COME ON IN!
ABOUT ME I'm Holly Tarling, 27, an environmental officer. I live with my partner, Roger Greer, 33, a public affairs officer, in a two-bedroom, end-of-terrace house near Reading, Berkshire, which was built in 2000.
THE CHALLENGE Turning a dull and outdated kitchen into somewhere we wanted to be, which incorporated a space for eating and entertaining.
MY WISHLIST I wanted to use blues and pinks in the scheme, along with a wood-effect flooring and touches of marble.
STYLE TIP For expensive materials, such as wood flooring and marble, source affordable alternatives that look just like the real thing.
This is the first house Roger and I have had together,' says Holly. 'We were really excited to move out of a rented flat and buy it after saving for the deposit, despite knowing we'd have to do lots of work ourselves.
Everything in the kitchen was old and dull, in shades of beige and brown, and the fittings were outdated, too. However, it was a good space and there was plenty of room for a dining table and chairs.
Making plans
A large pantry-style cupboard was taking up too much room and we already had enough storage in the units, so we removed it to give us a better idea of the space. The units were sound and we really couldn't afford to replace them, so we looked into painting them, which seemed a possibility. The oven was fairly new so we kept that and the washing machine, plus we bought our fridge freezer from our flat - but everything else had to go.
First steps
Esta historia es de la edición June 2022 de Style at Home.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 2022 de Style at Home.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
'We wanted an Art Deco Vibe' - Helen took her bathing space from cramped and dated to family-friendly, with a classic retro-inspired look
Inheriting a typical 1930s layout of rectangular bathroom and a separate loo along the corridor wasn't really suitable for us,' says Helen. 'And with a teenager and a younger child, we knew we had to change things quickly after moving into our house in April 2022.
How to Save More Money -Editor of MoneyWeek.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares easy tips and tricks for spending less
Editor of MoneyWeek.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares easy tips and tricks for spending less. Recent research shows that around a third of consumers are focused on immediate finances and unable to think about future savings.* If you're struggling to save or just not sure where to start, then these tips and tricks will help.
What's for DINNER TONIGHT?
These tasty dishes can be made ahead of time and saved for those busy nights when there's no time to cook
Something for THE WEEKEND
These chocolate desserts are perfect for dinner parties (or for a special treat if you've had a tough week at work)...
Plant bulbs now for A SPLASH OF SPRING COLOUR
Brighten your garden come spring with a two-tone display of tulips - autumn is the perfect time to plant up and get busy
Living room STORAGE
Bring order to your living space with hard-working storage that looks stylish too
How to plan KITCHEN LIGHTING
Achieve the perfect lighting scheme that's bright, hard-working and looks good
Try a speedy STYLE UPDATE
Give your home a seasonal revamp with fun tricks, treats and cosy touches
Clever decorating WORK YOUR WALLS
Want to use a blank wall space for practical storage or stylish display? These ideas will give you the best of both worlds...
Give your home an AUTUMN RESET
Make rooms feel toasty and warm with plush layers, earthy tones and cosy touches