to
Q What is task lighting? more elaborate

light in the morning, and down for
”
designs.
Task lighting, as you might
imagine, provides light for softer, atmospheric light in the evening LOTS OF CHOICE
FEATURE SOPHIE BAYLIS PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
specific tasks. In the bathroom, Original BTC boasts

an extensive range
of over 200
bathroom lights in all
IDEAL HOME LOVES… ILLUMINATED MIRRORS shapes and sizes.
Search filters by
colour, material and
IP rating, making it
easy to find what
you’re looking for.
GREAT ADVICE
Holloways of Ludlow
offers a wide range
CLEAR VIEW TOUCH SENSOR GLAM EDGE of traditional and
A handy demister pad prevents this When illuminated the mirror casts Modern crystal-like edging is lit up modern bathroom
design from steaming up. an attractive pattern of light. by LEDs for a smart finish. lights. Check out its
RAK-Hades mirror, Milano Vistula LED mirror, Yevan illuminated wall mirror, guide to IP ratings.
Rak Ceramics Big Bathroom Shop Dar Lighting
TREND
Heritage
style
Choose a combination of traditional
fittings and old-style elegance to give your
bathroom a classic yet timeless look
P
acked with character, CHOOSE THE REAL THING Salvage
period-style bathrooms yards and reclamation and restoration
continue to be in vogue, specialists are fabulous sources of
and work just as well in a both design inspiration and products,
modern new-build as in a Victorian particularly if you’re prepared to do a
or Edwardian home. Looking to little restoration work yourself. Do be
history will provide you with endless aware, though, that real antiques will
inspiration – there’s beautifully carry a price tag to match and some
sculpted sanitaryware, elegant antique fittings won’t suit modern
ironwork and the freestanding plumbing and water pressure. Vintage
roll-top bath, which is just as baths can always be re-enamelled
popular as ever. – at a cost – but taps and showers
are likely to be more difficult to
PICK YOUR ERA The first to incorporate into a modern bathroom.
wholeheartedly adopt indoor bathing MODERN TAKE There are plenty of
were the late Victorians and the replicas on the market, allowing you
Edwardians, and products in those to enjoy traditional style while still
styles are hugely popular. They’re having all the benefits of modern
also a breeze to source, as most technology, such as power showers
manufacturers feature at least one and eco-efficient taps and loos. Many
range with period accents. In the makers have products that create a
Twenties and Thirties, Art Deco perfect blend of old and new.
interiors were known for their FINISHING TOUCHES As well as
glamorous and glitzy style, which can the sanitary- and brassware, pay
be recreated using mirrored furniture, attention to the details that will
black gloss and lacquer details and complete your scheme. Raised pencil
crystal lighting. Slavishly following a borders, dado rails and decorative
particular style could result in a forced botanical motifs work well in Victorian
re-creation, though, so try to be designs, while mirrored finishes,
relaxed in your choices to achieve geometric patterns and monochrome
the overall feel of a period rather than surfaces are more reminiscent of
an exact replica of one. the Twenties and Thirties.
“long,
Statement baths are meant for
luxurious soaks, so it’s
important to ensure the one
you buy is comfortable
”
BATHROOM TREND
Top class
If your new bathroom is
in an attic conversion
with sloping ceilings,
prevent it from feeling
dark by using pale
surfaces, and adding
roof lights for
maximum brightness.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Chichester 1240mm double
door washstand, Neptune
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Consider versatile
lighting, such as this
pivoting lamp that can be
moved to illuminate
different areas
⊳ NEAT AND TIDY
Stop family bathrooms
looking cluttered with lots
of storage options, such
as vanity units, tallboys
and wicker baskets.
Cobblestone vanity units;
mirrors, all Marlborough
range, Laura Ashley
NATIVE TONGUE ⊲
If your room doesn’t
already have it, tongue-
and-groove panelling can
be easily added to give
a classic Edwardian
bathroom feel. Paint it
in this year’s must-have
colour, lilac, and the walls
in a neutral shade for
maximum effect.
Abbey Traditional
bathroom suite with
freestanding bath,
Bathroom Takeaway
▼ ACE OF BASE
Original painted wooden
boards are an attractive
alternative to a tiled floor.
With white woodwork
and touches of chic grey
elsewhere, they’ll give a
relaxed air to any room.
Aquanatural Notting Hill
bath, Frontline
BATHROOM TREND
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Don’t forget the latest mod
cons in a period bathroom
– opt for classic look taps
with hardwearing
ceramic washers
MIX IT UP
Combine modern
fittings and classic
“
furniture for an
Introducing eclectic look.

Savoy Old English
White basin unit;
furniture with timeless mirror cabinet,
Bathstore
styling in neutral
painted finishes will
help to create a country
house atmosphere in
any bathroom
”
TAKE A STAND
Only room for a shower?
Go for classic Deco
lines and ceramic-
handled brassware.
Avon shower set with
large rose; Victorian
basin and Regal
pedestal, all Burlington
Bathrooms
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Be bold with your
f looring – a monochrome
chequerboard design is
a solid base for an
Art Deco scheme
“ A calming,
sophisticated palette
will help to create a
relaxing atmosphere
– think natural tones
and textures
”
BATHROOM TREND
TWO IN ONE SHAPE UP

A shower over a bath Gently curved
needn’t feel like a cabinetry will soften
compromise: try it with IDEAL HOME any scheme.
a large shower rose.
Appleby Traditional
bathroom suite,
expert tip Washbasin unit;
right- and left-hand
units, all Utopia
Victorian Plumbing Guard against splashes Bathrooms
from a shower bath with
a glass screen – one that
MAKE IT WORK pivots will be easier for
FOR YOU
children’s bath time
◆ Play with contrasts by budget will allow for a

mixing and matching old designer style, whichever
and new pieces to create look you’ve chosen to go
an eclectic look. for. A wall-mounted version
◆ Take care of the finer of a standard fitted bath
details, opting for efficient tap will give a modern
modern taps and fittings scheme a classic edge.
that recreate the designs ◆ High-gloss brick-
of the past. shaped tiles, like those
◆ A freestanding tub will seen in old Tube stations,
transform your room. are still a popular addition
Create a striking focal to an Art Deco design.
point with a roll-top, The Retro Metro range
bâteau or slipper bath and from Fired Earth is based
place it centre stage for on 20th-century London
maximum impact. Underground tiles.
◆ Install modern ◆ For a DIY country-style
underfloor heating for a solution, you could clad or
PICTURE THIS
toasty room at all times, replace the panel around Frame pages from
but include traditional-style your bath with tongue- vintage nature books
radiators with ball-end and-groove panelling and to create a gallery.
Floor-mounted
joints for warming towels. then paint it in soft, tonal bath-shower mixer,
◆ Invest in quality and shades to match the rest Perrin & Rowe
buy the best taps your of your scheme.
‘We painted it black,
but it feels bigger’
Jess Hurrell turned to the dark side to transform a dated bathroom –
complete with built-in fish tank – into an open, luxurious space
PAINTED RAD
Jess painted
the old chrome
design with
eggshell
Swapping the brick-walled

shower enclosure for simple
glass panels and knocking
out some storage and
boxing-in has opened up
the space. The white bath
and marble tiles bounce
light around the room.
Bespoke glass shower
screen, for similar
try Mirrors and Glass UK.
Walls and ceiling painted in
Off-Black modern emulsion,
Farrow & Ball
BATHROOM PROJECT
MATCHING
CEILING BEFORE
Smooths out the
awkward angles
of a sloping roof
Welcome to
my home
Jess Hurrell lives
here with her husband
David and children
Rafferty and Nellie.
Jess blogs at
goldisaneutral.com.
THE PROPERTY
A four-bedroom
Victorian terrace in
southeast London.
“ The kids love

filling the bath all
the way to the top
and diving in!
”
HOW JESS DID IT A birch-ply cabinet was
built into the space and
‘The old bathroom was a beige, brass-clad doors added,
‘The brass dulls down and
masculine space with heavy shows finger marks and
splashes, but I’m not too ROUND MIRROR
brown cupboards and an empty Softens all the
precious about it,’ says Jess.
tropical fish tank set into the ‘I prefer an aged patina.’ straight lines
and right angles
chimney breast. We lived with it Cupboard; doors, Custom in a room
Fronts. Bespoke satin brass
for nearly three years while we finish three-hole basin tap,
saved up. I wanted a scheme with Perrin and Rowe
glamour and elegance but, as this
is a family bathroom, it had to be
functional, too. We stuck to the
existing layout, hoping that using
the same plumbing would save
money, but when the old bath came
out, we found that the pipes were IDEAL HOME
running along the walls rather
than between the floor joists. They loves
had to be re-routed, which was Art Deco-style wall lights
Matt brass is perfect for
tricky and time-consuming. It giving a bathroom simple
was worth it though – the bathtub glamour. Jess found her
is the centrepiece that pulls lights on eBay
everything together. Installation

took about three months and cost
about £5,000. I’m so proud of the
result – it’s probably my favourite
room in the entire house.’
The couple
replaced the
fish tank in the
chimney breast
with a mantelpiece
bought on eBay.
Artificial plants,
Hello Flora
BATHROOM PROJECT
ABOVE The roll-top bath

WHAT I’VE LEARNED is a nod to the house’s
“about
Victorian history. ‘We gained
People were quite sceptical
PHOTOGRAPHS AND STYLING COLIN POOLE
a lot more room by replacing

the boxed-in bath with a
the black walls and freestanding one,’ says Jess.
‘It meant we could fit in
ceiling, but it looks great,
FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY
a larger shower, too.’

York bath, Victoria and Albert.
and disguises the slanting Bespoke Satin Brass finish
three-hole bath tap, Perrin &
angles. I’m glad I trusted Rowe. Black Pradena floor
tiles, Bert & May
my instincts and stuck to
my plan
”
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BATHROOMS
TO RELAX IN
In this section
REAL HOME MAKEOVERS
We reveal our five favourite
dreamy bathrooms that you’d
long to have in your home
ESSENTIAL ADVICE
Get the skinny on bathroom
lighting, steam rooms, wall-
hung designs and much more
LUXE LOOK TRENDS
PHOTOGRAPH HANSGROHE
Our top trends will help you

dial up the opulance for a
bathroom that doubles as
your stylish sanctuary
‘We were inspired by
luxe hotel bathrooms’
Rachael and Tom Somerville sacrificed a bedroom
to gain a family bathroom with plenty of space
for pampering and relaxation
WALL TAPS
More space-
efficient than a
floorstanding filler
The couple managed

to squeeze in both a
freestanding bath and
shower by building a
bespoke enclosure, while
floor-to-ceiling marble-
effect tiling creates a
streamlined, spacious look.
Picasso bath, Lusso Stone
BATHROOM PROJECT
BE FO RE
Welcome to
my home
Rachael Somerville lives
Tom and daughter
Nancy.
THE PROPERTY
A five-bedroom
Georgian house in
Shrewsbury.
“ I love how
calming and
peaceful this
bathroom is
”
GLOBE LIGHTS
A traditional style
that works with
the cabinetry
HOW RACHAEL AND TOM DID IT

‘We turned the old family bathroom into our bedroom en suite,
and so this space, which used to be a bedroom, became the main
bathroom. You can’t beat a hotel-style scheme and we’ve stayed
in some beautiful places, so I got ideas that way as well as
from Instagram, where I have my own account (@rachael
somervilleinteriors). The new bathroom had to work for our Neutral walls ensure
the vanity unit, with
daughter as well as for guests. Originally, I wanted the bath in its timeless Shaker
the centre with a shower behind, but it didn’t fit so we built a style and elegant
curves, stands out
shower enclosure with screens by a local glass company. This Stratford mid vanity
suits the space perfectly. To give the room a contemporary twist, unit, Porter Bathroom.
Compton wall lights,
we chose a minimalist bath. This bathroom was part of a Jim Lawrence
mammoth whole-house renovation, taking almost three years.’
BATHROOM PROJECT
NICHE SHELF
Measure your
tallest shampoo
bottle to get the
height right
ABOVE Glossy white

edging tiles frame the
niche behind the bath,
which is perfect for
toiletries and accessories.
Mimica Bianco Ravenna
matt porcelain tiles,
Mandarin Stone
ABOVE Inspired by RIGHT Rachael matched

stylish hotel schemes, accessories to the
the shower is defined brassware to create
by a brass frame. consistent accents.
Enclosure, The Glass Hepworth crosshead taps,
Studio. Shower fittings, Porter Bathroom.
all Porter Bathroom Mirror, West Elm
FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS ADAM CARTER
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“ceiling
We decided not to add
coving because of the
beam which sits in the centre
of the room. In hindsight I wish
we’d done it, as this feature
worked so well subsequently
in other rooms
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

BATHROOM SOUND SYSTEM
Looking to belt out show tunes in the shower, catch up on the news
or listen to podcasts? These should do the trick
Bathrooms haven’t always been with vastly improved DAB quality,

the easiest place to enjoy your is always an option. Try Fugoo’s From radios to
portable speakers, which run for wireless tech,
favourite tracks. But thanks to
there’s an audio
developments in wireless tech up to 40 hours. Also, check out
option to suit
and speaker quality, you can up portable wi-fi speakers, like
the tempo of your daily ablutions. Denon’s Heos 1 HS2.
And by streaming from services
such as Spotify or Deezer, the
options are virtually endless. Q Any other tech advice?
To change tracks in the
bathroom without fear of dropping
Q How can I ensure the best

sound quality?
your phone in the bath, go for a
waterproof model when you next
Consider linking your bathroom to upgrade. This year sees a whole
a home music system. Waterproof host of launches from the likes of
speakers are wired to an audio Sony, Samsung and Apple, using
player and amplifier outside the the latest nano-coating protection.
bathroom; music can be controlled
via a wall panel. Alternatively use
a waterproof remote control. All Q What is an IP rating?
IP stands for Ingress
bathroom electrics must conform Protection, and any source of
to strict safety regulations. music in the bathroom needs
it. Look for at least IP67 or IPX7,
Q Is there a cheaper option?

Bluetooth speakers that
covering immersion; IP65 or IPX5,
means splashproof. In-ceiling
stream music from a smartphone speakers not located above a bath
or tablet are our retro-fit friend. or shower only need to be moisture
For safe bathroom use, they’re proof so IP44 is sufficient. BEST FOR…
powered by waterproof low-voltage
transformers connected to shaver PHONE-FREE
Made in the
cables. The most common are
“bathroom
Netherlands with
in-ceiling speakers and those in
mirrors and cabinets. Integrating audio into the free shipping to the
UK, AquaSound’s
is becoming easier, N-Joy Music Center
Q If I don’t want to rewire?

Go for a portable solution. thanks to the latest advances in
doesn’t require a
smartphone to listen
”
There are plenty of waterproof to Internet radio.
Bluetooth speakers available and Bluetooth microchip technology
HOME SYSTEMS
the humble shower radio, now
Crestron EMEA
provides automation
systems for luxury
IDEAL HOME LOVES… BATHROOM SPEAKERS homes. Control your
bathroom lighting
from the same panel
as your music to
PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
really set the mood.
SINGING IN
THE SHOWER
Kohler’s Moxie
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON
showerhead hosts a
wireless speaker
MUSICAL MIRROR SING FOREVER POLE MOUNTED VOICE ACTIVATED that pairs to
Has a built-in Bluetooth Enjoy up to 100 hours With a docking station Alexa-enabled for Bluetooth-enabled
speaker and lighting. of battery power. for fast recharging. hands-free control. devices, delivering
Lunar LED mirror, ICF-S80 shower radio, Aquatunes, IP44 ceiling speaker, audio overhead.
Soak.com Sony Victorian Plumbing Lithe Audio
BATHROOM ADVICE

MARBLE TILES
Looking to introduce a little luxury to your bathroom? Consider this
sought-after stone that adds glamour with ease
Marble has been associated seal the marble once before

with quality and luxury for installation and again after Channel a hotel
thousands of years. Each piece grouting. Use cleaners designed bathroom vibe
is different, and it’s this that for natural stone and avoid bleach with wraparound
marble tiling
makes it so desirable. The wide and chemicals. For safety, use
variety of tile shapes and sizes honed marble on floors.
means marble is versatile, too.
Q Is it expensive? Q How can I boost its impact?

Use large-format slabs with
Natural marble is invariably bookmatched veining to create a
more expensive than man-made statement above a bath or inside
tiles, especially if you add in the a shower. Mosaics can be equally
cost of sealants and maintenance. impressive on a vanity splashback
The larger the slab, the higher the or to lift the flooring in a compact
price tag. Marble mosaics, which space. A heavily striated marble
can be made using offcuts, are like Striato Olimpico or Calacatta
often more affordable. One trick is will make more impact than one
to use marble in a small area to with subtler, feathery veining
create a striking focal point, with such as Carrara or Thassos.
less expensive tiles elsewhere.
Q Can marble be used on Q Are marble-look tiles okay?

Marble-look porcelain and
walls and floors? ceramic tiles are good alternatives.
Generally, floor tiles can be used Many designers recommend
on walls but not vice versa. Also, man-made marble as a more
weight can be an issue, as wall durable option in showers and on
tiles must be no more than floors. Avoid repeating the vein
12mm thick. Check with your pattern to ensure a realistic finish. BEST FOR…
tiler/installer before you buy.
QUALITY STONE
All Natural Tiles
Q
“
Are there disadvantages?
prides itself on
Unprotected, marble is a Marble offers an unrivalled sense sourcing premium
relatively soft stone that will soak grade marble tiles
of opulence. There’s no better way to
”
up stains. It’s also easily etched and slabs. What’s
by acidic materials; even a bar of
soap can leave a mark. To avoid
add a luxe look to your bathroom more, you can order
free samples online.
this, we’d always recommend you
BARGAIN
HUNTING
Mandarin Stone
IDEAL HOME LOVES… MARBLE WITH A TWIST stocks more than
50 types of marble
tiles, making it one
of the UK’s largest
suppliers.
FINISHING
TOUCHES
To add just a little
marble, Amara has
a beautifully elegant
edit of marble
accessories,
DARK & MOODY SPLASH OUT TACTILE TREAT CLOSE COPY including soap
Grey veining adds drama. Luxury marble mosaics. A matt marble replica. High-definition printing. pumps and
Cappuccino Grey Pulido High Society Rockefeller Inverno Grey porcelain HD Distinction ceramic toothbrush holders.
marble, Porcelanosa mosaic tiles, Fired Earth tiles, Tile Mountain tiles, British Ceramic Tile
BEFORE
Welcome to
my home
Jessica Davies lives
Christopher and their
children, Olivia and
Tom. ‘We kept the bathroom’s
basic structure, but
THE PROPERTY moved the bath from
A detached, four- the middle to one side,
bedroom Victorian so the space flows better
house in Tunbridge and the patterned floor
Wells, Kent. really stands out.’
Kimono cement floor
“ The bathroom’s
so cosy. It’s got
tiles in Laurel + Pure White,
Mink Interiors. Wall and
ceiling painted
a chic, boutique- in Inchyra Blue modern
hotel vibe – I emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
totally love it
” Picasso freestanding bath,
Lusso, is similar
BATHROOM PROJECT
‘We’ve finally got our

dream sanctuary’
It was second time lucky for Jessica and Christopher Davies
when it came to turning their awkward loft bathroom
into a comfortable and inviting en suite
SMART
WASHSTAND
The legs show
more of the floor,
maximising the
sense of space
HOW JESSICA AND CHRISTOPHER DID IT
‘We converted the loft into a bath, basins, WC and existing
master suite about nine years plumbing where possible, and
ago, but our idea of a stylish, we were happy with the layout
adult haven never quite of the separate wet room.
worked. It has a steep sloping Samantha suggested a glass
ceiling and tricky angles, and wall to divide the bathroom
BELOW A half-wall was
white walls made it feel too from the bedroom. She also built behind the bed, and
bright and uninviting. guided us towards the floor Samantha designed the
steel and glass screen to fit
‘We asked Samantha tiles, which are the standout around it. Shaping the steel
Saunders at Mink Interiors to feature. Installation cost around frame to the ceiling contours
was one of the most difficult
redesign the space. I wanted £5,000 as part of the overall elements, as was positioning
the bathroom to feel cosy redesign, which took about four the door with enough height
for it to open easily.
and comfortable. Budget-wise months. The building work Bespoke steel-framed glass
it made sense to reuse the came to around £10,000.’ screen, Fabco
BATHROOM PROJECT
WALL LIGHTS
A simple and
elegant way
FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK
to illuminate
each basin
ABOVE Grey-white marble

tiles reflect light in the
enclosed WC and walk-in
shower. Low-level lighting
in the alcove, controlled
from the bedroom, is
handy for night-time use.
Alsace honed marble wall
tiles, Mandarin Stone S
ABOVE Samantha made RIGHT ‘We can control

the bespoke washstand by the overhead lighting in
customising an Ikea frame the shower from a master
with joinery, brass legs and switch beside the bed.
knobs, a Carrara marble The cement floor tiles
top and a painted finish. have been sealed, making
Washstand painted in Hague them water-resistant and
Blue modern eggshell, Farrow suitable for a wet room.’
& Ball. Flos Mini Glo-Ball wall Thermostatic brushed
lights, Made in Design gold shower with hand-held
shower, Lusso
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“someI wasof the

surprised at how long
processes took. It
was three months to design,
template and install the
bespoke steel and glass screen –
there was a lot of work in
getting it right
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

BESPOKE VANITY UNIT
Can’t find a ready-made vanity unit that you love? Invest in a custom-made
design to suit your space and style perfectly
Bespoke furniture can prove a be painted moisture-resistant

saviour in smaller bathrooms MDF, tulipwood or marine-grade A bespoke
design is ideal
as well as providing clever plywood. Solid and veneered for squeezing
solutions to awkward spaces. timbers cost more in materials into small
but less in painting time, so the spaces
Q Is it expensive?
Bespoke furniture is more
overall cost may be similar.
costly than off-the-shelf. Time

spent designing, plus more Q Who will make it?
Try a local joinery firm
expensive materials mean you’ll first – if the job’s too small, they
probably pay £650-£1,000 for might recommend someone
a 60cm-wide vanity unit, not else. For a built-in vanity, also
including basin and taps. consider carpentry firms. They
work on site rather than in a
Q What are the benefits?

The main reason to go
workshop but tend to be cheaper.
bespoke is for the space-saving

benefits. A vanity unit can be Q How can I make savings?
Doing some of the work
made in any size and built into yourself will help – such as
a space to avoid dirt-trapping painting the final coats at home.
gaps. A good designer will offer Sourcing your own fittings –
savvy ideas like space-saving basin, taps and handles – plus
sliding doors, for example. making your own collection and
installation arrangements can
Q What are they made from?

The world is your oyster,
also reduce your costs. BEST FOR…
DIY DESIGN
“
but bathroom furniture must be Aspenn Furniture
moisture resistant. Save on the Choose quality materials and a has a semi-bespoke
design-your-own
bit you won’t see, with a carcass timeless design – this will futureproof option that lets you
made from melamine-faced
your vanity and ensure it won’t go out create a vanity in six
”
moisture-resistant MDF, which easy steps.
is strong and easy to clean. The of style with the next season’s trends GETTING A
doors, front frames and sides can
CRAFTSPERSON
The Guild of Master
Craftsmen offers
a finder service –
IDEAL HOME LOVES… OFF-THE-PEG VANITY UNITS findacraftsman.com
– for tradesmen
nationwide.
UPCYCLED UNITS
Vinterior has a rolling
stock of stylish vanities
repurposed from
vintage washstands
and retro furniture,
including industrial
SIMPLE SHAKER MID-CENTURY STYLING GO MODERN metal cabinets and
Tongue-and-groove sides and Tall feet and inset handles give Handleless drawers and a sleek G Plan sideboards.
Shaker doors are a timeless look. this unusual piece a retro edge. basin hits the minimalist spot.
Hampton unit in Derwent Blue, Kompass two-drawer unit with Doyon free-standing unit in
Roper Rhodes basin and feet, Frontline Olive Green, Wayfair
BATHROOM ADVICE
HOW TO...
PICK A SHOWER
ENCLOSURE
Whether your bathroom is large or small, we can
help you decide on the best design for your space...
When redesigning a bathroom
or adding a shower room, it’s Q What would work best
in a smaller space?
Frameless
enclosures are
important to consider your Quadrant enclosures are an ideal great for small
own space and requirements solution as they fit snugly into bathrooms
before choosing fittings. corners and feature an attractive
Here, we give you the lowdown curve-shaped frontage, saving
on the various options for on space without cramping your
shower enclosures, from showering experience.
quadrants to walk-ins, for
bathrooms of all sizes.
Q What about a square or
rectangular enclosure?
Q What’s the best option

between a walk-in
Square shapes work well in
smaller rooms. Classic frames
shower and a wet room? like bifold square enclosures are
Walk-in showers are a great way a good space-saving option,
to add minimalist contemporary while walk-in frameless
design. They tend to be more enclosures keep a room open
suited to larger bathrooms, but and airy. If space allows,
they can work in a smaller space rectangular shapes provide
too, with many designs fitting more showering room and they
the footprint of a standard bath. tend to look more luxurious.
Look for a design with a shallow
tray and open glass screens for a
more spacious feel. Wet rooms Q Should I invest in
a shower cabin?
are more complex as the room For ultimate luxury, shower
needs to be waterproofed, but cabins offer body jets and
they can fit in any shape or size. multiple pressure settings. Some
No doors or shower trays also even have aromatherapy, mood
mean easy access for everyone, lighting and Bluetooth functions
FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT PHOTOGRAPH VICTORIAPLUM.COM
young and old. for a spa-like experience.
3 OF THE BEST…. CHROME SHOWERHEADS

“ Work with
shapes already in
the bathroom: rounded
suites suit quadrant
enclosures; for angular
MADE TO FIT CLASSIC LOOKS WATERFALL EFFECT
suites, choose square
”
This design is great in Perfect for a traditional Switch to a water blade for a
bathroom luxurious, waterfall-style flow
smaller enclosures
Zion wall-fixed The Bath Co. Camberley Sabre fixed head with
enclosures
showerhead, showerhead, water blade, Frontline
Crosswater VictoriaPlum.com Bathrooms
TREND
Laid-back
luxury
Who needs a trip to a boutique hotel
when you can enjoy spa-style pampering
in the comfort of your own home?
W
hile many of us space and budget. For a truly
dream of a day at a sculptural look, opt for a bâteau- or
luxury spa to pamper slipper-shaped tub. Create a
ourselves and take a statement by setting your freestanding
break from the stresses of daily life, bath in the centre of the room. If that’s
it’s not always possible to spare the not possible, putting it on a raised
time. However, it’s easier than you platform or sinking it into the floor
might think to create an indulgent will make it a stand-out feature.
bathing experience at home. As DO THE DOUBLE Jostling for the
there are now ranges that echo bathroom – particularly during the
the glamour of a stay in a boutique morning rush, when everyone is
hotel, achieving the look in your own getting ready for work and school
home is easier than ever before. – is no fun, so take inspiration from
hotels that have double his-and-
RELAXING BOUDOIR If you’re after hers-style washbasins. If you have
real decadence, take a leaf out of the the space, install two separate vanity
five-star hotels’ book and put the bath units; if not, create one to your own
in your bedroom. The environment in design using two countertop basins
a bedroom helps to create a softer, on a single vanity unit. For an extra
more sensual feeling for bathing but hit of glamour, use classic French
make sure that your room is up to it renaissance designs and place
first. Adding new plumbing can be elegantly framed mirrors above them.
costly but if your bedroom already KEEP IT CLEAN Bathroom clutter –
has an en-suite or is located next bottles of shampoo, children’s toys
door to a main bathroom it should be and cleaning materials – can definitely
a relatively easy job for a plumber. spoil a relaxing soak. Keep it hidden
THE TUB’S THE STAR Pick a bath by storing it away in elegant fitted
that’s truly covetable – there is a host furniture. Not only will this keep things
of freestanding roll-top baths in a out of sight, but it can also help to
multitude of materials to suit any conceal unsightly pipework. Grand designs
A beautiful room with an
amazing view deserves a
“
bath with grand proportions
Introducing textured finishes and elegant furniture. If you
have the space, go to town
will provide added interest, while with your tub, using a
window to frame it so you
using gloss finishes and designs can make the most of the
views during a lazy soak.
without handles will further BUY THE KEY PIECES
”
Art vanity unit; inset basin;
enhance the sense of space wall unit, all Bagnodesign
BATHROOM TREND
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Don’t feel tempted to
overfill a large room.
It will look much more
elegant if a few special
pieces are allowed
to shine
BATHROOM TREND
⊳ ON THE TILES
A patterned floor creates
the perfect base for
displaying a two-ended
tub. Pair with a
freestanding bath tap
and pull up a comfy chair
while the water is running.
Barcelona bath
designed by Shayelyn
Woodbery, Victoria +
Albert Baths
NATURAL STYLE ⊲
For luxurious, old-world
glamour, pair lots of
marble with a central
roll-topped bath.
Leighton freestanding
bath; Marlborough
washbasin sets;
Venerable loo;
Marlborough bath-shower
mixer; Marlborough
standpipes; Classical
square mirrors, all
Thomas Crapper
▼ CURTAIN UP
Screen the bathroom
area with elegantly
draped curtains that
match the bedlinen for
movie-star hotel style.
Bath; BetteArt washbasin;
BetteFloor shower tray,
all Bette
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Keep wall tiles plain white
but pick different formats
to complement dramatic
veined marble
f looring
MAKING SHAPES
Create a raised area for
“of boutique
a walk-in shower.
Pool Thermaform bath;
The recent emergence panels, Bathstore
hotel chic in
the home has helped to
break down barriers –
figuratively and
literally – between the
bedroom and
the bathroom
”
TAKE TWO
Step into the world of
his-and-hers showering.
Separate a large walk-in
space with individual
controls and screens.
Twin shower wall,
Merlyn Showering
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
A wet room will provide a
five-star hotel experience.
A low-profile shower tray
will achieve the look at a
fraction of the cost
“driving
The demand for hotel-style suites is
the latest bathroom trends,
such as stylish shower enclosures
”
BATHROOM TREND
RIGHT ANGLE
Modernise your boudoir
with an oval bath and a
sleek, white vanity unit.
Bath; vanity unit, both
Duravit Cape Cod
range, West One
Bathrooms
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
While gold is becoming
popular, gleaming chrome
accessories are still
MAKE IT WORK the perfect fit for a IN THE PINK
FOR YOU
Furnishings and
contemporary accessories in rose tones
design give any room a sense
of old-style romance.
Crono sideboard;
Mineralcast basin;
◆ Go antiques shopping back and relax in front of a mirror, all Burgbad
for vintage chandeliers, roaring fire; if not, fill it with
but make sure that they candles or a gel fire instead.
can be adapted to comply ◆ Set the mood by
with the latest electrical creating a sense of
regulations before you glamour using dark,
buy. Under bathroom dramatic materials; add
zoning regulations, they ambient lighting using LED
must be kept a safe strips beneath vanity units
distance from water – and shelves, and make the
ask your electrician for ceiling lights dimmable.
advice if you’re unsure. ◆ Create an inexpensive
Or look for IP-rated, but stylish feature using
splash-proof replicas. an array of mismatched
◆ Add sparkle to your crystal and glass perfume
walls with mosaics bottles and storage jars on
featuring lustre or metallic a vanity unit or windowsill.
finishes, from companies ◆ Build a stud wall close
such as Original Style or to your bathing area to

Fired Earth. accommodate a recessed
◆ For the ultimate in shelf for shampoo and
luxury, include a fireplace body wash – ensuring that
in your design. If you have they’re slightly hidden away
a working chimney, lie but still close at hand.
‘We merged two
tiny rooms into
one luxe space’
Jennie Roe and Greg Lawson
removed a wall between their
cramped bathroom and even
pokier en suite to create this
light and spacious room
FALSE WALL
BE FO RE Hides the
plumbing and
creates a ledge
for accessories
Welcome to my home
Jennie Roe lives
here with her partner,
Greg Lawson.
“ This room was
so small, it was
stressful to use, but
THE PROPERTY now there’s space
A five-bedroom detached to move, we love
house in East Sussex. coming in here
”
BATHROOM PROJECT
A framed vanity
unit feels light
and open, with a
drawer to hide
essential toiletries
HOW JENNIE
AND GREG DID IT
‘We already had an architect
helping us with renovations, so
he helped us redesign the upstairs
space, too. Luckily, the bathroom
and en suite shower room backed
onto each other, so we knocked
through to create one larger room
and moved a door to give us more
wall space. The new shower went
against this wall, and the most
obvious place for the bath was
under the window. This left a small
gap for a basin at the end of the
bath. A full-height wall was built
inside the shower area to conceal
‘We wanted a the plumbing and this is continued
contemporary bathroom
with a big, walk-in shower at a lower level to hide the cistern.
– a calm space we could I love a contemporary and clean
enjoy relaxing in as well
as dashing in and out of monochrome look, but we added
easily in the mornings.’ some pictures of Italy, plants and
Bette Starlet 1700x750mm
bath, QS Supplies. M-Line
candles to make the room feel more
wall-mounted bath spout; cosy. The project took three months
concealed mixer with
diverter; shower handset,
and work cost around £10,000 as
all Bagnodesign part of our house renovations.’
BATHROOM PROJECT
GRID
EFFECT
The black lines
aren’t metal
– they’re
digitally printed
onto the glass
ABOVE The shower recess

is edged with slim black tiles
to echo the grid-look shower
screen. The marble-style tiles
are actually porcelain. ‘We
researched both types but
decided porcelain was more
practical.’
Matt Black tile trim, Topps Tiles.
Calacatta porcelain tiles,
Master Tiles
EDGE STRIP
Gives half-tiled
walls a smarter
finish
ABOVE ‘I’ve always loved RIGHT ‘We took inspiration

Crittall doors, so chose from the shower panel and
a metal frame-effect shower found a black-framed basin
screen and teamed it with unit, black taps and radiator,
a low-profile shower tray adding terracotta towels for
for a wet room look.’ a warmer flash of colour.’
One shower panel and brace, Reina Diva curved ladder
Matki. Saneux Prague 495mm radiator, Victorian Plumbing.
toilet, cistern and flush plate, Luxe 600 vanity unit,
Bathrooms Source Lusso Stone
FEATURE KATE HILL/VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING KATE HILL
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“benefitted
It’s best to get help – we
from having an
architect work out how to
PHOTOGRAPHS LIZZIE ORME
merge the rooms and an

interior designer friend
who taught me how to draw
a scale plan of the new space
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

WALL-HUNG LOO
If you want a contemporary look, losing the loo pedestal is a smart
step to a more streamlined bathroom style
‘Floating’ off the floor, wall- bathroom is small – there are

hung loos look modern and neater versions available that Wall-hung loos
make give a
sleek and are easy to clean are designed to slot away neatly spacious feel
– both the pan itself and the in to the cavity of a stud
floor beneath. As you can see partition wall.
far more of your bathroom
flooring underneath, they also
have the added bonus of Q What size frame do
I need?
making the room feel larger. The frame size will depend
on where it is going. If under
Q How are they installed?

A plumber is always
a window or towel rail, it may
require a shorter frame. Frames
with adjustable heights can
recommended. The pan must be
securely bolted onto a steel help make loos more accessible
frame, which comes with a and easier to use for elderly
concealed cistern inside the or less able users.
frame. The frame and cistern is
then covered up, so all that’s
visible is the pan itself and the Q Will it hold my weight?
All loo frames must comply
flush buttons. The frame can with all safety and performance
be concealed within an existing standards. Rules dictate that
or new stud partition wall or it the installation frame must
can also be hidden inside take up to 400kg of weight (just
bathroom furniture. under 63 stone), so in the vast
majority of cases there’s no need BEST FOR…
Q Do they take up to worry. LIGHTING

THE WAY
“
more space? Grohe’s Nova flush
No, and if the frame is fitted Wherever possible, look to buy a plates boast LED
inside the existing wall, the lighting. Choose
loo pan will project into the
rimless design to eliminate the spaces from a selection of
where dirt and germs can harbour illuminating colours
”
bathroom less than a standard – perfect for safe
loo. Look for a space-saving inside the bowl late-night loo trips.
concealed cistern if your
PERSONAL
HYGIENE
Geberit has all the
THREE OF THE BEST… FLUSH PLATES latest technology.
Its new AquaClean
Sela shower loo
has WhirlSpray
technology that
works like an
ultra-effective bidet.
DESIGNER STYLE
CP Hart makes the
humble loo a thing
CHIC AND SLEEK CLASSIC LOOKS MODERN TOUCH of sculptural beauty.
A slimline and unfussy style Perfect for a trad bathroom Add drama with a black design Choose from all the
Villeroy & Boch E200 ViConnect Chatsworth Traditional VitrA Loop O Mechanical flush major design brands
flush plate in brushed chrome. dual flush in chrome. plate in Matte Black, Bathroom and 50 pans.
UK Bathrooms Victorian Plumbing Supplies Online
TREND
Metallic
glamour
Adorn your bathroom with finishes
and accessories in the materials of the
moment – gold, copper and brass
C
hrome has been king of the of copper and brass elsewhere in the
bathroom for some time but, home, taps are shrugging off their
as with kitchens, this is all silver coating to adopt a new, more
changing. Though we’re not luxurious look. For traditional
advocating the return of gaudy, schemes, go for taps in brushed
swan-shaped brassware or wall-to- copper or antique gold, as these will
wall copper tiles, there is definitely give a softer finish. If your taste runs
a trend for modern metallic finishes, to contemporary high-gloss cabinetry,
and it’s worth tapping into for your pair your furniture with a brighter gold
new bathroom design. design featuring clean modern lines,
such as the Axor tap by Philippe
ON THE SURFACE To prevent your Starck. Buy the best you can afford,
walls looking as if they’ve been too, as poorly plated taps will tarnish
touched by the hand of King Midas, easily – go for high-density, high-carat
use metallics sparingly but with gold plate on a nickel base for
purpose. A border of gold or copper optimum longevity and durability.
mosaics surrounding plain field tiles GET THE SHADE RIGHT Gold is
behind a basin or bath, or in a shower definitely experiencing a renaissance
cubicle, will give the feeling of now, but it’s important to set the right
glamour without veering into tone. Think gentle champagne and
tackiness. Lustre and iridescent tiles rose shades rather than showy,
are an attractive option, as they will orangey tones. To take the edge off
shimmer and add light and openness. brass and copper, look for brushed
For floors, opt for natural stone or finishes, which prevent them from
ceramic floor tiles with similar tones. appearing excessively shiny.
BOLD BRASSWARE As the name ACCESSORIES Mirrors, open
suggests, brassware has the metal at shelving and lights all come in a host
its heart, as it’s a durable material. of gold, copper and brass finishes.
Usually, the brass core is treated with Keep lines fairly clean and resist the
chrome or nickel to produce the shiny urge to buy every accessory you can
steel look we’ve been in love with for find in a metallic: instead, add a few Thin line
so long. Now, inspired by the return simple white pieces for balance. A narrow tiled gold
border and a few
well-chosen accessories
“
will add a bit of glitz to
Try combining warm and a white bathroom suite.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
cool metallic accents if you want Metropol Classic basin
mixer; single-lever shower
to create a modern, glamorous, mixer; Raindance Classic
”
100 Air 3jet hand shower;
well-balanced space RainAir overhead shower
with shower arm, all
Hansgrohe
BATHROOM TREND
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Classic chrome brassware
with gold highlights
adds a gilded touch
without looking
over-the-top
BATHROOM TREND
⊳ BACK TO BLACK
Dark walls and floors are
a perfect foil for rich gold,
particularly in a boudoir-
style design.
Abingdon washstand in
rose-gold finish with
Blenheim basin; Hemsby
basin mixer in rose gold,
both Heritage Bathrooms
STAND TALL ⊲
Pick a tall bath filler
in gold for a modern
freestanding bath and
match it with a deck-
mounted tap over a
sleek basin.
Transition Touchstone
bath; Transition rose gold
floor-standing bath-
shower mixer; Transition
tall rose gold basin mixer,
all Bathstore
▼ STAR STYLE
Want to add a bit of bling
to your bathroom?
Sebastian Conran’s range
of accessories is an
excellent place to start.
Black and gold Eternity
bathroom accessories,
Vitra
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
For added drama, set
your freestanding tub
on a raised platform and
pair it with a deck-
mounted filler.
“ An intentionally
antiqued aesthetic is
coming back into
fashion, manifesting
itself in patinated hues
of copper, rose gold RETRO METRO
”
Use elongated gold
and brass brick tiles to create a
stunning backdrop.
Industrial collection
Gold tiles, British
Ceramic Tile
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Leave plenty of room
around a freestanding
bath if you have small
children – it will help
when getting them
in and out
“little
Brushed finishes are a
more understated,
but still carry all the ON-TREND TUB
necessary visual detail Go all out with a

luxurious double-
”
ended bâteau-style
and impact bath with a shiny
copper exterior.
Camden freestanding
bath in copper,
from CP Hart
BATHROOM TREND
FAB FLOOR
Make the floor the star
with a chequerboard of
black and coppery tiles.
Basin with vanity unit;
mirror with LED light, both
Ripples. For similar tiles try
Copper-effect; Black,
both Harvey Maria
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
Don’t be afraid to
mix copper and gold
accessories in one space
MAKE IT WORK – they’ll add a feeling
FOR YOU
of glamour and
elegance
◆ It’s wise not to go on bespoke mixers made

overboard with gold, as from copper piping and
it can look very ‘bling’ retro pillar taps.
extremely quickly – stick ◆ If you can, buy your
to two or three elements sink, bath and shower
and add natural tones with fittings from one company,
wood and stone as a as there are so many
counterbalance. variations of shade and
◆ Don’t be afraid to sheen that mixing and
mix silver and gold to matching could produce
create a contrast, but don’t an un-coordinated look.
combine too many varying ◆ Add sparkle and a dash
shades of one metal – the of fun to plain walls with a
look could tip over into quote sticker. The ‘Relax’
tacky very easily. swirly wall sticker from
◆ If you want to keep the Notonthehighstreet.com is
look sophisticated, pick a great choice above a
wall tiles with a lustrous freestanding bath. SPARKLE
AND SHINE
sheen, which will still add ◆ If you’re on a budget, Mix cool white and
sparkle and shine, rather you could update old gold tiles to create a
than a metal finish. accessories using gold beautiful backdrop.
Gold-leaf countertop
◆ Is industrial style your spray paint such as washbasin, West
thing? Go online to sites Rust-oleum’s Painter’s One Bathrooms
such as Pinterest for ideas Touch.
‘I smile every
time I walk in
to my en suite’
Annie Oatley turned
a functional but bland
bathroom into a space
to enjoy using every day
BEFORE
Welcome to
my home
Annie Oatley lives here.
THE PROPERTY
A four-bedroom terrace
built in 2002, in West
Sussex.
“ All the small,

space-saving
changes really
added up to make
the room seem so
much bigger
”
BATHROOM PROJECT
SLIDING DOORS
More streamlined
than concertina
style in a small
bathroom
A fixed showerhead
is drenching, while a
hand-held is great for
cleaning the enclosure.
Luxury showerhead, arm,
thermo valve control and
hand shower set,
Pura Bathrooms
HOW ANNIE DID IT

‘I bought my home as a new
build and the bathroom, though
functional, was never a style I
would have chosen for myself.
I asked several companies to
submit plans, but it was The
Brighton Bathroom Company
that impressed me the most. I
gave them a budget to work to
and they stuck to it. There were
no structural or layout changes,
which kept the costs down. I
wanted the colour scheme to
work with my bedroom and they
suggested a yellow patterned tile
to create an accent wall, which I
love as it really draws the eye. In
a small space, colour gives it soul,
Annie didn’t change the but you have to choose tones that
layout, as it made sense complement rather than contrast
as it was, but by choosing
streamlined fittings and with each other. The installation
storage and a clever colour cost £7,528 and the project took
scheme, she’s made it more
modern and less cluttered. four weeks to complete. It’s now
Shower doors; Truestone a calm, relaxing space I love
tray, both Merlyn. Wood white
beige floor tiles, Boyden Tiles
spending time in, rather than just
and Bathrooms a purely functional shower room.’
BATHROOM PROJECT
ABOVE Niches for storage

and display make use of
unusable space beneath
CLASSIC the sloping eaves.
PANELLING Classic white satin tiles,
Gives a new-build Walls and Floors. Ladakhi
home a sense of Ocre tiles, Vives
heritage and
character
ABOVE ‘The slim washstand RIGHT A wall-mounted tap

was a real game changer. frees up space around the
It inspired the look of the basin as it can be positioned
whole room – traditional close to the wall. ‘I chose
with a modern twist.’ a minimalist design to not
Vanity unit in Smoked Trout, distract the eye from the
Shaws of Darwen. Trafalgar pretty vanity unit,’ says Annie.
radiator, Burlington Bathrooms. Unique basin, Sanipex.
Shelf, Victorian Plumbing Wall-mounted basin filler,
Crosswater
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“en Insuite,
a small space like my
PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID PARMITER
a statement tiled
wall encourages you to focus
on the feature in front of you,
not the size of the room
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

CONCEALED CISTERN
Tucking the cistern neatly out of sight behind a stud wall will give
your bathroom a far sleeker finish…
A concealed cistern is hidden

away, be it inside panelling or Q What else should
I bear in mind? For a neat, clean
look, install a
a wall. All you’ll see is the pan Size is your main concern. concealed cistern
and flush, and as there is less If you’re installing inside the
pipework and ceramic on void of a stud partition wall,
show, cleaning is easier, too. look for a slimline cistern for a
neat fit. You also need to choose
Q Which cistern should I get?

It depends on your loo
type. For wall-hung loos, you
between a bottom or side water
inlet. A side inlet is easier
to access but can be noisier
can buy a specialist steel frame than a bottom inlet. Ask your
pack, which carries the weight plumber for advice, especially
of the pan, plus the cistern and if replacing an existing toilet.
flush button that fits neatly
inside the frame. For floor-
standing loos, just buy a Q What if the cistern breaks?
Maintenance access is
concealed cistern, which is crucial. Furniture modules
screwed to the wall, and a flush usually have a screw or lift-off
button or flush plate. Many panel, and you can create a
shops sell the pan, cistern similar scenario on stud walls,
and flush together, ensuring even if they are clad in tiles.
everything is compatible. Just whatever you do, under no
circumstances should you tile
Q How do I conceal it?

The cistern can be built
your cistern inside a wall
completely without including BEST FOR
PEACE OF MIND
into the wall in a new-build, or an access point.
within a new stud wall if you are Geberit has been
making high-quality,
“
retro-fitting. You can also buy leak-free concealed
furniture modules specifically By concealing the cistern behind cisterns for more
designed for concealed cisterns. than 50 years, with
the wall you can avoid unsightly a 25-year guarantee.
Often called WC units, they
pipework – and still have full access
”
include a box-like unit to COLOUR CHOICE
encase the cistern, plus the for maintenance via the flush plate
Crosswater has a
loo and flush mechanism. flush plate to match
all the finishes of
its bathroom taps
and shower fittings,
THREE OF THE BEST… SHALLOW BASINS including brushed
brass, matt black
and stainless steel.
WATER SAVING
Grohe’s dual-flush
cisterns can be
adjusted to flush
with a reduced
volume of 4.5L and
3L, instead of the
FRESH STYLE MONOCHROME EDGE SLIM APPROACH standard 6L and 3L.
This design features a handy Block colour adds urban appeal. This basin’s sleek form ensures Plus, lots of space-
ledge for toiletries. HappyD.2 Plus with Anthracite it’s easy to clean. saving options.
MyDay washbasin, Geberit Matt exterior, Duravit Xeno2 washbasin, Geberit
Feel at peace
Combine a timber-
clad entrance with
a framed, freestanding
bath and a ceiling
lantern to achieve
complete tranquillity.
PHOTOGRAPH SMITHARC ARCHITECTS/JASON ERIK SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
BUY THE KEY PIECES

IOS freestanding bath,
Victoria + Albert
TREND
Relaxing spa
Bring a touch of Zen to your bathroom with
natural materials and a soft colour palette
T
he naturally warm and inviting wet room, then consider cladding in a natural,
textures and tones of materials marble-look quartz composite, such as
such as timber and stone are Caesarstone, to create an elegant shower
the perfect building blocks for cubicle. Accessorise with natural wicker
a spa-style bathroom. Follow the lead of baskets, timber duckboards and plenty
boutique hotels and combine soft shades of soft towels and snuggly bath robes.
with luxury modern fixtures and fittings LUXURY TOUCHES Fitting underfloor
for a space that’s sure to soothe the soul heating will keep things nice and warm
as well as aching shoulders. in the winter, particularly if you’ve gone for
PUT THE BATH CENTRE STAGE porcelain, ceramic or composite floor tiles.
For a truly indulgent look, make your tub Add a wall-mounted heated towel rail and
the focus of the room. If it’s in the centre glossy, reflective surfaces such as gold or
of the space, partner with floor-mounted mirrored chrome for a little extra luxury.
taps so you’ve plenty of room to stretch out Investing in a few high-end toiletries to keep
without encountering chilly chrome. Make out on show will also help to maintain that
sure you have a free surface nearby – a chair hotel chic feel – nothing says boutique spa
or stool will do – for holding your towel, more than a few bottles of quality body-wash
toiletries and a glass of bubbly if you’re in and lotion on display beside the bath.
the mood. Alternatively, if you prefer a simple LIGHT IT RIGHT Add dimmer switches
panel bath, then consider placing it on a so you can easily control the atmosphere of
podium with a shelf inset into the wall the room. It may be a busy family bathroom
to hold your bath-time bits and bobs. by day, but being able to turn down the lights
SET THE TONE Ceramic or porcelain will help to generate the perfect warm glow
tiles in pale stone shades are the perfect way for a peaceful night-time soak. Wow factor
to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. lighting, such as a showstopping pendant
Go for larger format tiles on both the walls above the bath or LED spotlights around the
and the floor so the effect isn’t compromised base of a freestanding tub, will give your
by lots of grouting lines. If you’re planning a finished bathroom that extra-special edge.
BATHROOM TREND
Timber tones
Adding warmth with
wood and natural
materials is a clever
way to create a relaxing,
spa-style scheme.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Arysto Six one-door offset
quadrant shower, Merlyn
Showering. Wireworks
Mezza shower mats, Heal’s,
are similar
“tiles,
Unlike real stone
stone-effect
porcelain tiles are
almost indestructible
and stain-proof,
making them ideal
for family homes
”
BATHROOM TREND
IDEAL HOME
expert tip
For a super sleek
look, choose a plain,
unfrosted shower screen
and a monochrome
palette
Take a view
For a soothing space to
soak, use timber-effect
tiling and place your bath
close to a window so you
can enjoy the view.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Westmorland stone-effect
porcelain, Stone
& Ceramic Warehouse
Super soaker Step up

Use cool marble to clad Raise your bath-time
the walls of a walk-in game by sitting a drop-in
shower and a large rain bath within a stepped
showerhead to create a plinth. Complete the look
sumptuous experience. with real or faux greenery
BUY THE KEY PIECES and wicker accessories.
Wall-mounted rain shower BUY THE KEY PIECES
Cosmopolitan 310 in Brushed Hydra bath, from Waters
Hard Graphite, Grohe Baths of Ashbourne
“ Rain showerheads
emulate the sensation of
showering under a waterfall,
covering a larger expanse
and delivering a more

revitalising experience
”
BATHROOM ADVICE

STEAM ROOM
Revitalising as well as relaxing, a steam room is just the antidote to
a hectic lifestyle. Here’s how to install one…
Perfect for winding down seat. An electricity supply and

in at the end of a busy day, steam generator, fitted outside Save space by
relaxing after exercise or the enclosure, are required. It encorporating
treating yourself to a spa-style also needs a connection to the a steam room
into your
experience, a steam room is water supply and drains, which shower
a useful – and indulgent – is why it makes sense to install
addition to your bathroom. a steam room in a bathroom.
Q What is a steam room?

Also known as a Turkish Q Can you add any
extra features?
bath or hammam, it’s similar to Aromatherapy, mood lighting (it
a sauna, but humidity reaches must be immersion proof) and
100 per cent and the temperature music systems are available. You
is around 45-48°C. You relax on can also include body massage
a natural marble or stone bench, jets and an overhead shower to
allowing a cloud of warm steam push the luxe vibe to the limit.
to envelop your body, soothing
tired muscles, helping with
decongestion and eliminating Q Do I need professional
installation?
impurities in the skin. Yes, to avoid a disappointing fit
and a steam room that doesn't
Q How much space do I need?

Surprisingly, not much.
do the job properly, it’s important
to buy from a reputable supplier
There are solutions to suit and use a fully qualified
different settings and budgets, electrician and installer.
from a compact cabin with BEST FOR…
“
built-in steam system to a STEAM SHOWER
bespoke design to fit your room. The most popular place to install a CABINS
VictoriaPlum.com has
A steam room can be fitted steam room is in a shower, because no a range of systems
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON, LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
in a ‘regular’ shower enclosure, to choose from, all

extra space is needed and it’s usually
”
provided it is fully enclosed and at competitive prices.
watertight, and you may want 90 per cent ready for steam EXPERT ADVICE
to include a bench or foldaway TylöHelo is a
specialist in steam
and sauna products,
including steam
IDEAL HOME LOVES… BATHROOM-SAFE LIGHTING generators and
systems for use in
shower enclosures.
Its website is packed
with information.
LUXURY
SYSTEMS
Effegibi offers a
full range of luxury
products, including
CLASSIC CHOICE STRIKING NOTE VINTAGE GLAMOUR the FitBox steam
A vintage-style fluted glass This stylish frosted-glass Razzle dazzle ’em by fitting this and shower, and
shade adds instant elegance. globe on a black base will suit above and around mirrors. bespoke systems
Pimlico light, a monochrome scheme. Hollywood five-light wall bar, to suit your space.
Garden Trading Vetro light, Made Frontline Bathrooms
‘I got the best from
a tricky room’
Options can be limited in a small, narrow space, but
Gail Rock worked wonders in her bathroom with
clever storage and lots of smart design details
BATHROOM PROJECT
BEFORE
WATERPROOF
BOARD
Easier to clean
than tiles and
available in all
sorts of colours
and finishes
Welcome to
my home
Gail Rock lives here.
THE PROPERTY
A three-bedroom
flat in Brighton, built
in the Nineties.
“ I didn’t want a
bland, functional
bathroom, so I
chose units and
wallpaper that
add some warmth
and character
”
‘The bathroom was very

dated and the lack of
storage meant that toiletries
made it cluttered and
untidy,’ says Gail. ‘I wanted
the room to reflect my style
and personality, and the
beautiful cabinetry certainly
helped to achieve that.’
Burford Natural Oak bespoke
unit in Pebble Grey by Roper
Rhodes; Phoenix Athena
towel radiator, both The
Brighton Bathroom Company.
Bauhaus Pier WC, Crosswater
HOW GAIL DID IT
‘Even though I knew it would
mean a complete redo, I wanted
my bathroom to have a more
streamlined look. It has two doors
– one from the main bedroom
and one from the hall – and I
considered losing one to free up
space for a separate shower, but
I decided to keep both because I
prefer the flexibility when I have SUPERSIZE
guests. I employed The Brighton MIRROR
Creates the
Bathroom Company to help me illusion of width
plan the room and their designer in a narrow space
came to my home to get an idea
of my style and tastes. I love clean
lines and was keen to simplify the
bathroom’s fixtures and fittings
as much as possible, so the
design wouldn’t date quickly. The
entire project took five weeks and
installation cost around £7,000
– and I’m delighted with it!
‘Having lived in Japan

for several years, I
chose this beautiful koi
carp design wallpaper.’
Derwent wallpaper,
Osborne & Little range,
John Lewis
IDEAL HOME
loves
Bathroom cabinetry
Build in the basin and loo,
while squeezing in lots of
storage – a streamlined
solution, even for
small rooms
BATHROOM PROJECT
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“firstDoing plenty of research

meant that by the time
I sat down with a designer
to plan the room using
computer design software, I
already had an idea of what
I wanted. It was great to see
a picture of what the end
result would be
”
STYLING LAURIE DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHS CLIVE DOYLE
‘Simply moving the position of

the loo from the back wall to the
side has made the bathroom
look a lot larger,’ says Gail. ‘The
run of fitted units gives me
so much storage, the room is
always tidy and easy to clean.’
Blue Turquoise Selkie panels, CURVED BATH
Rubberduck Bathrooms. Vado Makes a small
Tablet Altitude Carron Status bathroom easier
rectangular bath; Carron Status to move around
bath panel, all The Brighton
Bathroom Company
BATHROOM ADVICE

MOOD LIGHTING
Harness the power of multi-layered mood lighting and set the scene
for relaxation in your bathroom
Forget the lone ceiling light bathroom use and IP rated
and over-mirror combo that’s according to proximity to water Backlit shelving
been illuminating bathrooms, – your plumber will advise. LED creates a soft
badly, for decades. Strategically lights, which are 50-90% more glow in which to
placed mood lighting is the energy efficient than halogen, are relax in the tub
secret to creating a soothing best,and available in multiple
bathroom that’s as indulgent as guises, including uplighters,
your favourite spa. downlighters and LED ropes.
Q Where do I begin?
Start by working out how you Q How can I max the mood?
Colour-changing lights, aka
use the bathroom. If you’re a bath chromotherapy, vary lighting
person, focus on atmospheric shades according to your mood.
lighting to create ambience near Lighting can also enhance
the bath – floor lights around the textured tiles or interesting types
perimeter of the bath will cast a of stone. Install directional uplights
restful glow. Waterproof light or downlights to wash vertical
fittings can be added inside the surfaces in soft, low-level light.
bath and shower, creating a
luxurious spa effect as they
shimmer through the water. Q How do I control them?
Dimmer controls achieve
layers of light that can be dialled
Q Do I need a lighting plan?

Yes – lighting should be
up or down. Go for at least two
circuits – one for main task lights,
planned at the same time as the and one for the mood lighting. If
plumbing to ensure adequate budget allows, fit programmable
illumination. Getting organised controls that save favourite light
early, before the tiles are on, also settings – try Crestron or Rako. BEST FOR…
means you can make the most of
l Top-notch advice
“uplights
niches, window reveals and
John Cullen Lighting
uplights in the floor. Installing low-watt LED is renowned for its
inspirational designs
around the bath is a bit
Q What fittings do I need?
Mood lighting is often
like having instant candles –
that can transform
any room at the flick
”
recessed within cabinetry and of a switch.
niches, so you can’t see the source.
These lights must be designed for
relaxing and romantic l Pretty fittings
Fritz Fryer’s
dedicated bathroom
IDEAL HOME LOVES… ILLUMINATED CABINETS lighting collection
will look equally
stylish in any room
of the house. IP44
ratings ensure
safety.
l Discreet control
Taptile’s innovative
one-touch mood
lighting and
dimming controls
are concealed
SLIM FIT GREAT VALUE DESIGNER CHIC CLEAR VIEW under tiling, so you
This LED option is made to Two parallel strips of Alongside good task lights, Demisting heat pads keep can safely adjust
be recessed into a wall diffused LEDs provide low-watt LEDs wash walls this LED-surrounded lighting from inside
Bauhaus Duo 600, a flattering reflection from above and below mirror crystal clear the bath or shower.
Victorian Plumbing Storjorm, Ikea Coco, Ripples Groove 50, HiB
QUICK
UPDATES &
FINISHING
TOUCHES
In this section
EASY STYLE UPDATES
Lack the budget for a big
revamp? Check out our fab,
affordable ideas to help you
transform your space
CLEVER DESIGN IDEAS
Stylish, timeless bathroom
looks that will never date
ESSENTIAL ADVICE
PHOTOGRAPH CLAYBROOK
From window treatments and

statement taps to radiators
and pocket doors, we have
the lowdown on them all
ON SALE NOW!
Create a calm, cosy and

clutter-free living space
Packed full of expert advice from designers and stylists, learn how to
declutter, organise and create balance in your home, then curate a comfortable
living space that’s cosy, calm and tailored to you.
WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM
BATHROOM DESIGN
INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE
PLAN THE
PERFECT
BATHROOM
Planning a bathroom makeover this
year? We asked the experts to share
their top tips and insider knowledge
of what’s trending…
LUXE SOAK
‘A freestanding bath creates
an opulent atmosphere,
reminiscent of boutique
hotels, and makes bathing a
luxury experience,’ says Carla
Chases of Carla Designs.
Duo Bath, Clearwater

B
athrooms are
becoming more of GLASS ACT
Mix black framing with
a sanctuary than
reeded glass for the
ever before, as we latest screen design.
look for ways to relax and Reeded glass wetroom
treat ourselves at home. panel, AQATA
But when it comes to their
design, style, fixtures and
fittings, there are some
exciting new developments.
Whether you plan to give yours
a full makeover or a mini
facelift, where should you
start? We asked the experts…
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS

IN SHOWER SCREENS?
‘Black-framed shower screens
are hugely popular,’ says interior
designer Carla Chases of Carla
Designs. ‘They bring an element
of high style to any bathroom.’
Lauren Foulds, product manager
at Heritage Bathrooms, expects
their popularity to continue: ‘We’re
seeing more manufacturers
bringing new options to the market.’
‘At the other extreme, minimal,
barely-there screens are also
trending,’ says Claire Lloyd, Editor
of Home Building & Renovating.
SHOULD I GO FOR A FITTED

OR FREESTANDING BATH?
‘This really depends on the space
you have to play with,’ advises
Carla, who thinks both have their
place. Lauren agrees: ‘When
choosing a freestanding bath, you
need to consider both the size of
your bathroom and the look you
are hoping to achieve.’ Claire adds,
‘Back-to-wall baths can give that
look even in a compact space.’
I’VE HEARD COLOURED

SANITARYWARE IS BACK…
‘Dare I say it, I’m not a fan,’ confesses
Claire. ‘There will always be a market
for it, though,’ says Lauren, ‘but garish
colours are no longer trending
– it’s more dramatic darker tones.’
‘I wouldn’t recommend a complete
colour overload,’ says Carla, ‘but
a nice coloured feature sink can be
lovely. My advice would be to opt
for white sanitaryware – with the
exception of a painted roll-top bath –
then have fun with tiling and painting.’
WHAT’S TRENDING FOR

TAPS AT THE MOMENT?
Chrome remains popular, but as
Lauren explains, ‘we’re also seeing
a growing trend for more traditional

BATHROOM DESIGN
STORAGE SOLUTION
Extend your vanity unit with
wall-hung shelves and boxes.
Tratto collection bathroom
furniture, Scavolini
“
The use of lighting will also
continue to grow as it’s a great way to
SERENE STYLE
Opt for solid
surfaces for a
minimal spa-like
give a bathroom a truly luxurious feel design. Dekton
”
Avant Garde
without a great deal of cost Helena, Cosentino
LAUREN FOULDS HERITAGE BATHROOMS
finishes such as vintage gold.’ corners which work really well in

Black continues to be in demand: a contemporary bathroom,’ says
‘It looks particularly striking paired Lauren. ‘In a more traditional space,
with a black-framed shower screen,’ curved edges on statement pieces
says Claire. ‘Copper and rose gold offer a softer look.’
seem to be old news,’ adds Carla,
‘with brass and black a funky I’M LOOKING FOR TILES,
alternative to simple chrome. Look BUT WHAT COLOURS,
out for polished nickel – it’s a softer PATTERNS AND FORMATS
alternative to brass.’ Lauren reveals SHOULD I CHOOSE THAT
basin mixers are more popular I WON’T TIRE OF?
than basin tap pairs: ‘We’re seeing ‘Choose something you really love
customers shift away from the more and that represents you,’ advises
traditional two-hole sanitaryware.’ Carla. ‘Don’t worry about trends.’
Lauren believes we are getting
WHAT ABOUT SHAPES bolder; ‘Following a time where
– WHAT SHOULD I LOOK people were forced to spend so
FOR IN SANITARYWARE? much time at home, more of us
‘Thanks to recent advances in are choosing bold, forgetting the
manufacturing, we’re seeing a rise neutral “show home” look and
in longer straight edges and harder making our homes our own – and

BATHROOM DESIGN
“ Screens have certainly

become a beautiful architectural
feature that make a bathroom
look super bespoke
CARLA CHASES CARLA DESIGNS
”
HOTEL CHIC
Bring the look home
with large-scale
marble tiles.
Calcatta matt white
glazed marble
effect porcelain
wall and floor tiles,
Wickes
tiles can really help achieve this. professional. We’ve also seen bold
We are also seeing bolder choices wallpapers used behind clear
in marble, with customers using it acrylic panels – but be careful
in abundance.’ Claire agrees, about where these are positioned.’
suggesting hexagonal or metro tiles
laid in a herringbone pattern as a I NEED LOTS OF STORAGE
great way of adding personality IN MY BATHROOM. WHAT’S
with plain-coloured tiles. ‘Or for a THE BEST BIG-BUDGET AND
more timeless look, go large format LOW-BUDGET OPTION?
with fewer grout lines,’ she adds. ‘Depending on how tidy you are,
floating shelves can be a nice
WHAT ABOUT OTHER economical – and smart – option,’
SURFACES – WHAT HAVE says Carla, ‘but if you’ve got the
YOU SEEN OR USED THAT’S budget then built-in carpentry is
WORKED REALLY WELL? always best. I also love the use of
‘Designers are suddenly going to recessed alcoves in bathrooms as
town with every surface possible, not only do they provide a good
as more and more fabulous products place to put/display things, you can
grace the market,’ says Carla. Claire also incorporate lighting to make
adds, ‘Ancient traditional finishes, them a feature. Avoid placing lots
such as tadelakt (a Moroccan plaster of small pieces of freestanding
GO LARGE
finish) and Venetian plaster are storage around a bathroom as it For a minimalist look, go for
gaining traction. They offer a always ends up looking messy and large-format tiles.
durable, waterproof and grout-free cluttered.’ If you’re looking to Bottega Acero wall and floor
look, although they can be update sanitaryware, then Claire ceramic concrete-effect
expensive to achieve and ideally would always swap a pedestal tiles, Porcelanosa
require the expertise of a basin for a vanity unit.

3 OF THE BEST
WALL-HUNG STORAGE DESIGNS
COOL
CLASSIC
Bruton
mirror
cupboard,
The Dormy
House
MODERN
CHIC
Essentials
Calypso shelving
unit with mirror,
Made COLOUR HIT
Make your home your
SLEEKLY SLIM own with bold tiles.
Wireworks 800 Zone Ca’Pietra Lillypad tile
cabinet, Nest in Peacock, Real
Stone & Tile
WHAT’S NEW WHEN IT

ACCENT COLOUR
Cielo washbowls in Le
COMES TO BATHROOM
Acque di Cielo Ninfea finish, LIGHTING?
Spillo mixer, Aretlinea ‘Bathroom lighting is all about
Monolite vanity unit in creating an experience,’ says
bronze fluted glass, CP Hart Lauren, with customers buying
something as simple as an
illuminated mirror, which casts
a subtler light within the room,
helping to create a tranquil
atmosphere. ‘Dimmers are also
a hugely popular choice,’ says
Carla, ‘as are some form of PIR
sensor lights. These are generally
low-level lighting that will just
turn on automatically when you
enter the bathroom – fantastic
for night-time visits as you don’t
have to fumble for the switch.’
WHEN SPACE IS LIMITED,

IS IT BEST TO SQUEEZE
IN A SMALL BATH AND
SHOWER OR GO FOR A BIG
WALK-IN SHOWER ONLY?
‘Walk-in showers remain a great
solution for compact bathrooms
and en suites — maximising use
of the floor space available while
adding a touch of luxury. However,
consider resale — if this is the only
bathroom within the house, then
opt for a shower over a bath. Most
future buyers, particularly those
with young families, will want (and
need) a property with at least one

BATHROOM DESIGN
bath,’ says Claire. Lauren adds, STATEMENT TILE

‘Following the pandemic, customers Choose a pattern you
are looking at self-care and know you’ll love for ever.
Grace by Gayafores
wellness in a new light, and with
porcelain tiles in Grace
the variety of fitted and freestanding Blue, Waxman Ceramics
bath sizes available, a small tub
shouldn’t be ruled out if you are
partial to a relaxing soak.’
ANY OTHER TECH OR

BATHROOM INNOVATIONS
WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
‘Bathroom products never stop
evolving – 15 years ago the
soft-close toilet seat was the latest
technology, now it’s expected even
on entry-level products,’ says
Lauren. ‘We’re also seeing an
increased use of tech in digital
showering and sensor taps, as well
as clever lighting.’ There are other
advances too, as Claire explains:
‘For those looking to save energy,
then wastewater heat recovery
could be one area to consider.
These simple (albeit, at present,
rather expensive) units sit beneath
the shower or bath and recover
heat from the wastewater. The
“keyIfitems
recovered heat is then used to
warm the incoming cold-water feed. you love colour, specify
Biophilic design – the notion of
creating a connection between such as the loo in
the natural world and our interiors
white for a look that won’t
”
– remains a popular concept.
Give some thought to making best
use of natural light. For those taking
date all too easily
on an extension or loft conversion CLAIRE LLOYD HOME BUILDING & RENOVATING
project, consider adding a rooflight
directly above a shower or bath
for a glimpse of the sky, without
(hopefully) compromising privacy.’ here to stay. I love a good white
towel. And if you walk into almost MEET THE
ARE WHITE TOWELS AND
BATHMATS OLD NEWS?
any five-star, gorgeous hotels
around the world, I can guarantee
PROFESSIONALS…
IS IT ALL ABOUT COLOUR? you’ll find they will all still have CARLA CHASES, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND OWNER
‘No, never!’ exclaims Carla. ‘White luxurious white towels and OF CARLA DESIGNS (CARLADESIGNS.CO.UK)
towels and bathmats, I hope, are bathmats in their bathrooms.’ Carla is a vibrant and passionate interior designer,
who works exclusively with private clients. She
specialises in the luxury residential market
3 OF THE BEST BASIN TAPS providing full project service and co-ordination.
CLAIRE LLOYD, EDITOR OF HOME BUILDING &
RENOVATING Renovation expert and member
of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for over
a decade, Claire has just completed her latest
renovation project and always has an eye on
the latest home trends.
LAUREN FOULDS, PRODUCT MANAGER AT
FEATURE JENNIFER MORGAN
HERITAGE BATHROOMS (HERITAGEBATHROOMS.

COM) With a well-trained eye for scoping out
the latest design trends and as someone who
is passionate about all things interiors, Lauren
GO RAINBOW GOLD GLAMOUR BLACK BEAUTY
MPRO monobloc in Monobloc mixer in Razo monobloc mixer
thrives on taking products through their life cycle
Spectrum, brushed gold, in matt black, Utopia and seeing them come to life in retail spaces
Crosswater Lusso Bathrooms and people’s homes.

BATHROOM ADVICE

WINDOW SHUTTERS
Timeless, elegant and practical, shutters are a stylish and functional
option for bathroom windows
If you’re after more than a allow greater control than with

quick-fix window dressing a regular blind. By tilting the
solution, classic window slats up or down, you can vary
shutters are durable and offer how much light comes in and
privacy, security and style. obscure the view from outside.
Q Are shutters practical

in a bathroom? Q What are the different
styles on offer?
Unlike fabric blinds, which can Full-height shutters cover the
get damp in steamy bathrooms, whole window and open as
shutters allow extra ventilation one unit, although the slats
with their louvred slats, so they’ll operate independently. Tier-on-
dry quicker. They’re also easier tier shutters look similar, but
to wipe down and keep clean. the top and bottom work
separately. Cafe-style shutters
Q Won’t moisture in the air

damage the shutters?
cover just the lower portion of
the window, which maximises
While painted wood or MDF daylight, and are a more
shutters will be all right in affordable option.
well-ventilated bathrooms,
in high humidity, moisture-
resistant shutters are more Q Aren’t shutters
expensive? Dress your
windows in
practical. Made of ABS plastic, Professionally installed shutters
unobtrusive,
polymer or polyvinyl, they look can be pricey - cut costs with DIY chic style
like regular wooden shutters but shutters you can fit yourself. BEST FOR…
are waterproof, so slats won’t rot DIY ADVICE
“
or warp, and shutters will keep The Shutter Store
offers online advice
their shape and work smoothly. For upstairs windows, shutter slats plus useful videos
should be angled downwards so people on measuring up
Q What about privacy and

looking up can’t see in. For downstairs
and installation.
”
light levels? COLOUR MATCH
One of the benefits of shutters is shutters, slant them upwards Shutterly Fabulous
that their easy-to-adjust slats offers affordable
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
fitted shutters in a
range of styles and
finishes, including
IDEAL HOME LOVES… MOISTURE-RESISTANT DESIGNS a colour-matching
service, so you can
find the right shade.
FULL
INSTALLATION
Expert measuring
and fitting are all
part of the service
with Hillarys – its
made-to-measure
SPLASH RESISTANT WATERPROOF OPTION STEAM SAFE range includes
No warping, cracking or peeling. Available in a choice of colours. Hard-wearing, faux wood styles. shaped and solid
San Jose Pure White Pure White cafe-style shutters Daytona Cool White plantation shutters as well
shutters in polymer, in polyvinyl, California shutters in polymer, as standard styles.
Blinds 2go Shutters at B&Q 247 Blinds

BATHROOM ADVICE

STATEMENT TAPS
If you want a quick and easy way to update your bathroom, swapping
taps for something more current should do it…
When designing a bathroom spouts are becoming more popular

the spotlight is often on the for homeowners who want to
big-ticket items, but taps can pack their bathrooms with
have a huge impact. For clean personality.
lines and designer style, pick
a contemporary choice.
Q How do I make sure they fit?
As with any tap, modern
Q Why should I go modern?

Contemporary brassware is a
designs come in two-hole, three-
hole and monobloc formats, which
natural fit in a modern space but mix the water before it flows from
sleek, minimalist taps can create the spout. Taps installed on a
dynamic pairings in otherwise basin or bath require pre-drilled
classic bathrooms, too. And new holes. Wall-mounted installation
designs are easier to clean, with provides a more modern look and
no dirt-trapping nooks. giving the whole scheme a more
spacious feeling, plus it’s easier to
Q Where can I find the

hottest designs?
keep clean.
Italian and German designer

brands tend to lead trends – think Q What about water pressure?
Some modern taps are only
Axor, Dornbracht, Gessi and Vola. suitable for high-pressure
Key looks – such as waterfall systems. Every tap has a
spouts and joystick-style handles minimum pressure rating –
– soon filter down into more typically between 0.1 and 3 bar. If
affordable options from the likes you have a gravity-fed system and Tap choice is
of Bathstore, Crosswater or Ikea. no pump, look for a rating of 0.2 key, for looks
bar or less. and practicality
Q Which finishes are best?

Chrome is always a safe bet,
BEST FOR…
“
DESIGNER
but warmer metals like brass, rose
gold and copper are a great choice
Taps are used multiple times NAMES
Axor includes
of you’re after an elevated look. every day – they’re the element Philippe Starck,
Boldly coloured taps, made from Patricia Urquiola and
brass with a PVD coating – red, you touch most in the bathroom. Antonio Citterio in
yellow or black pack a powerful the design talent
Investing in quality will always
”
punch in a white scheme. Designs behind its German-
made from mixed materials, such be money well spent built brassware
as chrome bodies with glass collections.
BACK TO BLACK
Lusso Stone is the
IDEAL HOME LOVES… DESIGNER-STYLE TAPS place to head to if
you want jet-black
brassware with
crisp silhouettes
and modern flat
matt finishes.
LOW PRESSURE
Drench offers an
impressive range of
modern models
LUXE TOUCH COOL INDUSTRIAL FREE FLOWING SLEEK DESIGN for low water
Distinctly different design. Vintage-look aged brass. An open spout creates a Long-lasting double- pressure to ensure
Water Circle basin Elan Vital two-hole basin striking waterfall effect. dipped chrome finish. contemporary taps
monobloc tap, mixer, The Watermark Libero single-lever basin Sublime mini basin are accessible to all.
Crosswater Collection mixer, CP Hart mixer, Bathstore

BATHROOM UPDATES
Easy style
updates
From best buys and
clever tricks to mini
decor projects… this is
our roundup of the
simplest, quickest ways
to make your bathroom
more beautiful now
1 Embrace a
pop of colour
Be bold in a bathroom and
choose wall tiles in a vibrant hue to
bring energy into the room. Use a
fresh white grout for contrast and keep
flooring to a neutral or monochrome
design to allow the walls to really shout.
Speculo lagoon tiles and Mendel mosaic tiles,
both Topps Tiles

WOW WITH
WINDOW
FILM
Cheaper
and easier to install
than shutters,
window film can
simply be cut to
size and applied to
glass in seconds.
3
STYLE UP YOUR
WALL STORAGE
Display lotions and potions
on open shelving. Fill glass jars
with cotton wool pads, display a
candle or two and add a faux plant.
Wire shelf
unit, The
Farthing
5 Fake a smart
wood floor
Wooden flooring in a
bathroom isn’t always suitable but
there’s no doubt it looks the part.
These wood-look porcelain tiles
evoke the raw timber flooring
look, but have more durability and
can easily be paired with
patterned tiles.
Lily Pad blush rose

pattern encaustic
tiles, Ca’Pietra
4
CHUCK OUT TIRED TOWELS
Pick a simple
countertop A quick way to add colour
basin or pattern to your bathroom is to
An elegant yet sleek countertop treat yourself to a brand new set
basin makes a statement and
frees up surface space. Go for an of towels. If you decide to mix and match
oval or round shape, and wall-
mounted taps for easier cleaning.
patterns, be sure to stick to the same
colour palette for cohesion.

BATHROOM UPDATES
8
HIDE AWAY EXTRA
LOO ROLL
Baskets are storage
saviours in all rooms, but most
of all in the bathroom. Place one
by the loo and fill with extra
toilet roll so you (and your
guests) are never caught short.
Blue rattan basket, Homsense
Soho black wet

room screen,
Impey Showers
9 Add a stylish
shower screen
Give a bathroom urban
edge with the industrial lines of
a steel framed-effect shower
screen. The grid design adds
smart uniformity and has a more
modern feel than plain glass.
GET THE EASY GREEN LOOK

Adding a cluster of house
plants to your bathroom is
an easy way to freshen it
up. If you’re not green-fingered, a few faux
plants are an easy way to get the look.
Mora ash
tiles; Berkeley
charcoal tiles,
both Topps Tiles
7 Go dark
underfoot
Create a dramatic
contrast in your bathroom by
choosing dark flooring, while
keeping the suite to a simple
white design. It will give a
luxurious, hotel-style feel to your
The Kura in Key
scheme and make the room feel
Stone mini laying
cosier, especially after dark. pattern, Signature
Collection, Amtico

11 Try a
timeless
geo tile
Showcase geo-patterned tiles on
both walls and floors in mono
and blush hues for a modern
feel. Choose a modern, angular
basin and bath, team with black
taps and fittings, and arrange
plenty of planters filled with
steam-loving tropical plants.
Illusion blush
matt tiles, British
Ceramic Tile
Velvet tray
HANG A HANDY WALL MIRROR wall mirror,
Oliver
If space in your bathroom is Bonas
tight, mirrors will make it seem

larger. Hang it opposite the
window and don’t be afraid to go big. A helpful
shelf will keep jewellery safe as you shower.

BATHROOM UPDATES
13 Plump for
a rustic-
style plinth
Upgrade your washstand to a piece
with a bit more character, like this
chunky wooden one. Have a go at
making a simple timber frame
yourself, or upcycle an old table or
sideboard, setting your basin on top.
14
SHINE UP YOUR
HARDWARE
Refresh your bathroom
by swapping limescale-covered
taps and shower heads for smart
new brushed brass or copper ones.
Or give existing ones a good going-
over with a limescale remover.
MPRO shower head
in brushed brass,
Crosswater
REVIVE TIRED GROUTING

If dirty grout is getting you
down, update it. If you have
a white metro-tiled wall, try
a black or grey grout – not only will it
seriously ramp up the style stakes, but
it’s also much easier to keep looking clean.
Hawthorn white tiles,
Laura Ashley range,
17
British Ceramic Tile REFRESH YOUR
Grid design soap
pump and matching BATHROOM
jar, George Home ACCESSORIES
15
CHOOSE A few new accessories can
A SUBTLE give your bathroom a brand-new
SHIMMER feel, and they don’t have to cost
Add glam to an all-white a fortune either. Dispense some
bathroom with tiles that own-brand hand soap into a
catch the light to reveal a smart pump bottle, turn a pretty
subtle pattern. Pair with candle jar into a toothbrush
white marble floor tiles holder or treat your bathroom
and splashes of green. to a whole new matching set
for a cohesive look.

Enjoy soft white
roller blinds,
Blinds 2go
20
POP IN A
COLOURFUL
PLANTER
Raised planters make a
great home for greenery in a
18
bathroom, as they won’t look
Pick a odd on the floor. Alternatively,
practical suspend plants from the
blind ceiling in macramé hangers.
These clever blinds allow you to
control light and privacy levels in
21
your bathroom. They have two Walls in Down Pipe
layers of fabric that you can line modern emulsion,
up to create a voile, a solid roller Go grand Farrow & Ball.
or something in between. with faux

panelling
Create a period vibe with
panelled-effect walls. Simple
portrait panels are an easy way
to introduce some character to a
plain bathroom or, for a more
ornate look, try a ribbed effect.
Once installed, paint it in a rich
shade for added elegance.
19
USE PATTERN
CLEVERLY
Even smaller spaces
can take some pattern, like this
chevron-tiled wall which offsets
the plain flooring and simple
suite. Keep colours to a minimum
and use oversized mirrors.

BATHROOM UPDATES
22 Be bold
with
wallpaper
Cheaper than tiling, wallpapering
your bathroom can add stunning
colour and pattern and take plain
white tiles to a new level. Avoid
papering directly behind a bath or
basin and try sealing the paper
with a matt decorator’s varnish.
23
TILE A BOLD
SPLASHBACK
Statement tiles
behind a basin will provide an
eye-catching splashback that
won’t cost much or take long. If
your bathroom is plain, choose a
patterned option to add interest.
24
LAY A VINYL
FLOOR
Bored of your plain
white bathroom? Jazz it up with
a patterned floor. Vinyl flooring is
super affordable, comes in plenty
of patterns and is pretty
easy to fit yourself.
Hartley white
brick tiles,
Topps Tiles
DISCOVER DIGITAL
25
PLAY WITH
TILE SHAPES For a sexy, streamlined
Mixing up metro, look, rid yourself of
brick and square tiles in the
same colourway will create
shower knobs and dials
a cohesive look with plenty of and go for a digitally controlled one. You
interest. Try white brick tiles
for a refined, industrial look.
can even put a time limit on showers so
your family doesn’t use all the hot water.

28
System mirror, TRY A
Roper Rhodes
SIMPLE
TOWEL RAIL
Keep towels handy,
ready for jumping
out of the shower,
with a classic
wooden towel rail.
Or better still, one
that doubles as a
chair, like this
design. Great for
sitting little ones
27
on to dry them
after bath time,
Light it also has a shelf
up your for storing your
mirror bathroom
Add some atmosphere with an scales.
illuminated mirror. With dimmable
Ragrund
light levels to suit your mood or towel rack
the time of day, they are a great chair, Ikea
choice if wall lighting isn’t an
option in your bathroom.
GIVE A VANITY UNIT

A NEW LOOK
Your vanity cupboard
doors will benefit from
a new lick of paint, especially if they’re
covered in little ones’ handprints.
Lily Pad Eden pattern

encaustic tiles, Ca’Pietra
Tortora gloss tiles,

The London Tile Co
30 Indulge in
a classic
copper tub
A deep, freestanding copper bath
will lend a boutique-hotel look to
your home. If your budget is tight,
why not upgrade your existing
freestanding bath by giving it a
metallic makeover with spray paint.

BATHROOM UPDATES
33
ADD A
BOHEMIAN
BATH MAT
Throw out your threadbare,
soggy bath mat and upgrade to
something more luxurious. This
eye-catching design could be
mistaken for an exotic rug and
will transform a lacklustre
bathroom in an instant.
Anthropologie Raja bath mat, John Lewis
34
UPGRADE
YOUR LIGHTING
New light fittings or
a couple of extra spotlights will
give your bathroom a new look.
If natural light is lacking, use
mirrors to boost what light there
is and go for warm white bulbs.
31 Extend the
walls to the
floor
For a slick, cohesive look, go for
tiles that can be extended from the
walls to the floor to create a stylish
cocoon. Oversized tiles with
minimal grout lines between each
work best, so the look remains
neat and streamlined.
Archivo crochet tiles;
Archivo plain tiles,
both Topps Tiles
35
BOOST BATHROOM
CUPBOARDS Blend
Adding pull-out shelving patterns
Choose wall tiles
to deep bathroom with a strong pattern, then mix
them with a few plain designs to
cabinets will keep cleaning products avoid a busy look. Pair with old-
in order and ready to use, and will stop gold hardware and a stoneware
basin for a smart yet rustic feel.
you having to dig around in the dark.

BATHROOM UPDATES
38 Up the
glamour
with gold
Add glam to a simple white suite with
touches of gold. Gold metro tiles
used as a trim to the tiled wall below
make a real statement and gold
hardware adds to the hotel-like look.
39
TAP INTO BLACK
Swap out traditional
chrome for an ultra-
modern matt black mixer tap
for your basin instead. It will
instantly give your bathroom
a smart, industrial feel
and, as a trend,
this one
isn’t going
anywhere
soon.
MB01 matt
black mixer
tap, Meir
Wall-hung vanity
REPLACE AN OLD unit in Graphite,
Heritage
SHOWER CURTAIN Bathrooms
It quickly gets mouldy

and stained, so pop your
shower curtain in the wash regularly. If
the stains don’t budge, try H&M Home
for a great range of designs to suit.
FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
37
ADD A TOWEL
RAD WITH A
TRAD TWIST
40
A chrome or white heated towel FIX UP A
radiator might be the most Kora 4 polished WALL HUNG
brass electric VANITY UNIT
contemporary option for a towel radiator,
bathroom, but going for a more Castrads Floating fittings visually
classic design of polished brass, maximise space, as more
will turn even a plain white floor can be seen and also
bathroom into something more makes cleaning a breeze.
luxurious in an instant. Choose Use the area beneath to store
towels with a jacquard print to toiletries in pretty baskets.
really finish off the heritage look.

BATHROOM ADVICE

PENDANT LIGHTING
Want a more striking bathroom pendant? Here’s all you need to know
about the practical side of pretty lighting for a bathroom…
Once a big no-no safety-wise, 60 per cent of antique lighting

low-slung pendants, funky can be converted for bathroom Give your
shades and glitzy chandeliers bathroom a
use. An IP44 lamp holder will
glam look
now come in bathroom-friendly need to be fitted and, in some with a
designs. But don’t get carried cases, a new earth wire soldered striking
away by good looks alone, as on. Work should always be pendant
bathroom lighting is heavily carried out by an electrician.
regulated – with good reason!
Q How can I ensure the Q Is there a way to make

standard lights safe?
design I like is safe? Hector Finch’s Osh lamp is a
Swot up on IP ratings – IP stands specially sealed splash-proof
for Ingress Protection, and shows bulb that can make regular light
how well protected from water a fittings safe to use in zones 1,
light fitting is. The bathroom is 2 and 3 of your bathroom. The
split into zones, with each zone base cap fits a standard light
determining the required IP shade ring so will work with
rating for your light fitting (Google most pendants and chandeliers.
‘IP-rated zones’ for a diagram).
Q Can I hang a pendant above Q What materials should

I choose?
my bath or shower? Select designs made from
This is zone 1, so unless the flex is moisture-resistant materials
very short, you will need a fitting like chrome, lacquered brass and
with a minimum of IP65. If you nickel. Fabric shades are prone
have very high ceilings, you may to mildew. Glass and lacquered
find your pendant sits outside metals work well. BEST FOR…
all zones, which in theory means
you can use any fitting. However, TRAD STYLING
Jim Lawrence stocks
steam could still be an issue, so
“
IP-rated period
most designers and installers
recommend an IP44 fitting. You start and end each day sconce styles,
Art Deco-inspired
in the bathroom so it is essential shapes and glass
Q Could I use antique lighting
in my bathroom? that the lighting is carefully
globe pendants in
antiqued finishes.
”
It depends on the age and type
of your fitting. According to the positioned and controllable TOP ADVICE
English Lamp Company, around Mr Light supplies a

huge range of IP44-
rated lighting, as
well as IP65 fittings
IDEAL HOME LOVES… ‘WOW’ PENDANT LIGHTS for showers and wet
rooms. Visit the
Chelsea showroom
via your builder
or electrician.
SAFE HANDS
Toptradespeople.
co.uk will help you
find a tradesperson
qualified to carry out
COLOUR HIT BRASS ACT GLITZ & GLAM FACTORY CHIC bathroom electrical
Free-blown to your design. Tap into on-trend hot metal. Add sparkle with glass. Pick industrial raw metal. work, in line with
Curiousa & Curiousa Hydra pendant in Boutique polished chrome Industrial lantern in Part P of Building
Bubble pendant, IP44, polished brass, IP54, chandelier, IP44, aluminium, IP54, Urban Regulations.
Holloways of Ludlow Mullan Lighting Frontline Bathrooms Cottage Industries

BATHROOM ADVICE

PRIVACY GLAZING
If your bathroom’s overlooked or you want to disguise a less-than-perfect
view, there are plenty of options available
Lack of privacy, an awkwardly- create lots of different effects but

shaped window or a steamy is prone to finger marks. Designs
bathroom can leave you looking vary from standard geometrics to
for an alternative to bathroom your own bespoke sketch.
blinds. Replacing clear glass
with obscured glass might offer
a more practical solution. Q What about colour?
A stained glass window
treatment is a great way of adding
Q What’s the popular option?

Textured glass – a rolled,
colour. Made using sections of
glass held together with leading,
patterned glass with the design designs vary from a simple border
impressed onto one side of the or coloured insets to decorative
surface. It makes the glass period patterns. Choose from
translucent and non-transparent, standard designs or commission
distorting views while also letting your own - visit bsmpg.org.uk
in plenty of light. Designs vary (British Society of Master Glass
from simple ripples and reeded Painters) for a list of members.
lines to more decorative florals,
foliage and geometrics and there
are several different gradings Q How can I do it on a budget?
An inexpensive alternative is
available, according to the privacy vinyl film that you apply yourself.
level (or obscuration) required. It comes in a wide range of effects,
from frosted and patterned to
Q I’m not keen on a textured

finish – what else is there?
coloured and stained glass, and
can be ordered cut to size. The film
Frosted glass is an
excellent choice if you
Try sandblasted or acid-etched must be applied to clean glass and prefer a simple,
glass. Both use abrasives to create positioned onto the window using unfussy look
a frosted look that gives privacy a squeegee.
and diffuses the light. You can BEST FOR…
“
choose the level of opacity, from a CHOICE
light frosting to fully opaque, and In bathrooms, privacy is key and Pilkington includes
either an all-over treatment or a 13 patterns in its
obscure glass allows this while also
”
patterned effect. Acid etching is a Texture Glass range,
specialist technique so tends to be adding a touch of style in addition to
leaded, mirrored,
pricier, while sandblasting can
painted and safety
glass options.
IDEAL HOME LOVES… QUICK FIX WINDOW FILMS

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
BESPOKE
Leadbitter Glass
features a wide
gallery of designs,
from etched to
traditional leaded
glass – useful if you
want inspiration for
a bespoke piece.
OFF THE PEG

Wickes offers
PHOTO FINISH ART DECO STYLE SPLASH OUT PICK A COLOUR ready-made
Photographic window film Get the look of Obscure the view For a brighter option, obscure glass
reproduces realistic period-style stained glass, outside with this cut-out choose a bold coloured casement windows,
images onto film. with film that replicates the design on a frosted film that still filters in in store or for home
Green Stamps effect of leading and background. plenty of daylight. delivery, for a
window film, coloured glass. Wavy Dotty Lines film, Blue 517 film, The cheaper DIY option.
Purlfrost Sapphire A film, Purlfrost Brume Window Film Company

BATHROOM DESIGN
Fish scale tiles

Inspired by art deco design, the
authenticity of these beautiful
curvy tiles makes them pretty
trend-proof. Lay them in any
orientation you like, add in a
contrasting grout and team with
a plain neutral so that they
stand out instead of taking over.
Syren tile; Carrara polished marble
tiles; Carrara basketweave tiles, all
Topps Tiles
Add vintage
style with brass
«
BATHROOM
LOOKS
WE LOVE
Updating a bathroom means navigating
myriad choices and risking being
seduced by design details that date
quickly. We’ve picked our favourite
looks to help you create for a bathroom
that you’ll still love in years to come

Bowl basins
Bathrooms tend to have lots of square
lines, but a curvaceous basin will
soften the look for a sexier, less
functional feel. Plus, round basins
are easier to keep clean – there are no
corners for toothpaste or washed-off
make-up to get trapped in.
Lunar round basin; brushed brass
single-lever wall-mounted tap; Confiserie
Blush triangle mosaic tiles; Cedar Point
matt tiles, all Claybrook
Dark wood finishes

If you’re committed to white and/or
grey walls and floor, furniture in
a rich walnut finish will give your
bathroom warmth and definition
for a classic hotel-luxe look.
Smyle collection units; box shelf; mirror
cabinet; washbasin, all Geberit
Monochrome
Dial up the black and white look with
a mixture of tile styles and matt taps,
or dial it down with simpler tiling and
chrome. Just add towels in any accent
colour you like, or work in some
wooden elements for a warmer look.
Austin Crosshead wall-mounted bath filler;
wall-mounted sink tap; Ava slimline
freestanding bathtub, all Soak

BATHROOM DESIGN
Black grid
shower screens
The trend for monochrome
bathrooms has seen this
classic look - made famous
by Crittal - move from
windows to shower screens.
Black square framed walk-in
shower, Merlyn
Colourful baths
It’s not just traditional roll-tops that
can provide a pop of colour. If you
prefer a more contemporary shape,
go for a bespoke colour finish.
Cove bath, Waters Baths of Ashbourne
Mid-century style
If retro is your thing,
continue the look into the
bathroom with freestanding
furniture that’s inspired by
G Plan and Ercol pieces.
Kompass wall-hung unit; drawer
unit; tall unit, all Frontline
Bathrooms

BATHROOM DESIGN
Panelling + wallpaper
Paint the panelling in a colour you
love and team it with a coordinating
statement wallpaper (or vice versa!)
Victoria Suite bath; panels in Dove Grey;
loo and cistern; basin, all Heritage
Bathrooms. Dark Floral wallpaper, Ellie
Cashman Design.
Barely-there showers
For a minimal, blink-and-you-miss-it
wet-room style shower cubicle, choose
one with as little framing as possible
and add luxe touches with the latest
gold-toned brassware and fittings.
EauZone Plus Radius-20 shower with
curved corner, Matki
Kitchen-style cabinetry
Shallow floor and wall units give you
streamlined, built-in storage without
swallowing up much floor space.
Plus, they’re perfect for hiding the
plumbing, too. Go for mirrored doors

up top to make it function as a vanity
unit and to help a small bathroom
feel lighter and more open.
Fitted back- to-wall loo cabinet; semi-
recessed basin cabinet; 600mm mirrored
wall cabinets, all Britton

BATHROOM ADVICE

SLIDING POCKET DOORS
Lack the room for a hinged, swing door to open? Find out how to fit a
stylish, space-saving pocket door with our need-to-know guide
When space is tight or when non-standard door sizes may

an outward or inward-opening require a custom-made solution.
hinged door is inconvenient,
a sliding pocket door makes
a neat and sleek solution. Q Are there any other
options available?
Solid and load-bearing walls
Q What is a pocket door?

The door slides into a cavity
may make installing a pocket
door more difficult or in some
(or pocket) in the adjacent wall, cases, impossible. However, it
disappearing from view when is sometimes possible to build
the entryway is open. The wall a false stud wall, alongside the
needs to be deep and wide original, to accommodate the
enough to accommodate the door. Alternatively, a surface-
width of the door. There are mounted sliding door may be
currently 10 standard sizes of a solution, as long as there is
door in the UK, with thicknesses sufficient wall space free of
varying between 35 and 44mm. radiators, sockets, pictures
and furniture. There are many
Q How do I fit it?

Typically, the door will
different types of sliding track
systems on the market, from
slide along an upper track, those which require installation
available in kit form and by a builder or carpenter to more
built into the studwork wall. affordable ‘barn door’ sliding A pocket door
creates a cosy,
Alternatively, a door can slide systems, which may be suitable cabin-like feel
into a steel-framed cassette, for fitting by DIY enthusiasts. BEST FOR…
with plasterboard installed GLASS DOOR
“
directly over its surface. Usually, SYSTEMS
the door and finger pull need Buy a good-quality system which Eclisse has a good
selection of glass
to be purchased separately to has been thoroughly impact tested, pocket doors and
the system. It may seem a bit sliding systems, with
to ensure that the installed pocket
”
obvious, but make sure you buy both single and
a door style without projecting door is strong and robust double-door options.
FEATURE AMELIA THORPE PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
facings and be aware that POCKET DOOR

STEEL CASSETTE
SYSTEMS
Rocket Door
IDEAL HOME LOVES… SLIDING DOORS Frames specialises
in competitively
priced pre-cut
galvanised steel
sliding door kits.
HARDWARE
PC Henderson is
a well-established
company offering
a wide selection
LET IN THE LIGHT DOUBLE DUTY FLUSH FIT of sliding door
This powder-coated steel frame Twin sliding pocket doors This kit is suitable for flush doors systems, plus
door is a nod to factory windows. create a grand entrance. with a thickness of 35mm to 44mm. accessories and
Industrial Black Glazed internal Sliding steel framed door system, Pocket door system kit, components.
sliding door, B&Q Rocket Door Frames Todd Doors

BATHROOM ADVICE
HOW TO...
HEAT YOUR
BATHROOM
Your bathroom is a place to unwind and relax – we show
you stylish ways to make it feel warm and welcoming
Selecting taps, tiles, baths and temperature and are controlled
This column
basins are big choices when it via an app and even integrated radiator from
comes to designing a bathroom, into a smart home system for VictoriaPlum.
but don’t underestimate the hassle-free automation. com will add
impact that the right heating instant style
Q
and character
solution can have on your room. Should I go for a radiator
or a towel rail?
Q What type of heating

should I go for?
It’s down to personal choice. A
rail is practical for warming
The three main types are towels and drying clothes. If
underfloor heating, a radiator or you’re undecided, choose a
a towel rail. Underfloor heating design that combines the
is great, especially if you’re short traditional style of a radiator
on space, while radiators and with a handy rail to hang towels.
heated towel rails come in a Radiators are often in set
variety of styles, shapes and positions in the bathroom, so
colours. aim to choose a new shape to
work with the space you’ve got.
Q Where do I start with

underfloor heating?
Q Modern or traditional?
Underfloor heating adds everyday Radiators and towel rails
luxury to your bathroom. It’s also come in both styles to suit your
the eco-friendly option – while room, with vertical, horizontal
radiators tend to need water at or floorstanding designs and
70-90ºC, a wet underfloor heating different finishes from stainless
system can work at just 50ºC, so steel to contemporary black. The
you’ll save on heating bills, too. current trend for vertical column
Many underfloor heating systems or panel radiators make an
allow you to heat individual eye-catching style statement
rooms to their optimum and are good if wall space is tight.
3 OF THE BEST… HEATED TOWEL RAILS
SIMPLE TIMELESS MODERN “ Remember that

radiators can also
PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
STYLE LOOK MARVEL

Available in a
choice of two
Channel a
1920s vibe with
The open-sided
design makes
sit vertically as well
FEATURE THEA BABINGTON-STITT
sizes this traditional slipping towels

off even easier.
as horizontally,
Terma simple cast iron
flat ladder design The Heating and they don’t have
heated towel Linton towel Co. Harrison
rail in Heban grey heated to be placed at floor
”
rail, The
Black, Only Radiator towel rail,
Radiators Company VictoriaPlum. level either
com

BATHROOM ADVICE

SOLID SURFACE COUNTER
Solid surfaces make a practical and stylish choice for bathrooms.
Here’s what you need to know before you buy…
Sleek, hygienic and easy basins and baths. Being

to keep clean, these stylish waterproof is an obvious pro, As well as sinks and
countertops, solid
countertops can be gently but it’s also much warmer than surface can also be
curved to avoid sharp edges, ceramic, harder than acrylic and used for cladding
and they offer the feel good offers excellent stain resistance.
factor of being reassuringly
warm and soft to touch.
Q Are there any drawbacks?
The good stuff is pricey
Q What is solid surface?

Solid surface is a man-
compared with laminate and
granite. You can buy it off-the-
made material formed from peg in single lengths but any
stone and mineral dust, acrylic, jointing, curves or cutting must
resin and pigments. Also known be done by a specialist fabricator,
as composite stone, solid which will bump up costs. Allow
surfaces are flexible, and can around two weeks between
be seamlessly thermoformed templating and installation.
to create curves and shapes.
Q Is it similar to Corian? Q What about maintenance?

Solid surface won’t scratch
Corian invented solid easily but any marks can be
surface and remains one of the polished out. Some makers
best-known brands, but several supply a DIY repair kit, or you
manufacturers are now making can get a specialist repairer in
it, such as LG Hi-MACS and if necessary. A damp microfibre
Staron. Ingredients and quality cloth and mild soap is all you BEST FOR…
vary between manufacturers – need for general cleaning. DOING IT
cheap solid surfaces may not YOURSELF
Maia has developed
“
offer the same performance or a DIY installation-
durability as top-end brands. The seamless versatility of solid friendly solid surface
worktop, which is
surface adapts to any design, while its
Q Why are solid surfaces supplied pre-edged
and can be cut with
non-porous, hygienic properties make it
”
good for bathrooms? standard tools.
Solid surface material can be mould-resistant and easy to care for A QUICK REFRESH
used to make countertops,
Minerelle offers a
handy care kit that
includes solid
THREE OF THE BEST… SOLID-SURFACE BASINS surface finishing
spray, microfibre
cloth and 3M scuff
sponge, which will
refresh and tackle
stubborn stains.
A BESPOKE FIT
Solid Surface
Fabrication’s skilled
team can form,
COMPACT CHOICE SUBTLE SHADES ORGANIC CURVES joint and cut solid
Space-saving in smaller rooms. Choose from Powder Blue, Khaki A shapely bowl inspired by nature. surfaces to precisely
Cabanes wall-hung cloakroom Green or Satin Rose colourways. lve countertop basin, fit your space.
basin, Frontline Bathrooms Vive basin, BC Designs Waters Baths of Ashbourne

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T H E H O M E O F G R E AT I D E A S F O R 1 0 0 + Y E A R S

◆ MAKE USE OF ALCOVES

APRIL 2023 5 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 6 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR

Ideal home experts

HADLEY FREEMAN MATT SIBERRY CHARLIE KALPANA FEARNE COTTON

THE HOME OF GREAT IDEAS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

APRIL 2023 7 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

ISSN 0019-1361 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR

Printed by Walstead Peterborough Ltd (UK)

DO Create a spring arrangement for

APRIL 2023 11 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Wall painted in Pink Crystal

New paint finish

APRIL 2023 12 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

If your budget doesn’t

APRIL 2023 14 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

make your home look expensive without the big spend...

APRIL 2023 16 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

home truths ‘My happy place

THE QUEEN OF CAKES GETS

I love the scent of a good rose,

butter for an omelette!

APRIL 2023 19 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 20 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

has hand-picked her fave

Small stacked vase

Dalloway Dash Gingham floor

APRIL 2023 22 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Ceramic plant pots,

Blue cake plate, £14.99,

APRIL 2023 23 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 25 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 26 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

BUY THE KEY PIECES

APRIL 2023 27 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS HOUSE?

THE LAYOUT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

HAVE YOU FINISHED ALL THE WORK?

APRIL 2023 28 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Linen sheers CALM and shade of grey. It makes an ideal

SOFTEN every room. They are

give the ILLUSION of height

APRIL 2023 29 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 30 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

‘As in the kitchen,

CHOOSE A STYLE MEASURE UP

APRIL 2023 31 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 32 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

APRIL 2023 33 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

‘As with Bel’s room,

PHOTOGRAPHS LISA COHEN/LIVING INSIDE PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY

APRIL 2023 35 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WHO LIVES HERE?

MY STYLE KATE CLARE USES

‘We wanted to have fun with our design