BEST VALUE! REAL HOMES SPECIAL

WIN! £1,560
Bathrooms to Love
prize bundle

D EC O R ATI N G - S H O P P I N G - F O O D - MAK I N G - S T YLI N G

AU G U S T 2 0 2 4

STYLISH
Easy wins for an instant
seasonal style boost!

My Palm Springs
garden is perfect
for entertaining
How to add wow with
statement summer prints

Ontrend
buys for

Stay o

less

from
£4

u t s i d e!

31

ways
to make
your summer
last longer

Refreshingly fruity iced
treats & frozen cocktails

L
A
I
C
E
P
S
S
E
M
O
REAL HG HOMES & MAKEOVERS
6 INSPIRIN
Steal their style

Shop their looks

Discover their DIYs

Save £££s

Extend your perfect day into the
perfect evening with our stunning

*>wÀi"ÕÌ`À-ÌÛi°

-V>]VVÀV>Ìw`ÕÌÀi
marketing@charltonandjenrick.co.uk

charltonandjenrick.co.uk

01952 200 444

71

Keep the party going after
sundown with clever
ideas to stay cosy

92

Bursting with

KIRS

TIE DUH

IG

,E
D
IT

O

R

style to
steal!
W

elcome to your August issue – it’s a
real homes summer special that’s
packed full of inspiring homes and makeovers,
plus where to shop their schemes and how to
DIY their looks for less.
Turn to page 18 to discover Emma’s savvy rental transformation;
Rose’s pretty period property refurb is on page 28 and Erica’s
dopamine decor makeover is over on page 40. Head to page 76
to see cover star Nikki’s totally tropical garden glow-up; Salma’s
living room on page 82 is a masterclass in using postmodern
pastels; and flip to page 88 to see Bee’s elegant take on
cottagecore in her bedroom update.
On page 58 we show you how to get your home and garden
ready for summer with our 15 easy wins for an instant style
boost. And if you’re planning a larger makeover, turn to page 64 to
discover wow-factor ways with statement prints.
For the ultimate destination decor vibe, check out our three
Americana-inspired schemes on page 51 – whether you prefer
the coastal glamour of The Hamptons, the cowboycore look or the
Art Deco pastels of Miami Beach. If you’re looking for outdoor
inspiration, turn to page 71 for cosy ideas on how to extend your
summer evenings, from setting up a garden party bar to creating a
lantern-lit outdoor cinema.
And don’t miss your chance to win a Bathrooms to Love
furniture suite worth over £1,560 on page 70.
Good luck and happy decorating!

86

94
6

PS. Don’t miss it
The next issue of HomeStyle is on sale 20th August

58

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YourHomeStyle

Contents
58

AUGUST

decorating & styling
12 The wishlist
This month we’re loving colourful collabs,
Stacey Solomon’s sofa range and chic dining sets
14 Colour crush… olive green
Discover how to add this shade in smaller
amounts to create a sophisticated scheme
51 Decorator’s moodboards
We’re going stateside, with three schemes
inspired by The Hamptons, the Wild West,
and Miami Beach
58
15 instant summer updates
Refresh your decor with these quick and easy
ideas you can do in a weekend
64
Blooming beautiful patterns
Add summery floral prints to your home for
lasting style – we show you how
71
Cosy ideas for lasting summer vibes
Extend time spent outdoors with practical and
stylish ideas to stay warmer for longer
94 Cafécore kitchen ideas
Recreate the feel of your favourite coffee shop in
your own kitchen with this on-trend look

reader homes
18

28

40

76

82

88

51

‘I’ve given every room several makeovers!’
Emma’s used thrifty styling and decorating hacks
to transform her rented cottage
‘I love the period-meets-modern look’
When a house came up for sale on her
childhood road, Rose knew it was meant to be
‘My colourful home fills me with joy’
Erica’s injected bright and beautiful shades into
every room of her 1930s terraced house
‘It’s now the perfect place for hosting’
Nikki transformed her garden space from a tatty
patio into a holiday-inspired hideaway
‘We followed an amazing Instagram DIY’
Saving money on built-in cabinets meant Salma
could spend on furnishings and accessories
‘I love spending weekend mornings here’
Bee and Adam’s storage hacks helped them
create a calming and clutter-free place to relax

shopping

64
4

yourhomestyle.uk

6 Fave finds... top of the pots
There’s always room for another plant in your life,
so make sure you display them in style
8 Shop the high street
Check out our selection of the best new releases
the high street and web have to offer right now
15 Style insider... ready, get set, go!
Celebrate a summer of sporting events with our
winning pick of homeware
26
Beautiful bows
This on-trend look is heading straight from the
catwalk and into our homes
36
Modern vintage
Pretty pinks, brushed brass accents and frills are
your go-to for this elegant decor style
48
Dopamine decor
Opt for clashing prints and bold, bright hues to
create your own unique style – anything goes!

Contents

A fave colour combo
that I don’t think
many people reach for
is blue and green

94

86

Eleanor Bowmer, page 113

12
80

Flamingo kitsch
Give your garden a tropical glow-up
86 Modern pastels
Uplift a scheme with bright pastel pieces
92 Forest sanctuary
Create a space to unwind in with earthy hues
109 5 of the best... ice cream makers
Whip up frozen treats for the whole family

making
27

Pallet wall planter
Upcycle an old pallet to decorate your garden
37
Dried hydrangea bunch
Learn how to dry your own blooms
49
Upholstered footstool
Use a bold print to make a statement piece

102

cooking
102 Midweek meals
Speedy, no-prove pizza recipes that can be
whipped up in as little as 20 minutes
104 Freezy peasy
Keep cool this summer with these delicious ice
lollies, frozen cocktails, ice creams and sorbets

regulars
38 Subscribe to HomeStyle today and get…
your first three issues for just £5!
98 Ask the experts…
Hints and tips to make your home essentials
and garden furniture last for longer
100 Savvy home solutions
This month’s household hints, product
reviews and eco swaps
113 We chat to...
Designer Eleanor Bowmer about creating a
dreamy tablescape and print-clashing tips
115 Coming next month
Take a peek at our September issue, packed
with new-season styling ideas!
ON OUR COVER

71
PLUS

8

WIN A
BRAND NEW
BATHROOM
Win a stunning pink suite
from Bathrooms to Love,
worth over £1,560!
(page 70)

26

48
August 2024

5

FAVE FINDS

Top of the pots
Give your plants somewhere gorgeous to grow in one of
these pretty planters in nature-inspired shades
1

2

EDITORIAL
Editor Kirstie Duhig
Acting Editor Sophie Ellis
Creative Design Lead Tricia Ball
Creative Designer Beth Charlton Lucas
Homes Commissioning Editor Michelle Grady
Staff Writer Hannah Tribe
Digital Editor Sarah Orme
Additional production Sarah Trevor
Additional design Chris Borgman, Olivia Watkins

ADVERTISING
Group Advertising Director Gino De Antonis
Group Advertising Manager Claire Hawkins
Commercial Brand Lead Emily Savill
Senior Brand Sales Executive Harry Jorden
Ad Coordinator Molly Websdell
Design Supervisor Cee Pike
Design Supervisor Andrew Hobson

MARKETING AND PRODUCTION

4

Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris
Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter
Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson
Director of Content Operations Sarah Powell
Deputy Content Operations Manager Emily Mounter
Content Operations Coordinator Lauren Morris
Head of Brand Marketing Rosa Sherwood
Senior Digital Marketing Executive Laura Nightingale
Digital Marketing Assistant Shaye Pakes

PUBLISHING

6

Brand Lead Rob Brock
Managing Director Andrew Davies
CEO Andy Marshall

CONTACT
HomeStyle at
Our Media Ltd, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST
Advertising enquiries:
Tel: 0117 300 8805
Subscription enquiries:
Email: ourmediashop.com/contactus
Editorial enquiries
Email: homestyle@ourmedia.co.uk
Tel: 0117 927 9009

5

7

8

Feature Kirstie Duhig

9
1 Ophelia rustic planter, £26.50, The Wisteria Tree 2 Floral scalloped edge planter,
£14, Lisa Angel 3 Jellyfish air plant in pot, £18.50, Habulous 4 Elements striped
ceramic windowsill plant pot, £20, Dunelm 5 Aria reactive glaze plant pots, from
£9.50, Oliver Bonas 6 Metro Lane Antrione plant pot, £27.99, Wayfair 7 Jute plant
pot with White stripes, £10, Marquis & Dawe 8 Bubble planter in Blue, from £24,
Click Style 9 Ceramic pot cover – Antiqued Green Fan Leaf, £13.99, Gisela Graham

© Our Media Ltd 2024,
member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts
and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher
incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine
may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time
of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in
respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred
to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any
such advertisements or references. HomeStyle is published by Our Media Ltd,
Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made
to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being
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ourmedia.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@ourmedia.co.uk or write to
Legal, Our Media Ltd, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST.

.

.

24 stores futoncompany.co.uk 0345 609 4455

Shop the
high street

Peach twirl
planter, £5

Check out our selection of the best bargain buys
the high street and web have to offer right now
White scallop
dinner set, £24 for
a 12-piece set

Green sun icon reversible bedding
set, from £22; tufted coral cushion,
£10; White shell bowl, £14; shell
striped candle, £6; Blue coral
ornament, £10, all George Home

GEORGE
HOME
Coastal cool
Add a little vitamin sea to your space
with this modern twist on a classic
scheme, with uplifting tones of peach
and on-trend ruffles and scallops

HOMESTYLE
LOVES!

Style idea

Swap out heavy curtains for
lighter, floaty fabrics that
will catch the breeze

Orange shell
embroidered
cushion, £10

GET THE LOOK
Resin
jute ball
ornament,
£12

Set your seaside scheme
apart from the others by
adding a pop of coral to
the fail-safe combination of
blue and white. This orangey
shade contrasts against blue,
so will give your palette
a little freshness.

Seahorse

Add in classic coastal motifs
that evoke the beauty of
a day of sea and sand. Think
shells, stripes and sunshine.
Stripes are a massive trend
this year, and they’re such
a versatile print that it’s worth
splashing out on – it’ll look
great next year, too.
Give your scheme some
texture with natural
materials in soft, organic
shapes. Choose rounded
pieces, like rugs and
made of distressed wood.

8

yourhomestyle.uk

Best-buy edit

POUNDLAND
A taste of summer
Set the scene for socialising with
a fruity tablescape. Juicy motifs, pastel
jewel tones and ridged finishes adorn
the pieces in the range, for a fresh
update for less

Lemon storage
jar, £4

HOMESTYLE
LOVES!
Pink wine
glasses, £6 for 4

Pink glass ribbed bowl, £6; tumbler, £4;
jug, £6; body plant pot, £4; Blue wine
glasses, £6 for 4; placemats, £2.50 for 2;
glass plate, £2.50; candle, £4; leaf plate, £4;
face plant pot, £4; turntable, £12; forks,
£1.25 for 4; knives, £1.25 for 4; spoons,
£1.25 for 4, all PepCo Home at Poundland

Wooden utensil

Small lemon tray,
£5 for 4

Style idea
Glass pitcher, £4

Drinking jar,
£1.25

Use statement serving
bowls for summer dishes to
take centre stage

Use coloured glass to throw
light around the table. Pieces
with delicate hues add
a little something special to
your display – and when the
sun goes down, it gives the
candlelight extra sparkle.

Feature Hannah Tribe

look a sophisticated, layered
effect. Stack up your place
settings, too, with placemats
larger than your plates and
a napkin on top.

Cali 4-seater metal
patio set in Orange,
£150, Habitat

HABITAT

Sunshine brights

Take it easy with these high-impact
pieces which will do all the talking
for you, featuring block stripes and
postmodern pastel shades

Stacked easy-fit
lampshade, £25

Ribbed globe
lamp, £25

Painted stripe
vase, £14

GET THE LOOK
Give your outdoor space
a statement look the simple
way, by opting for bold colour
blocking in clashing tones.
Paint walls or fences in your
favourite shade and choose
a patio set, or cushions, which
are a totally different hue.

Dipped dinner
set, £38 for a
12-piece set

Style idea

Folding
metal garden
chair, £15

10

Wiggle seat
cushions, £22 for 2

yourhomestyle.uk

A couple of tins of
paint is all you
need to transform a
blank space into
a summery spot

Choose pieces with very little
texture – think powdercoated steel, smooth-fronted
cushions and dipped ceramics.
The lack of texture allows the
colour of each piece to be the
main event, adding to your
high-energy look.
Look out for sharp geometric
shapes and patterns. These
angular buys will add
drama to your scheme,
especially when paired with
unapologetically loud colours.

Best-buy edit

GET THE LOOK
Bring the beauty of
imperfection to your space
with plenty of natural texture.
Try lime-washing your walls
for that iconic Mediterranean
look, or simply add in bobbly
textiles and handmade
ceramics.

Style idea

Make space for summer
afternoon lounging
with a grand chaise sofa

Atticus

Austin floor
lamp, £80

Add a sense of depth by
combining a warm colour
palette of earth tones to
an enveloping backdrop of
beige. Choose sandy hues
for large areas, like walls and
upholstery, then bring in
touches of terracotta and
ochre with small accessories.
Refine your look by opting
for small touches of glittering
metallics. These will glow in
the darkest corners of your
room, adding a sense of
sophistication.

Hayford sideboard, £475

Confetti table
lamp, £30

Caramel stool,
£80

Alfie accent
chair, £299

HOMESTYLE
LOVES!

NEXT
Tuscan elegance
Houghton Depp relaxed sit large chaise sofa in Tweedy Blend Oyster, £2,175;
Rowen Oriental rug, from £110; Gold drum mango wood coffee table, £475;
Chalford large table lamp, £99; toadstool table lamp, £75, all Next

Prefer a more neutral scheme? This
Med-inspired look exudes laidback
luxury – but with a much smaller
price tag than expected

August 2024

11

The future
of flat pack
If you dread spending hours fighting
with flat-pack furniture to make it
resemble the picture on the box, then
take a look at the new self-assembly
options at John Lewis & Partners. The
innovative EasyKlix by Forte range has
been designed to assemble up to 10
times quicker than conventional furniture
thanks to its ‘click-together’ system. With
two ranges to choose from, Sherbrooke
and Harllson, you can choose from
cabinets and wardrobes through to TV
stands and sidetables in white, natural
oak or a gorgeous sage green. They can
also be disassembled and rebuilt again
almost tool-free! Prices start at £139 for
a bedside table. johnlewis.com

EasyKlix Harllson small sideboard
in White/Oak, £279; coffee table in
White/Oak, £149; TV unit in White/
Oak, £259; large sideboard in
White/Oak, all John Lewis & Partners

The Wishlist
Welcome to our edit of the latest collections, collaborations and releases.
Here’s what we’re excited about this month...

W

R E LOVI N
G
EA

Playful
prints

.

..

Stacey Solomon Bliss
snuggle chair in Bliss Velvet
Mole, £1,199.99; oval footstool
in Bliss Velvet Mole,
£949, both ScS

Desenio has teamed up with content creator
turned interior designer Dani Klarić (@daniklaric) for
a fun collection of art prints, and we can’t wait to
revive our walls with them. The collection exudes
Dani’s statement playfulness and whimsy, with
designs including a crocodile, accent chairs, vintage
furniture, playing cards and dice. They’re the perfect
summer switch-up, encouraging us to embrace
colour and creativity. desenio.co.uk

Life at Pickle Cottage
TV presenter Stacey Solomon has teamed up with ScS to launch a new sofa collection,
inspired by her own home, Pickle Cottage. The collection is made up of three different
design styles, but all feature durable fabrics and a chic, neutral colour palette. Stacey
says, ‘At Pickle Cottage, the sofas are the heart of our home – it’s where the whole
family comes together, so I really hope the collection can help create those cosy and
happy spaces for people. I wanted to make sure there was a great choice of super soft
and cosy fabrics and colours to suit everyone’s style!’ scs.co.uk
12

yourhomestyle.uk

Have a seat poster,
from £11.95; cool
people poster, from
£17.95, both Desenio

Wishlist
The Standard locker
in Rainbow, £399,
Mustard Made

Rainbow
brights

£6

For colourful yet chic storage, we love
Mustard Made’s bright lockers. Its newest product
is The Standard, which is a long and lean four door
locker. Use as a TV unit, entertainment hub (it has
holes for cables), sideboard or place at the foot of your
bed. Its limited-edition release is The Rainbow Standard
that combines every hue found in the Mustard Made
range. Not only will it create a fun statement, but
50% of all its sales will be donated to Outright
International, an LGBTIQ+ human rights advocacy
organisation. If you can’t get your hands on the
rainbow version, The Standard also comes
in a variety of colours all year round.
uk.mustardmade.com

Summer dream
candle in jar,
£6, Primark

SUMMER SCENTS

Save
vs
splurge
£75

Assouline Ibiza Bohemia
candle, £75,
Bed Threads

Seasonal styling
If you often look to nature for
decor inspiration, then take a leaf
out of this book. Each chapter
focuses on a different season, from
using sheer linens and texture in
the summer, to embracing earthy
tones and dried flowers in the
autumn, so you can create a home
that reflects the changing view
outside. A Home for all Seasons by
Kay Prestney and Becca Cherry
(£25, Ryland Peters & Small)
is available now.

Designer dupe…
Outdoor dining sets

Natural Amalfi garden wooden
dining bench set, £999, Next

DESIGNER

Feature Lara Berry

We’re embracing relaxed
al fresco living, but if you
haven’t kept your dining set in
the best condition over winter,
then it may be worth investing
in a new one. The classic
coastal design of Neptune’s
Kew dining set is timeless,
with its mid-century modern
inspired shape. Crafted from
durable teak and handwoven
rattan, its artisanship is
reflected in the price tag.
So, we’ve tracked down a
lookalike that’s a fraction of
the price: Next’s Amalfi dining
set is made from solid acacia
wood and is complemented
with rope backrests and stone
bench seat cushions.

DUPE

Kew 6-seater dining set with Kew
carver chairs, £5,900, Neptune

August 2024

13

Colo ur crush
Olive green
Just like actual olives, this shade can be an
acquired taste. It’s a sophisticated colour
which requires careful thought to get right
– but once you’ve found the tone that works
for you, the effect is deliciously good

1

3

2

4

5

7
6

ADD
OUTDOOR
COLOUR
8

Feature Hannah Tribe

ALSO AVAILABLE

TER SOFA AND
AS A THREE-SEA

AN ARMCHAIR

9

10

1 RHS decoupage paper in Dutch Tulips, £13.45; Chalk Paint in Firle, £26.95 for 1L, all Annie Sloan 2 Ollie table lamp in Green, £59, M&S
3 Green injection beaded frame, £5 for 2, George Home 4 White rim tumbler in Green, £5, John Lewis & Partners 5 Olive emulsion paint, £48 for
2.5L, Neptune 6 Bruntåg cushion covers in Dark Yellow/Green, £8 for 2, IKEA 7 Small raised metal planter in Leaf Green, £24.99, Dobbies
8 Beatrice matte velvet 2-seater sofa in Olive, £599, Dunelm 9 Cork-lid Yuzu Blossom scented candle, £3.99, H&M Home
10 Lunch plate in Dusty Green, £3.79, Søstrene Grene
14

yourhomestyle.uk

Style edit

1

2
3

EDITOR'S
CHOICE

4

5

STYLE INSIDER

Summer
of sport

6

Celebrate excellence by picking up items with
a retro nod to this season’s biggest sporting
events. To help you select the perfect items for
your squad, look out for colours which match your
palette, or buy period pieces which reflect the era
you’ve chosen for your interior. These will blend
into your design and add a hint of drama, without
stealing the show – that’s what the athletes are for!

A FU

N TW

9

IST ON CLASSIC COUNTRY DE

7

SIGN

8

1 Coucke Wim tea towels in
Passion Velo, Set et Match and Les
Athletes, £12 each, Home Landing
2 Team GB Varsity logo mug, £10,
Team GB Shop 3 Rebecca horse
riding wallpaper, from £75 per
roll, Bobbi Beck 4 Boat Race
London Transport cushion cover,
from £24.99, We Love Cushions
5 Key hook surfboard, £40,
Resinart by Hollie 6 Cricket ball
coaster, £12 each, Me and My
Sport 7 Director chairs, £70 for 2,
George Home 8 Football drawer
knob, £2.40, Hiatt Hardware
9 Wimbledon double oven glove
- Trophies & Strawberries, £26,
The Wimbledon Online Shop

August 2024

Feature Hannah Tribe

Go for gold this month with
these podium-worthy buys

15

Reader homes
Be inspired by this month’s gorgeous real homes, packed with stunning ideas to steal!
DY

MES G
, HO
EN

IE

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
Erica has created a joyful and
clutter-free home on a budget

MICHELL

EG

R

40

A

Fancy seeing your
home here?
Send a snap of yourself in your
favourite room to Michelle at
homestyle@ourmedia.co.uk.

28

PERIOD DRAMA
A large-scale reno helped
modernise Rose’s dream house

18

COLOURFUL COTTAGE

o

p

t

ir
he

looks
26

PLU

S

sh

After getting to grips with murals,
Emma’s transformed her rental

SCAN ME
for more real
homes inspo at

yourhomestyle.uk

36
48

Welcome
to my home
A BIT ABOUT ME

I’m Emma Parkes, 51, a wellbeing officer
at a special needs school, and I share my
home on Instagram @tallulahcottage. I
live here with my daughter Poppy, 20, my
son Ralph, 10, and Ned the cat.
WHERE I LIVE

Our home is a three-bed, semi-detached
cottage near Talford in Shropshire. We’ve
lived here since August 2020.
WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE

I thought I might be limited on how I
could decorate, but my landlady gave
me permission to make some changes.
As a single mum, I don’t have lots of cash
to spare so I planned to transform my
rented home using paint, secondhand
furniture and lots of clever DIY ideas.
HOW I MADE IT MY OWN

Over the years, I’ve given every room
several makeovers using paint, wallpaper
or murals. One of my bigger jobs was
exposing the floorboards in my bedroom
by ripping up the old carpet.

Style idea

MY FAVOURITE PART

It has to be my bedroom as I love all of
the original features in there, like the
barn door, exposed floorboards, low
ceiling and the cute cottage window. The
morning light in there is amazing.

Emma’s decorated her living room several
times as her style has evolved, but she’s kept
the pink velvet sofa as a statement piece.
It was a Facebook Marketplace bargain,
and cost her just £30

Feature Maxine Brady Photography Colin Poole

My story
‘My cottage is tucked away at the end of a quiet
lane and has become my pride and joy. It all started
with a stroke of luck, when I found this gem through
friends in August 2020. Surrounded by fields, this
cottage was a breath of fresh air compared to my old
home, which was close to a busy road.
When we moved in, every wall was magnolia,
which was too plain for my taste. I’ve always been
into DIY and decorating, so when my landlady said
I could pretty much do what I wanted if I painted
it back before the end of my tenancy, I was thrilled.
We moved in the middle of lockdown, and I threw
18

yourhomestyle.uk

Make your own
coffee table runner
with hessian and lace

myself into transforming the cottage.
My style has evolved from block colours to more
pastel tones and floral prints. Over the years, I’ve
given every room a makeover at least once. I tend
to jump in at the deep end with my decorating
ideas! I once spent hours on a hand-painted mural
in my kitchen, only to paint over it when I didn’t like
the result! Recently, I’ve taught myself how to hang
murals, which I love using to create impact in a small
space. My home is always a work in progress, as I
love digging out my paintbrush when I get an urge
for something new.
When I look at what I’ve achieved, I’m so proud of
myself. Every change, every mistake, it’s all part of the
story of turning this house into a home.’

Inspiring homes

BLAND TO BLOOMING RENTAL

I BROUGHT THIS PLACE TO LIFE USING

creative DIY hacks
When decorating her rented cottage, Emma Parkes filled every room with florals and
bold pastels, using reversible decor tricks to make it her own
August 2024

19

shop
Beautiful
bows
p26

Emma recently created a gallery wall in her living
room, where she previously had a boho fan display.
She bought the vintage botanical prints from
PinkOrPurple on Etsy, and used leftover ribbon
from her Christmas tree to decorate the frames

My style has evolved frဩ
block colours to more pastel
tones and flor prints

Inspiring homes

Repurpose and upcycle a suitcase to use if you’re
short on storage – Emma painted hers to suit her
scheme. The pink velvet chair was just £8 from
a local antiques centre

STEAL MY STYLE
Get Emma’s boho floral style
with these buys

Roses tray, £9.95,
Annabel James
Floral prints
by Pierre-Joseph
Redouté, from
£15, Wallsauce

Pink
gypsophila
bundle, £5.80
for 6 pieces,
Hobbycraft

Vintage floral table
runner, £25, Nina D

Sanderson
Very Rose &
Peony double
oven glove,
£19.80, Harts
of Stur
Suntide extra large
round cushion,
£20, B&M

Living room
Emma has decorated her living room five times over the past four years.
Currently, she’s drawn to whimsical florals with vintage decor. ‘When I first
moved in, I was into bold shades and funky prints,’ she explains. ‘Now, I want
the tones in my living room to highlight the cottage’s original features, like the
beamed ceiling and fireplace. I try to tell a story with my reclaimed accessories
and furniture. I love that they have a history. My solid wooden coffee table was
only £40 and it’s one of my favourite items in my home.’
To add a fresher feel, Emma painted a feature wall in Johnstone’s Miami Mint
emulsion, which is balanced out by the velvet pink sofa she found on Facebook
Marketplace. ‘I’m a fan of a gallery wall, so I started looking out for vintage
prints and found an Etsy shop selling pages torn out from antique books and
magazines, which I’ve framed and hung up with ribbon,’ she says. ‘I also gave an
old step ladder from the garden a new lease of life with a lick of paint, and now
use it for decorative shelving.’
There are some elements Emma can’t afford to change, like the beige carpets,
but she’s been creative with layers of rugs as a happy compromise. ‘There’s a
stone floor under there, which I know would look stunning, but for now rugs
feel cosier underfoot.’

Draw attention to original
features such as beams by hanging
up paper decorations. Emma made
these for Christmas, but kept them
up as loves them in here

August 2024

21

The mural, from Photowall, was the
starting point for Emma’s new kitchen
colour scheme. The teal bench was initially
intended for the garden, but Emma uses it
in here to give her flexible seating

Kitchen-diner
Despite being unable to make any major
changes to the kitchen, Emma has really
made this room her own. ‘I inherited a
plain cream kitchen and terracotta tiled
floors,’ she says. ‘So, I added pinks and
greens to achieve that country cottage
look.’ She also created a showstopping
focal point in the dining area with a bold
floral wall mural. ‘This was the first time
I hung a mural, so it was good to learn a
new skill,’ she says. Emma picked out the
colours in the mural with accessories,
plants and furniture. ‘To echo the floral
motif, I nailed faux flowers to one wall in
a grid pattern,’ she explains. ‘I also packed
my kitchen with a mix of real and fake
trailing plants.’
Emma wanted this space to have a
romantic feel so, as well as filling the
space with hanging planters, she
created a simple but impactful kitchen
centrepiece by attaching a painted ladder
to the ceiling and adorning it with pretty
paper lanterns. ‘My advice is to be brave
with your style and take risks,’ she says.
‘You can easily paint over or change
something you don’t like. It’s important to
decorate in colours you love, rather than
following trends.’

22

yourhomestyle.uk

Mini faux flower bunches, tied with
hessian ribbon, add a quirky touch
to Emma’s dining area. She picked
up the school-style chairs from local
flea markets

Inspiring homes

I’ve taught myself how to
hang murs, whi I love for
creating a big ဣpact in a
sm space

How to decorate
your home with
faux flowers
Bring the outside in, like Emma, with
everlasting faux flowers – here’s how to
incorporate them into your scheme
Invest in high-quality silk flowers that
closely resemble the real thing. Look out for
realistic colours, textures and details. You can
also get faux flowers made in crystals, velvet
fabrics, or even designs that you make from
Lego! Let your imagination run wild.
Create visual interest by mixing different
sizes and styles of artificial flowers. Combine
large blooms with smaller filler flowers and
varying stem lengths to mimic a naturallooking arrangement.
For a rustic look, place faux flowers in
a variety of containers such as glass vases,
ceramic pots, or metal buckets. Consider
repurposing vintage jars, teacups or baskets
for a country cottage style, or copy Emma’s
ideas and pin them to your walls or hang
them from the ceiling.
Update your faux floral arrangements to
reflect the changing seasons. Use bright,
cheerful blooms for spring and summer, and
switch to warm tones or rustic foliage for
autumn and winter.
Incorporate artificial greenery and foliage
to cheat the look of a real floral display.
Combine fake flowers with faux leaves,
branches or eucalyptus for a fuller and
more realistic appearance.
To hide her washing
machine, Emma made a
curtain from pink gingham
fabric she found in Dunelm.
The handy pink trolley is from
Ryman and can be wheeled
around the space to wherever
she needs it

Style idea

Cosy up a tiled
kitchen floor with
a jute rug
Although Emma currently can’t paint the
kitchen units, the cream Shaker-style cabinetry
provides a neutral background to her decor

August 2024

23

Main bedroom
When she’s starting a room makeover,
Emma usually paints the walls white
and then adds colour with painted or
wallpapered feature walls. Sometimes she
does both, like she has in her bedroom.
‘As a rule of thumb, I like to create a clean
slate by painting every room white, and
then I slowly add patterns and prints over
time,’ she explains. ‘I used Johnstone’s
Miami Mint paint on my barn door and it’s
now one of my favourite colours, so I’ve
used this shade throughout my home.’
Emma’s used creative DIY hacks
throughout her home, like her unusual
bedroom window treatment. ‘I don’t have
curtains at my window – instead, I have
a branch that I use to hang plants off,’
she says. ‘My bedroom is flooded with
sunlight, and at night I can see the stars
from my bed. I didn’t want to block my
view with curtains, so I came up with
this idea of using foliage. Luckily, I’m not
overlooked by anyone!’
Emma moved into this house with a fair
amount of secondhand furniture, but
she’s picked up more pieces over the
years as she’s revamped her home. ‘I see
lots of things I love but, because I’m a
single mum, I don’t have a huge budget,
so I need to think outside the box and do
things a little differently,’ she says. ‘That’s
where the vintage and preloved finds step
in. I love treasure hunting in the antique
stores in Shropshire.’

Emma picked up the bed frame
from Facebook Marketplace for
£30, and has dressed it in layers
of linens for a cosy look. This coral
floral mural is from Hovia

Style idea

Revamp a preloved chest
of drawers to match your
scheme for less
Ralph's
bedroom

As the bedroom isn’t
overlooked, Emma has dressed
the window with a branch and
hanging lanterns and plants,
rather than curtains.
The teal vase was from
Jojojamjarvintage on Etsy

24

yourhomestyle.uk

Emma found this
velvet bench for just
£18 in TK Maxx and
has mixed it with
preloved pieces

Emma wanted Ralph to
have input in his bedroom
decor, although they did
have to negotiate on the
colour scheme. ‘He wanted
his whole bedroom to be
black, so we compromised
by painting up to the dado
rail in charcoal, and then I
hand-painted a slim border
all the way around to add
a bit of interest to the
room,’ says Emma. She kept
the rest of this room fairly
simple as it’s a compact
space. ‘We accessorised
Ralph’s room with some of
his grandad’s belongings,
like a wooden aeroplane
and guitar, which we hung
on the walls,’ explains
Emma. ‘It’s a very small
room so we had to be
clever with it and keep
it minimal.’

Inspiring homes

Bathroom
Working with the existing grey tiles,
Emma styled her bathroom with
a bohemian-country look using
natural materials and plants. ‘It’s
very grey in here, which isn’t my
style at all, but as I rent, I’ve adapted
what was here already,’ she says. ‘I
filled a wall with rattan placemats,
a bamboo mirror and a wicker hat,
then I pinned on fake plants to add
a touch of greenery.’
Eventually, Emma plans to paint the
tiles and cover over the floor with
stick-on vinyl. ‘I love to take on a new
project every couple of months. I’m
a restless person, and I’m on the go
in life generally, so if I see something
I like on Pinterest or Instagram, then
I’ll give it a go myself in my home.
Sometimes I create moodboards,
but most of the time I just get an
idea in my head and then I go for it.’

Group rattan
baskets, hats,
mirrors and
placemats on
a wall to add
a boho vibe

The hand-painted storage unit is a piece
that Emma has owned for over 20 years. She painted
it and gave it a distressed finish, and added floral
decoupage to the fronts for a vintage look

TURN
OVER
to make a
colourful
palette
planter

In contrast to the rest of Emma’s colourful
home, Ralph’s room has a graphic black and
white theme which he chose

What I learned
Remember, if you make a mistake with paint, you can always undo it and
paint over it if you change your mind later.
Get creative with your home decor! Pin flowers to the walls, use an outdoor
bench indoors, hang ladders to your ceilings – it’s your home, so make sure
you let your own personality shine through.
When furnishing a home on a tight budget, I had to shop around for
affordable secondhand buys, but this now means that everything in my home
is unique, and each item tells its own story.

August 2024

25

SHOP THE LOOK

Beautiful bows
After being everywhere on the catwalk, bows are set to move into interiors
– get ahead of the crowd, like Emma, and use them in your home
1

EDITOR'S
CHOICE

2

Style idea

Combine with
floral prints
in different
scales

4
7
3

8

6

5

9

10

Feature Sophie Ellis

STATEMENT
STYLE
PIECE

11

1 Romantic charm print, from £15.95, Desenio 2 Brass bow candle holders, £30 for 2, HOST 3 Laura Ashley 200-thread count Loveston
duvet cover and pillowcase set in Coral Pink, from £55, Next 4 Pink bow taper candles, £18 for 2, Meri Meri 5 Pink lacey bows bath
mat, £32, Urban Outfitters 6 Bows wallpaper by Clare V. in Red Shell, from £64 per roll, Wallshøppe 7 Cath Kidston rose and bows
cushion, £40, Next 8 Lepelclub bow straws, £36 for 4, Anthropologie 9 Jore Copenhagen plate bow in Aqua, £21.52, Maison Flâneur
10 Bow table lamp, £99, Urban Outfitters 11 Natalia bow tieback, £28, Anthropologie
26

yourhomestyle.uk

Make it

MAKE THE LOOK

Pallet wall planter
Create a bright backdrop for colourful blooms with a wall planter like Emma’s,
made from a wooden pallet
Don’t forget to check for pipes, wires and
studs before you start drilling – you can buy
detectors in DIY shops, which could save you
thousands if things go wrong

TOP TIPS
Pick up wooden
palettes for less on
Facebook Marketplace,
or ask small businesses
if they have any. Make
sure the wood is
untreated so it’s
safe to use

YOU WILL NEED
wooden pallet claw hammer
orbital sander and sanding sheets
cloth exterior wood paint
paintbrush 2 x pairs heavy-duty
concealed headboard wall fixing
brackets spirit level combi drill +
masonry bit rawl plugs exteriorgrade screws hanging planters
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Begin by knocking in, or removing,
any nails that are sticking out of the
pallet, using a claw hammer.

2 Sand the pallet using an orbital
sander. Wipe down with a damp cloth
and allow to dry.

3 Apply two coats of exterior wood
paint, in your chosen colour, to the
front and sides of the pallet. Allow it to
dry thoroughly between coats.

4 Attach two heavy-duty concealed

Make Anna-Lisa De’Ath Styling Maxine Brady Photography Colin Poole

headboard wall fixing brackets to
the back of the pallet at each end of
the top plank, about 5cm in from the
outside edge.

5 Measure the distance between the
brackets and, using this as your guide,
take a pencil and mark the position
on the wall where you want the
corresponding brackets to sit.

6 Check the pencil marks are level and
use a drill and masonry bit to drill pilot
holes into the wall. Place rawl plugs
into the holes and screw the brackets
into place.

7 Lift the pallet into position – you
may need help with this as pallets
can be very heavy. Carefully slot the
brackets on the pallet into the brackets
on the wall.

8 Finally, hang your chosen planters
from the pallet.
August 2024

27

‘We’re so pleased we decided
to add the Crittall-style doors
in the kitchen, it instantly
modernises the space,’ says Rose

Welcome
to my home
A BIT ABOUT ME

I’m Rose Bickers, a visual artist, and I
live with my husband Justin, a property
business owner, and our four children: Alf,
12, Tommy, 11, Daisy, 9, and Dot, 5. You
can see more of my home at
@home_with_rose on Instagram.
WHERE I LIVE

We live in a four-bedroom, semidetached Edwardian house in Suffolk.
We bought the property during the
summer of 2013.
WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE

We wanted to open up the rooms as
much as we could to let in as much light
as possible. We knew the house had a
lot of potential to be an amazing family
home, it just needed a serious amount of
love, ideas and labour. The main aim was
to keep its beautiful period features but
combine them with modern touches.
HOW I MADE IT MY OWN

I injected my fun and playful character
into the house, including my love of soft
colour palettes, artwork and texture.
We wanted the house to have some
unique features, such as statement walls,
panelling and Crittall doors and windows.

I knew this road like the back of my hand,
having grown up on it, so when this property
came on the market, I knew it was for us

Feature and styling Becca Cullum-Green Photogrphy Jemma Watts

MY FAVOURITE PART

It’s so tough to pick one! I adore the curb
appeal that the house has, but I probably
spend most of my time in the new utility
area. A small but well-loved room.

My story
‘The funny thing about this house is that my family
home is just 10 doors down from us! I knew this
road like the back of my hand, having grown up
on it, so when this property came on the market, I
knew it was for us. Previously, we were in a much
smaller property and, although we felt we had done
everything we could to improve it, we had outgrown
the house with two small children and a third on the
way. It was time for a larger place, and the only way
we could make our budget stretch was by finding
something that needed work doing – we just hadn't
realised quite how much work this property needed!
28

yourhomestyle.uk

It was a delight to be so close to my parents’
home, but sadly my father passed away suddenly
seven years ago. He was a huge influence on my
passion and love for photography and period
properties. I felt like this house was always meant to
be and I treasure the years we had living so close.
Justin and I embarked on renovating the entire
property. There wasn’t a room that we didn’t touch,
from taking down walls to adding bifold doors and
a new heating system. We updated the electrics
and changed the flooring throughout and created
a utility area and new shower room at the back of
the kitchen with Crittall-style doors to separate the
two areas. I’m so proud of the fresh, period-meetsmodern look we’ve created throughout our home.’

Inspiring homes

Style idea

Crittall-style doors are
a modern feature that
separates two areas but
still lets plenty of
light through

PRET TY PERIOD REVAMP

IT FEELS LIKE THIS HOUSE WAS

always meant to be
This house’s location and Edwardian features made Rose and Justin fall in love with it,
so they embarked on a complete reno to create the perfect mix of old and new
August 2024

29

The breakfast bar is the ideal place for the
kids to perch and have their breakfast in the
morning. The oak bar stools are from Cox & Cox

Kitchen
How to
design a
utility area

‘This room is one of the busiest
areas in the house, it gets used
so much!’ says Rose

Create a practical and stylish
utility space like Rose’s with
these hints and tips

Style idea

First, consider what you would
like your utility room to be used
for. If it’s simply washing clothes,
then making sure you prioritise
storage for appliances and
cleaning products is key. Rose
wanted this space to be multifunctional, therefore she
incorporated a sink area with builtin cabinetry, as well as a separate
wet room.
Add personality to your utility
room by incorporating open
shelves. This allows you to display
some of your favourite bits and
bobs as well as being practical.
Storing things in attractive jars and
baskets will elevate the space.
Find clever ways to zone the
space for a utility area that’s part
of a kitchen. Rose created a
distinct space with Crittall-style
doors, but you can achieve this
through colour, panelling, rugs
and accessories. Rose chose
off-white for the walls and a pastel
pink-lilac shade for the cabinetry
in her utility room so it is visually
distinct from the kitchen.
30

yourhomestyle.uk

‘Our main aim in the kitchen was to try and make it as bright
as possible! It’s a dark kitchen until the sun comes around
in the afternoon so we went for soft neutral walls and offwhite units,’ says Rose. The kitchen is by DIY Kitchens and
the couple decided to spray paint the cabinets in the colour
Hollyhock by Little Greene. ‘We warmed the entire room up
with wooden flooring from Fore Wood Floors, brass accents
and lots of open shelving to add character and colour. Our
breakfast bar with oak bar stools is one of my favourite
features of the kitchen,’ explains Rose.

Display colourful ceramics on
open shelves to add personality
to a neutral space

Utility room
‘This space was inspired by a visit to north
Norfolk. I fell in love with the sea-lavender
foliage on our family walks and wanted to
recreate that colour at home, so I painted the
units in a soft pink-purple shade. We went
with a classic white worktop to keep things
fresh and open shelving to display things that
I love,’ says Rose. She then decided to add the
Crittall-style doors and windows to separate
the kitchen from the utility room. ‘They give the
space even more character and add a modern
edge to an otherwise traditional kitchen.'

The ornate shelves from Corston
open up the kitchen and break
up the row of wall cabinets on
the other side of the room

Dining area
‘Our dining area is at the side of the kitchen, and the two
spaces flow beautifully into each other,’ says Rose. The couple
wanted this space to be light and bright, but to also feel cosy
during winter. ‘The bifold doors that lead out into the garden
are wonderful during the summertime and offer outdoor
living with such ease, while during the winter months the
central table, low lighting and open shelves create a sense of
intimacy and are perfect for cosy dining with friends
and family.’ Rose has styled the dining table with a pink
gingham tablecloth, a classic print that pops up a lot
throughout her home.

‘We like to switch this room
around when necessary,’
explains Rose. ‘The table can
either be placed vertically
or horizontally, so we adapt
it depending on what
occasion it is’

There wasn’t a room that
we di’t tou, frဩ
taking down ws to
adding bifold doors and a
new heating system

‘We love bundling in here as a family and sitting
in front of the fire. The dark feature wall makes
it feel extra cocooning,’ says Rose. Rather than
a standard sofa, she’s gone for maximum cosiness
with a squishy pink snuggle chair from Loaf

Snug
‘Unlike the rest of the house, which is very soft and neutral, we
went for a very dark colour in the snug. Most people think it’s
black but it’s actually a very dark chocolate brown: Chocolate
Colour by Little Greene. The rest of the house has light-coloured
walls but with this space I wanted it to feel very snug and for it
to have an almost moody feel to it,’ Rose explains. ‘With the log
burner being the main focus of this room, plus the dark feature
wall, wooden flooring and unit dresser filled with seasonal items,
it’s a very cosy space. We love working or reading in here by the
fire. It’s a really special room in our home that we all enjoy.’

The chair is from Hay
and blends into the
panelling for a neat,
streamlined look

Style idea

Hang an
oversized mirror
in a dark space
to bounce light
around the room
‘ferm Living
is one of my
favourite brands
and I love this
rattan ceiling
light from them’,
says Rose. The rug
is from Kukoon Rugs

32

yourhomestyle.uk

Rose uses the alcove as a workingfrom-home space, with a slimline
white desk from West Elm

Inspiring homes
‘The big bay window in this room makes
it super light and bright, which I love! We
added shutters to the windows to offer
a bit more privacy,’ says Rose

Playroom
‘We turned the main reception room in our house into
a bright, colourful and happy space for the children. You
could call it a playroom, but it’s a room that we all spend
time in as a family’, says Rose. She decided to paint the
walls a soft neutral shade, Limestone by Little Greene,
and let the furniture, soft furnishings and Scandi-inspired
toys do the talking. ‘The big pink sofa is from Loaf and
it’s so comfortable that it’s actually quite hard to get up
from!’ says Rose. ‘This room has a beautiful high ceiling
and period features, like the fireplace, that already have
a lot of personality and visual interest, so we felt like we
didn’t have to decorate too much in here.’

shop
Modern
vintage
p36

Rose painted the
fireplace in delicate
yellow to pick out the
colours in the original
tiles, and has styled it
with a pair of candle
holders and a check vase

The large hallway offers ample
space to store coats and shoes.
The bench and hooks are from
Yester Home and the off-white
paint colour is Wimborne
White by Farrow & Ball

STEAL MY STYLE
Get Rose’s playful pastel style
with these buys

Cotton gingham check
floor cushion in Pink,
£17.99, Homescapes

Piovra poster, from
£15.95, Desenio

Hallway
‘We are lucky to have
quite a large hallway and
we wanted it to set the
tone for the rest of the
house,’ says Rose. The
original Edwardian ceiling
arch frames the hallway
beautifully and this ornate
detail is carried through
to the rest of the rooms.
‘We’ve made it a calm space
by going for very neutral
tones in here. A large bench
was incorporated into the
design for shoe storage, and
we also have some simple
baskets to store smaller
items. I believe that less
is more in a hallway, so I
store away unused seasonal
outerwear to make sure the
space is as clutter-free as
possible,’ explains Rose.

Wood paint in
Meadowsweet Cream, £22
for 750ml, Thorndown Paints

Gingham tea
towels, £7.50 for 3,
Habitat

Stoneware
soup mug in Pink,
£2, B&M

Niju chopping
boards, from £28
each, nkuku
August 2024

33

Main bedroom
‘Our bedroom is one of the smallest spaces
in the house, but a big bed was a must for
us, so most of the room is taken up by our
king-size bed. This didn't leave us much room
for additional furniture, so I kept it simple with
the essentials – a wardrobe, bedside tables,
a freestanding mirror and a preloved chest
of drawers,’ explains Rose. ‘I wanted to make
sure that I added texture through statement
artwork, bedding and stylish bedside lighting,
which I feel like I’ve achieved.’ Rose loves
shopping locally and supporting independent
businesses – the bold piece of artwork above
the fireplace is by a Suffolk-based artist
called Lyn Peters.

I injected my fun and playful aracter
into the house, whi included my love of soft
colour pettes, artwork and texture

Rose wanted to keep things simple in the main
bedroom so opted for a neutral design with a
few pops of colour. The striped pink bed linen is
from John Lewis & Partners

‘This home is full of
original features and
it’s one of the things
we love most about
it,’ says Rose. ‘I painted
the fireplace white and
hung an original piece
of artwork from a local
artist above it’

‘The colour on the walls in the
playroom is Limestone by Little
Greene – it’s a subtle beige shade that
feels warm and cosy,’ says Rose

make
this
Dried flower
bunch
p37

34

yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes
‘Designing and decorating
children's rooms is definitely
one of my passions,' says Rose

Boys' bedroom
‘My son loves all things “under the sea,” so I knew
this was the theme I wanted to go for when I started
designing this room. We installed panelling to break
up the large wall space and added the beautiful sea
creatures-themed wallpaper by Sandberg,’ says Rose.
She opted for white, neutral furniture to match any
decor that they may choose in the future, as she
designed the room to be easy to change as her two
sons grow up. ‘This is my top tip when designing a
child’s room. My boys share a room, so we wanted
to give them the chance to display their favourite
toys, and the open shelves act as the perfect place
for this. The contemporary wall lights from ferm
Living give this room a sense of cosiness and calm.’

Style idea

Girls' bedroom
‘This is the room that I love the most! Installing the pink shutters
was such a brave decision at the time but as soon as they were
up, I knew they would transform a small box room into
a beautifully soft and girly space. I sourced lots of matching decor
and added a vintage floral wallpaper from Jane Clayton to make a
real statement,’ says Rose. The pink gingham cushion is from John
Lewis & Partners and the rattan wall light is from Oliver Bonas.
‘I love the design of this wall light and luckily it didn’t have to be
wired in, it’s a plug-in design, which means you can achieve this
stylish look without having to call in an electrician – bonus!’

Choose a themed wallpaper
for a child’s bedroom to
match their interests

TURN
OVER
to shop
Rose’s
romantic
look

‘How adorable are these pink shutters?
I think they are such a beautiful feature
and they really set the tone of this
bedroom,’ smiles Rose

What I learned
Designing the whole house was a massive project and it made it easier
for me to stick to one key colour palette of soft neutral and pastel shades,
so I’d really recommend doing this.
Don’t be scared to incorporate pattern into your home! I was a bit wary
of this at first but when I started to moodboard the design of each room
I realised that statement wallpaper can really make a space come to life.
Making a house work for you and your family is so important. What
should be our reception room is now a playroom and that simply works
best for us. Embrace reconfiguring the layout of your home to make it
as functional as possible.

August 2024

35

SHOP THE LOOK

Modern vintage
Recreate Rose’s take on a traditional country scheme and add shades of
barely-there blush and warm brass accents

1
2

BUDGET
FRIENDLY
BUY
5

3
6
4

8

9

EDITOR'S
CHOICE
Style idea

Layer throws, pillows and
cushions on a traditional
upholstered bed frame

10

11

Feature Sophie Ellis

1 Highams linen look frill cushion cover in Beige, £10 for 4, Online Home Shop 2 Enamel chamberstick candle holder in Pink, £4.95,
Rex London 3 Bridgerton Fit For a Queen Soft Rose rug, from £129, Ruggable 4 Fluted tapered pendant, £75, Cox & Cox 5 Lady in White
floral dress print, from £17.95, Desenio 6 GoodHome Thestias Brushed Brass effect table light, £35, B&Q 7 Round water hyacinth trays,
£39.95 for 2, Rex London 8 Patterned double/king size duvet cover set in Old Rose/floral, £39.99, H&M Home 9 Churchgate Walcote
extending dining table, £899, Dunelm 10 Ruffled serving platter, £25, Cox & Cox 11 Rose wood upholstered double bed frame
in plush chenille Rose Pink, £725, Next
36

yourhomestyle.uk

Make it

MAKE THE LOOK

Dried hydrangea bunch
Dry your own bouquet of lasting blooms for your bedside table, like Rose’s
Lavender, strawflowers and roses are
other easy flowers to dry. Experiment
and create bespoke bunches

TOP TIP
Display your blooms
away from direct
sunlight and heat
sources, as this will
make the petals brittle
and they’ll lose their
colour much
more quickly

YOU WILL NEED
hydrangeas secateurs clothes pegs
(optional) string (optional)
vase (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Harvest hydrangea heads at the end
of their growing season (from August to
October), depending on where you live and
the variety. They are ready to pick when they
start to change colour, developing sepia
edges and a vintage look, and when the
florets feel papery because their blooms
are losing moisture. When the blooms have
dried enough on the bush, cut them and
strip all the leaves off the stems. Do not cut
flowers that have freshly bloomed, when
it’s recently rained, or in the morning when
dew is still on them. If there is too much
moisture in them, they’ll begin to wilt before
they dry.

Make Anna-Lisa De’Ath Styling Becca Cullum-Green Photography Jemma Watts

2 There are two ways to dry hydrangea
heads. The first method is to hang them.
Hanging hydrangea blooms upside down
allows for the fastest drying time and a
minimum of flattened petals. Cut the
hydrangea with secateurs, leaving a stem of
30-40cm. Tie a length of string horizontally
to form a ‘clothesline’, either indoors or in a
garden shed – as long as it’s dark. Use a peg
to attach the hydrangea stems to the length
of string, allowing the blooms to hang
upside down. Humidity and cool weather
increase the drying time, while too much
direct light can cause the colours to fade.

3 The second drying method is to place
them in a vase, and is ideal for hydrangeas
with thick, sturdy stems. Cut the hydrangeas
with secateurs, leaving a stem of 3040cm. Remove the leaves from the stems.
Arrange the flowers in a wide-necked vase,
with water. After the water evaporates,
the hydrangeas will dry naturally. Drying
hydrangeas using this method will keep
the colour more vibrant and the heads less
fragile than air drying.

August 2024

37

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39

Colour brings Erica a huge amount of joy and
helps calm her ADHD, so she loves to fill her home
with bright and bold shades. Erica’s sofa is from
Roseland, and she bought the curtains in Dunelm,
which she trimmed to fit her bay windows

Style idea

Cute cushions
will add
personality to
your sofa

make
this
Upholstered
footstool
p49

BOLD BUDGET MAKEOVER

MY COLOURFUL HOME MAKES ME FEEL

calm and relaxed
Moving to the Sussex coast to escape the hustle and bustle, Erica Vonderwall has transformed
this 1930s house into her own rainbow-coloured sanctuary on a shoestring
40

yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes

Welcome
to my home
A BIT ABOUT ME

I’m Erica Vonderwall, 39. I’m a PR
consultant and share my home on
Instagram @ericastayshome. I live with my
rescue dog Peanut, who’s a beagle mix.
WHERE I LIVE

I live in a two-bedroom 1930s terrace
house in Worthing, West Sussex. I’ve lived
here since October 2023.
WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE

Living room
Determined to inject some personality into
this previously all-white space, Erica set her
sights on a pink sofa. However, it was caught
up in customs delays and, when it did turn
up, it didn’t fit through her door. In the end,
she settled for a smaller version, which
luckily arrived a week later. ‘I then carefully
chose colours for this room that would
complement the rest of the house. I painted
around the bay window in Passionate Pink
by YesColours, and the rest of the walls in
a soft blush shade called Fresh Peach, also
by YesColours,’ she says. ‘At first, I painted
the chimney breast yellow but updated
it to YesColours’ Joyful Lilac because it sits
better with the other colours in the room.’
Erica hung Mad for Matisse wallpaper in
the Candy Floss colourway by Lust Home
behind her new sofa and created a gallery
wall of bold prints. ‘When I sit down to
watch TV, I end up staring at all my artwork.’

‘I was fed up with living in London. My rescue dog,
Peanut, hated the loud city noises, so I decided to
move to the calm of the seaside. Nestled between
the Sussex coast and the South Downs, Worthing
combines the best of countryside and coastal living.
Luckily, I had friends who lived here and had visited a
few times, so I felt a strong connection to the place.
Every room had been painted white and it looked
so boring. I work in a creative role and my new home
left me feeling unmotivated. Once I got the keys, I
immediately started decorating it. I have ADHD and
colourful spaces make me feel calm and relaxed –

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN

The first thing I did was put up blinds
and curtains and put a loft hatch in to
make the house feel warm and cosy.
I used paint to revamp every room in
my favourite colours. I’ve had to think
outside the box when displaying my
belongings with clever storage solutions,
a gallery wall and alcove shelving.
MY FAVOURITE PART

My living room is where I spend most
of my downtime. I love my gallery wall,
which is packed with photos and prints
from my travels.

that’s why I painted the bland walls in shades of pink,
green, yellow and teal. My style is best described as
‘dopamine decor’ because I love a bright, bold and
busy interior design look.
I had limited experience of decorating and, if I’m
honest, I hated every minute of it to start with, but
my DIY skills improved as I completed each room. I
started sharing photos on Instagram and the positive
feedback encouraged me to keep going. Within six
months I’d decorated the place from top to bottom.
I made some rookie mistakes but, looking back on
what I’ve achieved, I wouldn’t change a thing. When
I walk through my front door, my colourful home fills
me with joy. In Worthing, I’ve found more than just
a house, I’ve also found so much happiness.’

Feature Maxine Brady Photography Bee Holmes

My story

I’m a mental health advocate and I have
ADHD, so it’s important that my home is
both stimulating and organised to make
my brain happy. My plan was to inject
colour and personality into every room.
I needed clever storage solutions so my
house would stay clutter free. My budget
was small, so I planned to do 90 per cent
of the work myself.

August 2024

41

Erica picked up the mantelpiece from
Argos and painted it in Fresh Peach by
YesColours. As there’s no longer a working
fire here, she’s added a bookcase instead
to make use of the space

shop
Dopamine
decor
p48

Colourful spaces make me feel calm
and relaxed. That’s why I painted over
the bland walls with shades of pink,
green, yellow and teal
42

yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes

EXPERT ADVICE

How to conceal
your TV
Your telly doesn’t have to be an obtrusive black
box in the corner when it’s not in use – help it
blend into the background with these tips
If your TV is wall-mounted, make panels attached to
brackets that can cover it when it’s not in use. You can
customise the panels to coordinate with your room’s
interior and match the paint, wallpaper or panelling to
the rest of the wall, so it blends in. Conceal the cables
and wires by routing them behind furniture or within
the walls for a clean and clutter-free look.
Invest in a Samsung Frame TV, which has a matt
screen and slimline design and can display photos or
artwork when you’re not watching it, so it looks like
a framed print. Your existing TV may already have an
in-built slideshow screensaver feature or use an Amazon
Fire Stick or Roku that offers this option.
Create a gallery wall, like Erica, surrounding your TV
with a collection of framed photos, artwork, and
decorative items to draw attention away from the
screen. You can even attach your own frame to your TV
to make it look like a piece of art. Etsy offers custommade TV frames and you’ll find DIY tutorials on YouTube.
A classic built-in cabinet with doors will hide your TV
and give you extra storage, but if your budget won’t
stretch to a bespoke unit, customise a free-standing
IKEA one, or a secondhand piece, to fit your TV.

A folding dining table means Erica can
host friends for dinner, or fold it away to
give her more space. The placemats
are from Dunelm, and the Amazing print
is by Charlie Evaristo-Boyce

Dining
area

Erica has created an inspiring space
with a gallery wall filled with photos
and prints she picked up on her travels

‘I’ve created a separate dining area
where we eat most of our meals. I
thought about placing the table and
chairs in a few different spots before
deciding on this layout, but it made
sense to place it next to the right-hand
side of the kitchen, so the food could
just be carried across. It’s by the floorto-ceiling kitchen unit, where all the
crockery and cutlery are, so it’s quick
to lay the table. We usually just have it
set for two, but it can be easily pulled
out and other chairs added if we have
friends over. It’s also next to one of
the large windows so it gets plenty of
light. We do have a balcony with chairs
out there, so if the weather’s warm we
can just move from one to the other.
To ground the dining space, I’ve hung
a large print above the table in some
of my favourite accent colours.’

The tiny hallway space has been
decorated in Passionate Pink
from YesColours. The handy wall
hook is from Dunelm and the
floor tiles are from Tiles Direct

August 2024

43

Erica painted the walls
green and made a curtain
to conceal an open space

Kitchen
To inject colour into the navy kitchen, Erica
used Fresh Green from YesColours on the
walls, and filled the shelves with prints and
accessories for an eclectic look. Shortly after
moving in, in early November 2023, Erica
decided to give her kitchen a facelift. The navy
units were in mint condition, but Erica wasn’t
keen on the dark colour. As she was decorating
on a budget, she couldn’t afford to replace
the kitchen or spray paint the cabinets just
yet. Instead, she gave the walls a makeover
with a coat of matt emulsion in Fresh Green
from YesColours. ‘My kitchen has a modern
country look now,’ she says. Lots of her kitchen
accessories came from her previous home. ‘I buy
trinkets and ceramics from charity shops. I also
looked for art that had a food-related theme.’

Add personality to a kitchen with a rug.
This one from Wayfair picks out the
colours in the accessories, such as the
purple kettle and toaster, and pink utensils

STEAL MY STYLE

Get Erica’s playful look with these fun finds

Lola table lamp,
£49.50, M&S

Colourful toucan
poster, from £17.95,
Desenio
Pleated footstool
in Hot Pink,
£39.99,
Homesense

Erica chose a Willow
Wildflower blind from
Hillarys, and has picked
out colours in the blind
design for the rest of her
kitchen scheme

44

yourhomestyle.uk

3D flower
cushion, £9,
George Home

BarCraft novelty disco
ball plastic drinking glass,
£15.99 for 4, Wayfair

Inspiring homes

Office and dressing room
Erica admits that she had no clear plan for her office, and instead followed her gut
instinct. She kept the existing carpets and focused her efforts on refreshing the walls
and furnishings. ‘I spend the majority of my time in here working, so I wanted to give
this room a joyful makeover,’ she says. ‘I find lilacs inspiring and they make me happy, so
it was the ideal shade for my home office.’ Erica used the green paint leftover from her
kitchen makeover on the wall behind her desk and spotted a floral print wallpaper from
Lust Home that she loved. ‘I knew I had to have it in here!’ she says. As the room doubles
up as her dressing room, Erica’s used wallpaper to zone the space, putting it behind her
clothing rail – which she found on Facebook Marketplace – for a colourful ‘getting ready’
area. ‘Eventually, I’ll add a day bed in here for when my mum comes to stay.’

Erica created a feature wall
using Lust Home’s Flower
Bomb wallpaper in Brights on
Strawberry Cheesecake after
falling in love with the print

I find lilacs inspiring
and they make me happy,
so it was the ideal shade
for my home office
Fresh greens and calming lilacs
make for a creative workspace

Erica hides clutter in storage
boxes to keep her surface
space free for displaying
her favourite items
August 2024

45

Inspired by an Art Deco jazz club,
Erica gave her bedroom a vintage
makeover, going for a sumptuous
dark teal on the walls for a luxe vibe

I was scrolling on Pinterest and
found an ဣage of an Art Deco
jazz bar that was painted in a
deep te shade with pops of cor,
and I was smitten
Main bedroom

Using Rust-Oleum furniture paint
in Raspberry Ripple, Erica upcycled
old furniture in her bedroom to
match her new scheme. This handy
unit makes the ideal display
space for her hair accessories

46

yourhomestyle.uk

Erica wanted to give her bedroom a vintage-inspired makeover. ‘I was
scrolling on Pinterest and found an image of an Art Deco jazz bar that
was painted in a deep teal shade with pops of coral, and I was smitten,’
she says. Erica hunted around for a match of the teal colour and came
across YesColours’ Passionate Teal. Her original plan was to paint just one
wall but, as the paint colour went on, she changed her mind and decided
to paint the whole room, including the doors and woodwork, up to the
picture rail. To give the scheme a lift, she painted the ceiling and down to
the picture rail in a soft, glowy peach shade. Once the room was painted,
however, her old bedroom chest of drawers looked out of place. ‘I thought
I’d attempt to paint it and it looked so good that I went ahead and
painted the other chest of drawers in the same shade. This simple DIY idea
helped me fall in love with my furniture again.’

Inspiring homes
Over-door hooks from Dunelm
are a handy way to display
Erica’s collection of handbags
and maximise storage space

Painting over the existing beige
tiles in a bold yellow shade was
an affordable way to update the
bland bathroom

Style idea

Tile stickers
are a budget
way to switch
up your look

Erica’s love for bold colour isn’t
limited to her home – her wardrobe
is filled with brightly coloured
dresses, so she keeps them on
display rather than hiding them away

TURN
OVER
to shop
Erica’s
colourful
look

Bathroom
Although her bathroom was in a good
condition, Erica hated the beige tiles
that covered the walls and floors. ‘I’d
used tile paint and stickers in my old flat
and they had worked a treat, so I knew
I could do the same in here,’ she says.
Initially, Erica tried to recreate a striped
design she’d seen on Instagram, but
it didn’t work out as she’d hoped so
she simplified her ideas.’ Instead, she
painted blocks of colour on each of the
three walls in pink, green and mustard
yellow. She then added patterned tile
stickers to refresh the shower area.
‘Every month, I dye my hair pink, which
can leave a mess on the walls, and the
pattern of these stickers mask any hair
dye marks,’ she says.

What I learned
Never skip the preparation before painting
– you’ll regret it later if you do. And always
put dust sheets down when you’re painting.
I didn’t do this and ruined my bedroom
carpets with splotches of paint!
Paint is the budget decorator’s best friend.
If you want to change your wall colours,
then it’s pretty affordable to paint over.
I love looking at Instagram for inspiration,
but my hot take is not to copy other
people’s ideas exactly, because you may
need to tweak them to work in your home.

August 2024

47

SHOP THE LOOK

Dopamine decor
Introduce plenty of colour into your home, like Erica has, for a joyful and uplifting look
– if you’re not confident, start with two or three hues

2
1

3

6
4

5

9

7

HOMESTYLE
LOVES!

8
10

11

Style idea

Feature Sophie Ellis

Add a touch of luxury with
velvet furniture in jewel tones
1 Lilac and Green paper raffia placemats, £20 for 2, Talking Tables 2 heya home check knitted cushion cover, £20, furn.
3 Wiggle side table in Green, £55, Next 4 Lilac cotton bath mat with pom pom edges, £12.99, Homescapes 5 Popping oranges print,
from £10.95, Desenio 6 Lucy Tiffney floral bobbin table lamp, £70, Next 7 Scallop-edged coasters, £6.99 for 4, H&M Home
8 Florence wine goblets, £15 for 2, Dunelm 9 The Hippie Shake wallpaper in Vintage Pink and Poison Apple, £65 per roll, Lust Home
10 The Midi locker in Lilac, £319, Mustard Made 11 Model 10 2-seater sofa in Peony, £1,599, Swyft
48

yourhomestyle.uk

Make it

MAKE THE LOOK

Upholstered footstool
Give an old footstool a fresh look by reupholstering it in a statement print, like Erica’s
Choose a coordinating fabric or go for
a clashing print for an eclectic look

TOP TIPS
This is a fun project to
start with if you’re new
to upholstering. Take
your time folding the
fabric around the
corners, and cut into
the fabric a little if
needed

YOU WILL NEED
screwdriver cloth sandpaper furniture
paint or varnish paintbrush fabric to fit
your footstool (see instructions for details)
upholstery foam fire-retardant wadding
scissors staple gun staple remover
tape measure upholstery spray adhesive
paper pencil
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Start by turning your old footstool upside
down. Unscrew the seat from the frame, setting
the screws aside ready to reassemble the stool
later. Take the seat of the footstool and remove
the staples holding the fabric in place, and
carefully remove the existing fabric and foam.
Try to keep the old fabric intact, as you can use
it as a template to cut out the new cover. Clean
and sand the frame thoroughly, then wipe
away any dust. Apply two coats in your chosen
paint or varnish, following the manufacturer’s
instructions.

Make Anna-Lisa De’Ath Styling Maxine Brady Photography Bee Holmes

2 Choose upholstery foam in the same
thickness as the existing foam. Measure the
seat and cut a piece of the upholstery foam to
fit, adding approx 2.5cm of foam all the way
around so you can wrap it under the footstool
seat. Cut out your fabric and fire-retardant
wadding, using the old fabric cover as a guide.
Ensure each edge is around 10cm larger than
the seat to give you enough fabric to fold
underneath.

3 Use a generous coat of upholstery spray to
glue the foam centrally to the top of the seat.
Next, place the fire-retardant wadding on the
floor and place the seat centrally on top, foamside down. Neatly fold the wadding over to
the underside of the seat and staple it in place,
starting at the centre and working your way
out to the corners, ensuring it is smooth, taut
and free of wrinkles.

4 Place the fabric right-side down and place
the seat centrally on top, foam-side down.
Fold the fabric to the underside of the seat
and staple in place, starting at the centre and
working your way out to the corners, again
ensuring it is taut and smooth. Trim away any
excess fabric and wadding, then reassemble
the footstool.
August 2024

49

Style edit

Decorator’s
Planning a makeover? A moodboard is a designer’s must-have to organise your
ideas. Each month, we put together a trio of boards to inspire your next project

BE,

STYLE ICO
N

HAN

NA

H

I
TR

56
MIAMI
BEACH

THIS MONTH’S THEME

THE WILD
WEST

SUMMER
AMERICANA
Declare your style
independence with three
stunning schemes inspired
by destinations from
across the pond

Feature Hannah Tribe

54

The modern
Western look has
taken over our social
media feeds this
summer but, as well
as exploring this
mega-trend, we're
setting our sights on
two more iconic looks
from the United
States. Whether you
love the Art Deco
pastels of Miami
Beach, or the coastal
glamour of The
Hamptons, both evoke
the heady days of
the holidays

52

THE
HAMPTONS

August 2024

51

The Hamptons
Relax in elegant surroundings with a scheme
inspired by the coastal retreats of New York’s high society

LOUR PALETTE
CO
Freshen up with a trio of
beach-inspired tones

13
14

The Hiltons Bryant Sage and
Cream rug, from £119, Ruggable

15

Style edit
Watercolour
starfish print
in Navy Blue,
from £18, Beach
House Art

3 SECRETS TO THIS SCHEME

1

NAUTICAL BUT NICE
Coastal charm doesn’t need to be kitsch: a few small touches of
nautical decor will be enough to set the vibe without it feeling
too themed. Try subtle shell patterns and pared-back prints.

COLOUR WASH
Create a palette of soft sand, windswept whites and delicate
blues. Look out for warm blue shades that include a touch of
yellow, to prevent the effect feeling cold. Add in more sandy
beige tones if the combination of blue and white feels slightly
too stark.

2

NATURAL BEAUTY
Cosy up with natural textures. Use natural wood with rattan
and basketry for a rustic effect that will soften the formality of
panelling and heritage-style flooring.

4

3

5

8

ben Interior Matte paint in
Yarmouth Blue, £20.75 for 0.94L,
Benjamin Moore

7

6

Style idea
12
10
11

Evoke clear night
skies with star
print tiling

9

1 Summer seashells wallpaper in Neutrals, £18 per roll, I Love Wallpaper 2 Comber seashell wallpaper in Blue, from £75 per roll, Bobbi Beck 3 Galerie Global fusion
clouds wallpaper, £25 per roll, World of Wallpaper 4 Medina fabric in Pebble, £29 per m, The Pure Edit 5 Eternity fabric in Mist, £25.38 per m, Britannia Rose
6 Figure furnishing fabric in Putty, £35 per m, John Lewis & Partners 7 Smaller Calico wall light in Antique Brass, £104, Pooky 8 Florence tile vinyl in Grey, £14.95
per roll, Remland Carpets 9 Cinders Lux star tiles in Azure, £39.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors 10 Flora tile in Light Blue gloss, £50 per sq m, Wickes 11 Custom height
v-groove panelling, from £45.80 per sq m, Cut My 12 Herringbone vinyl flooring in Pacific Painted Wood, £13.99 per sq m, Best4Flooring 13 Flat matt paint in
Well Grounded, £52 for 2.5L, COAT 14 Flat matt paint in Cabin by the Beach, £44 for 2.5L, Zhoosh 15 Flat matt emulsion in Delicate Chalk, £18.99 for 2.5L, Wilko
August 2024

53

The Freedom round footstool
in Black Cow print, £269, DFS

1

3 SECRETS TO THIS SCHEME
DOWN TO EARTH
Introduce this trend the easy way by starting out with rich earth
tones. Choose shades of terracotta, ochre and sienna. They’ll
add warmth to your scheme and give you a great foundation to
build from. If you’re feeling brave, get rid of all the brilliant white
in your space – even on window frames – and replace it with
creamy beige instead.

2

WEAVING WONDERS
Bring a little artisan style into your scheme by looking for
patterns inspired by traditional weaving. These colourful
geometric styles add visual texture to the room, so try them in
lots of different sizes and designs.

HOT SPOTS
We’re calling it: cow print is the new leopard print. Use it to
cover small soft furnishings, like footstools and cushions, for an
authentic Wild West look.

4

3
5

Tulum stripe cushion, £55; Puebla cushion, £55;
kaleidoscope cushion, £50; Arboretum merino wool
throw in Loch Blue, £110;
comfy and relaxed washed
cotton duvet cover set
in Ink, from £40,
all John Lewis & Partners

7
10

6

Style idea
8

9

Use a statement
mini-rug to
create instant
cowboy vibes

12

11

1 Galloping Horses wallpaper, £32.99 per roll, Wallpaper Direct 2 Sol wallpaper in Red, from £75 per roll, Bobbi Beck 3 Sunbeam wallpaper in White and
Orange, £15 per roll, B&Q 4 Bazaar fabric in Glacier, £47.13 per m, Britannia Rose 5 Cowhide fabric in Brown, £51.90 per m, Graham Sanderson Interiors 6 Machu
Picchu fabric in Tribal, £46 per m, Jane Clayton 7 Diamond woven rattan lampshade, £55, La Redoute 8 Cosmopolitan flat metro tile in Dark Blue, £18 per m,
Wickes 9 RAK Maremma Cotto large format tiles, £45.79 per sq m, Victorian Plumbing 10 Black and white cowboy boot rug, £39, Urban Outfitters 11 Melville
Red patterned tile, £56.69 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore 12 Urban Beige ceramic tile, £13 per sq m, Wickes 13 Matt paint in Terracotta, £20 for 2.5L, Dunelm
14 Matt emulsion in Rumour, £48 for 2.5L, Graham & Brown 15 Matt emulsion in Cloudscape, £45 for 2.5L, Claybrook Studio
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yourhomestyle.uk

Style edit

The
Wild West
Stand out as a style pioneer with
this modern country look

LO
CO

UR PALETT

E

A dash of midnight blue
grounds the earthy tones

13
15

Navajo reversible duvet cover set, from £10;
Sunset Cowboy duvet set, from £10;
Olive and White checkerboard reversible duvet set, from £10;
Sunrise Hike large candle, £14 for 2, all George Home

14

Miami Beach
Energise your space with a pastel Art Decoinspired theme that’s bursting with sunshine

LOUR PALETTE
CO
Go all out with a bold

13
14
Sorbet picnic bag, £12; sorbet shell
reversible cushion, £14; outdoor multicolour
sorbet text reversible cushion, £14; Blue geo
print microfibre beach towel, £5; Blue stripe
microfibre beach towel, £5; outdoor Blue
stripe floor cushion, £20, all Matalan

15

Style edit
Deco Martini wallpaper in Copper
Patina, £150 per roll, Divine Savages

3 SECRETS TO THIS SCHEME

1

THROW SOME SHAPES
Incorporate the sleek lines of Art Deco designs into your
scheme with rounded lighting, fan patterns and soft geometric
prints. These dynamic shapes reference the 1920’s buildings
which make the seafront so iconic.

SUNDAE SHADES
Indulge in ice cream colours for a delicious pastel look. A
combination of pink and teal is a fail-safe option here – you’ll
find it all over the high street – but think about including a little
baby blue and yellow too. They’ll add a sunny effect.

2

SHINE ON
Create a hyper-real look by choosing metal and glass finishes
for your accessories. Look out for matt, powder-coated lighting
and tables in pastel shades, then add in coloured glass vases for
a glittering effect.

4
3

5

6

Premium beach parasol in
Cream, £174; Amalfi parasols,
£118 each, all M&S

7

10

8

11

Style idea

9

Barbiecore has been
given a makeover for
summer 2024,
with a touch of
elegant sage

12

1 Arthouse New York Geo wallpaper in Yellow, £10 per roll, I Want Wallpaper 2 Wave after wave wallpaper in Peach, Bubblegum, Mint and Custard, £48 per roll,
Lust Home 3 Rainbow magic wallpaper in Pink and White, £14 per roll, I Love Wallpaper 4 3-light flush ceiling light, £199, H&M Home 5 Paper Straw stripe
fabric in Citrine, £79 per m, Harlequin 6 Prestigious Textiles Varadero fabric in Sorbet, £26.85 per m, Britannia Rose 7 Clifton furnishing fabric in Pink, £50 per m,
John Lewis & Partners 8 Popsical Lunar terrazzo ceramic tiles, £19.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors 9 Boutique Lozenge pink gloss wall tile, £50 per sq m, Wickes
10 Paragon pill tile in Sage Gloss, £44.70 per sq m, Victorian Plumbing 11 Zen Garden rug in Ochre, from £179, Dunelm 12 Mardi Gras 575 Alicante Vinyl,
£19.99 per sq m, Carpetright 13 Wall paint in Piranesi Pink, £55.95 per 2.5L, Annie Sloan 14 Walls and Ceilings matt emulsion in Happy Yellow, £14.99 for 2.5L,
Wilko 15 Matt paint in Passionate Teal, £48 per 2L, YesColours
August 2024

57

instant
summer
updates
Refresh your decor with these easy ideas, from adding this season’s
sweetest motifs to your table to giving your garden a glow-up

1

Transform your
tablescape

Feature Sophie Ellis

Picnics, barbecues, sundowners in the
garden… we love summer entertaining, and
what better excuse do you need to update
your serveware and tableware collection?
This is an easy place to build your confidence
with colour and pattern combos, as pieces
can easily be mixed and matched. Even
a bright tablecloth can turn everyday meals
into something a little more special.

Green daisy placemat, £12; summertime fruit tablecloth, £39;
Nora Green stemless wine glass, £6, all Urban Outfitters

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Style edit
Emily Daborn mojito poster,
from £11.95; cherry red velvet
cake poster, from £17.95;
Ekaterina Aagorska lemon
cocktail poster, from £17.95;
citrus portrait poster, from
£17.95; tulips in vase poster,
from £17.95; Frederick Carl
Frieseke in the boudoir poster,
from £15.95, all Desenio

Welcome yourself home
Create a calming entrance to your home by spending some time
decluttering your hallway – future you will thank you! Use concealed
storage to tidy away any shoes and bags, and place a tray or bowl on
a sideboard to keep keys in. If you have a glass front door, curtains will
provide a pretty screen once night falls. If you don’t have a hallway
– for example, if you’re living in a flat – you can still zone an entrance
space with a durable rug and a small unit.

Wake up your walls
Swap out framed art prints for designs with a summery vibe. This
way, you can change up the feel of a space without repositioning any
frames. Go for bold hues, coordinating motifs or an entirely different
theme. Store any prints you’re not using in a cool, dry and dark place
– and keep them flat, rather than rolled!
William Morris At Home Willow Bough made
to measure curtains, from £120; Ashton
fixed metal curtain pole with rings in
Antique Brass, from £24.50; Gabriella
washable rug in Blue, from £29, all Dunelm

Layer your lighting
If you’ll be hosting outdoors, consider what
lighting you can use to extend the party
after sunset. Use the same trick of layering
your outdoor lighting as you would
indoors: for example, festoon lights strung
up across a fence, a rechargeable table
lamp and a few well-placed lanterns on the
floor. You can’t go wrong with fairy lights
draped across a balcony or pergola, either.

Create a cocooning canopy

4

TruGlow waterproof outdoor candle 20cm, £16.99; 4m
connectable weather-resistant cut out lantern 10 plug in
string lights, £24.99; 45cm Albury Black garden lantern with
TruGlow candle, £59.99; Hayle metal outdoor lantern with
TruGlow candle, £39.99; Hayle large metal outdoor lantern
with TruGlow candle trio, £69.99, all Lights4fun

Make your own canopy for the ultimate holiday-at-home
vibe. Use a bedsheet that you no longer want, or a large piece
of fabric, and tie and clip it around a tree or parasol base.
Alternatively, you can buy festoon poles (which are usually
used for hanging string lights) and secure it across these.
Global tufted cushion in
Beige, £16; mono abstract
printed cushion, £20; wax
resist shaped vase in Black,
£16; Black round printed
pouffe outdoor cushion,
£40; Malta day bed, £325;
jute flatweave rug, £95,
all Habitat

5

Keep your cool

Elements matte duo soap
dispenser and storage in Blue, and
Green, £12; Egyptian cotton hand
towel in Fuschia, £5, all Dunelm

If your home gets lots of direct sunlight, consider how to create some
shadier spaces you can retreat to, and keep your bedroom as cool as
possible for a better night’s sleep. Blackout blinds are the easiest way
to do this – choose ready-made options for a quick fix. To soften the
look, team with floaty linen-look curtains that drape down to the floor.

7

6
Add a splash of colour
Colourful bathrooms have been trending, and the look is set to
continue, so now’s the perfect time to brighten up yours. If you’re not
planning a full reno anytime soon, choose towels and bathmats in fun
shades – or use a colourful grout pen to create a striking splashback.
Fridans block-out
roller blind in White,
from £15, IKEA

Get your br ushes
at the ready
Change up your outside space with a lick of
paint. Choose a cooler dry day to paint a wall
or shed – avoid painting in a heatwave as
the paint will dry too quickly and won’t cure
properly. If the forecast isn’t looking quite as
good, paint some pots or hanging baskets in
a bright shade that will still draw the eye.

S cent-scape your home
Fragrance your home with summery scents that will
whisk you away to your favourite location. Tropical notes
such as coconut will help create that beach holiday
feeling, but for something a bit different, try scents with
fresh, savoury notes of herbs or tomatoes.

8
Sicilian
lemon scented
candle in jar,
£5, Primark

9

Small scented
candle in glass
holder, £2.99,
H&M Home

Wall painted in Weathershield
smooth masonry paint in Frosted
Lake, Warm Truffle, and Green Ivy,
all £50.06 for 2.5L, all Dulux

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yourhomestyle.uk

Yuzu and
pomegranate
confetti glass
pre-scented
diffuser,
£16, M&S

Style edit

Choose flexible
furniture
Save money by opting for multipurpose pieces
that can be used in your home and garden all
year round: whether it’s a garden chair that
would look equally stylish in a living room, or
a coffee table that can stand some wear and tear
outdoors. We love this cabinet to store plant pots
and outdoor decorations in a sheltered spot, or
stash away shoes and clutter inside.

10

Kolbjörn in/outdoor cabinet in Beige, £80, IKEA

August 2024

61

Outdoor offset stripe Navy rug,
from £139, Ruggable

11 Bring the inside out
Pick up a few accessories you can use both
indoors and in your outside space. Pouffes
and floor cushions can provide extra seating
for impromptu guests, and a basket of
throws and blankets will keep everyone
cosy if the temperature drops. Look out for
indoor/outdoor rugs that are suitable for
both outside and high-traffic areas in your
home like hallways or kitchens.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Style edit

Arrange a seasonal bunch
Muslin double/
king duvet cover
set in Light Beige,
£69.99,
H&M Home

Bring the outside in with a stylish fresh flower arrangement. Spiral
stem holders, which have individual holes for each stem, are trending
on social media as they make it easy to create artful displays. You can
get the same effect by placing a flower frog – a handy little accessory
which holds your stems in place – in a shallow serving bowl and
creating your own Insta-worthy display.

13

Flower arrangement
holder and accessory,
£12.99, Zara Home

Cotton rich narrow
striped bedding set,
from £19.50, M&S

12

Night Lark linen
4.5 tog coverless
duvet in Lilac,
from £45, Next

Ensure a restful night’s sleep
Swap heavy sheets for moisture-wicking cotton, linen and bamboo
alternatives for a soothing night’s sleep. These options often look even
better once they’ve been worn in, and there’s no need for ironing
either! Consider changing your duvet tog to a lower number as well.
Pack away your winter duvet in a vacuum storage bag, or choose
a coverless duvet if you’re really short on space.

Make your own
If you’re struggling to find the perfect
accessory to tie your scheme together,
try making your own. Flex your creative
skills and decorate jugs, vases, plates
or photo frames in unique designs
and doodles. These edding pens can
be used on ceramics – simply let the
design dry for 15 minutes, then place
in the oven on 160°C for 25 minutes to
make your piece dishwasher-proof.

Add a ser ving
of fr uit
There are few things that shout ‘summer’ more
than fruit motifs. Whether you use them in
soft textiles, art prints or tableware, they’ll add
some zing to your scheme.

14

edding 4200 porcelain brush
pen, currently £7.99 for
a pack of 4, Amazon

15

Peach ring
dish, £6.50,
Oliver Bonas

Orange
pitcher, £14.99,
Homesense

Strawberry
vase, £9.99,
The Range

Beautiful Botanicals floral
wallpaper mural,
from £32 per sq m,
Wallsauce

in bloom
From blowsy florals and beautiful botanicals, to
abstract designs and chintzy prints, check out these
creative ways to use summer-inspired pattern that
will inject year-round style

Florals offer a timeless feel, bringing summery
colour and pattern to your decor whatever the
weather outside. With so many different types to
choose from, finding patterns that are right for you
is key to unlocking an interior scheme that works
together effortlessly.
If you want to evoke a tropical holiday vibe,
then look to bright, bold patterns with large floral
and leafy details to transport you to your favourite
destination. Or you might prefer to keep it
quintessentially country with botanicals in a softer
colour palette – if so, think vintage styles or chintz
designs for a summery cottagecore look.
From large-scale updates, such as switching up
the flooring, wallpapering or retiling, to adding
decorative touches that offer a more subtle nod to
your favoured floral, read on to discover how you
can use these prints to revive your home.
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yourhomestyle.uk

Pick up

sဩe posters

It’s surprising how switching up the artwork you have on the
walls can update a space. Changing up a gallery wall with a
few summer-inspired prints can be the perfect refresher –
and it’s affordable too. Ensure the new pictures work for your
space by choosing from collections that feature the same
style of imagery, colour palette or focus. The flowers and
the vibrant oranges in this trio of posters allow them to sit
together in harmony, while also bringing in a new palette of
colours that can be used elsewhere in the room. This trick is
ideal if you’re in a rental, too.
Sylivia Takken Floating Flowers poster, £17.95; Rebecca Zwanzig of
High West Wild Paige poster, £17,95, Pascale Berkowitz Las Flores
poster, £15.95, all Desenio

Style advice

Switch up

Victorian garden room
tassel pendant shade,
£60, Joe Browns

New lighting is an easy and instant way
to elevate a scheme. To add a summerinspired pattern, look for lampshades
for ceiling, floor and table lamps
adorned with eye-catching designs
that reflect the season. Replacing
a shade is an affordable way of
rejuvenating an existing lamp
base that could easily lend itself
to a different style. Tweaking your
lighting with a floral design can
also help to shift the room’s focus,
creating a new point of interest that
can inspire the rest of your look.

feature w

Create an oasis of tranquillity by bringing
botanicals and florals into the home in the
form of a wall mural. Choosing one wall is
the most impactful way to introduce these
blooms, creating a colourful and calming
scheme. Embrace the sense of bountiful
colour in nature at this time of year by
painting the remaining walls in a shade from
the mural. Highlight with green or pink for a
calming look or use yellow or orange for a
warming, sunset-infused finish.

Watercolour
canopy leaf green
roller blind, from
£21.95, Blinds 2go

Get a room

with a view

If your kitchen window doesn’t offer the most
picturesque view, then adding a fabric blind with
a leafy pattern can change the vista into one with
ample appeal, bringing nature to you wherever you
are. Choose colours that work with your existing
kitchen scheme for an easy update – serene greens
are a versatile choice for a pattern as they work
beautifully with natural, wooden kitchens, as well
as gloss white units and greys, blues and pinks on
shaker-style cabinetry. Create a cohesive space by
carrying shades of green around the room with
simple additions, such as art and foliage displays.

August 2024

Feature Lara Berry

Plant a

your lighting

65

Meadow decor tile,
£60 per sq m,
Porcelain Superstore

Tile with

sဥmer style

Blossom bathroom wall
panels, from £580.80 per panel,
Showerwall

Channel lazy, hazy summer days with the
pretty floral and leafy design on these wall
tiles. Perfect for a more muted kitchen or
bathroom scheme, simple white spaces will
welcome this subtle colour flourish. Choosing
a relaxed design with a white background will
complement existing decor easily, so if you
just want to update a few tiles these pretty
ones make for an effortless choice. If you’re
being budget conscious, these tiles are on
the pricier side, so restrict them to behind
a bathroom basin or kitchen hob so that
you can benefit from the colour and pattern,
without blowing the budget.

Cath Kidston 12-piece
painted table dinner set,
£128, available from Next

Design a

natur retreat

If you’re planning a full-on bathroom refresh, consider
incorporating florals and foliage into your scheme.
A connection to nature helps us feel balanced, so creating
a calming space featuring large, leafy prints or beautiful
blooms can benefit us both emotionally and aesthetically.
This leafy wall panel is a great alternative to tiles in the
bathroom and with a host of different designs to choose
from, you can bring botanical vibes to your space in no time.
Up the ante by adding a bathroom-friendly houseplant to
flourish in your spa-like retreat.

Go
Summer-scape

your table

Nothing says summer quite like a table full of vibrant blooms, so dial up your
tablescaping skills to bring the season to the table. Think placemats and table
runners, combined with floral plates and serveware, as well as coasters, mugs and
glasses to add a final flourish. Stick to the same colour palette and mix in a few
stripes to make your display a real feast for the eyes. Finish off with a selection of
hand-picked flowers in jars or bud vases to bring nature to the table in style.

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 out

Transform any space by treating all
four walls to a wallpaper inspired
by summer prints and colours. Bold,
vibrant designs can instantly lift
the room, add warmth and inject
a summer vibe that can last long
after the season has ended. If your
favourite print is on the pricier side,
consider using it on one feature wall
or in an alcove, or get creative and
frame panels of the paper so that
you can enjoy the design without
overspending.

Day Dreamer
wallpaper in Mustard
and Candy Floss, £50
per roll, Lust Home

Style advice

Wild flowers tray,
£3.99, The Range

Floral folk glass jar,
£5, Matalan

Bountiful floral ripple
tea towel, £7.06, Wayfair
Multi colour handpainted floral still life
framed canvas wall art, £60; Cream
embroidered flower vase cushion, £22;
Pink painted ceramic wiggle vase, £18,
all Next

Gorgeous Gardinea
wallpaper in Sage
Green and Pink on
White, £18 per roll,
I Love Wallpaper

Soften

Opt for

sဣple sws
It’s easy to bring fresh prints into the
kitchen, too. Bigger projects such as
replacing wallpaper or a splashback
will make a more permanent
statement, but updating smaller
kitchen accessories is an affordable
way to add pattern. Consider the
practical items you keep out on
display: kitchen textiles, such as tea
towels and oven gloves, as well as
crockery, storage jars and glassware
can all help to bring a rainbow of
colourful blooms to a scheme that
feels summery all year round.

it up

Make use of soft furnishings adorned in
beautiful blooms. Shades of pink and
mustard are great choices to epitomise
the season, instantly turning up the heat
in your decor with their sunny tones. Layer
floral cushions with other summery prints, such
as stripes and gingham, for a super summer feel, then
complement with a vibrant, floral throw to add extra
comfort as you relax, dreaming of your next holiday.

Roisin Quinn La Fleur bloom
velvet and fleece throw, £65,
La Redoute

August 2024

67

Ophelia wallpaper in Coral, Olive and
Mineral, £70 per roll, Lucie Annabel

Add

arming intz

Chintz typically features repeating floral designs on
traditional textiles, which often makes them expensive
and unattainable, but with its recent resurgence in
popularity we’ve spotted these designs on curtains,
cushions, bed linen and wallpaper so you can master the
look at home. Whatever form you invest in, let the print
take centre stage and balance the space by keeping other
patterns to a minimum and teaming it with a hue that
complements the design and grounds the final look.

Design from

the rug up

Be bold and choose a colourful rug with
a striking pattern as the starting point
for your room makeover. Washable rugs
are ideal for those high traffic areas that
could benefit from a style overhaul, while
keeping a practical element in mind. We
love the oversized blooms on this rug
which brings a more abstract-style floral to
the space. Picking out the mustard, coral
and royal blue and carrying these shades
around the room in lighting, artwork and
soft furnishings will instantly lift the mood.

Make a

Elements fieldsley floral
washable rug, from £29, Dunelm

Choose a
Floret velvet
occasional accent
chair, £698,
Anthropologie

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yourhomestyle.uk

splash

For a quick and budget-friendly
bathroom refresh, bring in
summery prints with a new set of
towels, a bath mat, shower curtain
or accessories.

statement piece

Invest in a piece of eye-catching furniture to set the tone for
the rest of the room. A stand-out accent chair upholstered in
colourful florals can perk up a dark corner. Foot stools, cabinets
and upcycled drawers can make a similar impact and inspire
the colour palette or print style you choose to continue
around the room. Opt for the best quality you can afford so
that your statement piece can become an heirloom.

Floral shower curtain,
£19.99, H&M Home
Flower-shaped bathmat,
£25, Oliver Bonas
Multi floral soap dispenser,
£10, Next

Toile de Paris curtains,
from £170, Hilarys

Add the

details

If you’d prefer to add more subtle
Flower
hints of summer to your home, look
printed
dinner
for little touches that can introduce
candles,
colourful blooms without taking
£12, Talking
over the decor. Update candle
Tables
holders with these flower printed
candles or add a seasonal aroma
to refresh and
energise with
a flower printed
reed diffuser.
Artificial floral
and botanical
arrangements are
a great way of bringing
the outside in and
can last you the whole
year round. Look out for
small accessories such as
trinket dishes, storage
boxes and plant
pots decorated
with summer prints
for those finishing
Ceramic flower
touches.
diffuser, £6,
Primark Home

Be bold

in the bedroom
Create

dreamy windows

Featuring tree-lined streets and iconic Parisian landmarks,
this toile de Jouy-style fabric has it all. Refresh your
windows with curtains or Roman blinds in this gorgeous
fabric to help introduce a hint of the French landscapes
into your home. Embrace the shades of the season by
teaming this classic design with strong, modern hues,
such as mustard and raspberry, to instantly lift the scheme
with a vibrancy only the summer brings. Swapping darker,
heavier curtains for lightweight solutions with colours
and patterns that embody this time of year can be a great
refresh, providing you with an easy update without
having to makeover the whole room.

Bring summer styling to the bedroom in
one easy step by treating the room to new
bed linen. Often the focal point in this
space, adding a new pattern and colour
arrangement to the bed can dramatically
alter the feel of this room – you won’t even
have to lift a paintbrush to make a new style
statement. Bring the outside in with ditsy
florals, meadow-inspired flora or big blowsy
blooms, then complement with a few posies
of fresh flowers or artificial arrangements to
amplify this trend.

Achilles cushion vinyl,
from £21 per sq m,
LeoLine

Step

on it

Larkspur pattern
vinyl flooring,
£57.49 per sq m,
Harvey Maria

Look to vinyl and LVT for an affordable way to bring pattern to
hard flooring or wet areas. Floral and botanical prints in both
bold and more subdued colour palettes are in abundance. Cool
blues shades like these will pair beautifully with neutrals or act
as a base for brighter shades.

Wallflower duvet set,
from £90 for a double,
Graham & Brown

August 2024

69

AMAZING PRIZES UP FOR GRABS!

WIN!

A luxurious furniture set
from Bathrooms to Love

1 LUCKY WINNER

TO
ENTER
It’s so easy! Head to
yourhomestyle.uk, click on
the ‘Win’ tab, find the draw
you want to enter and fill in
your details.
Closing date 23rd
September 2024 at
11.59pm.

Finish the look
with on-trend
brushed brass

Create a stunning bathroom sanctuary with help from Bathrooms
to Love. To celebrate its latest launch, we’ve teamed up with the
brand to offer one reader a Mayfair bathroom furniture bundle in
Matt Peony Pink, worth £1,568!
Say goodbye to an all-white bathroom and add a beautiful
splash of colour to your bathroom with this furniture set. The
chic Mayfair furniture range combines a matt fingerprint-proof
pastel pink finish with classic Shaker styling. Wall-hung for a
contemporary and space-saving effect, both the two-drawer
basin unit and the tall unit provide plenty of practical storage to
keep bathrooms neat and tidy.
The basin unit includes a slim-edge, white ceramic sit-in
basin for a super sleek look. Both Peony furniture units are
complemented with the warm golden tones of brushed brass
handles. Also included is the coordinating Berio basin mixer tap

and large rectangular Kenji mirror, both in a brushed brass finish.
The specialists at Bathrooms to Love pride themselves on
providing high quality products, built to last and designed to
inspire, with a fine attention to detail and finish.
Check out the latest Bathrooms to Love collections, or find
your nearest showroom, by visiting bathroomstolove.uk.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1 The promoter is Our Media Limited (company number 05715415). 2 The closing date for the promotion is 23rd September 2024 at 11.59pm. 3 The promotion is open to
UK residents only (but not including the Channel Islands) aged 18 years or older. 4 The promotion is not open to Our Media Limited’s employees or contractors and anyone
connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 5 Prize includes delivery. 6 Prize does not include installation. 7 Prize bundle includes: 1x Mayfair wall-hung
basin unit in Matt Peony (518x615x395mm) with slim-edge, white ceramic, sit-in basin, two drawers and two Brushed Brass handles; 1x Mayfair wall-hung tall unit in Matt Peony
(1200x350x 252mm) with Brushed Brass handle; 1x Berio basin mixer tap in Brushed Brass; 1x Kenji rectangle mirror in Brushed Brass (600x800mm). 8 Winner may be asked to
share before and after photos of their bathroom following installation for Bathrooms to Love’s promotional purposes. This is optional and does not affect your eligibility for the
prize. 9 Bath not included. 10 For the full list of Terms and Conditions, visit yourhomestyle.uk/win.

Let’s stay
Cosy ideas for lasting summer vibes
Extend time spent outdoors with these
practical and stylish ideas to stay warmer for
longer – even as the temperature falls and the
sun goes down for the night

When the hazy days of summer begin to tail
off, and the evening temperature starts to
drop, it can be tempting to retreat indoors
for a cuppa! But there are plenty of ways to
continue enjoying your outdoor space, even
if the nights are drawing in and there’s a bit
of a chill in the air. We’ve gathered together
some inspiring ideas to help you keep those
summer vibes going, whether you’re hosting
a barbecue with friends or simply spending
time relaxing in the garden.

Lights up
Give your garden, balcony or patio a relaxed,
warming glow that will last long into the
evening by introducing carefully-chosen
lighting. This gorgeous set-up features
festoon and fairy lights, hanging solar
lanterns, stake lights and outdoor candles,
so you can choose what best suits your
space. Opt for waterproof LED candles that
can stand everyday wear and tear, and the
changeable British weather!
Black storm battery lantern, £19.99; 50 Warm
White LED micro battery outdoor fairy lights, £7.99;
Canberra slatted outdoor lantern duo with TruGlow
candles, £69.99; Black wicker solar lanterns, £99.99
for 2; TruGlow waterproof outdoor candle bundle,
£79.99; 20 bee LED solar fairy lights, £19.99; Cloud
White Miami solar lanterns, £34.99 for 3; Tyvek
Green Moroccan hanging solar lantern, £24.99; Pro
Connect 5m 10 Warm White connectable festoon
lights, £49.99; mini solar festoon stake lights,
£19.99 for 3; Palma solar lanterns with TruGlow
candle, from £22.99 each, all Lights4fun

Turn up
the temp
If you’re entertaining friends for a
summer soirée, why not keep the
party going after sundown with a
chiminea? Unlike a larger firepit,
they often have a petite footprint
so are particularly handy for
smaller spaces. You don’t have to
choose a metal variety either – a
clay chiminea will add a rustic, Medinspired look to your scheme.
Wood-burning chiminea, £59; Black metal
lantern, from £12 each, all George Home

La Hacienda Wela clay
chiminea, £32, B&Q

Mells hanging chair,
£495, Cox & Cox

Recycled cotton throw
in Azure, £19,
Walton & Co

In full swing
A hanging chair is the perfect spot to curl up with a good
book and enjoy late summer sunsets. We love this chic
macramé design, and it won’t break the bank either. Just
add a couple of cosy blankets, and perhaps a lantern or two,
for a laidback holiday vibe.
Macramé swing chair, £30; welcome to the jungle outdoor cushion
cover, £14; zebra wall planter, £20; toucan recycled round indoor
outdoor rug, from £25, all Dunelm

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Outdoor living edit

Raise
a toast
An evening relaxing by the fire wouldn’t be
complete without some campfire treats, and
we love the idea of giving guests a personalised
toasting fork for enjoying marshmallows! If
you don’t have a firepit or barbecue to hand,
you can still recreate the effect. Check out this
sweet set which contains everything you need
to rustle up tasty s’mores – a portable ’mallow
toaster, gourmet marshmallows, milk chocolate
thins, biscuits and bamboo skewers.

Slice of the action
Round up friends and family for a pizza party if you’re feeling burned-out by barbecues after
a summer of grilling. This lightweight and portable design from Ooni weighs just 10kg, but
still makes quality 12” pizzas. It’s fuelled by wood pellets and heats up in just 15 minutes,
and can cook a pizza in as little as 60 seconds – making it perfect for speedy suppers. Turn to
page 102 for pizza recipe inspiration!
Fyra 12 wood pellet pizza oven, £299, Ooni

Personalised engraved
marshmallow sticks,
from £2.75 each,
WoodAndSlateGifts on Etsy

The Naked
Marshmallow Co
s’mores toasting
gift set, £24,
John Lewis
& Partners

Happy
hour
Feature Lisa Hibberd Lights4fun photography Oliver Perrott

If you often entertain outside,
why not splash out on a
garden bar? A cheeky cocktail
or two is sure to warm you
up on a cool evening, and
this sturdy model will last
for years to come, with its
substantial design made
from FSC-certified timber. It
features a solid top bar and
serving hatch with bifold
shutters, and is made from
pressure-treated timber
ready to be finished in your
chosen colour.
Forest shiplap garden bar, from
£599.99, Shedstore

August 2024

73

Fire
it up
Gather round a firepit as the
sun starts to set and keep
warm. This antique-style
option features curved
metal legs and a paint
finish that’s resistant to
high temperatures. It also
comes with a mesh lid guard
for peace of mind, an ash
container and a poker.
Pembroke firepit, £249; Lois garden
sofa in Natural & Grey, £139;
cushions, from £19.50 each, all M&S

SCAN
TO DIY

Light fantastic
Create your own outdoor chandelier and hang it over your
dining table or from a branch for a stunning effect as dusk
falls. You’ll need a pair of bamboo hoops, some fishing
wire, hanging solar bulbs and outdoor fairy lights. For stepby-step instructions, scan the QR code.
Warm White hanging solar lights, £19.99 for 3; 50 Warm White LED
micro battery outdoor fairy lights, £7.99, all Lights4fun

Take
shelter
If your outdoor space
isn’t south-facing and the
weather is on the chilly side,
choosing a sheltered spot
to set up furniture will make
all the difference. Consider
the existing position of
walls, fences, and hedges,
and whether you can create
extra protection using these.
Style up your corner with
twinkling lights, plump
cushions and a blanket or
two so you stay warm and
comfy long into the evening.
Outdoor woven string lights, £18;
Gold and Black Casa geometric
outdoor cushion, £14; Black and
White outdoor reversible Casa
tile cushion, £14; Cream leaf print
cushion, £9; White outdoor scatter
cushion, £9; Grey plain throw, £7;
all Matalan

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Outdoor living edit

Toasty toes
Add extra warmth underfoot with an outdoor rug. This vibrant
design is made from 100% polypropylene so it’s washable,
making it useful for busy family barbecues and homes with pets.
We love the colourful and reversible paisley design so you can
choose which way to display it, depending on which pattern you
want on show – or whether it needs a bit of a wash!
Waterproof paisley outdoor rug 120x180cm, £15, Talking Tables

The heat is on
Warm up your dining or seating area with a patio heater,
which will keep the chill off if you want to extend your
entertaining. This nifty tabletop design comes with a
remote control to activate the three different heat settings,
and measures just 45.3x45.3x93.5cm.
Home electric tabletop heater, £150, Argos

Moonlight
cinema

Sitting
pretty

An Instagram-worthy outdoor cinema is ideal for a cosy
evening, whether you’re planning a date night under
the stars or simply spending time with the family. You’ll
need a projector and a screen (which could be something
as simple as a white sheet pinned to a fence), then just
connect your laptop or other device, gather some cushions,
blankets and snacks and let the opening credits roll!
Trapeze solar lantern trio with TruGlow LED candles, £84.99; 20 Warm
White plug in festoon lights, £44.99; TruGlow waterproof outdoor
candle trio, from £29.99; Canberra slatted outdoor lantern with
TruGlow candle, £34.99; Cairns medium Black garden lantern with
TruGlow candle, £42.99; all Lights4fun

Coastal retreat outdoor
floor cushion, £24.99;
Honolulu outdoor
floor cushion,
both The Range

Provide extra seating with a
scattering of floor cushions. There
are some gorgeous designs in this
season’s collections, which will not
only make for a comfy perch but
add a welcome splash of colour to
your scheme. Look out for cushions
made from water-resistant
materials, so they won’t be ruined
by any unexpected showers.

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75

I FEEL LIKE I’M ON HOLIDAY IN MY

‘Palm Springs’
style garden

‘I wanted the pergola to
make a statement, but as
the garden is quite narrow,
positioning it in the middle
also creates enough space to
move around the table,’
explains Nikki

Feature Lisa Moses Photogarphy Caroline Mardon

Using a tropical palette of pink and turquoise, Nikki Shore has created
a fun retreat that’s perfect for summer socialising and relaxing

‘The original cream
decking didn’t look
good for long so we
painted it using a specialist
outdoor paint. Hopefully
it’ll only need a quick clean
each year, rather than a
whole new paint job,’
says Nikki

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About me

I’m Nikki Shore, 56, an interior
designer and content creator, at
@weeny_victorian_house_in_
ware. I live with my husband
James, 44, an estimator, our son
Hayden, 15, and our dog, Tutzy.
Our home is a three-bed Victorian
terrace in Ware, Hertfordshire; we
moved here in September 2011.

Garden makeover

TOTA L
£2,240

BEFORE

My problem garden

The garden had clearly been given little
thought by the previous owners, so needed
a serious injection of personality and style.
There was a rotting shed at the bottom,
the grass was a bit scruffy, and the tatty patio had
seen better days.

How I made it work

After initially giving the space a shabby-chic

inspired makeover, I returned to my love of
maximalist decor and went all out, choosing
a pink, green and turquoise colour scheme, an
outdoor bar, and accessories usually reserved for
inside the home rather than outside.

My favourite part

I love the outdoor bar. It’s such a fun addition to
the garden, and we love having friends round
to enjoy a cocktail or two in the summer.

A

fter we moved here, we had a shock
when we discovered the old shed at the
end of the unloved garden had asbestos
in the roof, so we had to pay to have it
professionally removed. Our son, Hayden, was small
at the time, so we laid some decking down by the
conservatory at the back of the kitchen and put down
bark clippings at the bottom of the garden under the
trampoline we had.
I initially painted everything cream, but it didn’t suit
my personality, so a few years ago I decided to give
the garden a makeover. We replaced the trampoline
with an outdoor office and put down slabs and pink
stone chippings. I spent a day painting the fence pink
and, as the garden was by now a more grown-up
space, I sourced an outdoor bar from eBay. It came
with a video on how to construct it but it looked quite
complicated, so we hired someone to build it. They
put up the bespoke pergola at the same time to make
a feature of the dining area.
By now, the cream decking was looking weathered,
so I decided to give it a refresh. Annoyingly, the colour
I chose looked too grey, so I mixed some green paint
into it to create my own shade. I love all things Art
Deco and am inspired by Palm Springs interiors, so I
wanted to inject some of that fun and eclectic style
into this space. I positioned the peacock chair next to
the bar, put mirrors on the fence, hung disco balls from
the pergola and had a bespoke cocktail sign made
with our family name on it. Over time, I’ve learned to
follow my heart instead of trends, so I love everything
about my garden as it perfectly suits my personality!

Make a small garden feel larger by
adding mirrors – paint them the same
colour as your fence so they blend in

I love  things
Art Deco so I wanted
to inject sဩe of that
fun and eclectic style
into this space

Nikki decorated this part of the fence using a
faux flower trellis with fairy lights. It adds
a beautiful twinkle to this corner on warm,
summer evenings

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yourhomestyle.uk

My shopping list
For similar, try Utopia wooden pergola, from
£409.99, Dunster House. For similar, try Wickes
Pro timber 27x144x3600mm deck board, £5
per m, Wickes. For similar, try Mercia 6x4 ft pent
wooden garden bar, £385, B&Q. Paradise Beach
Hut backdrop, £28.99, Treasures and Treats.
For similar, try Hello Summer washable indoor
outdoor rug, from £40; for similar, try harp
string bistro set in Pink, £99; for similar, try harp
string garden set in Emerald Green, £179, all
Dunelm. For similar, try 30cm professional Silver
mirror ball, £37, Mirror Balls. For similar, try nylon
hanging lantern, from £3, The Paper Lantern
Company. Flocking Fabulous vinyl in Hot Pink,
from £28 for 60x100cm, Get Kooky. For similar, try
Emmanuelle rattan armchair, £609.99, Beliani.
20 Warm White carnival plug in festoon lights,
£38.99, Lights4fun. For similar, try Rockin Colour
decorative garden stones in Hot Pink, £19.95
for 15kg, HyFive. Smart Solar 50 LED solar in-lit
Pink blossom trellis, £49.99, Very. For similar, try
Stylix industrial design bar stool in Pink, £68.50,
Private Floor. Bespoke ‘The Shore’s Cocktails’ bar
sign, £50, SaltandPebbleDesigns on Etsy. Gold
laser cut flamingo, £45, @trashflamingo on
Instagram. For similar, try Margarita outdoor
cushion, Pina There outdoor cushion, and
Cosmo O’Clock outdoor cushion, all £17 each,
all furn.

1

2

3

Style advice
Three simple tricks
to try in your own home

1 Mix real with faux

Nikki admits to being a fair-weather gardener so, as well as real
plants, she has interspersed her garden with low-maintenance
fake blooms. Choose foliage that blends in with the rest of
your garden, so they look natural, and plant them in painted
terracotta pots, covered with a layer of real soil, for an authentic
look. Go for good-quality greenery that can withstand the
elements and you’ll have year-round colour.

2 Create a hydration station

An outdoor bar creates a focal point for friends to gather
around. Follow Nikki’s lead and attach a bespoke sign to the
back and wrap the work surface with patterned vinyl to make
it easier to clean. Include shelves to display drinks and glasses,
keep a recycling bin close by and fill a water dispenser with
mint and lemon for guests to help themselves. Finish by adding
a few brightly coloured metal bar stools for guests to perch on
so you can chat while you pour.

3 Personalise your patio

Although classic garden chippings tend to be stone-coloured,
contemporary shades are now widely available and add
a playful touch to an outdoor scheme. Consider painting
adjoining slabs a complementary colour. Choose bright
shades, like Nikki, or go for bold monochrome by pairing white
chippings with black slabs. Once painted, you can also stencil
a design onto your slabs – this could be a motif applied to one
or two slabs, or you could go all out and choose a geometric
pattern to cover the whole area. Finish with a weatherproof
patio sealant.
August 2024

79

Outdoor cushion,
£19.99, Homesense

Prestige 14.6m LED glass
bulb festival lights in
Warm White, £29.99,
Home Bargains

Sur La Table bamboo
salad bowl, £25,
Pure Table Top

Ecru stripe large tassel
fringed beach and garden
parasol, £225, Staycation
Vintage Parasols

GET THE LOOK

Pink scalloped dinner candle
holder, £10, Talking Tables

Style idea

Add a few
decorative stakes
to your garden to
create points of
visual interest

Flamingo
kitsch

Flamingo picnic
jug, £8, B&M

Go bold, bright and all
things tropical to bring
holiday vibes to your
outdoor space, like Nikki

NIKKI

I love maxဣism
and wanted to make
my garden feel fun

Feature Michelle Grady

Small metal Pink
flamingo, £16.99,
Homescapes

Solar Verdigris
Moroccan lantern,
£24.99, Festive Lights

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yourhomestyle.uk

Innovators
Sunburst Rocker
bistro set in Duck
Egg, £299.95, QVC

Get the look

CREATE
A COMFY
PERCH

House Additions bar stool, £156.99;
Reardon 160cm tilt beach parasol,
£25.99; faux rose wall panel
arrangement, £15.99; Eloria metal
bar cart, £97.99, all Wayfair

Simply Garden double sided
seat pad in Green, £4, B&M

Style idea

Use pots and troughs to
plant up portable displays
of colourful flowers

Vibia Campana trough
70cm in Dusty Pink,
£22.49, elho

3 OF A KIN
D..
.P
LA

ST
IC

Set of 4
tumblers,
£15, M&S

DR

Green plate, £1; Green salad
bowl, £1, both Iceland

A RE
INKW

Stackable plastic
picnic wine glasses,
£12 for 4, John
Lewis & Partners
Pink stripe
outdoor woven
rug, £12.99,
Dobbies

Pink plastic scalloped wine
glasses, £4 for 4, Primark

August 2024

81

OUR BESPOKE CABINETRY HACK

creates a
luxe look

Feature and styling Marisha Taylor Photography James French

Wanting a high-end, personalised space without the price tag, Salma and
Stuart Chatto DIYed it, giving their living room an individual feel

About me

Salma’s love of colour and pattern
inspired her choices in the living room,
from her hand-painted cabinetry and
wall mural, to the choice of sofa and
armchair. ‘I’m a big fan of bold shades
and wanted this room to be a happy
space packed full of joyful colour’

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I’m Salma Chatto, 33, a web
designer and content creator
and I live in a four-bedroom
house in Stockton-on-Tees with
my husband Stuart, 38, a civil
engineer, and our children Taliah,
four, and Ilyas, one, plus our two
cats, Indie and Lexie. You can see
more of my home on Instagram
@chateauchatto.

Living room makeover

Style idea

Consider your lighting when planning a
living room seme: wired-in w lights
will create a cosy atmosphere, and give you
more free surface space for accessories

Salma loved the original mouldings on
the ceiling and wanted to carry it onto
the walls. ‘Picture panels were the best
way to do that, it has made the whole
room more cohesive, and I love how
easily I can display art on the walls’

TOTA L
£5,680

BEFORE

My problem living room
This house was built in the 1990s and, although in
good condition, the whole property was incredibly
dated. The living room had magnolia walls and a
feature floral wallpaper that wasn’t our taste but
it had great proportions and natural light, so we
knew it had potential.

money allowed. The living room was at the top
of our priority list! We wanted it to feel cosy and
relaxing, with plenty of storage and personality. As
we had to work around our jobs and looking after
Taliah, who was just one at the time, the project
took us six weeks to finish.

How I made it work

My favourite part

We stretched ourselves financially to buy this
house which meant we had to take on all the work
ourselves, renovating one room at a time when

We’ve created a completely unique space and
knowing that we did all the work ourselves makes
it feel extra special.

W

e knew with some clever ideas
and a lick of paint, this room could
look amazing. Our plan was to
install bespoke, built-in cabinetry
along one wall, with panelling on the walls to frame
our artwork and tie in with the cornicing and ceiling
rose details. A big, comfy sofa was on the list too, and
we decided to make the bay window a spot to relax in
with an oversized love seat.
I studied art and graphic design, so this was a chance
to use my creativity as I adore colour and pattern, so
adding bold tones and fun elements was a key part
of our vision. We measured, cut and fitted mouldings
to create the picture panels, plus a dado rail to add
character. I wanted to paint the cabinetry in a punchy
colour, so we kept the walls neutral, painting them a
soft white with a hint of grey. Next, we laid the flooring.
When it came to installing the cabinetry, a carpenter
quoted us over £2,000, so we took it on ourselves as
this was way out of our budget. I’d seen an amazing
hack on Instagram using IKEA Billy bookcases that
looked just like the bespoke cabinetry we were after.
We measured the space, working around the wall
lights and fireplace and, after trying out lots of colours,
we chose a pretty pink with purple undertones. Once
the pieces were painted, Stuart built the sections and
bolted them together. Fitting everything was quite
tricky but we got there in the end! We then added
the scallop trim, wood detail, a wood counter and the
skirting board, which was key to the seamless built-in
look we had our hearts set on.
To finish the look, I added colour through furnishings
and accessories. I paired a teal corner sofa with a yellow
armchair and footstool, adding mustard cushions
to tie them together. I chose brass and gold fixtures
and fittings to add warmth. The finished room has
exceeded all our expectations and we absolutely love it!

Admittedly Salma is not very green
fingered, so instead she invests in faux
plants that have the same look but
none of the maintenance

The love seat in the window is
Salma’s favourite spot in the room.
‘It’s a suntrap and is right near all
the books in the room so it’s
a great reading corner’

My shopping list
For similar, try Zinc 2-piece, 2-arm corner
group sofa in Teal, £1,749, DFS. For similar,
try Pink square ottoman storage buttoned
footstool, £160, ISTOOLS. GoodHome Thestias
Brass-effect wall light, £30; walls painted in
Dulux Easycare matt emulsion in White Mist,
£28 for 2.5L, both B&Q. For similar, try starburst
round wall mirror in Gold, £119; for similar, try
Blakeney snuggle chair in luxury velvet Old
Gold, from £799, both Dunelm. Tromso sofa
end table, £20, B&M. Cabinetry painted in
Rust-Oleum furniture paint in Lilac Wine, £19.99
for 750ml, The Range. For similar, try Coffee Oak
12mm herringbone laminate flooring, £20.24
per sq m, Floor Depot. For similar, try Copper
and Grey storage trunks, £98.99 for 2, Robert
Dyas. Kransborre cushion in Golden Brown,
£9, IKEA. For similar, try Black large hanging
palm print canvas, £12, George Home.

SCAN ME
for more inspiring
real homes at
yourhomestyle.uk
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1

2

Style
advice

Three simple tricks
to try in your own home

1 Paint a unique mural
Use leftover paint to create a wall mural
that perfectly coordinates with your
scheme, like Salma’s fruit design. Try
simple flower and fruit motifs or go for
graphic shapes you can mark out with
masking tape if you’re not confident
painting freehand.

2 Go for bespoke furniture
Embellishing ready-made furniture is
a great way to inject your personality
into your home. Paint it, add scallops or
panelling, or swap out door handles for
an individual look on a budget.

3 Add period arm
3

Update properties of any age with
panelling, and dado and picture rails.
Colour drench everything in the same
shade or use the features to colour block
or wallpaper in different sections.
August 2024

85

Funky palm tree
poster, from £17.95,
Desenio

Fulham wall
lamp, £95,
Ella James

Sunburst Isacc
wood flat wall mirror,
£37.99, Wayfair

INCLUDE
BRONZE
ACCENTS
Cotton throw in
Mustard woven stripe,
£17.99, Gisela Graham

GET THE LOOK
Glass
bud
vase in
Pink, £6,
Talking
Tables

Modern
pastels
Add a pop of colour to
your living room and
recreate Salma’s feel-good
style with these bright
pastel pieces

Scalloped wall
storage shelf – 61cm
in Mustard, £29.95,
Melody Maison

SA

Thornley 4-seater sofa
in Teal fabric, £1,099.99,
Oak Furnitureland

LM

A C H AT

TO

I adore colour, so
adding bold tones
was a key part
of our vision

Sunflower and
Gerbera Yellow
and Pink
artificial
bouquet, £19.99,
Homescapes

Feature Kirstie Duhig

Style idea

Opt for a colourful
sofa as your
statement piece
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yourhomestyle.uk

Toastie footstool in
Pudding Pink clever
vintage linen, £695, Loaf

Jemima Multicolour washable
rug, from £179, Ruggable

Get the look

Style idea

Baltimore 2-seater sofa in
Dove Grey classic plush fabric,
£449.99, Furniture And Choice

If you're not
confident with
pattern, start
with accessories
Elements
wax resist
ceramic vase
in Ochre,
£14, Dunelm

STYLISH
STRIPED POT

Moss & Sweetpea
artificial boxwood plant
in ceramic pot, £15, M&S

Eleanor Bowmer Electric
Coast palm tree tray,
£30, Pure Table Top

3 OF A KIN
D..
.

ST
A

M
TE

Patchwork stripe bolster
cushion cover, £29.50,
Oliver Bonas

T
EN

CUSH

Glass bubble dinner
candle holder in
Lilac, £9.99,
The Wisteria Tree

IONS

Ochre Yellow Daisy 3D
cushion, £16, Next
Botanicals Ferndale fabric
love chair in Paradise
Collection Gold, £549, ScS

Pale Pink flora cushion,
£34.99, Claire Louise

August 2024

87

I NOW LOVE THIS ROOM, THANKS TO A

fresh colour
scheme

Adam made a floating shelf
to showcase Bee’s eclectic
collection of accessories above
the bed. She found the barn star
at Ardingly Antiques Fair,
her prints are from an art shop
in Worthing called First & Last,
and the other pieces are
high street finds

Feature and styling Maxine Brady Photography Bee Holmes

Starting with a rich green and lilac palette, Bee Holmes
transformed a bland bedroom into a retreat, with everything
hidden away in DIY built-in storage

About me

As the original Victorian picture rails were no
longer there, Bee used paint to recreate the
look, and loved the result so much she copied
this idea throughout her home. She also had
the old wooden doors dipped to strip away
years of paint, and they now match other
wooden elements in the space

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yourhomestyle.uk

I’m Bee Holmes, 39,
a photographer, and I live in a
three-bedroom Victorian terraced
house in Worthing, East Sussex,
with my partner Adam Hoskins,
39, a carpenter, our daughter
Emily, five, and our cat Edwina.
You can see more of my interiors
photography on Instagram
@beeholmesphotography.

Bedroom makeover

TOTA L
£2,825

BEFORE
Style idea

Add lots of natural texture
with rattan, wicker and
wood for a calm and
collected look
My problem
bedroom

When we moved in, the main
bedroom was my worst nightmare
as it was decorated with beige
walls, and it had an Artex ceiling
and very little storage. It was really
unappealing!

How I made
it work

We stripped away the woodchip
wallpaper and layers of paint.
The walls were in a bad way
underneath, so we replastered
the walls and ceiling to give us
a smooth surface to paint on.
Adding lots of storage was key to
keep the room clutter-free, and
I chose a dark green base colour
as I wanted a calming feel in here.
We had to squeeze the work in at
weekends, so we worked for five
months to get the whole thing
done and dusted.

My favourite part

I’m so pleased with the green
colour scheme – it’s so relaxing.
Now I want to decorate the rest of
my home in my favourite colour!

August 2024

89

O

ur home belonged to an elderly couple
who had won the lottery! With their
winnings, they paid decorators to paint
the interior beige each summer for years.
So, while this house had been maintained regularly,
when we moved in every room – including our main
bedroom – was covered in thick layers of emulsion.
My aim was to turn this bland room into an inviting
and relaxing space, so I desperately wanted to inject
character and colour. I began by choosing the wall
paint, building the rest of the scheme around it.
I chose dark forest green because I find this colour
very calming, so it’s perfect for my bedroom.
The first thing to go was the woodchip wallpaper,
then our pockmarked walls and bumpy ceiling were
plastered smooth. The woodwork was unsalvageable,
and we had to replace it. As I wanted the space to feel
calm and uncluttered, storage was a priority for us.
So, Adam, who’s a carpenter, spent his weekends and
evenings making the fitted wardrobes. Once they were
installed, I painted the walls, woodwork and wardrobes
in the same shade of green for a coordinated look.
I struggled to find bedside tables I liked, so Adam
made bespoke ones based on a sketch I did. Making
our own furniture saved us money and meant we could
afford new carpets, as well as made-to-measure blinds
and a king size ottoman bed.
For the finishing touches, I contrasted the dark green
walls with splashes of lilac, natural tones and bold
black-and-white prints to energise the scheme. My
bedroom is now a place that I love spending time in
and it’s the perfect spot to get ready. Sunday mornings
in here are the best because we have breakfast in bed
with our daughter, Emily, and our cat.

Adam made and fitted
the bespoke built-in
wardrobes over 10 days,
as he squeezed the project
in around his full-time
job. He added hanging
rails and shelving inside,
plus spacious drawers
underneath, so everything
can be hidden away

Place a dressing table in a bay window
to make the most of the natural light. Bee
uses this space to get ready, but finds it
a nice, bright spot to work at, too. Simple
styling with classic blinds and sleek
furniture enhances the airy feel

My shopping list

SCAN ME
for more inspiring
real homes at
yourhomestyle.uk

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yourhomestyle.uk

Walls painted in matt emulsion in Green 05
Rome House, £45 for 2.5L, Lick. For similar, try
Snooze sunset ottoman king size bed frame
in Darwin Silver, £1,299.99, Bensons for Beds.
Cotton linen plain king size bedding set in
Rust, £36, Habitat. For similar, try Boutique hotel
velvet stitch quilted bedspread in Green, £195,
John Lewis & Partners. Gingham checked king
size duvet cover set in Dark Grey, £39.99, H&M
Home. For similar, try heavy linen cushion cover
in Lilac, £49; Mirage cushion cover, £59, both
ferm Living. For similar, try Tamori violet striped
100% cotton pillowcase, £14, La Redoute.
Natural teddy knot shaped 3D cushion, £15,
George Home. For similar, try Lilac cosy blanket,
£35, Urban Outfitters. For similar, try fresco light
brown mango wood and brass desk, £489,
Swoon. For similar, try super soft wave throw in
Monochrome, £28, Next. Hazel glass candlestick
holders, £25 for 2, Oliver Bonas. For similar, try
Fern Moss glass jar candle, £36, Anthropologie.
For similar, try multicolour wool rug, from £77.95,
benuta. Terracotta candles, £1 each, Primark.
For similar, try Kabir tapered string pendant
lampshade in Sand, £18; Elements wiggle
cushion in Black, £16, both Dunelm. For similar,
try round bamboo wall shelf, £95, La Redoute.

1

2

Style advice
Three simple tricks
to try in your own home

1 Style shelves like a pro

Start with larger items at the back, then add
artwork in the gaps. Mix in books, laying them
both vertically and horizontally. Finish with small
accessories which you can place in front of your
artwork or on top of a stack of books.

2 Make your own lights

Bee made her stylish wall lights using a lighting kit.
Industville and Creative Cable both stock similar
kits with the fittings, cables, plugs and switch
so you can make your own. Then you can use a
shelf bracket to make the frame for the wall lights.
Simply drill a hole at the top for the wire or wrap it
around for an effortless look.

3 Choose affordable art
3

If you want to fill your walls with art but don’t have
a huge budget, download high-resolution, royaltyfree images and have them enlarged by your local
printers. There are lots of websites for printables,
including Shutterstock and Etsy. You may have to
register for an account, but the choice of art for
your walls will be endless.
August 2024

91

Leramo coloured glass
candle holders, £20 for 3,
La Redoute

Green botanical on linen print,
from £10.95, Desenio

Sunset hues
purple glass
vase, £7.99,
Homesense

CREATE A
COSY GLOW
Daisy Dove
Cornflower
quilt, £88,
French Bedroom

Kai rattan wall
light, £25,
Homebase

GET THE LOOK

Forest
sanctuary
Create a soothing space to
unwind in, like Bee, with
earthy forest hues and
organic textures

Bryant 2 drawer
bedside table,
£109, Dunelm

BEE

I used splashes of
lilac and natur tones
to energise my seme
Ceramic
jug, £3.50,
Primark

Faux string of
pearls in pot, £45,
Marquis & Dawe

Neston
armchair in
Olive Green,
£399, Cult
Furniture
Simeon wool rug, £150,
Oliver Bonas

Feature Sarah Trevor

ADD BOLD
PATTERN
92

yourhomestyle.uk

Athens reactive glaze
ribbed planter in
Blue, £9.99, Ivyline

Hopper king
bedframe, £599;
Filip spindle chair in
Oak, £179, both DFS

Chalk paint in Capability
Green, £26.95 for 1L,
Annie Sloan

Living boucle
round cushion in
Ecru, £26, ScS

Style idea

Pile up cushions and throws
on a bed or accent chair
3 OF A KIN
D..
.

KE
BAS

Bluebell
Woodland glass
candle, £19.75,
Pintail Candles

Two-tone wicker
basket in White
and natural,
£10, B&M

L
RA
TU

Cabana belly
basket, £8.50,
Matalan

NA

TS

Acélie lilas
gingham linen
pillowcase in
Lilac, £34,
La Redoute

Style idea

Small seagrass
basket in Navy
Blue, £18.95,
Rex London

Scent-scape your bedroom
to create a relaxing retreat
August 2024

93

Recreate the feel of your favourite coffee shop in your own kitchen with these quick and easy updates

Sissan Richard Paris, Le
Paradis print, from
£11.95; Megan Galante
California poppy print,
from £17.95; Sissan
Richard La Dolce Vita
print, from £11.95;
sun-ripened figs print,
from £15.95,
all Desenio

LATTE ART
If you’re in a rental with plain walls,
brighten up your coffee corner with
colourful foodie-themed prints. Hang
them using 3M Command hooks and
you can easily remove them without
damaging the walls.

L

ove nothing more than the warm ambience
and cosy atmosphere of your favourite café
on a Sunday morning? You’re not alone as
a new trend is brewing: cafécore. This trend is
more than just adding coffee-themed accessories
– it’s about capturing the essence of the café
experience in your own home. Whether it’s the
scent of freshly baked pastries and aromatic coffee
in a handcrafted mug, sinking into a squishy
armchair with your favourite book or settling down
on a bar stool to work on your laptop, cafécore is
a fun way to recreate this vibe.
Cafécore kitchens also focus on creating a
sociable space that makes it easy to host guests,

94

yourhomestyle.uk

with a welcoming atmosphere and everything
your visitors could need. Use your decor to
embrace the Norwegian practice of ‘kaffepause’
(literally translated to ‘coffee break’), which is
rooted in the tradition of creating an inviting
ambience to bring people together with intention,
and to slow down and connect with others.
Embrace this ‘togetherness’ trend by decorating
your kitchen with warm colours such as beige,
brown and cream to create a sense of cosiness and
comfort. For a more industrial scheme, consider
exposing the brickwork on one wall – or you can
cheat the look using brick-effect wallpaper or tiles.
If space allows, add a squishy leather sofa or classic

Chesterfield (think Central Perk café circa 1995!) or
sociable built-in banquette seating. If your kitchen
is on the compact side, opt for a space-saving
bistro set or bijou bar stools that can be tucked
under a worktop or island unit counter.
Finally, a coffee station is an integral part of this
look and will give you a barista-level experience
at home. Whether you love coffee, tea or hot
chocolate (or all three), it’s a place where you
can store and display a drinks machine, beans,
flavoured syrups and mugs. This can be a
dedicated cupboard, or a nook in the corner of
your kitchen. Complete your scheme with vintage
or antique touches, such as cafetières, hardback

Kitchen ideas
Vård Collection kitchen in Doll,
from £3,030, Smile Kitchens

Built-in banquette
seating creates classic
coffee shop style and
is a space-saving way
to maximise seating
capacity – perfect
for when family and
friends pop over for
a catch-up over a
cappuccino. Look for
bench seats which
have built-in storage
space underneath, so
you can stash away
appliances that you
don’t use often.

3 pro tips
from the
kitchen
designers
Best for... tight budgets

Chilcomb kitchen
in Marine Blue,
POA, Howdens

Stainless steel traditional
compact pump
espresso machine,
£169.99,
Morphy Richards

‘Installing open shelving is an
inexpensive way to add a café vibe
while providing the perfect display
storage for your favourite mugs,
coffee pots and teapots. If you don’t
have many of these, check out local
charity shops for preloved and
vintage items that will add character
to your space.’
Helen Lord, co-founder, rehome.co.uk

Best for... rentals
‘Use extendable tension rods to
create a café curtain across your
kitchen window without drilling
holes and throw a checked tablecloth
over your table to cosy up your
kitchen. Complete the coffee shop
ambience with warm lighting from
rechargeable lamps along with some
leafy plants.’
Penelope Jacobs, kitchen design
expert, myjobquote.co.uk

Best for... small spaces
‘Embrace the cafécore aesthetic
in a small kitchen by introducing
elements you might find in a café
which don’t take up space but still
create that coffee shop feel, such as
a chalkboard. Pendant lighting with
dimmable LED bulbs will also bounce
light around the room.’
Dave Young, director, HUSK

SPECIALITY BREW
This narrow espresso machine takes up less
room on your countertop, without sacrificing an
authentic barista feel. The built-in milk frothing
nozzle produces a deliciously creamy froth, and
the dual cup dispenser offers the ability to sling
two espresso shots at once in busier households.

HIDE AND SEEK
Create a coffee station to keep all your essentials
in one place. Tuck it away from view in a pantry
unit or upcycled sideboard – or set up your coffee
zone on a countertop to show off your high-tech
espresso machine with pride!

Style idea

For a sleek finish, opt for
a fitted or freestanding
pantry as a coffee nook
August 2024

95

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath

TAKE A
SEAT

Pronteau Industria
3-in-1 instant hot
water tap, from
£749, Abode

ON TAP
If you host regularly, it may be worth upgrading to
an instant boiling water tap. It’s ideal for frequent
hot beverages at the simple turn of a lever and
could save you both time and money. This 3-in-1
model offers hot, cold and filtered instant hot
water in a flash.
Café-style shutters in Pure White,
from £461, Hillarys

PRIVATE LIVES
Parisian-style shutters allow plenty
of light to flood into the space
from the top of the windows, while
the adjustable slats offer privacy
while you sit and sip a brew in your
pyjamas on a relaxed morning. If you
want to flex your creative skills, sew
half curtains using a ticking stripe or
linen fabric to complete the look.

SITTING
PRETTY
Elegant bar stools that
tuck neatly beneath
your worktop are
perfect for creating
a café-style area in
a narrow galley kitchen.
They’re also useful
if you don’t have
enough room for a
separate home office.
A compact folding
bistro set will also give
you that café feel in a
corner of your kitchen.
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yourhomestyle.uk

Matteo bar stool
in Burnt Orange
velvet and brass,
£129, Cult Furniture

Kitchen ideas
Locano Collection kitchen,
from £6,000, Lifestyle Kitchens

Style idea

STORE AND ORDER
This fun heart-shaped holder will keep coffee pods neat and tidy
next to your machine. Alternatively, make a feature of them by
displaying them on open shelves in chunky glass Kilner jars.

Use geometric tiles on a
splashback for a vintageinspired look

Cream heart coffee pod holder,
£16, Next

SOOTHING SHADES
Reminiscent of a shot of espresso or
a warm latte, cosy tones like cream,
beige and mocha will create a calming
atmosphere to start your day. To avoid
making your kitchen feel too flat, add
lots of texture such as cosy cushions,
linen curtains and a durable jute rug.

Coffee
break
essentials

Kungfors 60cm bamboo shelves,
£20 each, IKEA

1

2

4

3

STYLISH SHELVES
Display cups, cafetières and cookbooks on open
shelving for that authentic coffee shop feel – it’ll also
make smaller spaces feel larger. Make use of empty
‘dead’ space on a kitchen wall and install a couple of
shelves. If you’re planning a reno, then take out
a couple of wall units for a look that’s less boxed-in.

1 Anders glass mugs, £5 each, JYSK
2 Flower spoon, £1.68 Søstrene Grene
3 HKliving 70s ceramics milk jug and sugar bowl
set, £22, Idyll Home
4 Mahi marbled Blue ceramic cafetiere, £45,
Oliver Bonas

August 2024

97

experts

Ask the

Make your home
essentials last longer
Our experts solve your DIY dilemmas. This month, we find out
how to give items a longer lifespan, so you can save money

LE

N

A

Terza round brown
teak and marble side
table, £249; Terza
round brown teak
and marble coffee
table, £595; Embrey
fabric five-seater corner
sofa, £3,625, all
Barker and Stonehouse

A

GIERASI

K
NS

Head of product and displays
at Barker and Stonehouse

O

LI

VIA YO U N

YE

D O O LIT

G

TL

E

J

E

A

S

Senior product manager
at VAX

NE

TTE H OPK

IN

General manager at
The Floor Room

Q What’s the
best way to
unblock my
kitchen sink?
Olivia Young, cleaning expert and
product development scientist
at Astonish, has worked in both
formulation science and analytical
science for over three years, testing
and designing household products
from scratch. She says… ‘A clogged
kitchen sink can quickly turn from
a minor annoyance to a major
headache. Before reaching for harsh
chemical cleaners, which can damage
your plumbing over time, consider
some gentler, eco-friendly alternatives:

Cleaning expert and product
development scientist
at Astonish

FA

Herbal Escape concentrated
disinfectant, £1.35 for
300ml, Astonish

Boiling water: This is the simplest
method. Boil a kettle of water and
pour it down the drain. This can
often be enough to dissolve organic
compounds blocking your sink.

Q How can I protect my
furniture and furnishings from
sun damage?
Lena Gierasinska is head of product and displays at Barker and
Stonehouse and has more than 13 years’ experience working with
brands in the interiors and retail sector. She says… ‘To protect
furniture from sun damage, I would recommend, where possible,
placing sofas and other upholstered furniture away from east or west
facing windows. In cases where this cannot be avoided, I’d advise
investing in well-made curtains, blinds or shutters to help block UV rays.
It’s also important to carefully consider your choice of colour and
fabric. Strong sunlight fades bright colours, but lighter or pastel shades
are better able to withstand sunlight. Don’t make the mistake of
placing brilliant white furniture directly in front of a window however,
as this can turn yellow when exposed to sunlight. Similarly, different
fabrics react differently to sunlight – natural fabrics, such as cotton
and silk can be easily damaged by strong sunlight, whereas synthetic
fabrics, like acrylic and polyester, are much more resilient.
Finally, I would also suggest that you flip the cushions of your sofa
regularly, as well as rotating any rugs in the room – this won’t prevent
fading but will ensure that any sun bleaching will be more uniform,
and therefore less noticeable.’

Baking soda and vinegar: Pour half a
cup of baking soda followed by half a
cup of white vinegar down the drain.
Cover the drain with a plug and let
it sit for an hour. Then, flush with hot
water. This natural reaction can break
down fatty acids and grease.
Use a plunger: Sometimes, a good
old-fashioned plunger is all you need.
Ensure you have a tight seal around
the plunger and use strong, consistent
pressure to dislodge the blockage.
To avoid future blockages, prevention
is key – never pour fats, oils or grease
down your drain. They solidify in
pipes, causing major clogging! A top
tip to remove bad odours is to pop
two scoops of Astonish oxy active
fabric stain remover down your sink
then carefully pour a little hot water
over the top. Watch and wait for the
fizz as the product clears away any
unwanted smells.’

A carpet cleaner is a great investment to refresh
tired carpets and give them a new lease of life
Premoda
logan danube
herringbone
oak laminate,
£42.99 per sq m,
The Floor Room

Q How can I keep my
laminate flooring in good
condition?
Jeanette Hopkins is general manager at The Floor
Room and drives the brand’s mission of ‘unboring
your flooring’. She says… ‘Available in an endless
choice of designs, laminate is made up of layers with
a printed photo-realistic image and a protective top
layer which can be embossed for a textured surface.
It’s relatively low maintenance, especially with the
latest scratch resistant and waterproof technologies.
It’s always important to refer to the manufacturer’s
notes regarding which cleaning products should
be used on your laminate. For day-to-day cleaning,
simply sweep or vacuum loose dirt and use a damp
(not wet) mop to clean the floor with water. Any spills
should be cleaned up immediately and then dried.
You can add vinegar or a specialist laminate cleaning
product to the water for a more intensive clean but
never use a scouring pad or anything abrasive.
Most laminate flooring is very hard-wearing and
stands up well to everyday life, but the surface can
still get scratched. Some DIY shops stock laminate
repair kits but prevention is much better than having
to deal with scratches. Protect your laminate floors by
using doormats at entry points and removing shoes,
which can trap loose stones that scratch laminate
floors. To avoid damaging your floor you should lift,
rather than drag, furniture when moving it and place
soft casters under chairs or table legs to prevent
dents and scratches.’

Managing director of A
Place for Everything, Simon
Glanville, shares tips on
caring for garden items…

PLASTIC FURNITURE
Always check the
manufacturer’s advice, as some
plastic furniture can be left
outside in all weathers, while
others need protection. I’d
recommend investing in
durable covers for easy access.

WOODEN FURNITURE
For treated furniture, try to keep
it out of prolonged direct
sunlight. An oilcloth table
covering looks stylish as well as
providing some protection. It’s
best to store in a garage or shed
when not in use for any long
periods of time.

OUTDOOR CUSHIONS
Use airtight, waterproof lidded
containers – many are stylish
enough to keep on show and
they’re great for easy access.
Make sure your cushions are
completely dry before you pop
them in the box.

OUTDOOR RUGS
These are generally suitable for
washing, but always check the
instructions. Use water or a mild
detergent solution, but always
test on a small area first. Once
dry, roll and store indoors.

GARDEN HOSE
Prolonged exposure to sunlight
can cause UV damage and
make it prone to cracks and
leaks. A simple solution is a
traditional hose store or one
that fits over an outdoor tap. For
inside storage, choose a hose
and cable hook.

Feature Lisa Hibberd

Faye Doolittle is senior product manager at floorcare specialist VAX, who in 2024 were voted most trusted carpet
cleaner brand by UK shoppers*. She says… ‘We recommend vacuuming your carpets at least twice a week to remove
surface debris, and more regularly in high traffic areas to remove dust and dirt caught in the carpet fibres. Regular
vacuuming will also help to maintain the carpet pile.
We also suggest house rules – ask friends and family to remove their shoes at the door; it’s an easy step to limit
abrasive wear on carpets and reduces the transfer of outdoor dirt into the fibres.
Lifting an accidental spill as soon as it happens will help reduce the impact on your carpet fibres and limit staining.
Not only will this keep carpets looking fresh and odour-free, but it can also help prolong their lifespan. A spot washer,
such as the VAX SpotWash Spot Cleaner, £129.99, is the perfect solution to grab for quick removal of emergency
spills and stains, as well as for
Platinum Power Max
convenient deep cleaning of
Pet-Design, £269.99 (including
smaller areas. It’s also lightweight
free steamer worth £49.99
and easy to store.
when bought direct), Vax
Vacuuming on its own isn’t
enough to remove deep down
dirt. We recommend a regular
deep clean every few months.
Carpet washing agitates and lifts
stubborn dirt from your carpet,
cleaning deep down into the
fibres to remove ingrained stains
and help to prolong its life. Ideal
times could include just before
Christmas, post-New Year, an
Easter spring clean and after the
summer holidays when bare
feet have been in and out of the
garden, bringing in all sorts of
dirt and debris which can stain or
become embedded into carpets.’

Make your
gardenware
last longer

* Based on the 2024 BrandSpark International UK Trust study

Q How can I extend the life of my carpet? Will
vacuuming too often wear it out quicker?

76-litre outdoor waterproof
storage box, £22,
A Place for Everything

August 2024

99

YB
E

R,

ECO CHAM

P

Zinus green tea memory foam double
mattress, currently £282.91, Amazon

P OPP

N

NE

Make your home life simpler and more
sustainable with our handy household hints,
honest product reviews and easy eco swaps

5 STEPS TO…

Deep clean your mattress
1 Cleaning a mattress is a perfect summer job as the mattress will dry out

3

S
ES

ENTIALS

FO

R

laundry
day

Make the most of breezy days and reduce
drying time with these handy gadgets
2

32 peg garment
dryer, £13, Argos
Laundry Mac outdoor
laundry cover, from
£30, Chimney Sheep

quicker, which is important to prevent mould growth. First, banish yellow stains by
spraying a suitable fabric stain remover onto the affected areas and leaving to soak
in. Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stains deeper into the mattress. Instead, blot
the stains with a clean, dry cloth.
2 Lemon juice is a natural way to lighten mild yellow stains, while hydrogen
peroxide is ideal for tougher stains – but always test this on an inconspicuous part of
the mattress first before using. Use a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, mixed with
water, following the steps above.
3 To tackle unpleasant odours, grab some baking soda from your kitchen
cupboards. Simply sprinkle a thick layer over the mattress and leave for a few hours
(or overnight if you can) to absorb any odours and oil, then vacuum.
4 Using water only, steam cleaning can sanitise a mattress and help to kill bacteria
and dust mites, and break down stains. Handheld steamers are useful, but you'll need
to regularly refill the water tank. You could also try a carpet steamer for faster results.
5 Leave the mattress to air-dry, preferably in a sunny, breezy spot – this can be
indoors or outside, if you have a clean place to put it. To speed up the process, place
it near a dehumidifier or use a hairdryer on a cool setting. Once it’s dry, vacuum the
mattress again to help restore its pile.

Fresh ide
a
1

3

Retractable
clothes line
15m, £4.20,
Dunelm

1 Available in two sizes, this clever waterproof cover
works like a raincoat for your washing. With weighted
edges to keep it in place and a breathable fabric
that allows air to circulate, you can dry your laundry
outdoors, whatever the weather!
2 Ideal for drying socks, smalls, and other light pieces
of laundry, this handy peg airer can either be hung
up by a hook or attached to the central pole of your
washing line, saving loads of space.
3 A retractable laundry line makes a less intrusive
addition to your garden and is perfect in smaller
spaces where a rotary dryer isn’t an option. Simply fix
it to your chosen wall and pull out the strong PVC line
as and when needed.

Forget the days of
single-use sandwich bags
– these new reusable silicone
bags are designed to last, plus
they’re dishwasher-safe and leakproof,
with a secure seal. Use them to keep
food fresh in the fridge, to store frozen
meals, or to transport your lunch
to work. You can even fill them
with holiday essentials to pop in
your suitcase! With various sizes
to choose from in two handy
designs – flat and standing
– there’s something for all
your needs in this smart
new range.

ECO
SWAP
Silicone
reusable bags,
from £12, OXO

C

Helpful hints

ompost
c
r
ve
e
l
If you don’t have

3 ON TEST…
MULTI-PURP OSE
CLEANING PASTES

ECO
SWAP

the outdoor space for a
traditional composter, then the
compact 15L Bokashi composter is
the answer. Helping to reduce household
waste by up to 30%, it allows you to turn
all kitchen waste, including meat, fish
and dairy products, into a nutrient-rich
fertiliser in just five days. Alternatively,
in 15-20 days, the material can be
added to compost to provide
additional nutrients and will
act as an ‘accelerator’ in your
compost bin to speed up
the process.

With a mildly abrasive formula, these pastes are
ideal for cleaning a multitude of surfaces, from
pots and pans to stone floors

Astonish The
Good One
cleaning
paste, 500ml,
£3.49, Lakeland

8

10

Best value
The minty aroma of this paste was lovely and fresh, and the
scent stayed around long after I’d used it. The paste worked
well on my barbecue to shift burnt-on food and rust deposits,
as well as cleaning the inside of a very mucky oven door and
leaving it grease-free, so I’ll definitely be trying it on harder-toshift dirt. It didn’t take a lot of effort and I didn’t need much of
it, so this tin is sure to go a long way. I was pleased to see the
formula is made from 100% natural derived ingredients, and
that the tin is completely recyclable, too.

Bokashi composter,
£74.99, Hozelock

5 MINUTE FIXES
Have a bit of extra time? Here are three quick tasks to do this month

2

Shine up appliances
Remove scratches from cookers and other
stainless steel appliances by adding a
thin layer of toothpaste and buffing with
an old toothbrush. According to Bosch,
stainless steel has a ‘grain’, just like velvet
or wood, and it’s best to clean in the
direction of the grain for extra shine, using
a drop of olive oil and a microfibre cloth.

3

9

Power Paste,
500ml, £7.99,
Scrub Daddy

10
Best performance

Although it’s a little more expensive, this cleaning paste comes
with its own Scrub Mommy sponge: brilliant for adding a bit
more oomph when using the paste! The natural grittiness
comes from clay, which is non-toxic and biodegradable, as
well as being great for removing stubborn stains and residue. I
used it on my shower tiles, taps, and a particularly limescaleheavy shower head, and found the mixture foamed up nicely
and shifted the limescale effortlessly.

Multi-purpose
cleaning paste,
300ml, £3.50,
Ecozone Direct

7

10

Tackle cobwebs

Best eco choice

Get a fluffy duster and do a
clean sweep of your home,
concentrating on the top of
each room, doorways, hidden
corners, behind furniture, and
the tops of shelves.

This paste boasts a vegan and cruelty-free formula made
from mineral- and plant-based ingredients, so it gets a big tick
for being planet-friendly. It has a nice lemon smell that was
pleasantly fresh in my home, and I loved that it has a sponge
nestled in the lid, as I know it will be there ready for me next
time. I used this paste to easily remove crayon from my walls
and to shift some old stains from a ceramic sink, but a bit
more effort was needed for a greasy cooker hood. It’s also a
smaller pot than I was expecting, but I’d certainly use it again.

August 2024

101

Feature Poppy Benner Photos Getty Images

1

Refresh the front step
Make a good impression by sprucing
up the entrance to your home. Start by
shaking out the doormat, then weed,
sweep and clean the tiles or concrete,
finishing with a clean of the plant pots.
A stiff brush or mop and some soapy
water is all you need.

MIDWEEK MEALS
TO MAKE IN MINUTES

Have a go at
these speedy
no-prove
pizza recipes

M

T

Monday

Tuesday

HAM AND ARTICHOKE PIZZA

RAINBOW VEGETARIAN PIZZA

PREP TIME 20 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
SERVES 4

PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
MAKES 1 large pizza

INGREDIENTS
125g (4½oz) passata 1 small garlic clove, finely
grated 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil plain flour,
for dusting 2 x 220g (7½oz) balls The Northern
Dough Co frozen pizza dough, defrosted and
at room temperature 200g (7oz) cooking
mozzarella, cut into 1.5cm cubes 175g (6oz)
pack chargrilled artichokes in herb dressing, halved
2-3 slices Unearthed French Torchon ham
2 tbsp Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
16 basil leaves black pepper

INGREDIENTS
1 x 400g (14oz) pack ready-made pizza dough
plain flour, for dusting fine semolina, for
dusting 3-4 tbsp pesto selection of vegetables
sliced to the same thickness, such as: aubergine,
peppers, courgette, cherry tomatoes
200g (7oz) grated mozzarella handful of olives
(optional) basil leaves, to garnish

METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 240°C/220°C fan/gas mark 9
and put two large baking trays in the oven to heat up.
Mix the passata, garlic and oil in a bowl and season,
then set aside.
2 On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball of
pizza dough to a rough circle about 30cm (11in) in
diameter. Put each on a sheet of baking parchment.
Spread each with half of the passata, then scatter
over the mozzarella and artichokes. Tear the ham
and arrange over the top. Scatter with Parmigiano
Reggiano and half of the basil leaves. Season.
3 Transfer the pizzas, on the parchment, onto the hot
baking trays (or cook in 2 batches if necessary) and
bake for 8-10 minutes until puffed up and golden.
Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before scattering
with the remaining basil leaves, then serve.
COOK’S TIP
If you can’t find cooking mozzarella, use a ball of
roughly torn mozzarella instead and pat dry first.
Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose,
waitrose.com

METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 240°C/220°C fan/gas mark 9.
Place a pizza stone or baking tray inside to heat up.
2 Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface
and use both hands to gently tease it into a thin
circular shape.
3 Lightly coat the preheated pizza stone or baking
tray with fine semolina and transfer the thin sheet of
dough to it.
4 Thinly spread the pesto over the base, leaving a gap
for the crust, then add your toppings, starting with the
vegetables and ending with cheese and olives.
5 Bake for around 10 minutes in the oven (or 4-6
minutes in a pizza oven). Remove the pizza to
a serving board. Cool for a few minutes before
garnishing with basil and slicing.
Recipe courtesy of Steven Carter-Bailey for
ProCook, procook.co.uk

Midweek meals

W

T

F

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

TURKISH PIZZAS WITH AUBERGINE
AND PINE NUTS

ANCHOVY AND KALAMATA OLIVE
SOURDOUGH PIZZA

PEAR AND STILTON PIZZA

PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOK TIME 25 minutes
SERVES 2

PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp olive oil 1 aubergine, diced into ½cm
(¼in) chunks 1 onion, finely chopped
1 pointed pepper, finely chopped
2 vine tomatoes, diced salt and pepper
3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 chilli, finely chopped
1 tsp each of ground coriander, ground cumin,
dried oregano ½ tsp cinnamon
25g (1oz) raisins 4 white tortillas
25g (1oz) pine nuts 50g (1¾oz) rocket

INGREDIENTS
1 x 400g (14oz) sourdough pizza dough
1 jar or tin tomato pizza sauce or passata
1 x 200g (7oz) mozzarella ball handful of
Kalamata olives, sliced Cooks&Co anchovy
fillets in olive oil 1 tbsp capers couple of large
pinches of dried oregano handful of fresh basil,
to garnish Grana Padano cheese, to garnish
olive oil, to drizzle
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6.
Shape your pizza base to your desired size (approx.
16x10in).
2 Spread an even layer of tomato sauce on top of the
base, then tear some mozzarella and scatter evenly
over the sauce. Add the olives to the pizza, along with
some anchovies and capers. Sprinkle with oregano
then bake for 10 minutes, or until the mozzarella is
melted and golden.
3 Add some basil leaves, shards of Grana Padano
cheese and a drizzle of olive oil to finish.
Recipe and image courtesy of Cooks&Co,
cooksandco.co.uk

INGREDIENTS
1 x 400g (14oz) pack ready-made pizza dough
plain flour, for dusting fine semolina, for
dusting 100g (3½oz) full-fat cream cheese
handful of fresh thyme 1 large Conference
pear, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
150g (5oz) Stilton, or similar blue cheese
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 240°C/220°C fan/gas mark 9.
Place a pizza stone or baking tray inside to heat up.
2 Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface
and use both hands to gently tease it into a thin
circular shape.
3 Lightly coat the preheated pizza stone or baking
tray with fine semolina and gently transfer the thin
sheet of dough to it.
4 Start by thinly spreading the cream cheese over the
base, leaving a gap for the crust. Lay the pears equally
across the cream cheese before crumbling over the
Stilton and sprinkling over the thyme.
5 Bake for around 10 minutes in the oven (or 4-6
minutes in a pizza oven). Remove the pizza to a
serving board. Cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Recipe courtesy of Steven Carter-Bailey for
ProCook, procook.co.uk

Feature Lucy Whyld

METHOD
1 Warm a frying pan over a medium heat, then
add 2 tbsp olive oil and the aubergine. Fry, stirring
constantly for the first 2 minutes then every so often,
for 8 minutes, until the aubergine is tender.
2 Set the aubergine aside in a bowl. Add the onion,
pepper and tomatoes to the frying pan with ½ tbsp
olive oil and some salt and pepper. Fry for 10 minutes.
3 Stir the garlic and chilli into the veg. Add the
aubergine back to the pan along with the herbs and
spices. Cook for 1 minute, then remove from the heat
and stir in the raisins. Season to taste.
4 Heat the grill to high. Put two tortillas each on
two baking trays and spoon on the aubergine mix.
Sprinkle with pine nuts and grill for 2-3 minutes.
5 Toss the rocket leaves with ½ tbsp olive oil and
some salt and pepper. Use some to top the Turkish
pizzas, serving the rest of the rocket leaves on the side.

PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
MAKES 1 large pizza

Recipe and image courtesy of Abel & Cole,
abelandcole.co.uk

August 2024

103

PEASY

Feature Lucy Whyld

Keep your cool with these simple frozen treats. From ice lollies with a twist to
grown-up slushies, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy

104

yourhomestyle.uk

Frozen treat recipes

Strawberry ripple
ice cream cones
PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes
FREEZING TIME 3 hours
SERVES 4-6
INGREDIENTS
ł 300ml (½ pint) double cream
ł 300ml (½ pint) full-fat Greek yoghurt
ł 275g (10oz) Bonne Maman strawberry
conserve ł 2 tbsp liqueur, such as crème de
cassis ł 4-6 waffle cones ł 3-4 sugared rose
petals, crushed

METHOD
1 Whip the cream in a large bowl until it just
begins to hold its shape. Fold in the yoghurt and
200g (7oz) of the conserve.
2 Spoon half of the mixture into a freezer-proof
container, about 5cm (2in) deep. In another bowl,
stir the liqueur into the remaining conserve.
Drizzle over the top of the cream mixture in the
freezer-proof container.
3 Spoon over the remaining cream mixture and
freeze for at least 3 hours. Serve in cones with
crushed, sugared rose petals sprinkled on top.
COOK’S TIPS
Leave out the liqueur to make this alcohol-free.
As this is a no-churn ice cream, it should be eaten
the day after making, as the longer it remains in
the freezer, the more ice crystals will grow and it
will lose its creamy texture.

Vegan lemon
ginger cheesecake
ice cream

Recipe and image courtesy of Bonne Maman,
bonnemaman.co.uk

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes
FREEZING TIME 4 hours or overnight
SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
ł 100g (3½oz) icing sugar ł 4 tbsp golden
syrup ł 170g (6oz) Asda Free From soft cheese
alternative ł 4 x 100g (3½oz) packs Asda Free
From soya lemon yoghurt ł 3 unwaxed lemons,
zest of 2 and juice of 3 (at least 100-120ml/3½fl
oz-4fl oz) ł ½ x 250g (9oz) pack Asda ginger nut
biscuits, plus extra, crumbled, to serve
METHOD
1 Add the icing sugar, golden syrup, soft cheese
alternative and yoghurt to a large bowl. Whisk
with electric beaters on low until combined, then
add the lemon zest and juice. Increase the speed
to medium and whisk until slightly aerated –
around 3-4 minutes.
2 One by one, crumble the ginger nut biscuits on
top and gently fold in. Transfer to a deep freezerproof container – about 1 litre (15fl oz) in volume,
or you can use a 900g (2lb) loaf tin.
3 Cover the surface with a small sheet of baking
paper and secure the lid of your container or wrap
tightly in clingfilm. Freeze for at least 4 hours, or
preferably overnight, until frozen solid.
4 Transfer to the fridge for 10-15 minutes before
serving for easier scooping. Serve in bowls topped
with extra crumbled biscuits, if liked.

Mixed berry
yoghurt lollies
PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes
FREEZING TIME 8 hours
MAKES 8 lollies
INGREDIENTS
ł 350g (12oz) Yeo Valley Organic strawberry
yoghurt ł 200g (7oz) strawberries ł 6 tbsp icing
sugar ł 350g (12oz) Yeo Valley Organic blueberry
yoghurt ł 200g (7oz) mixed berries ł lolly moulds
and wooden lolly sticks
METHOD
1 Place the strawberry yoghurt, strawberries and half
of the icing sugar into a food processor and blitz until
smooth.
2 Pour into lolly moulds, filling halfway to the top.
Freeze for at least 4 hours until firm.
3 Place the blueberry yoghurt, mixed berries and the
remaining icing sugar into a food processor and blitz
until smooth.
4 Pour the mixture over the frozen strawberry
yoghurt section to the top of the mould, insert lolly
sticks and freeze for a further 4 hours or until firm.
COOK’S TIPS
For even more stripes, add and freeze an extra layer
of the fruit mix, or try freezing at an angle to create
different stripes.
Recipe and image courtesy of Yeo Valley,
yeovalley.co.uk

COOK’S TIP
This ice cream will keep well in the freezer for
about 1 month.
Recipe and image courtesy of Asda, asda.com
August 2024

105

No-churn pina colada
ice cream
PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes
FREEZING TIME 4 hours
MAKES 4 lollies
INGREDIENTS
ł 300g (10½oz) fresh pineapple ł 1 tbsp honey
ł 100g (3½oz) desiccated coconut ł 100g (3½oz) coconut cream
ł 2 limes, juiced and zested ł 200g (7oz) Yeo Valley organic natural
yoghurt ł 227ml (8fl oz) Yeo Valley organic double cream
ł lolly moulds and small teaspoons or wooden sticks
METHOD
1 Slice the pineapple into 1cm (¼in) rings. Add to a very hot, dry frying
or griddle pan to char. Once there is colour, turn to char the other side.
2 Add half of the pineapple to a blender along with the honey,
desiccated and creamed coconut, lime juice and zest and half of the
yoghurt. Blend until smooth.
3 Whip the cream until you have stiff peaks. Fold in the remaining
yoghurt and blended pineapple mixture. Roughly chop the remaining
pineapple and mix through.
4 Add to moulds, add teaspoons or wooden sticks and freeze for
4 hours. Decorate with lime zest to serve, if liked.
COOK’S TIP
Be creative with your moulds – this recipe uses individual moulds and
spoons to make these into ice cream lollies, but you could also use
a loaf tin and slice into portions to serve.
Recipe and image courtesy of Yeo Valley, yeovalley.co.uk

Make two servings of these lollies (one with
booze and one without) for easy entertaining
at family parties
Cucumber, elderflower and gin
(or lime) ice lollies
PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes
FREEZING TIME 1 hour, plus overnight
MAKES 6-8 lollies, depending on the
mould size
INGREDIENTS
ł 1 cucumber, about 350g (12oz)
ł 200ml (7fl oz) elderflower cordial
ł 2 limes or 50ml (1¾fl oz) gin
ł lolly moulds and wooden sticks
METHOD
1 Peel the cucumber. Cut away a 30g (1oz)
piece and set that aside. Blitz the rest of
the cucumber and then push the puree
through a sieve to get as much juice out of
it as possible – around 125-150ml (4-5fl oz).
Discard the dry cucumber pulp (see tip).
2 Add the elderflower cordial to the
cucumber juice, with 200ml (7fl oz) water. If
using limes, add the juice; otherwise add the
gin. Mix.
106

yourhomestyle.uk

3 Cut the reserved piece of cucumber
into thin rounds, and then each round into
quarters. Scatter those into the lolly moulds.
Put the sticks into the moulds, then fill to
halfway with the cucumber juice mix. Freeze
for an hour, then fill with the rest of the
cucumber juice mix. Freeze overnight before
unmoulding to serve.
COOK’S TIPS
Use the leftover cucumber peel to garnish
a summer cocktail or jug of iced water. Add
the pulp to summery stocks, soups or blitz for
cucumber juice.
Recipe and image courtesy
of Seasoning: How to
cook and celebrate the
seasons by Angela Clutton
(£30, Murdoch Books).
Photography by Patricia
Niven © Murdoch Books

Frozen treat recipes

Aperol, orange
and prosecco
granita
PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes, plus
3 hours’ standing time
FREEZING TIME 3-4 hours
SERVES 8
INGREDIENTS
ł 800ml (1pt 8fl oz) pure smooth orange
juice ł 200ml (7fl oz) prosecco
ł 150ml (5fl oz) Aperol ł 80g (2¾oz) caster
sugar ł 1 orange, thinly sliced
METHOD
1 Mix all the ingredients, except the sliced
orange, together in a large jug, stirring to
dissolve the sugar. Pour into a large shallow
container and set aside for 3 hours. You may
need to use two containers – the granita
works best when the juice is only a few
inches deep.
2 Transfer to the freezer and freeze for 3-4
hours. Every 30 minutes, stir briefly with a fork
to break up large ice crystals until frozen but
still a little slushy. To serve, spoon the chunky
crystals into 8 small glasses or bowls and
finish with a slice of fresh orange.
COOK’S TIP
This adult-only treat is perfect for special
summer gatherings. Add a small sprig of
mint as an extra garnish.
Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco,
tesco.com

Mango and
strawberry bark

BY T IKTOK
SENSAT ION
P OPPY
O’ TOOLE!

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes
FREEZING TIME 3 hours or overnight
SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
ł 1 pot Alpro strawberry plant-based
yoghurt alternative ł 1 tbsp maple syrup
ł 1 banana, chopped and frozen
ł 100g (3½oz) frozen mango pieces
ł 50g (1¾oz) blueberries ł 3 strawberries,
sliced ł 50g (1¾oz) flaked almonds,
toasted ł 50g (1¾oz) pistachios, toasted
METHOD
1 In a blender, blitz the Alpro strawberry
plant-based yoghurt with the maple syrup,
frozen banana and frozen mango until the
mix is smooth.
2 On a lined baking tray, spread the blended
yoghurt mix into a thin layer. Add the berries
on top and scatter over the nuts. Freeze for
a few hours or overnight.
3 When the bark is frozen, break into shards
and store in a freezer bag.
COOK’S TIP
Keep as a snack or a make-ahead breakfast.
Recipe courtesy of Poppy O’Toole for Alpro,
alpro.com/uk
August 2024

107

Brazilian lemonade
sorbet
PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes
FREEZING TIME overnight
SERVES 4-6
INGREDIENTS
ł 2 large limes, zested ł 4 large limes, outer
peel removed ł 1 x 397g (10½oz) tin sweetened
condensed milk ł 50g (2oz) caster sugar
ł 250ml (9fl oz) water

Watermelon and
cucumber sorbet

Breakfast lollies
PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes
FREEZING TIME 8 hours or overnight
MAKES 4 lollies
INGREDIENTS
ł 60g (2oz) granola ł 2 tbsp Bonne Maman
salted caramel spread ł 300g (10½oz) fat-free,
thick-set natural yoghurt ł 200g (7oz) Bonne
Maman cherry, apricot or rhubarb compote (or
a combination) ł lolly moulds and sticks
METHOD
1 In a small bowl, mix the granola with the caramel
spread and stir well to combine.
2 Spoon the mixture into the bottom of 4 lolly

moulds and press down firmly with the handle of a
wooden spoon.
3 Add alternate dollops of yoghurt and compote.
Insert a lolly stick into each and freeze overnight
until firm.

INGREDIENTS
ł ½ large watermelon, peeled and diced
ł ½ cucumber, peeled and deseeded
ł 8-10 fresh mint leaves ł ½ lemon, juiced
ł 250g (9oz) caster sugar

COOK’S TIPS
Swap the salted caramel spread for hazelnut
chocolate or caramelised apple spread. For a dairyfree alternative, puree the compote with a little
fresh orange juice and make compote-only lollies.

METHOD
1 Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend
on low for 45 seconds, until the fruit has broken
down. Strain through a sieve and freeze overnight in
a freezer-proof container.
2 Cut the frozen sorbet into cubes and add back into
the blender (do this in 2 parts to avoid overloading
the blender). Pulse until the sorbet has blended. Run
on high for 20 seconds to incorporate some air.
3 Return the sorbet to its dish and freeze until ready
to serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Bonne Maman,
bonnemaman.co.uk

Make this the day before for a fun weekend breakfast
- everyone can make their own flavour!
108

yourhomestyle.uk

Recipes courtesy of Steven Carter-Bailey for
ProCook, procook.co.uk

Home tech

COLD AS ICE

5 OF THE BEST

Ice cream
makers
From homemade ice cream to frozen yoghurt and
sumptuous sorbets, these makers will help you
serve up tasty iced treats this summer

If you’d like to whip up a frozen
dessert or two this month, then an ice
cream maker is a great investment. With
models starting from as little as £36.99, you
don’t have to spend a fortune to test out your
favourite flavours. There are two types of ice cream
makers: the more budget-friendly are pre-freeze
models where the churning bowl requires freezing for
a minimum of eight hours before use. These makers
tend to be more compact and the bowls fit in a
standard size freezer drawer. Built-in freezer models
are usually more expensive and larger, but they do
it all for you without having to schedule your
frozen creations. We’ve put five makers through
their paces, looking at their capacity, how
long they take to make the ice cream and
what type of maker they are, so that
you can buy with confidence and
sit back and enjoy your
frozen creations.

EDITOR'S
CHOICE

1

1

2

3

4

5

Digital ice cream
maker 1.8L, £49.99,
Lakeland

Magimix Le Glacier,
currently £43.70,
Amazon
This quick pre-freeze
model can churn ice
cream or sorbet in just
30 minutes. The bowl is
fairly small, offering a 1.1L
capacity, which is great if
you don’t need to feed a
crowd. The maker has a
large feed tube to easily
add your ingredients with
little spillage and will start
churning at the touch of a
button. The included recipe
book contains 30 tempting
ideas, and the three-year
guarantee offers peace of
mind. Its compact design
means it’s easy to store.

Judge JEA57 sorbet
maker and ice cream
machine, currently
£41, Amazon

Professional ice
cream maker, £149,
ProCook

Make your favourite ice
cream, sorbet or frozen
yoghurt in less than 40
minutes with this fuss-free
maker. It’s a pre-freeze
model, so you’ll need to
freeze the bowl for 12 hours
in advance, then follow the
easy-to-use LED display
and add your ingredients
to create a perfectly chilled
treat. It has a 1.8L capacity
and a clear lid so that you
can watch it take shape.
The maker comes with a
booklet with seven recipes
to start with, as well as a
three-year guarantee.

VonShef stainless
steel ice cream
maker, £36.99,
VonHaus
This sleek maker has a
whopping 2L capacity
(roughly the same size as
your usual supermarket
tub) so you can easily
serve a family of four and
have plenty left over. It’s a
pre-freeze model, so you’ll
need to pop the bowl in the
freezer at least eight hours
before you use it. When
tested, it took 25 minutes to
churn the ice cream, then a
few hours in the freezer to
firm up. The machine is easy
to clean and small enough
to store in a cupboard.

This compact and easyto-use machine is a great
and affordable option. The
pre-freeze bowl fits
comfortably into a
standard-size freezer and
it took just 25 minutes to
churn our vanilla ice cream
recipe, but then needed
a couple of hours in the
freezer before it was ready
to eat. It has a 1.5L capacity
and can make ice cream,
sorbet and frozen yoghurt
at the touch of a button.
The two-year guarantee is a
handy addition.

BEST FOR:

stylish kitchens

BEST FOR:

speedy treats

BEST FOR:

budget

BEST FOR:

small kitchens

Create delicious sorbets
and ice cream in a total
time of 90 minutes with
this premium ice cream
maker. The machine
boasts a built-in freeze
feature, so you don’t have
to plan ahead: making it
useful for impromptu ice
cream cravings. It has a
1.2L capacity and, with
integrated functions for
mixing, ice cream making
and cooling, minimal prep
is required as once you’ve
selected the function and
set the timer, the machine
takes care of the rest.
BEST FOR:

keen foodies

August 2024

109

Feature Lara Berry

5

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Inter view
The Electric Coast collection
features Eleanor’s fun illustrations
– with everything designed inhouse in her Manchester studio

Eleanor Bowmer Electric Coast
eye mug, £14; icon mug, £14;
icon beaded coasters, £20 for 4;
palm tree table runner, £40,
all Pure Table Top

Feature Sophie Ellis

Eleanor Bowmer Electric
Coast lips glass jug, £40; icon
tumblers, £25 for 4,
all Pure Table Top

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Eleanor Bowmer
The textile designer and illustrator has just launched a tableware collection that captures the
feeling of balmy summers – perfect for creating a dreamy tablescape

U

pdate your serveware for summer
hosting with the new collection from
print expert Eleanor Bowmer. Known
for her bold, uplifting designs across
homeware, clothing and greetings cards, she’s
teamed up with Pure Table Top for the Electric Coast
tableware collection. Inspired by childhood summers
spent in America, the range is filled with her signature
bright colours and fun motifs. We’re big fans of her
colourful work, so we were excited to grab some
time with Eleanor to find out more about the
collection and get her top tips for bringing colour
and pattern into our homes…
We love your new collaboration with Pure
Table Top! How did it come about?
Our tableware collections have done so well in the
past and we wanted to give our products a refresh,
as well as create a collection that felt really personal
to me. I’m so proud of this collection and grateful
that we found a lovely company to bring it to life.
The products we’ve made are amazing quality – the
painterly quality to the print is just gorgeous.

The Electric Coast collection is inspired by
American summers – can you tell us more
about this?
My dad, who passed away a couple of years
ago, was a twin and his brother has lived in LA
since his early twenties. We visited him, his wife
and my cousins countless times and I have so
many happy memories there. We travelled all over
America with them to places like Las Vegas and
Orlando. My dad loved photography and I feel so
lucky to have so many memories captured in
photographs by him. We spent a lot of time at
Laguna Beach, Orange County and Disneyland…
they were the best times!
I’ve been back a lot as an adult. My husband and
I went on our honeymoon and travelled the west
coast in a Ford Mustang Convertible. Since then,
we’ve taken both of our children, and we have
another four-week break booked there for this
summer. America holds such a special place in my
heart. I’ve transformed those images, patterns, and
colours from old photographs and cherished
memories into a magical collection of tableware.

Do you have any favourite pieces from
the collection?
I absolutely love the lips glass jug. It’s such a
statement piece and I’ve been using mine for flowers
when I’m not filling it up with a fruity beverage! It has
pride of place on my kitchen countertop and I get
a lot of compliments about it. If I’m cheeky and can
pick another piece, it would have to be the beaded
coasters. We’ve never had a product quite like it and
the quality of them is out of this world! They’re all
hand-beaded with motifs such as the lips and eyes.
Just gorgeous!
What are your top tips for creating a
statement tablescape?
Layering is key to the perfect tablescape. Adding
height and depth creates luxury, but choosing
colours that sit together is also important. Tie the
whole look together with coordinating prints and
you’ve hit the jackpot! That’s why this collection is
perfect for the ultimate dining experience. We have
a beautiful runner that creates the base for your
layering, then add placemats and coasters along
August 2024

113

When mixing prints,
make sure they tie
together in terms of
colour, or the same motifs

Eleanor Bowmer Electric Coast palm tree mug, £14;
palm tree tea towels, £20 for 2; palm tree apron,
£28; palm tree single oven glove, £16; palm tree
tray, £30; Pink wave mug, £16; sun mug, £14,
all Pure Table Top

What are your favourite high street shops for
buying homeware?
Some of my go-to high street shops are H&M Home,
Zara Home, John Lewis, Next, West Elm and Oliver
Bonas. I feel they all offer something really special
and unique at affordable prices.
Eleanor Bowmer Electric Coast palm tree
dinner plate, £14; oyster side plate, £10; lips
serve platter, £40; icon napkins, £30 for 4;
icon cork backed coasters, £15 for 4; Pink star
cereal bowl, £12, all Pure Table Top

with beautifully printed ceramics to create that
wow-factor.
Do you have any top tips for clashing colours
and prints?
Make sure all the prints tie together in some way. That
might be in terms of colour, or the same motifs. I’m
a huge fan of clashing prints, so if you’re going bold,
I’d suggest using a smaller-scale print, then a
larger-scale print to create depth – then layering in
some slogans and words.
Any colour combos that you particularly love?
I have so many favourite colour combos! Some of my
favourites are the classic pink and red, and pink and
green. One that I don’t think many people reach for is
blue and green. Can I add another? Purple and blue!
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
My inspiration comes from everywhere! Books,
travelling, fashion, interiors, cooking, museums, artists.
Then obviously social media like Pinterest and
Instagram. A lot of ideas also come to me as I’m
drifting off to sleep, which can be quite bizarre!
Describe a typical day in the life for you…
I typically wake up at 5.15am – I usually go to the gym
114

yourhomestyle.uk

or do some yoga as soon as I wake up. I try not to
drink coffee right away and have water instead. The
kids will usually be awake when I get home (they’re
really early risers!), so I’ll make myself a coffee and
make their breakfast, get them dressed and do the
school run. I’ll then head straight to work from
drop-off and, most days, I’ll have meetings booked
in. On the best days, I’ll do some designing.
My husband and I take it in turns to do the school
pick-up so if it’s my turn, I’ll leave work around 3pm.
If it’s not, I’ll stay until around 4pm, go home and
play with the kids, make tea and set up for their
bedtime routine.
By 8pm, I’m ideally showered, had my dinner and
I’m watching something on Netflix. We’ve been
watching the new series of Bridgerton and Ginny &
Georgia, so we’ve been swapping between the two.
I’m a real early bird so I like to be in bed by 9.30pm!
You’ve shared your own home reno on
Instagram – how would you describe your
interior style?
I’d describe my own style as eclectic and maximalist.
I love using print! I also appreciate mid-century
style, and shape and form are really important to me.
I love to have bold key pieces that layer in with
print and pattern.

Where’s home for you?
I don’t want to sound too cheesy, but home is
definitely where my family is. We’ve moved house a
lot over the last seven years, and one thing I’ve
learned from that is that I just love being with my
family. It doesn’t really matter where we are!
Do you have a favourite room in your house?
I absolutely love my dressing room. But not just for
the obvious reason that it houses all of my favourite
finds: I love the aesthetic and it’s where I tend to
do my self-care. We have an en-suite nearby so
I love to have a relaxing bath, do my skincare and
put a face mask on!
Is there anything that you’d still like to tick off
the business bucket list?
There are so many things I’d love to do. My absolute
dream is to take the brand to the US. I would also
love to collaborate with a sports brand on clothing.
What’s next for you?
I always say the world is your oyster and the sky’s the
limit! I’m really happy with where I am right now but
I’m so excited for the future of my business. I just
want to keep bringing bright, fun, feel-good
products to the market!

Follow @eleanorbowmer to keep up to date
with the latest products and designs.
Shop the Electric Coast collection at
puretabletop.com and eleanorbowmer.co.uk.

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