25 Beautiful Homes Apr-2018

Looking through this issue, I can see the colour blue has been used in many hues, from deep and moody shades to light, fresh tones. Of course, blue has featured in design schemes for many years, particularly coastal-inspired looks, but now it seems to have gained in popularity, whatever the style of the interior. The use of strong shades of blue seems to have started on kitchen units, as in Louise and Gary Hall’s converted barn on page 95, but they’re also popping up on walls and accessories, as with Petra Postmus’ Dutch townhouse on page 14. Perhaps what I like most about blue is that it can be used as a dark neutral, and combining it with other shades, such as soft yellows and pale pinks, can prevent it…

1 SUGAR SNAP Madeline pink pendant light, £150, Debenhams 2 HOP TO IT Ceramic rabbit white ring plate, £4, George Home 3 RETRO MIX Swan retro stand mixer, £79, Ao.com 4 HIDDEN TREAT Champagne egg, £27, Hotel Chocolat 5 SITTING PRETTY Whitstable floral seat pad, £25, Joules 6 ON A PLATE Truly bunny paper plates, £3.99 for 12, Lakeland 7 CANDY COOL Alana velvet shell back chair in Dusty Pink, £130, Argos 8 SPOT ON Rainbow Dots jug, £35, Emma Bridgewater 9 ROOM TO BLOOM Cotton four-seater Cambridge sofa, £998, DFS…

1 EVER GREEN Peony faux Bonsai tree, £30, QVC 2 REST YOUR HEAD Lotus Leaves cushion, £45, Bridgman 3 SILK ROUTE STYLE Danataya hand-painted hanging lantern, £645, Out There Interiors 4 TAKE A SEAT Horn chair with a black lacquered finish and a brown rattan seat, £595, Orchid Furniture 5 SCREEN STAR Kyasha screen room divider in Blush, £100, Arthouse at Very 6 CUPBOARD LOVE Nine Schools Qing small cabinet in Oyster Grey, £195, Wooden Furniture Store 7 TOUCH OF GOLD Bamboo dressing mirror, £395, Sweetpea & Willow 8 TEA CEREMONY Tokyo Design Studio Arare teapot, £30, John Lewis 9 ALL A-FLUTTER Butterfly storage box, £8, Morrisons 10 CALMING INFLUENCE Buddha, £12, Maisons du Monde…

After a visit to the Palace of Versailles in France a few years ago, Dutch interior designer Petra Postmus honed her decor style. ‘I fell for the interiors of the Petit Trianon,’ recalls Petra, ‘and I realised this classic style is what I favour, albeit mixed with modern influences. I love the idea of transforming a home into a little château.’ The late 19th-century townhouse that Petra shares with her husband, Martin, is located in Utrecht, a city she describes as ‘a smaller version of Amsterdam, with its canals and a medieval town. I can get everywhere on my bike.’ When the couple bought the property, in 2011, they didn’t have far to move. ‘We were living seven doors down the street in a tiny 75-square-metre house,’ says Petra. ‘This place…

DECORATING ADVICE ‘Put together a pared-back palette of harmonious neutral tones that will complement the furniture and fixtures of the house’ Orla Lyons can certainly vouch for the fact that home is where the heart is. The Dublin property that she shares with her partner Glen Meade holds a wealth of memories, because she lived here from the age of four. ‘I grew up in this house along with my brother and sister,’ explains Orla. ‘My parents bought it just over 30 years ago and after a period living in the UK, we returned to it in the early 1990s.’ A classic, square new build of that era, the property benefited from some initial tweaks. Orla’s late mother, Imelda, an interior designer, decorated throughout. ‘It looked very different then,’ reflects Orla. ‘There…

Floss Lee’s yearning to move back to the countryside lured her, husband Andrew and their children Molly, 12, and Bertie, nine, to their charming home situated in the Berkshire Downs. ‘We’ve always enjoyed spending weekends in the area, so when we saw this house for sale in 2011, we jumped at the chance to buy,’ says Floss. With a 40-minute commute to London by train for Andrew’s work, it seemed an ideal location for the family to achieve their dream of rural living. ‘We instantly fell in love with the property,’ continues Floss. ‘It’s so pretty from the outside and has a lovely homely feel inside, and even though it’s 200 years old, it can handle contemporary touches mixed with tradition.’ The house was originally three cottages and once had a working…