Índex per February 2019 a Inside Out

…in the Inside Out offices, and while this isn’t my first proper issue as editor (I’m actually coming in at the tail end of the issue), this is just the beginning of a transformation of our own. One thing that we’re not changing is the support of our team of experts, in this, our annual expert issue. It’s the one issue where we let our team of industry insiders loose to share their areas of specialty in architecture, building, design and interiors. These are our regular contributors and their high regard in their industries is why we picked them to collaborate with this issue. To that end, we will cover the biggest trends in the shelter category using all their tricks and tips, from finding the right window dressing to…

NEUTRAL TERRITORY  why it works: Subtle shades and luxe materials will put your mind at rest. ‘Thea’ wing bed, $1499 (excludes bedding), West Elm, westelm.com.au. Oly ‘Astro’ bedside table, $2795, Coco Republic, cocorepublic.com.au. AROUND THE BEND  why it works: The organic form of curved oak and rattan furniture is immediately relaxing. ‘Norah’ bed, $2299/queen (excludes bedding), Life Interiors, lifeinteriors.com.au. ‘Monte Vista’ side table, $599, Naturally Cane, naturallycane.com. GOING STRAIGHT  why it works: There’s enough detail to be super-chic without showing off. De La Espada ‘Companions’ bed by Studioilse, from $8130 (excludes bedding), Spence & Lyda, spenceandlyda.com.au. ‘Ridge’ stool, $390, Beeline Design, beelinedesign.com.au.…

Tell us about your creative journey so far. My mother was a seamstress and as a child, I’d sit and learn. Later I’d design my own dresses. That was the coming together of my creativity and another passion of mine – clothes. I’ve always loved being creative and knew I’d dedicate my life to it. I can pinpoint a very specific moment when my love of the creative process shifted from hobby to professional career. I was studying a Bachelor of Design and got a call from Catherine Martin, who needed a design assistant during post production of Romeo + Juliet. This led to my role at Baz Luhrmann’s production company, Bazmark Inq, where, over 17 years, I moved from assistant to Head of Design. I also worked closely with…

Designing and filling your home’s interior can be a complete minefield. There are way too many choices out there, mountains of inspo – and The Block has given us an unquenchable appetite for renovating (as well as setting unattainable time frames). That said, there are a few steps you can take to ensure your spaces are considered, balanced and pack plenty of punch. Turn the page to discover the five factors I always consider when creating a cohesive room… 1 SPACE Arguably the most important consideration in designing a room is how the space works. It must cater to the needs of the people using the room, but without feeling cramped. Don’t forget to take into account the negative space in a room – that’s the space not being used. If…

There is a skill some people have, no matter what the style, for creating interior spaces that go beyond the everyday. When we step into these spaces, they communicate a feeling, or atmosphere, that is often hard to put your finger on – they are personal, emotive, not driven by trends, but somehow the confidence of their expression makes them utterly timeless. Through two books, Perfect Imperfect; the beauty of accident, age and patina and The Alchemy of Things; interiors shaped by curious minds, I have taken a deep dive into what makes these places and their owners tick, how collecting and creative layering has shaped their aesthetic, and what lessons the rest of us can take from their inspirational homes. IT’S THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION The founders of…

+ Tones A room that’s all the same colour will definitely lack interest, so it’s important to include a range of different tones, while staying within the same colour family. + Texture Create contrast and depth with neutrals by using texture. Do this with natural materials – stone, leather and textiles. + Accents Punctuate your scheme with a few punchy elements. Metallics always add a pop and a few black elements will give the scheme some framework.…

Who lives here: Andrew Cramer, a director at Citi in investment banking; his wife Kate, a mum and part-time public relations agency office manager; sons Charlie, 4, and Oliver, 2; and Hungarian Vizslas, Woody and Fox. Style of home: A double-fronted, brick Victorian house with a dark, boxy 1970s addition, transformed by a minimalist open-plan extension and outdoor area that meets the needs of a growing family. The couple bought the house in August 2013 and rented it out while they considered their plans. They then commissioned architect Tom Robertson in early 2014. Building finally started in August 2016 and was completed 12 months later. The cost of the renovation was approximately $500k.…

the story so far Lis Blake and husband Karl Charikar bought their three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Northcote, in Melbourne’s inner-north, in July 2013. However, Lis admits it was the location, rather than the house itself, that prompted the purchase. “We had moved down from Sydney because of Karl’s job and were renting the house next door,” she says. “After four years, we wanted to buy but realised we’d missed the boat and couldn’t afford this area any more, so we started looking further afield. “Then, my next-door neighbour said, ‘Do you want to buy my house?’ It meant that our son Tom could stay at his school and we could stay in the street where we’d made lots of friends.” So, while they were happy to stay in Northcote, Lis…

the floor plan As Lis is keen not to lose any of the backyard, they’ve considered building a second storey. But this may be over budget and there’s plenty they can do within the existing footprint. I’d build a new extension to complement the original house, only extending out beyond the original floor plan by a metre. I’d reorient the kitchen along the back wall with a butler’s pantry and laundry at one end and build in a bench seat with storage along the adjacent wall as part of the dining area. This would create room for an informal living area on the left. The roof line and internal ceiling levels would be designed to improve the sense of space and facilitate passive heating and cooling. I’d suggest a solid…

STRAIGHT UP Tiles with a stack pattern are a fantastic way to vertically stretch a room – and when they look as good as these ‘Japanese Impression’ porcelain wall tiles in Sky from National Tiles, $14.95/sqm, you have a feature wall worthy of any five-star Tokyo hotel. Visit nationaltiles.com.au. hangin’ out The ‘Paros’ towel from Aura Home is made from sustainably sourced cotton, meaning you’ll have a dry body and a clear conscience after a shower. And you’re not short on colour options. $49.95 each, aurahome.com.au. stone age Spoil yourself with terrazzo, for a look that is always on trend. 1. Bentu ‘Hui’ basin, $1280 (excludes tapware), Remodern, remodern.com.au. 2. Lucie Kass ‘Erat’ mirror, $268, Oliver Thom, oliverthom.store. 3. Terrazzo slab in Valentina, $374/sqm, Surface Gallery, surfacegallery.com.au.…

Q We’ve set up a space for the things that don’t live anywhere else – the laundry, tools, vacuum cleaner, cleaning supplies, wine racks. It’s all quite a jumble. Any ideas for helping us to get things sorted? Suzie, Annandale, NSW A Pretty much every home has one of these rooms – even the grandest homes have them. Often my clients say it’s a place for “all that extra stuff” or it’s where “utility items” go. The trick with any do-everything room is to apply these four organising tricks to make it efficient. 1. Divide your space into zones. This is the most basic thing you can do and will have a huge impact. If the mop and bucket have a dedicated area, it’s easier to put them away and…

make food look great for a living – for magazines, for I TV commercials, for social media. It’s a fun job, but at the end of the day, the first thing I like to think about (aside from my family, of course) is, “What’s for dinner?” An instant relaxer for me is the starting steps of making a meal. I realise this isn’t everyone’s instinct, but we all have to do it. So, about a year ago, I started my own Instagram feed, titled Every Night Of The Week (@everynightoftheweek). It’s an honest, live view of what my family eats. I post four nights a week, Monday to Thursday, plus a few other times – because even though I feed everyone every night of the week, I just don’t need the pressure of posting…

The new Bannisters Port Stephens has taken the winning formula of its original location at Mollymook on the NSW south coast and transferred it to a stunning headland in Salamander Bay, an hour’s drive north of Newcastle. Its owners, Peter Cosgrove and UK celebrity chef Rick Stein and his wife, Sarah, have extended their nostalgic vibe with the help of architect Tony Freeman from Molnar Freeman Architects, interior designer Romy Alwill of Alwill Interiors and landscape designer Will Dangar of Dangar Barin Smith. The plan was to start with a tired motel with good bones and then focus on the extraordinary location. “In this instance, the architecture had a vintage motel vibe, which you can’t hide, so we went with a Palm Springs feel for the lobby and terrace bar,”…

tiles David Signorino As the marketing manager behind Melbourne institution Signorino Tile Gallery (signorino.com.au), David is a key part of the family business’s ongoing success. Armed with an immense product knowledge and a strong commitment to environmentally conscious production practices, he’s the man to ask when you need to know the ins and outs of tiles and stone surfaces. styling Jono Fleming Inside Out’s very own style editor has a background in interior design and teaching, and now creates beautiful stories for these pages. His family’s farm (which appeared on our May 2017 cover) is one of our most-pinned home stories ever. We’ve tapped Jono to pick a design trend to watch in 2019 – find out what he chose on page 54. organisation Peter Walsh Australian born and raised, but calling LA…

Echelon’ wine rack DESIGNER: William Rhodes Based in Tasmania, William Rhodes now spends his days as a full-time painter and sculptor, with entries in the Archibald Prize and Glover Prize for landscape painting. William’s career began in 2001 when he collaborated with production company Echelon. Despite being almost 20 years old, his ‘Echelon’ wine rack is testament to the timelessness of great design. William describes his work as “architectural hardware” and says “the inspiration was for a self-interlocking modular system that could adapt to individual requirements”. The sculptural rack is solid extruded aluminium and was created with recyclability in mind. “Designing around the unique qualities of materials is a way to avoid using plastic,” says William. The ‘Echelon’ is available ready-made in a six-bottle, 12-bottle or 24-bottle capacity, or it can be built-in and tailored…

THE ORIGINAL ‘LC4’ chaise by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeaneret and Charlotte Perriand The form: A tubular steel adjustable chaise with upholstery sling in fabric or leather. What makes it special: Dating from the heyday of the Bauhaus era, the ‘LC4’ chaise was designed in 1928 as part of a collection of chromed tubular steel designs by a now-legendary architecture and design team. The collection pushed the concept of Le Corbusier’s ‘machine for living’ idea to its logical conclusion, appearing to be made by machine rather than by hand. It reflected Le Corbusier’s desire to create a new way of living where architecture and design freed humanity from methods and materials of the past, allowing them to enjoy a higher quality of life. From 1965, much of what Le Corbusier designed in this period was licensed…

Carlene and Michael were seasoned, happy campers. They’d done “the whole camping without toilets thing” but one soggy day, loading up the car in the pouring rain with their young children, they had an epiphany: to ditch the tent poles and buy some wheels. No more packing and unpacking. Just hop in and leave. When they started looking for something to buy, they couldn’t find anything new, or second-hand, that suited their sense of style or that they wanted to ‘live’ in. So the experienced renovators and designers turned to their talents. “We thought the smart and fun thing to do would be to renovate a vintage caravan,” says Carlene. “They have the most character and are such a cool shape.” Dolly is the third cab-off-the-rank. The family of four…

ROUND. A versatile shape that suits modern bathrooms classic schemes and contrasts with angular lines. OVAL. A more organic shape to suit a simple bathroom. Works well with a mixer tap to the side. SQUARE. Perfect for the structured bathroom where symmetry is key. Suits large and small vanity spaces.…

Who lives here: Greer Lonergan, a theatre nurse; her husband James, who owns his own business; and their children, Jude, 8, Sailor, 5, and baby Dusty, 9 months. Style of home: A four-bedroom, space-smart home built around a central pool and courtyard, steps from the beach in Casuarina, northern NSW. After 18 months searching for a block, Greer and James had plans drawn up within a month. The build itself took seven months. The total cost was around $500k, not including the price of land.…

+ Light Although the house was really dark when I found it, I saw that the roof was bathed in sunshine so I knew there was an opportunity to bring more light into the rooms with windows, doors and skylights. + Garden Having a backyard was important to us, with a small child. This house had a broad elevation to the yard but only a single door to access it, so I could see that it could be opened up easily and would feel much larger. + Layout Often, older houses are a series of small rooms, so you need to think about whether you can rejig the rooms in a way that logically separates private and public areas. If you’re on a budget, it’s best to do this with…

One house stands out in Spånga, a town of around 40,000 some 10 kilometres north of Stockholm, Sweden. It’s pink, has a tower and is the home of designer Lisa Bengtsson and her family. Measuring 152 square metres and oozing with la dolce vita elegance, this three-bedroom attention-grabber, built at the turn of the 20th century, became theirs in late 2012. “I knew right away the house had to be ours, even though we really were looking for an apartment in the city,” says Lisa, who lives here with her partner, Niklas Hammar and their three children – twin sons Elliot and Jack, 8, and daughter Betty, 3. The couple got to work as soon as they purchased it, bringing back the character of the old home while putting their…

Kate and Andrew’s wishlist + As much natural light as possible. “Slightly scarred by the original house, in that it was so dark, a key part of our brief was light and more light,” says Kate. “We feel at peace in light-filled homes.” + Keep it timeless. “We didn’t want any black or brass tapware, for example, as we didn’t want it to look like a house of 2017. So we tried to be very conscious of that in our decisions on the fixtures and finishes and not choose anything that would date.” + A ‘cook’s’ kitchen. “I love cooking and entertaining so I was very specific about the things I wanted, such as a big, standalone gas oven, two dishwashers and a huge island bench that I could spread everything…

Northcote is 7km from the city, with housing stock including charming single-fronted Victorian and Edwardian homes occupied by young professionals, and double-fronted period houses, which are being renovated by growing families migrating north from inner-city pads. The suburb has a laid-back, artsy vibe and a real sense of community spirit. Combine this with some of the best eateries in Melbourne, great public transport and parklands, and you can see why it’s popular. Buyers quickly fall in love with the area and find it hard to leave. Upsizers are very specific about their brief and can spend months waiting for the right home. In an area where up to 80 per cent of homes are weatherboard, Lis and Karl’s solid-brick home on a wide street in the ‘double-school zone’ of Westgarth Primary…

The deal: Mirrored cabinets above the vanity can be recessed or sit proud of the wall, and offer storage at head height. The pros: More storage is a good thing, especially because under-basin storage is often compromised by the plumbing, which takes up space. You can hide power points in the cupboards rather than having them visible. The cons: It doesn’t help with storage of larger things such as towels. If it’s not well designed, you can end up having to have the door open while using the power, so it’s harder to see in the mirror while you’re drying your hair. We allow for this with a setback in our cupboard door profiles. The verdict: For me, it’s a yay. Face-level storage is always a good thing to aim for if…

Sydney landscape designer and writer Georgina Reid is fascinated by how we connect to nature. She has spent five years exploring and documenting 24 residential gardens in Australia and overseas – including this inner-Sydney courtyard of landscape architect and painter David Whitworth, which she describes as a “one-of-every-plant” garden. See more in her new book. The Planthunter: Truth, Beauty, Chaos And Plants by Georgina Reid and Daniel Shipp, published by Thames & Hudson, $59.99.…

labne cheesecake with citrus-scented blueberries A light, lemony cheesecake that’s set with gelatine rather than baked. This gives it a soft, silky texture, rather than the damp, mouth-sticking creaminess of the baked kind. It makes a lovely summertime dessert, especially when topped with a tumble of citrusy blueberries. “Most of the recipes in this book are firmly rooted in my own Lebanese background. They are absolutely the things that I love to eat and they never stray too far from my soul”GREG MALOUF, AUTHOR & CHEF (PICTURED WITH LUCY MALOUF) SERVES 8-10 base 150g ginger nut biscuits (ginger snaps) 80g wheaten (digestive) biscuits 110g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing labne filling 110g unsalted butter, softened 220g caster (superfine) sugar 3 eggs, separated 250g cream cheese, beaten with a fork until very…

a-c Ace Stone + Tiles (07) 5493 3344 acestone.com.au Alwill Interiors alwill.com.au Angus Martin angusmartinart.com Armadillo&Co (02) 9698 4043 armadillo-co.com Artedomus 1300 278 336 artedomus.com Articolo Lighting (03) 8595 8011 articololighting.com Austral Masonry 1300 627 667 australmasonry.com.au Barbecues Galore 1800 978 555 barbecuesgalore.com.au Brave Agencies (07) 3257 0002 bravedesign.com.au Brooklyn Whelan chinaheights.com Caesarstone 1300 119 119 caesarstone.com.au Calico Pony By Katie Cowlishaw calicopony.bigcartel.com Cardell cardell.net.au Charles Wilson charleswilsondesign.com Choices Flooring choicesflooring.com.au Country Road 1800 801 911 countryroad.com.au Craig & Karl craigandkarl.com Cult 1300 768 626 cultdesign.com.au d-j Dael Oates daelo.com Dangar Barin Smith dangarbarinsmith.com.au Darren Genner minosadesign.com Decina (07) 3271 1944 decina.com.au Deckle & Hide deckleandhide.com.au Lannie lannie.com.au Leo & Bella leoandbella.com.au Liberty Fox 1300 542 369 libertyfox.com.au Lights Lights Lights (03) 9372 8541 lightslightslights.com.au Linen House 1300 350 886…

AMART FURNITURE Inspired by mid-century design, the Giorgio accent chair is a classic, versatile piece that can transform any living area. Sink into pure comfort with removable leather seat cushions filled with layers of feathers and high-density foam. RRP $1799. Visit amartfurniture.com.au BEACON LIGHTING Combining traditional bulb style with LED technology, weather-resistant Festoon II LED lights bring an inviting glow to outdoor entertaining areas. You can get creative indoors, too, by draping over bedheads and walls. Visit beaconlighting.com.au HAYMES PAINT A Haymes colour stylist will provide you with professional advice and guidance, to help you make the right decisions for your home. They assist in understanding colour palettes, colours in different spaces, and finding the right style to suit your home and personality. Visit haymespaint.com.au FREEDOM KITCHENS Scotty Cam has…

Crafted by hand from marble, stone, brass, shell and ceramics, the new collection of decorative objets by Sydney interior designer Greg Natale is simple in form yet entirely covetable. These alluring vases, bowls and boxes are a mastery of texture, expression and design sensibility.…

Q What’s the best grey tint for a bedroom? I want a colour to make the room look snug and inviting. Jan, via email “My all-time favourite grey is called Memory,” says Wendy Rennie, colour expert at Haymes Paint (haymespaint.com.au). “It’s the perfect middle ground between grey and brown, with the right blend of undertones to feel warm enough to be inviting, yet grey enough to feel natural and sophisticated. It is the perfect neutral that works well with any other hue on the spectrum to ensure a personalised and intimate space. This perfectly balanced grey loves being teamed with wood and natural materials, to make it even more versatile and adaptable. I think it offers the contemporary feel we all love, with just enough personality to offer an inviting space to be…

1 These plywood pieces cope with bumps, and the laminate tabletop is easy to clean. Oeuf ‘Play’ table, $429, and ‘Bear’ and ‘Rabbit’ chairs, $369 each, all Kido Store, kidostore.com. 2 At 72cm x 35cm x 46cm, and with two adjustable shelves, there’s stacks of space inside. ‘The Shorty’ locker, $199, Mustard Made, mustardmade.com. “Create the perfect scene for parties, real or imagined… they might even invite you along!”NATALIE JOHNSON, MARKET EDITOR 3 Cute and playful, this soft headboard is perfect for sweet dreams. ‘Stella’ bedhead in Posie Dot Pool, from $825/king single, Heatherly Design, heatherlydesign.com.au. THE STORAGE Your child can play the perfect host and easily move this trolley around to collect plates, toys and cushions – or it can be used to store little guests’ bags and belongings…

1 vintage returns “I think in 2019 there will be a return to vintage, handmade and bespoke items, steering away from the mass produced and instead embracing special, unique pieces with a story.” MR JASON GRANT, STYLIST & AUTHOR 2 moroccan influence “I recently went to Byron Bay and landed in paradise at the Raes On Wategos resort, where I found my heartbeat slow down – but race with interior excitement at the same time. I think Raes’ style, which has a gentle Moroccan influence mixed with a quintessential Australian palette, will pave the way for more whitewashed interiors and bold-patterned, clashing interiors. With it will come a swing back to traditional tiling, wall murals and simple but bold stripes (aka Lucy Folk style), all in soft pastel hues – especially apricots! Heaven.” JULIA GREEN, STYLIST,…

Nothing was going to stop architect Steve Koolloos from delivering this masterpiece of a renovation of his family’s three-bedroom home. Working with a tight budget, Steve put the building skills developed as a child into practice – and, when paired with his architectural know-how, the result is bespoke beauty that draws on its location and embraces the surrounding natural grandeur.…

+ The basics Concrete has been used since the Romans invented it 2000 years ago. It’s made from cement, aggregate, sand and water. + Environmental impact As with most materials, there is an energy impact from extracting and transporting the raw materials. To minimise this, choose locally sourced concrete and recycled aggregate. + Benefits These include concrete’s thermal mass (ability to absorb and store heat), its versatility, strength and durability, as well as fire resistance. To maximise the thermal mass benefits, think about situating concrete to maximise sun exposure and insulate it against heat loss.…

“We designed this home to have many zones for a couple with a busy lifestyle. Megan and Nathan can choose to connect or to retreat”LUISA KLINGE, INTERIOR DESIGNER For many of us, the idea of our neighbours renovating or rebuilding is a nightmare. Tradies crowding the street with their trucks, jackhammers at 7am, dust everywhere – and all you can hope for is an invitation to their house-warming party at the end. But for Brisbane couple Megan and Nathan Fenner, it was their neighbours, Luisa Klinge and her husband, Daniel, who suggested they rebuild. What’s more, Luisa, an interior designer, went on to design the new home’s interior, while Daniel, a builder, carried out the construction. “Some people think you should never design for friends or family,” says Luisa. “But…

+ The pool and outdoor shower. “We really considered whether to install a pool, but I’m glad we did; we use it a lot,” says Kate. “The other night I had a swim and a shower after putting the boys to bed and it was lovely. I never thought I’d have a pool at my age.” + The bluestone step. “I love that we kept the old step at the end of the hallway in the original part of the house. It’s worn to the point that it’s got a dip in it where so many people have stepped on it over the years.” + Storage. “Having lots of storage was high on our priority list and, in particular, I love the roof storage in our walk-in wardrobe. It’s got a…

Lis and Karl’s home is a typical worker’s cottage in a beautiful street with a lot of opportunity. It does have many attributes: a more formal, second living room with a fireplace at the front of the house that has a cosy feel and three bedrooms, which open up onto a side courtyard with a lovely ambience. But there’s little privacy between the bedrooms and no obvious master bedroom or ensuite. The condition of the extension is a worry, especially as there are issues with a leaking roof and damp. Lis suspects it was built without proper foundations. Seeing as this is where the family members spend most of their time, I think this is where the bulk of the budget should be spent. The rest of the house needs a little…

Window treatments are the finishing touches to your space – but don’t leave your choice until the end. There are many options to consider and decisions to make, so focus on what you hope to achieve and the purpose of the treatment. Follow our guide… curtains pre-made Buying off-the-rack curtains doesn’t mean compromising on quality. Many pre-made options have a bespoke look and feel. The first thing to consider is the size of your window and the drop of the curtain. The issue here is that pre-made curtains often come in standard sizes – and if your windows don’t fit these measurements, you may have to be flexible in how they’re hung. Our picks for pre-made curtains are Spotlight (spotlightstores.com), which is a top budget option; IKEA (ikea.com.au), which offers…

this takes the biscuit A 3D effect may not be the most obvious choice in bathroom tiles, but for something unique, these geometrical 50mm x 200mm tiles in Biscuit Dune Bianco, $125/sqm, from Di Lorenzo, are hard to beat. Check out dilorenzo.com.au. HOOK SHOT Kohler’s ‘Purist’ robe hooks (from top) in Brushed Nickel, Brushed Bronze and Rose Gold are a snazzy decor addition for any bathroom. It’s almost a shame to cover them with a robe or towel… but they won’t let you down there, either. $99 each, go to kohler.com.au. vanity fair With its rich colour and distinctive wood-grain finish, the Cibo ‘Tasca’ wall-mounted slimline vanity in Yarra Walnut from Reece, from $2315, is sure to be the centre of attention. Add the ‘Tasca’ mirrored shaving cabinet, from $1235, and you have…

Sometimes, the gap between your dream garden and your everyday reality gets so wide that action is needed. For Dru Cox and her daughter, their longed-for haven of relaxation and recreation, somewhere they could relax, swim and entertain, wasn’t quite there. While their home at Terrey Hills in Sydney’s north had a pool and a covered alfresco area, both were dated and uninviting. “It just wasn’t a workable space – I didn’t enjoy it at all,” says Dru, who avoided the backyard. Now, they practically live outside. “I had an idea of what I wanted but couldn’t imagine how to achieve it in a way that wouldn’t look messy,” she says. Realistically, most garden renovations don’t start with a blank slate – and it was the same here. Using the…

+ Preheat your oven for at least 20 minutes. + Prepare your equipment by buttering the sides and base of your cake tin. + Weigh ingredients carefully before you start mixing. + Ingredients should all be at room temperature and butter and eggs should come out of the fridge at least 1-2 hours before you start your prep. This is important, as cold ingredients will not mix together easily and you also risk ending up with a curdled batter. + Butter and sugar must be energetically beaten for at least 4-5 minutes so the sugar dissolves completely and you have a pale, fluffy mix. + For maximum rise, cakes should go into the oven as soon as the batter is finished, as the raising agent starts to work as soon as it’s added.…

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We live in a three-bedroom terrace with our twin daughters. They’ve always shared a room but, now that they’ve started high school, they’re asking to separate. The problem is, one is much bigger than the other and I don’t know how to make a fair call. Can you help? Caroline, via email After thinking about it for the best part of my morning (10.30 until just before 11), I’ve decided to proceed under the assumption that when you say, “One is much bigger than the other”, you are referring to the bedrooms and not the twins. I wouldn’t like to weigh in if it’s the latter – but if we are talking about square footage, then I’m happy to say it doesn’t matter what you decide because, either way, one…