Style At Home

As soon as the sun comes out I want to be outdoors. But the problem is that I’m a fair-weather gardener (in truth, I’m a ‘fair-weather for any activity’ person) so my garden usually gets neglected over the colder months. When there’s a sunny weekend forecast, getting the garden sorted so we can enjoy it is top of my agenda. This issue is full of ideas and inspiration for your outdoor space. There are fab solutions for small gardens on page 56 that would work just as brilliantly in a larger space if you’re lucky enough to have one. If, like me, your shed has a habit of becoming a dumping ground (sometimes I can’t even get into ours!), you need to check out the storage tricks on page 96.…

1. Focus on the detail The finishing touches tie this look together – jewel-hued glassware to give a luxe edge, oversized candlesticks and vases to add height, and abstract wall art to pick out the colours in the rest of the room. 2. Build upon layers Turn the seating area into a focal point. Start with a sofa and large footstool in vibrant complementary velvets, then add abstract cushions in a different fabric and a woven rug in punchy tones. 3. Create a colour explosion Mix rich tones of pink, orange and yellow with contrasting teal and green, all in statement blocks. Pick one eye-catching colour for the walls and keep it fresh with white woodwork. 4. Pick interesting lighting Choose slimline, angular pieces, such as floor lamps and occasional furniture, in striking black to give a…

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Robinson, 31, a journalist, and I live here with my husband, Adrian Maganza, 34, a storyboard artist, and our baby, Rumi, who was one in March. MY HOME A split-level, two-bedroom Victorian top-floor flat in north London which we moved into in May 2019. WHEN WE MOVED IN It was dark and scruffy with lots of potential but badly laid out – not to mention the mice and the damp! AND NOW We’ve achieved a calm oasis with oak flooring throughout and a monochrome paint palette for the main rooms. We added lots of character with colourful accessories, metallic touches and artwork. STYLE TIP Use sheepskin pads to soften any chair and provide instant comfy appeal.…

This is the first place we’ve bought together and we were seduced by its quirky charm and enormous potential,’ says Lucy. ‘Before this we’d lived in rented flats, first of all in Paris, where we were both working, and then in north London, but we had decided it was time to buy. We’d been saving up and looking around and were disappointed there wasn’t much on the market because we really wanted to stay in the same area. We saw a few one-bedroom flats in the same price range as this one, which were already done up, but this flat really appealed to us even though it was in a terrible state. It had been rented out to students for around 20 years, so you can imagine how scruffy it was! But…

Measure the area carefully to see whether you can buy a standard unit to fit the space. If not you might have to call a carpenter. Work out how much space you need for a pull-out section that’s at the right height and make sure you buy a strong mechanism to support it when it’s fully extended. Use a wallpaper panel or paint colour above to define the space. Choose a suitable chair you can fold away or place elsewhere, and also make sure there is a specific light above, which you may have to attach to the wall like Lucy has.…

1 Put a large rug over boring paving stones to add pattern and character, but make sure it’s waterproof. 2 Consider installing a corner seating arrangement so people don’t feel they’re on top of each other if you have guests over. 3 Buy chunky washable seat cushions for comfort and add extra scatter cushions for vibrant colour. 4 A large chest can act as a coffee table and also as somewhere to store the cushions if you don’t want to drag them inside every time it rains. Line it with plastic as an extra precaution. Alternatively, upcycle an old pallet box into a coffee table and paint it to match your scheme. 5 Buy plants in pots and window boxes so you can move them around easily and take them with you if you…