Choose darker hues
‘I know they’re not to everyone’s taste, but they really work for me,’ says Anna. ‘I love the way dark tones disappear into the background and make other colours – especially white – jump out. I’ve used a grey-white around the windows in the living room, though, as I didn’t want to highlight the bright white uPVC window frames.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Walls painted in Off-Black modern emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.Afaw rug, £269, La Redoute
Anna and Jason Martin were thrilled when they came across an affordable house in an area that they’d thought was beyond their budget. The trade-off was that the property needed a top-down renovation, but the couple only saw that as an advantage. ‘It’s a cliché, but it really was all about the potential,’ says Anna. ‘We were after a home we could grow into and raise a family in. There was scope here to knock through and create the open-plan kitchen-diner I’d always imagined having.
‘The house needed quite a lot of work and almost everything, from the kitchen units to the front gate, was some shade of yellow,’ recalls Anna. The couple have gradually transformed the tatty interior, pulling up old carpets and stripping away hardboard sheets to reveal original wood floors, doors and panelling. ‘Uncovering period features was a bonus!’ she says.
Denne historien er fra May 2018-utgaven av Ideal Home UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra May 2018-utgaven av Ideal Home UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Maximise Outdoor Dining Space - If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have
If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have. We asked a host of garden experts to share their top tips on making the most of a small space, whether you're hosting friends and family for a special occasion, relaxing at the end of the day or enjoying your morning coffee.
hometruths
KELVIN AND LIZ FLETCHER GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEIR HOME
Fresh & delicious
Chicken traybake with garlic & cherry tomatoes
NATURAL habitat
KERRY HARRIS' EAST LONDON HOME IS A LESSON IN BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUT
"WE AREN'T traditional"
RACHAEL AND ALEX'S RELAXED FUNCTIONAL HOME IS A BLEND OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE, MID-CENTURY MODERN AND PALM SPRINGS SHADES
GROWING up
ARCHITECT ROB AND WIFE EMMA HAVE TRANSFORMED A 1970S HOUSE, GIVING.THEM MORE SPACE FOR THEIR FAMILY
The shortlist PARASOLS
Create a cool spot with these dazzling sunshades
Weekend decorator
CLEVER TRICKS TO MINI DECOR PROJECTS... WE ROUND UP THE SIMPLEST, QUICKEST WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW
The shortlist PICNICWARE
Everything you need for the perfect spread
PLAN THE PERFECT - Outdoor living room
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GARDEN BY CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE FOR RELAXATION, SAY OUR EXPERTS