CATEGORIES

SPOTLIGHT ON Down to Earth

Start your spring on a serene note this year with a soft and homely scheme

FREEZER FAVOURITES

Feed the family for less with these thrifty, freezer-friendly recipes. Batch-cook them and you'll have easy midweek meals in minutes

I CAN DO IT & SO CAN YOU!

This month, 10 industry experts and influencers share the can do this’ moments that were a turning point in their DIY journeys

REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Give a standard bar stool, or any homewares with a woven cane detail, a handmade flourish with this sweet needlecraft idea

HOW TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

From room refits to major builds and outdoor updates, these projects are fail-safe ways to boost your home’s asking price

Eclectic revamp: 'Our style is a blend of vintage and industrial'

Moody hues softened with pale pinks, bold patterns and quirky vintage pieces have given Bekki Gregory and Andrew Patterson's Victorian home an individual look

Fun forever home: 'This place is perfect for a kitchen disco!'

By reconfiguring the layout on both floors, Mary Howe has turned her 1930s home into a party house, where the spaces finally flow together seamlessly

'Filling every room with bright décor brings me joy'

Interior designer Aurélien Farjon brought a dated-looking period home back to life with a daring palette of rich jewel tones, lots of creative upcycles, and eclectic styling

In your garden THIS MONTH

Put extra energy into caring for plants and wildlife throughout August, and your garden will reap the rewards

'It's now a space where we can truly relax and unwind'

From ambient lighting to soothing colours and luxurious bedding, Laurie Davidson has optimised every detail of her new bedroom for a good night's sleep

'Mum and I loved creating this boho scheme together'

When her mum Julia decided to renovate the family home, 18-year-old Maya's bedroom had a much-needed overhaul to give it a new, laid-back look

'We restored period features and added our own twist

Stacey Hawkes brought a tired bedroom back to life by reinstating the original features, and elevating the look with luxe bedding and statement wallpaper

Two different tastes, one beautiful kitchen

Lily and Daniel found a way to have the kitchen that they both dreamed of, thanks to Wren

FOCUS ON Credit card know-how

Whether using your credit card at home or overseas, here's how to make it work for you

SMARTER shopper

From adoption to training costs, our guide will help you prepare for your wonderful pet-parent adventure

'I personalised my home in just three months'

Kerry Davison has used minimalist neutrals in a maximalist way, pulling together tactile materials and vintage finds to put her own stamp on every room in record time

'We can turn our hand to any DIY project now!'

Jo and John Tuckley upskilled themselves to renovate their home as they went along, filling every room with second-hand bargains and DIY additions to inject personality

'I reworked the layout twice to get the space I wanted'

It took two tries for Rachel Redpath to get her home exactly how she envisioned it - after a lengthy kitchen renovation, taking down an additional wall made all the difference

'I created a space Lilly can both study and chill out in'

Having turned 14, Zoe Stillwell's daughter Lilly wanted a grown-up bedroom, so Zoe revamped it with extra storage, a study area, and a laid-back look

'Our son loves colour, so we painted him a rainbow!'

When her son, Max, asked for a 'rainbow stripes' room, Mel Hamblett used paint sample pots to create a magical, multi-coloured scheme in just 24 hours!

'We transformed this room into a treehouse escape!"

To make a fun-filled bedroom for her son Henry, Tara Slinger used bold colour and playful prints to create a jungle hideaway that sparks his imagination

'Second-hand treasures make my home unique'

With a keen eye for all things vintage, Natasha Harrison Taylor has filled her Victorian home with thrifted finds and revamped every room with DIY updates

'We added more space and bags of personality'

When they had the opportunity to buy their rented bungalow, Louisa Fitch and Andrew Smith could finally put their stamp on it with a full renovation

'I'm so proud that we did all the work ourselves!"

With a whole house to update and a tight budget to keep to, Kerry and Richard Kellett took DIY to the next level and did everything from plumbing to laying floors

TRY something new

Transform magnolia walls into a stylish focal feature using only masking tape and tester pot paint

SEW simple

Turn a plain jute rug into a bright Berber-inspired floor cover using a simple embroidery technique called couching

REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Upcycle old mirrors by mixing, modelling and baking polymer clay into stylish faux marble and terrazzo-effect frames

I created a fresh pastel look with budget DIYS'

When her daughter went travelling, Paula Morton gave her bedroom a makeover in pale shades, to create a serene space for her to come home to

'The bold décor in here makes me smile every day!"

Not one to shy away from an interior design statement, Lois Connors chose a dramatic floral wallpaper and dark cabinets for her new kitchen scheme

I love my Victorian-style drawing room with a twist

Karen Cook chose dark walls, mural wallpaper, jewel-coloured furniture and fun jungle accessories to elevate the period look of her living room