Finding sanctuary

Louise Bradley has transformed her London townhouse into a peaceful urban retreat, with a seamless flow between indoors and out

COLOURS FOR CALM

Nothing has the power to set and change a mood quite like colour. Surround yourself in natural, nourishing shades that promote stillness and stress-relief with these decorating ideas…

‘We were inspired by luxe hotel bathrooms'

Rachael and Tom Somerville sacrificed a bedroom to gain a family bathroom with plenty of space for pampering and relaxation

‘We extended this house in every way'

The Alexis family converted the loft, basement and garage, as well as adding an extension, to maximise every bit of space

SPARKLE & SHINE

Upgrade your Christmas look with simple but sophisticated decorating ideas that elevate a neutral backdrop with forest greens, gleaming metallics and magical frosted finishes

Simple elegance

Calsey Banks and Mickey Figures found that a calm, neutral colour palette works best in a small home, but that doesn’t mean the décor can’t make a big impression…

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN IN 2021

Planning a new-look kitchen this year? We asked the experts to share their insider tips and trend predictions…

HOW TO CREATE A CARD DISPLAY

Give special Christmas cards pride of place with these clever and beautiful ideas

Full of cheer

Paula and Matthew Gowar rescued a Victorian house in a sorry state and slowly brought it back to life with clever, creative ideas and lots of colour and sparkle

EASY STYLE UPDATES

From best buys and clever tricks to mini décor projects, this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your home more beautiful now

Divide & conquer

Karen and Luc van Tongeren created a modern family home without sacrificing their house’s period features

All is calm

Whites, greys and soft pinks provide the backdrop to Lykke Hindsberg and Thomas Skovboe’s collection of inherited and contemporary pieces – and we feel more relaxed just looking at it…

Dress Your Home With Foliage

Decorate your home with greenery from the garden for a simple and budget-friendly way to add a festive feel

Past meets present

The McFarlanes sympathetically updated their Victorian house, avoiding period pastiche and working in contemporary elements without destroying its character

Simply sophisticated

A few tweaks to the layout, muted colours and glam details have transformed Vanessa Clewett and Luke James’ house into a home that feels relaxed and smart in equal measure

‘It's a little slice of luxury!'

Maria and Fred Jude wanted the ultimate parents-only retreat, so indulged themselves with wall-to-wall, hotel-worthy glamour

JEWEL PURPOSE

Play with a palette of sapphire, emerald, ruby and garnet to bring drama and decadence to your décor. Don’t hold back – these are colours to immerse yourself in…

Escape to the country

Inge Versteegh and Michel Berger left town, bought an old farmhouse and set about giving their style a more rustic vibe…

The big reveal

Mette and Tony Mau hit the jackpot after taking a gamble on a badly modernised Copenhagen apartment

EASY STYLE UPDATES

From best buys and clever tricks to mini décor projects… this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your home more beautiful now

‘It's great for gatherings'

Rebecca and Kenny MacDonald extended their small, dark kitchen to create a space for family time and bigger get-togethers

CREATE A WELCOMING ROOM FOR GUESTS

Spare bedrooms can often be an afterthought, especially if they have to multitask as offices or storage spaces. We asked three interiors experts for their ideas and solutions…

‘This is our forever kitchen'

Inspired by the charm of their period home, Sophia and Cookie Cook invested in a simple, solid kitchen in favourite colours they’ll love for a lifetime

‘We wanted a classic but modern look'

Emma and Peter Knight went open plan and created separate cooking and dining zones, using Shaker-style units for a look they’ll love for years

‘It feels calm, but not boring'

Carrie and Ed Steer built their en suite as part of a new extension, giving it a luxuriously low-key style

‘I live in a converted garage'

Amie Oyston brought space and light into a dilapidated mechanic’s workshop, digging out a new basement level and building a beautiful glazed internal courtyard

Living The Cornish Dream

Jill Stein transformed a run-down cottage into a comfortable holiday home that’s idyllic in summer but a cosy retreat all year round

Rooms with a view

Building their own home on an elevated plot meant that Kirsi and Janne Kemppainen designed the interiors to frame and complement its panoramic views, not compete with them

Into the blue

Open-plan living is often the dream, but in reality it can look cold and confused. Belinda and Patrick Hall used colour cleverly to create distinct spaces that still feel pulled-together

Embracing the dark side

Moving to this house triggered a switch in Suszi Saunders from a dependence on bland magnolia interiors to a passion for moody, dramatic colour