2022-03-01 Ideal Home

BRITAIN’S BESTSELLING HOMES MAGAZINE

2022 ®

Kitchen
RIeDnEAeSwTO, redo Special
& revamp
◆ TRENDS (THAT WON’T DATE)
EASY SOLUTIONS ◆ LAYOUT TIPS ◆ REAL
FOR EVERY SPACE
MAKEOVERS ◆ CLUTTER-
IH GUEST STAR BUSTING TRICKS

Gordon Ramsay’s Quick
meals in ten hacks

PLUS FEARNE COTTON, TO DIY IN A
HADLEY FREEMAN, WEEKEND
GEORGE CLARKE & (OR LESS)
CHARLIE LUXTON

OUR SPRING EDIT

WOW MIRRORS
& SIDE TABLES

DON’T MISS!

ULTIMATE UTILITY
ROOM GUIDE

LIFE ADMIN Fhoormeveesr

◆ AVOID COSTLY 40+ PAGES OF UNIQUE REAL HOMES,
OVERDRAFTS FULL OF IDEAS FOR MODERN FAMILY LIVING

◆ HOW TO MASTER
VIDEO CALLING

◆ BEST TECH FOR
BETTER SLEEP

◆ REFRESH YOUR
BEDDING



EDITOR’S LETTER

A new kitchen:
the holy grail

Planning a big home renovation project is a glass box extension, and got planning

challenge, even for those of us who should permission at the end of last year. And so

really know everything there is to know! 2022 will (hopefully) see us with a newly

When we moved into our house, we thought extended kitchen diner. That’s if we can ever

the kitchen, although not to our taste, was find a builder (who knew what a tall order

perfectly serviceable and “We’ve spent that would be?).
it went down toward the months yo-
bottom of the renovation yo-ing when it I’m after a kitchen that feels
to-do list. I thought a lick comes to what modern but won’t date
of cupboard paint and quickly, so I loved our trends
some new tiles would be feature on page 114 with its
all it needed. focus on longevity. And our
guide to kitchen layouts on

However, it soon became to do with our page 128 will be my go to, as
apparent that ‘serviceable’ our space is an awkward

didn’t come close and, as kitchen shape, which means getting
probably the most used the layout right is vital.

room in the house, a As usual, my impatience is

kitchen refresh quickly graduated up the list e d by the fact I’ve already started

to pole position. I won’t list all its faults here b a collection of plates for a wall display

(I’ll run out of space), but believe me when I for the finished room. True to form, I’m sure

tell you: there are many. I’ll be styling it up before the paint is even dry!

Cue months of yo- yo-ing about what to do HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR
with the space. Extension or no extension?
Knock through to the adjacent garage? Keep
it simple and rework the layout in the
existing space? We finally settled on a

THE IH PANEL

HADLEY FREEMAN NICKY PHILLIPS CHARLIE KALPANA FEARNE COTTON
JOURNALIST & DECORATING LUXTON FITZPATRICK BROADCASTER
AUTHOR EDITOR ARCHITECTURAL MONEY EXPERT & AUTHOR
DESIGNER
A Guardian columnist Nicky brings over An award-winning TV and radio
and features writer, 25 years’ experience Charlie juggles his financial journalist, presenter Fearne’s
Hadley has also to the table, and has roles as director Kalpana is a regular Happy Place podcast
penned four books. of Charlie Luxton guest on TV and is now in its ninth
She’s about to move been part of the Design, TV presenter radio, and editor of series, with over
Ideal Home family and public speaker. themoneyedit.com. 40 million downloads.
house – a new project!
for 21 years.

3MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



MIanrcthhe CONTENTS
issue
56

NEW & NOW 32

9 HOME NEWS Top finds
15 HADLEY FREEMAN ON…

her chinoiserie obsession

17 THE DESIGN EDIT High-end

looks on a high street budget

REAL HOMES

20 INTO THE WOODS A quirky

space turned into a family home

32 A COTTAGE REINVENTED

This dated period property
has been given a modern lift

44 ‘PERIOD & MODERN DO MIX’

Classic details and bold
designs make this house pop

56 APARTMENT THERAPY

Reconfiguring the layout gave
this flat an elegant update

67 ‘I’VE FOUND JOY IN COLOUR’

Paint choices led to perfection

DECORATING

76 SMART COUNTRY Shades of

red give this look timeless appeal

86 IH COLOUR EDIT Earthy browns
88 CLEVER DECORATING

Furniture hacks for DIY projects

95 HOW TO ADD WOW Turn

beautiful rugs into wall art

98 IH COLOUR CLUB How to

combine peach and crimson

97

On the cover...

PHOTOGRAPH JEREMY PHILIPS

5MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

CONTENTS

103 EASY STYLE UPDATES Mini

décor projects for a weekend

RENOVATION 44
103
143 EXTENSION PROJECT Clever

glazing transformed this home

146 PROJECT PLANNING

Conservatories

149 ASK AN EXPERT Charlie

Luxton on staircases

150 PROJECT PLANNING

Replacement windows

WHAT TO BUY Subscribe!

83 WALL MIRRORS A GREAT GIFT OR A LOVELY
97 SIDE TABLES TREAT FOR YOURSELF,

LIFE ADMIN FROM JUST £6 FOR SIX ISSUES.
TURN TO PAGE 110 TO FIND
OUT HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
152 CONSUMER ADVICE
Solutions to everyday hassles
VISIT MAGAZINESDIRECT
154 TECH SUPPORT Video calling .COM/IHMAR22
155 MONEY MATTERS Kalpana
Fitzpatrick on overdrafts

HAPPY HOME 114

157 FEARNE COTTON ON…

creating a calming sleep routine

159 ONE SMALL STEP Planet

friendly tips and buys

160 RAMSAY IN A FLASH

Quick and delicious dishes

164 TIDY HOUSE TIDY MIND

Sorting out the kitchen

170 HOME TRUTHS with

architect George Clarke

IH KITCHEN SPECIAL 138

114 PLAN THE PERFECT... Visit facebook. Follow us at See our Be inspired at Sign up to our
com/ideal twitter.com/ latest snaps pinterest.com/ newsletter at
kitchen upgrade home.co.uk idealhome @idealhomeuk idealhomemag idealhome.co.uk

121 KITCHEN PROJECT

Relocating the kitchen gave
this family a bigger space

126 BUYING GUIDE

Microwaves

128 PROJECT PLANNING Plan

the ideal kitchen layout

133 KITCHEN PROJECT

Removing a wall made this
kitchen a practical room

137 IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL

Kit out your kitchen

138 BUYING GUIDE Boiling

water taps

140 ROOM RECIPE All the

ingredients for a utility room

6MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK





nenwow
INSPIRE | INFORM | DISCOVER

Collage luxurious IH LOVES...
flat matt emulsion,
£35 for 2.5ltr, V ibrant
Crafted by Crown, cushions
Crown Paints
Fresh Vintage floral printed
NEED TO KNOW cushion, £10, Habitat

Colour makes a comeback W hat to do
in our homes for 2022 this month...

It’s no surprise that the trends we’re seeing this year are bolder, braver WATCH Everyone’s favourite
and more exciting than ever, as people turn to using colour to feel good
and forget about the rather flat recent times we’ve all experienced. family of aristocrats returns in this
Re-engaging with the world around us, and bringing the outdoors in, was much-anticipated sequel movie,
one of the inspirations for Crown Paints new Liminal palette, including this Downton Abbey: A New Era. Peer into
rich, forest green. Use as a backdrop in an office space to boost wellbeing the (stately) home of the Crawley crew
while WFH, and blend the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. once more and get lost in a medley of
marvellous mantelpieces within lavish
9MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK lounges, plus cut-glass everything.

LISTEN Self-

confessed colour
queen and TV
interiors stylist
Sophie Robinson,
along with her
interiors journalist pal Kate Watson-
Smyth, chat all things hot on the home
front in this podcast, as well as interview
industry experts and share top tips.

DO Spruce up your front door with a

seasonal wreath (not just for Christmas
ya know). Start with a base of woven
rattan, then adorn with daffodils,
wildflowers and pussywillow, securing in
place with a hessian ribbon.

READ Want to

create a greener,
harmonious and
functional home?
The Sustainable
Home by Ida
Magntorn (£14.99,
Pavilion) reveals all.

NEW & NOW

Kena hammered-gold Word on the high street…
metal watering can,
£32.50, Oliver Bonas THIS SPRING, BOHO BARON
MATTHEW WILLIAMSON WILL

BE LAUNCHING A NEW RANGE
OF HOMEWARES EXCLUSIVELY
AT JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS

Elka sideboard, £1,599,
Harry Batchelor at Heal’s

SURPRISE IN STORE

This luxe watering
can will keep your
houseplants fed and
watered, plus doubles
up as a showstopping

accessory itself!

WE’RE FOLLOWING SPOTLIGHT ON

@hanbullivant Harry Batchelor

YOUR BEST DECORATING DECISION? Set up nearly 20 years ago, the Heal’s Discovers programme
Painting our low ceilings a shade lighter has championed emerging designers by allowing them to
than the walls. It makes the ceilings feel showcase their unique creativity through collaboration. This
higher than they are. Don’t forget your year, London-based Harry Batchelor launches his striking
ceilings when you’re decorating! Elka sideboard made of walnut with a rich cobalt blue front.
YOUR SECRET STYLING IDEA? Stick a Having studied architectural engineering, Harry’s approach
branch on it. There isn’t a sideboard or shelf to design is to keep it ‘simple, tasteful and functional without
that wouldn’t benefit from a large seasonal compromising on innovative thinking’. His portfolio of
cutting in a beautiful vase. Try it! beautiful designs, created outside the Heal’s partnership,
FAVOURITE CORNER OF YOUR HOME? cements his place as an exciting designer and craftsman.
We are renovating a static caravan into a
luxe lodge. The bedroom is tiny but boasts
a high cabin bed with lots of storage
underneath and a picture-perfect view. It’s
the perfect place for morning coffee.
AN ITEM THAT
SPARKS JOY?
My growing art
collection, bought at
antiques markets or
direct from artists;
it’s a chic way to
make your home
uniquely yours, too.

10MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



NEW & NOW Yellow lacquer
placemats, £78 for
Waves wallcovering, four, Addison Ross.
£32m, Kyra Cane Rattan lampshade,
at Villa Nova
£65, Sun and Day

WE KEEP SEEING

SCALLOPS

It’s the playful curves, the
ode to the seashell and
the elegant shape of a
scalloped edge that have
us falling head over heels
for this timeless trend.

COLLAB ALERT

Villa Nova

THE HERO PIECE It’s a British-based fabrics and wallcoverings brand
renowned for creating modern designs at affordable
FOCAL- prices, and she’s a celebrated ceramicist, known for her
exquisite porcelain pots. Not an immediately obvious
POINT match, but once the duo explored taking the rich textures
and fluid qualities of Kyra’s ceramics and manipulating her
SEATING style into an entirely new form, a beautiful collaboration
emerged. Our favourites include this stunning wallcovering.
A contemporary centrepiece
that would be just at home in Kingham medium
a charming Cotswold cottage leather sofa, £1,950,
Cotswold Grey
as in a lofty London
apartment, this luxurious

leather sofa had us
drooling as soon as we set
eyes on it (lucky for us, it’s
wipe clean!) The durable
design will see its patina
develop with age, and sinking
into this bad boy with a hot

cuppa is our idea of an
afternoon well spent.

12MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK





NEW & NOW

“Why d y
I want
recreat IE
childho
kitchen?
HADLEY FREEMAN’S
OBSESSION WITH CHI
IS SHAPING HER NEW

A ll my adult life, I’ve loved thing about moving from New York to London
chinoiserie. I loved it when when I was 11, after our dog (number one) and
everyone was doing Scandi my friends (number two.) There were all these
minimalism and thought my different birds, which I named, and elegant
overly designed walls were like cherry blossoms. I would fantasise about

something from an old people’s stepping into the scene and living in it.

home. I loved it when everyone then went for Maybe I’ve been trying to recreate that

maxi prints and thought my delicate flower kitchen my whole life. Maybe it’s my Rosebud.

and bird prints were, well, like something Or maybe all of us have certain moments from

from an old people’s our childhood that shape

home. And now that “Nowhe lse our tastes and perspectives
I’m decorating my did I feel r ever after (and maybe that’s
new house, my and warme an actually what poor old
chinoiserie obsession is Rosebud represented.) It’s
UNLEASHED. It is going strange how long I spent
all over my study/guest trying to get away from my

room, and it is going all in my par ’ parents’ home, and how
over my bedroom. If I long I then spent trying to

could afford it, I’d put it kitchen w recreate it. But I was lucky
all over the damn house. as a kid and nowhere else

I’ve never thought I was a kid did I feel safer and warmer
overly deeply about why than in my parents’ kitchen.

I love chinoiserie prints When I became a moody

so much. Well, they’re pretty, aren’t they? teen ings were very different, and I

And, um, they’re nice to look at. More nota n’t tried to recreate the kitchen

interesting than boring patterned wallpapers we li hen I was that age. But my

or – horror – plain white walls, right? What’s childhood kitchen, well, as I sit here in my

to explain? But then my husband mentioned new study/guest room, watching my Iksel

it to my sister one day and she said, ‘Oh yeah, chinoiserie wallpaper go up on the walls,

when we were little, our mother got someone taking me right back to our New York kitchen

to handpaint a chinoiserie scene in our circa 1988, I have to admit that Dorothy was

kitchen, and the image entered Hadley’s right: there’s no place like home.

soul.’ And I realised she was right. I loved that JOURNALIST HADLEY FREEMAN WRITES FOR THE
kitchen. Leaving it was the third hardest GUARDIAN AND IS THE AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS

15MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



NEW & NOW

1

3
2

I fold flat
when not

in use

6

4
5

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI High street heroes

THE DESIGN EDIT

Now and then, the high street comes up with something so utterly
fabulous, it looks as if it’s come from a designer boutique. Here are

some of our latest discoveries that will make your home look
expensive without the big spend...

WHERE TO BUY 1 Bobble ceramic table lamp in Cream, £55, Very 2 Bari stone stripe vase, £35,

Orchard Home Interiors 3 Fern Leaf cushion cover, £35, Textured Lives 4 Navy tray table, £18, B&Q
5 Hjalmer wooden basket, £17.99, Jysk 6 Abigail Ahern Ocean bowls, £49 for set of four, Freemans

17MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



real ho es
EXPLORE | EXCITE |

“Start from scratch

or BREATHE new life into
old: these homes have
CREATIVITY and an eye
for style in common

”HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPH RACHAEL SMITH

19MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

20MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

kitchen

A worktop and backsplash of
patinated copper plus a dark
metallic plant holder add a
warm glow to the black units.
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Sebastian Cox range kitchen
units £40,000; Patinated copper
backsplash and copper worktop,
£7,395, all deVol. Black stools,
£99 each, Cult

I | FAMILY HOUSE | s

U
A
A 1960S UPSIDE-DOWN HOUSE, TURNING
IT INTO THE PERFECT FAMILY HOME

21MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

b y cleverly upending and extending their
dated mid-century property near Bristol,
Sophie and Julian Titchener have created a
family home that blends current style with
plenty of creature comforts.

WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE?

‘We built ourselves a house and had been living in it for a
year when I spotted this 1960s upside-down house online.
Julian is in construction and I love design, and we were
both very taken with such a unique property, so we took
the plunge. Although it’s close to Bristol, it’s nestled in a
secluded piece of woodland reached by a little lane.’

HOME NOTES WHAT CONDITION WAS IT IN?

WHO LIVES HERE? ‘It was immaculate, but stuck in a 1980s time warp,
design-wise. The old-fashioned kitchen was upstairs and
Sophie and Julian Titchener although all the bathrooms were plain white, they lacked
live here with children Jude, any interesting design elements. We knew a lot of work
was ahead, but our aim was to remodel the space to make
six, Rafferty Fox, four and it more family friendly. An architect drew up plans to
Scout Bluebell, seven months. reconfigure the house, then a demolition team removed
Sophie is a graphic designer various internal walls. We relocated the ground floor
and Julian runs a commercial living areas onto the lower ground floor, adding a single-
storey extension for the kitchen, living and dining areas.
refurbishment company. The extension is mostly glass, so we can see the children,
whether they’re outside or in the playroom. In fact, we
THE PROPERTY designed the playroom with a large entrance and no door,
which makes keeping an eye on them very easy.’
A detached 1960s five-
bedroom house near Bristol,

with a new single-storey
extension and terrace above.

the layout WHAT PRACTICAL TIPS CAN YOU SHARE?

The kitchen of this upside-down house was originally on the ‘We managed to sell the old kitchen and bathroom fittings
ground floor, but was moved to the lower ground courtesy on eBay. The buyers came and did the dismantling
of the new glass-walled extension which has created a light- themselves, which saved us money. In terms of nuts-and-
filled living area that works perfectly for the whole family. bolts stuff, we added outside insulation, rewired and
replumbed throughout, and installed air-source heat
pumps, in a change from oil fuelled central heating.’

BED BEDROOM BEDROOM THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
ROOM
‘The fact we kept adding things. We didn’t like the ugly
BEDROOM BEDROOM roof, but having decided to change the red tiles to
composite slate we also decided to raise it by two feet and
GROUND FLOOR add skylights. Then we realised we needed bigger windows,
as well as replacement internal doors. The experience was
overwhelming, as one of us was on site every day to check
on progress, and we spent all our evenings choosing
everything from light fittings to kitchen units.’

KITCHEN PLAY WHAT WERE THE HIGH AND LOW POINTS
ROOM
‘The low point was when our suppliers let us down. This
LIVING AREA meant an expected six-month build turned into 12. The
high point was when the scaffolding surrounding the
LOWER GROUND FLOOR house was removed and we finally got to see the new dark
cladding. That was a special moment. The house and
woodland tones work together so harmoniously.’

22MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

kitchen

‘We didn’t want shiny bright
surfaces, so the copper added
warmth and texture. Copper is
also antibacterial, so is self
cleaning – you only need to use
warm water and a sponge on it.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

‘I like it…’ poster by Anthony
Burrill, £60, Jealous Gallery.
Patinated copper backsplash and
copper worktop, £7,395, deVol

The pro OST MORE

money, TOO NGER and was

more emot ly DRAINING

than we’d pre ed for. But it

was WORTH IT see how the

house func s for us now

JULIAN TITCHENER
HOMEOWNER

23MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

PALE FLOOR

Counteracting
the dark units, the
polished concrete
aggregate floor is inset
with pebbles (around
£20 a bag from garden
centres). The couple
added white and green
pebbles to the mix for
brightness and depth.

Living area

The brown of the L-shaped velvet
sofa complements the colour of
the concrete flooring and was
carefully chosen for its family-
friendly function.
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Velvet corner sofa, £3,800, Love
Your Home. Lamps, £250 each,
Ferm Living at Truce

Playroom

The playroom entrance has no
door, so the adults can keep an
eye on the boys. ‘The piano and
aeroplanes are second-hand and
add warmth and texture, helping
to make the space feel lived-in.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Lisabo table, £90; Flisat stool, £15;
Trofast storage system, from £52, all
Ikea. Be Kind print, £45, Etsy

24MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

Living area

Framing all pictures in the same
way helps bring them together
as a set. ‘I tried adding some
black frames but they looked
too mismatched.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Sideboard, £1,500, Liam Rush
Designs. Metal Duckbill
chandelier, £355.78, Litfad

“It’s important to

mix old with new –
we DIDN’T WANT an
IMMACULATE, shiny

house as the end

product

”
25MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Dining room

A three-metre-long dining
table, which is also narrow,
gives an intimate feeling. ‘It
makes it easier to chat as a
family at teatime. Made from
repurposed wooden boards,
it gives a homely feeling.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Refectory dining table, £2,200
deVol. Rug, £150, Amazon.
Chairs, £75 each, Cult Furniture

The timber FOCUS ON
and the copper
edging placed YAKISUGI: CHARRED
together offer TIMBER CLADDING
interesting
contrasts Sophie and Julian named their house Woodsmoke, as
its exterior has been clad in Japanese hardwood which
has been burnt or torched for a highly distinctive look

WHAT IS YAKISUGI? ages slowly – lasting up to
80 years with proper care
It’s a traditional Japanese – so the initial outlay is
method of charring timber, considered an investment,
which results in a black given its long lifespan.
carbon layer on the boards.
Torching timber in this way NEED FOR OILING
makes it fire resistant.
Being correctly installed
LOW MAINTENANCE prevents moisture build up
and oiling it every five to 10
It also protects the timber years blocks UV rays and
and reduces its need for provides water resistance.
maintenance because it Surprisingly, freezing and
becomes water and insect thawing does not affect
resistant and can stand up to Yakisugi, and although cold
extreme climate changes. and heat can sometimes lead
It’s not only popular in Japan to warping, this is unlikely
for housing and fencing, but in UK temperatures.
also around the world, as it

26MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

Hallway

The ash shingle cladding on
the wall of the double-height
entrance hall is ultra-practical.
‘It keeps us mega-warm in
winter and prevents lots of
sticky finger prints!’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

For ash shingle cladding, price
on request, try Thermory

27MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“It would have

been CHEAPER to
knock it down and
START AGAIN but we
wanted to keep its

INTEGRITY

”

Rafferty’s room Jude’s room

This was vaguely themed as Jude’s room is space themed with
cowboy fun. ‘A small initial idea a hanging rocket. ‘They have
helps edge you towards double beds so that when we read
successful design decisions like to them we have enough space to
the teepee and fake log fire.’ relax on the bed with them!’
BUY THE KEY PIECES BUY THE KEY PIECES

Yellow bed, £220, Feather & Outer Space quilted bedspread, £52,
Black. Teepee, £152, Scandiborn. John Lewis & Partners. Follow the
Brönden rug, £279, Ikea Rainbow wall rug, £99.99, Scandiborn

28MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

En suite REAL HOMES
bathroom BRASS FIXTURES

Sophie added a vintage Soften the black-and-
wooden stool for warmth. ‘It’s pink combination.
important to add old items in
new spaces so it gives an ‘I find chrome a little
immediate lived-in feel.’ generic and black can
BUY THE KEY PIECES be an obvious choice.

Matrix Blossom Pink tiles, £35sq Brass has become
m, Topps Tiles, Heritage Victoria more popular now
double console basin & basin legs, and one of my big
£826.50, Victorian Bathrooms 4U no-nos was using
chrome fixtures.’

29MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES Guest suite

YELLOW Sophie salvaged the flowered
TOUCHES bed throw, a vintage fabric,
from Julian’s grandma’s linens.
Add warmth with ‘It’s lovely to have items with a
colour. The black story and journey to them, so
bed frame and pale we can tell our children that
walls in Ammonite by this was their great grandma’s.’
Farrow & Ball could
feel cold without the BUY THE KEY PIECES
sunshine effect of the
yellow bench, cushion Four-poster bed, £795, The White
Company. Artwork, £40, Fine
and towels. Little Day at Alice in Scandiland.
Yellow bench, £120, HomeSense

MACHINE WASHABLE FAMILY MUST-HAVES SPACE FOR MORE FEATURE VICTORIA JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE
Burlap Solid Dove Grey Heritage Victoria PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY
indoor/outdoor washable INSPIRED BY SOPHIE &
rug, from £169, Ruggable JULIAN’S HOME double-console basin, £946,
Victorian Plumbing

SUPER SIZE CLEVER
Harlow left-hand facing CLEAR-UPS
Verso Design
chaise end sofa in
Vintage Mustard Velvet, Lastu birch
basket in
£1,099, Made Large, £95,
Skandium

30MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



| BEFORE & AFTER HOUSE |

ArCeOiTnTAvGeEnted

FRAN AND CHRIS
DALZIEL TOOK ON THIS
DATED BUT PRETTY
PERIOD PROPERTY,
MAKING IT THEIR OWN
WITH A CAREFULLY
PLANNED EXTENSION

Living area

‘Moving the stairs back to their
original position helped link
the living room to the new
kitchen-diner. The two spaces
are connected but they’re not
completely open-plan, which
helps contain noise.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

For similar vintage Ercol
armchairs, try Etsy. Maryd
Black tray table, £45, Ikea. Black
picture frames, £12.99 each, H&M

32MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

HOME NOTES

WHO LIVES HERE?

Fran Dalziel lives here with
her husband Chris, an

investment manager, and their
children Bertie, seven,

Taggie, four, and Clara, two.

THE PROPERTY

A four-bedroom Victorian
detached cottage in

Market Harborough, to
which they have added a
two-storey rear extension.

THE VALUE

The couple bought
the cottage in July 2016

for £630,000.

TWO BY TWO
A pair of tables at

different levels adds
interest and flexibility

to the living space
– the lower one is
great for kids to use

33MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

W hen Fran and Chris Dalziel decided CLEAN SLATE
to start a family, it was important
for them to find a long-term home. ‘I knew when we moved in that there would be
This Victorian cottage was in the numerous decorating decisions to be made, so we
perfect location: ‘The village is had a decorator in to paint everything white. This
was a good call because we’ve been able to update

lovely and there’s a school and a the rooms as and when we were ready. It also

park nearby,’ says Fran. ‘It’s also close to the helped that we didn’t do everything all at once.

railway station. It was tired-looking inside but we PLANNING IN PLACE
decided to take a chance on this ugly duckling.

‘I was really excited about the house’s prospects, ‘We live in a conservation area, and we were lucky

although there were lots of little rooms, and the at our plans went straight through unopposed.

stairs had been repositioned to I think that the fact that we

a weird location. The kitchen didn’t try to blend in the new

was a decent size, but it had a The great thing design, but have made it stand
strange looking island in the about the GLASS out instead, went in our favour.
middle and really low ceilings. All the new work is at the back
Upstairs there were four is that there are of the property – at the front we
bedrooms, and the bathroom only painted the door, re-roofed
had no window. The house had and replaced the guttering, so it

double glazing, but the handles hardly any looks virtually unchanged from
were falling off the windows. when it was first built, and

Besides all of this, we almost BLINDSPOTS, hasn’t had an impact on the
didn’t buy it because Chris kept overall look of the street.

hitting his head on the doorways WORKING IT OUT

which makes itas they were so low. It is
Victorian, but without the high ‘The entire back of the house
was knocked down and an
easier with theceilings that you might expect in
a house of that era. angular extension was added,
CHILDREN with larch cladding.
”SETTLING IN
Downstairs we created one
‘We lived in the property for space, moving the stairs back
three years while we searched for an architect to what we assumed was their original position.
who didn’t just want to stick a square glass box By removing a wall we now have a big open

extension on the back of the property. No one kitchen diner that leads into the living area.

was coming up with any exciting plans, until We haven’t actually extended by much, but

eventually we found the Bedfordshire based firm achieved what we wanted by reconfiguring the

Tye Architects (tyearchitects.com) who seemed to space and opening it up. The clever layout and the

understand what we didn’t want. We gave them different aspects of the house give us so much

free reign and asked for something contemporary flexibility. I love the original old cottage part of

that would open the space up and improve on the the house too, because of the nooks and the

existing warren of rooms. crannies, which give it character.’

BEFORE AFTER

34MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

Dining area VERTICAL LINES

‘Floor-to-ceiling windows make Upright panelling is a
the entire downstairs feel so theme throughout the
light and spacious, while sitting
in the seat by the oriel window house; seen here is
somehow feels like being a mix of two styles,
outside in the garden!’ below the window seat
BUY THE KEY PIECES and in the wall covering

For a similar table, try Keeler
extending dining table, £1,299,
Barker and Stonehouse.
Wishbone chairs, £119 each,
By Kallevig. For similar pendant
lighting, try West Elm or Lampsy

35MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Living area

‘New French doors open right
up to offer us amazing views of
the surrounding countryside.
The cube stools and coffee
tables were our DIY projects.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Long Story sofa, £2,000,
Cabyn. Photo shelves, £8 each;
Pasha Pineapple pendant lamp
shade, £50, both Homebase.
Matelin Berber-style rug,
£213.99, La Redoute

36MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

THE BUILD IN
PICTURES

Work on the cottage started in 2019
and was completed in July 2020. The
renovation cost around £350,000

The original
kitchen had an
island in the
centre that
couldn’t seat
the entire
family at once.

COMFY SPOT ‘This fireplace
has been in the
A big, squishy sofa is house since it
essential for family was built, set
life – many styles now off-centre in
are available with the room. It’s
structural and
stain-resistant would have
fabrics, such as cost too much
velvet, for a practical to remove so
but luxurious feel we painted it
and added a
concrete
hearth.’
Part of the wall
was removed
and the floor
dug up to allow
drainage to be
installed in the
former living
room. This is
where the
kitchen
extension is
now attached.

The former
extension and
old garage
have been
removed with
prep works
underway
ready for the
new addition.

37MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WOOD FLOOR

‘Our builder really
went through our
specifications in
detail – I wanted to
have knots in the
wood and for the
planks to be wider

than usual’

THE BUILD IN PICTURES

Underfloor heating was laid in the The extension starts to take shape, Fran and Chris used lengths of wood
kitchen before the wide-plank leading off the former living room. ‘We to lay out the new kitchen island on
engineered boards were fitted. didn’t have to extend too far,’ says Fran. the floor and get the shape right.

38MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

the BEDROOM MAIN BEDROOM
layout BEDROOM

‘The original BEDROOM
downstairs layout of
the Victorian cottage FIRST FLOOR
had lots of little rooms
with a series of UTILITY DINING AREA
extensions added over ROOM
the years. Upstairs KITCHEN
were four bedrooms
and a bathroom with STUDY LIVING ROOM
no window. We
relocated the stairs SNUG
to open up the
downstairs space and GROUND FLOOR
added an angular
extension at the back
that improved the flow
of light and space,
with large windows
overlooking the
garden. The front of
the house remained
vitually unchanged.’

Kitchen

‘The shape of the island mirrors
the angles of the extension. It
has made a huge difference to
how we use the space; it’s much
more sociable as we’re not all
just sitting in a line.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Kitchen, price on request, Chris
Copley Furniture. Quartz Antolini
Lincoln worksurface, price on
request, Yes Granite. Nexus SE
110 cooker, £2,700, Rangemaster.
Shoreditch bar stools, £129 each,
Where Saints Go. Gumiho
wooden coat hooks (used as
wall pegs), £12.99 each, Amazon.
MIB pendants, £69 each, Lampsy.
Flex tap, £1,000, Quooker

39MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Utility

‘This space is essential with
three children and two dogs
in the household, not only
for muddy boots, leads and
dog paraphernalia, but it’s
also a useful log store.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Sink, £270; stainless steel tap,
£260, both Franke. Floor tiles,
Realonda Antique Diagonal,
£25.34sq m, Tiles Direct

Hallway

‘The vertical wood slats on
the stairs influenced the rest
of the house. After having
them installed I realised that
I generally like light interiors
with dark-wood accents.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

For a similar paint shade for
the woodwork, try Off Black
estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr;
for the front door, Middleton
Pink full gloss, £29 for 0.75ltr,
both Farrow & Ball

FOCUS ON

LARCH CLADDING

Fran and Chris have used this covering on both
the inside and outside of their renovated home

MODERN STYLE maintenance and its resin
offers natural protection
Timber cladding can look against rot and decay.
just as good internally as it
does externally, especially INTERNAL USE
when you’re trying to
create a contemporary When cladding is also used
finish. Externally you can internally, as Fran and Chris
leave the timber untreated have done, it can form a
to weather to a silvery hue. clever link with the external
façade. It works well in
DURABLE CHOICE hallways, living spaces and
bathrooms, on both walls
A softwood covering, such and floors, and even ceilings.
as larch, which features on
the outside of this house, COST
is surprisingly durable.
Siberian larch is a Expect to pay from £31sq m
popular option; it is low for Siberian larch cladding.

40MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

Bedroom

‘The cladding theme
continues here, creating
a warm and contemporary
Scandi-inspired feel.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Sculptural glass faceted
ceiling lamp, £79, West Elm.
Divan base, £179, Sueno

“Suspending LIGHTS either side of

the bed creates a STATEMENT and
saves space on the BEDSIDE table

”

41MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

THE
LOWDOWN

WORST PART

‘We didn’t plan early
enough for poured-
concrete flooring
downstairs – but now I
think the engineered
wood we went for
works really well.’

BEST DECISION

‘Painting every room
white when we moved
in. It gave us time to
think through how we
wanted things to look.’

FAVOURITE SPACE

‘Having all this
room downstairs gives
us so much freedom –
the children can even

ride their tricycles
around the kitchen!’

En suite Bedroom FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS JEREMY PHILIPS

‘We lost a bit of storage ‘Chris bolted a standard
space to make the layout Ikea bunk bed to the wall,
work for our dressing repositioned the ladder and
room and bathroom.’ added slats cut to size.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES BUY THE KEY PIECES

Formoso Grande bath, Kura bed, £129, Ikea. Try
£2,399, Clearwater. MPRO Zodiac decals, £21.83, Jesabi
brushed-brass shower with at Etsy. Royal Windsor Marble
handset, £780, Crosswater carpet, £45sq m, Wilton

42MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK



"| STYLE HOUSE |

PERIOD & MODERN

do mix"VICKIE NICKOLLS HAS

COMBINED 1920S
PERIOD DETAILS WITH
BOLD DESIGNS AND
PATTERNS. SHE SHARES
HER STYLE SECRETS...

FLOORING

Lightly brushing and oiling
wood flooring exposes the
natural charm of the grain,
creating a traditional look with
a matt finish. Layers of oil also
protect it from wear and tear

44MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

HOME NOTES

WHO LIVES HERE?
Vickie Nickolls, an interior
designer (interiortherapy.
co.uk, @interior.therapy), lives
here with her husband Trevor,
a sales director, and children,
Grace, eight, and Jake, three.

HE PROPERTY
bedroom detached
se built in 1928, in
ckinghamshire.

“A pink island
sets the mood”

‘We lived with the old kitchen for two
years, so we had plenty of time to
plan our new one and build up an
ultimate wish list. It included an
island where family and friends could
congregate, a pantry and a beautiful
bar area. We kept the existing layout
as it flowed efficiently and we worked
with Gary Goodwood of Goodwood
Interiors to design a kitchen full of rich
and luxurious textures that would
complement the period setting,
including a pink ribbed island to steal
the show. But this room’s greatest
success is its versatility, easily
transforming from a kid’s play zone
to adult entertaining space.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Try Havwoods for chevron select grade
oak flooring, around £105sq m. Spot
pendant, £1,740, J Adams & Co. Matteo
kitchen stools, £119 each, Cult Furniture

45MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

“Reeded
glass was a
must-have”

‘I adore the vintage feel that reeded
glass brings to a space, and I knew it had
to feature in the kitchen to give the
contemporary units a period touch. It’s
also a practical finish as it distorts the
contents of the kitchen wall cupboards
just enough to disguise any messy areas.
The fluted and reeded elements have
added layers of architectural interest to
this room, and they’re always a talking
point with our guests.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Anthony Burrill print, from £60,
Jealous Gallery. For a similar paint
shade, try Middleton Pink estate
eggshell, £29 for 750ml, Farrow & Ball

46MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“Period details “Touches of BRASS
add elegance”
and pops of PINK
‘Once we’d removed the curtains and ’90s feature in every space
pelmet from the bay window, the room
looked wonderfully large and bright. This to CREATE a flow
was always going to be our grown-up from room to room
space: somewhere with no toys, where we
could retreat when the kids were in bed. ”
To complement the original ceiling
mouldings, we added simple MDF wall
panels to draw the eye upwards and
heighten the grandeur. I softened the
space with sumptuous textures, like velvet,
wool and brass, to ramp up the luxe factor.
By keeping the walls pale grey, our artwork
pops against the light background.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Iggy sofa, £1,535, Sofa.com. Try Carnaby stool,
£119, Atkin & Thyme. Casbah rug, £375, Loaf

REAL HOMES

“Our gallery wall
packs a punch”

‘As the house is double-fronted, we have big reception
rooms either side of the hall, and we’ve turned one into a
vibrant family space where the kids can play. At weekends
you will find us in here watching family movies.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES

Walls in Livid; ceiling in Dorchester Pink Pale, both
absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

GEOMETRIC
PATTERNS

Bold stripes, squares
or rectangular

patterns are a useful
tool for drawing
attention to a
particular feature
or area in a room

“Statement “The mix of
tiles make it modern and
feel modern” traditional
adds wow”
‘Fortunately, we haven’t had to
extend at all. The house had all the ‘Having previously lived in an
space we needed, including a large ’80s house that lacked
utility room adjacent to the kitchen. character, the period features
Originally this space had a simple and high ceilings of this house are
run of units and a spare fridge. It a dream. I could see past the
was a waste of useful space, so we existing garish wallpaper and knew
commandeered it as a boot room/ we could transform the generous-
utility by adding good-looking coat sized rooms into a wonderful family
and shoe storage. I asked my joiner home, even if it did mean
to add panelling around the walls for redecorating every inch. My vision
a hardwearing surface and added a for the hallway was to create a
bench with cubby holes and drawers dramatic entrance with modern
underneath. This room makes life geometric tiles in contrast to the
so much easier, while the fun floor traditional architraves and cornicing.’
tiles create a functional space that BUY THE KEY PIECES
has character too.’
Bowloom Ashington carpet runner in
BUY THE KEY PIECES French Blue, £130m, Off The Loom.
Semaphore floor tiles, £1.56 a tile,
Moroccan encaustic cement 07 tiles, Claybrook Studio. Juliana chandelier,
£80sq m, Best Tiles. Pebbles cushions, £2,795, Soho Home
£35 each, iamfy.co. White ceramic
umbrella stand, £49, Trouva

I love collecting ART - each print

“ ”has its own MEANING for us

49MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOMES

“We paired
light walls
with dark
woodwork”

‘We replaced an old and ugly PVC
skylight with a contemporary flat roof
light above the landing which has made
all the difference. Natural light now
floods into the stairwell. The kids often
play here or read a book in the armchair.
It’s a great transitional space that’s not
only welcoming but also useful for many
household chores, such as sorting the
laundry and prepping school bags.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

For a similar chair, try Moby in Yolk Yellow,
£349, Made.com. Banisters and woodwork
painted in Off Black modern eggshell,
£73 for 2.5 ltr, Farrow & Ball

“The rich
tones will
adapt easily”

‘The key to decorating children’s rooms
is to design a scheme that will grow with
them over the years. I picked out a black
animal-themed fabric for the blind and
built the scheme from there, choosing
my favourite rich blue for the walls and
refining the look with black accessories.
With a few tweaks, I can change Jake’s
room as he gets older.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Walls in Oval Room Blue estate emulsion,
£49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Wildcats
fabric in Midnight, £69m, Wild Hearts
Wonder. Matt black metal pendant,
£157.50, Lighting Styles

50MARCH 2022 IDEALHOME.CO.UK