House Beautiful UK October 2021
House Beautiful is your one-stop shop for classic decorating looks, with regular and comprehensive colour-scheming pages and a wide range of shopping suggestions for those special details that make a difference. With real reader homes from around the UK - ranging from comfortable country style to the chic city look – House Beautiful provides inspiration and practical advice whatever your decorating tastes. Plus, expert advice on everything from choosing the right mortgage to finding your perfect property.
in this issue
from the editor
We’re now getting towards the end of phase one of our home renovation project (the upstairs bit) and, in a flurry of excitement, I asked our talented decorator to paint the newly panelled landing and staircase in an intense shade of dark green. He thought I was mad. (I know this because I overheard him exchanging opinions with the carpenter that the chosen colour would be far too gloomy for his liking.) He’s right, of course – dark wall paint drastically reduces the feeling of light and airiness in a space and, in truth, it has taken some getting used to. But I am starting to feel rather pleased with the result. The area has been transformed from a boring old landing to a cosy nook that reminds me of…
also this month
SHADES OF JOY Each month, our new columnist Sophie Robinson will be showing us the power of a bold colour and how to make it work in our homes. With the arrival of autumn, her first choice, sunny yellow, couldn’t be more welcome. ‘Yellow can boost your mood and slap a big smile on your face,’ explains Sophie on p55. ‘It’s sunshine in a tin!’ As well as boosting your mood, a vibrant hue can be surprisingly calming, as one couple found when they revamped their bathroom with a mix of striking green walls and eyecatching geometric tiles: ‘Being bold and choosing colours that we love made the room a happier and therefore a more serene space.’ Read more about their story on p106. PHOTOGRAPHS MATTHEW MONFREDI; ALUN CALLENDER; LIZZIE ORME…
connect with us
Want to update your outdoor space in a flash? See our garden expert Isabelle Palmer’s tips for making a style statement with hanging planters on p147. Check out our online platforms, where Digital Editor Olivia Heath features the latest ideas for making the most of your home and garden. Do share your own beautiful homes and gardens with us on Instagram. Tag us @housebeautifuluk to appear on our feed and use #designmyspace. GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT If you’re not already part of the House Beautiful family, there’s never been a better time to subscribe. See p4 for our special offer, visit hearstmagazines.co.uk/hb-magazine, or call 01858 438440 and quote 1HB12154. You can also order the latest issue from magsdirect.co.uk/housebeautiful for free next-day delivery. Give mealtimes a makeover with our new tableware range at Homebase We’re so proud of…
karin hossack of kchossack pottery
Karin Hossack first fell in love with ceramics while studying at New York’s Pratt Institute in the 1980s. Fast-forward to 2015, and in a small studio in London’s Wandsworth, KCHossack Pottery – specialising in decorative tableware in a palette of pastel shades – was born. Inspired by her daughter Izy, a blogger and food stylist, Karin had attended a weekly ceramics class, followed by a stint at the Putney School of Art and Design, in order to create serveware for Izy’s culinary creations, before setting up her studio and brand. Karin’s characterful scalloped edges and colourful designs took time to refine. It was looking to locations such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, known for their vibrant but fragile earthenware pottery, where Karin found her inspiration: to combine the joy of colour…
weekend update
Quickest way to revive a tired room? It’s all about the woodwork. Paint the door frame and skirting boards in a shade that really contrasts with the walls and it’ll look like a whole new space. Here’s how: begin by sanding back existing paint before wiping clean and taping off the areas you’re updating; for the door frame, start painting on the inside and at the middle point of the frame, then work in up-and-down motions to create an even finish; for the skirting, paint horizontally from the top, followed by the bottom and finally fill in the middle. And that really is it. One weekend project, one whole new room, done.…
in & out
BOOK CLUB Slowing down and taking a more measured approach; love the idea but never quite achieve it? The Art of Simple Living by Sam Lacey (£8.99, Summersdale Publishers) sets out the really quite easy ways we can streamline our lives. SHOP SMALL Let us introduce you to online brand Polkra, your new go-to for timeless bits and bobs for the home – and some great ideas for gifts. Sourcing, designing and producing high quality pieces, the brand offers eclectic artwork, textiles and tableware at prices that are very reasonable. To find out more, visit polkra.com. ARTS & CRAFTS Add London’s design destination Coal Drops Yard to your must-visit list for an interactive workshop with London Terrarium and Earl of East and learn how to create your own terrarium. Find out more at earlofeast.com.…
