Ideal Home

We’ve lived in our house for two and a half years now. At first the question everyone asked was ‘have you got much work to do?’ but recently I’ve noticed a shift and that’s moved into, ‘is everything done now?’ The answer? We’re not even close. And we probably never will be ‘finished’! Team Young are not great completer-finishers, so our snagging list is shamefully long. And while we may tick off the big projects, slowly, steadily, one by one, I’m constantly inspired to change things up, so I can’t see a time I’ll ever stop decorating. Don’t tell my other half (who’s busy using every spare minute to lay turf and decking in our garden), but I’m already quietly planning the next room revamp (our spare room). I challenge anyone…

MATT SIBERRY STYLE & TRENDS EXPERT As head of home at Pinterest, Matt is perfectly placed to spot the trends based on what we’re all searching for on Pinterest. NICKY PHILLIPS INTERIOR STYLIST & DESIGNER Nicky is a master of colour when it comes to decorating your home, from full room redos to easy tweaks. KALPANA FITZPATRICK MONEY EXPERT An award-winning financial journalist, Kalpana is a regular guest on TV and radio, and editor of moneyweek.com. SARAH RAVEN GARDEN EXPERT Sarah is a gardener, teacher and writer, and her monthly Ideal Home column is packed with advice and inspiration for small gardens. THE HOME OF GREAT IDEAS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS…

NEED TO KNOW Boho designs at John Lewis From his new spring collection in collaboration with John Lewis & Partners, Matthew Williamson has designed a range of boho bedding guaranteed to bring the summer vibes into your boudoir, as well as a dose of joyful colour. This fab peacock bedding comes in three sumptuous shades and is reversible too. Other pieces from the collection not to be missed are his range of stunning wall mirrors, with our current obsession being firmly focused on the gold scalloped shell design. IH LOVES... Tropical trays Tropical lush tray, £29, Gabrielle Good What to do this month... READ Interior design journalist Amy Moorea Wong’s debut coffee table book Kaleidoscope (£33, Hardie Grant) is a beautiful collection of curated homes in every shade, guaranteed to inspire your own relationship with colour at…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Annie Radley, an HR consultant, and her husband Richard, an IT executive, live here with their children Eliza, four, and one-year-old Alice, as well as Richard’s sons Aidan, 15, and Theo, 13, and rescue cat Fuzzy. THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian terrace in southeast London. “I love how much COLOUR and PATTERN we have throughout the house - it conveys a real sense of FUN and reflects our family values”ANNIE RADLEY HOMEOWNER THE LAYOUT Leading off the hall is a living room at the front of the house. An open-plan kitchen-diner forms the heart of the home, with a utility off the kitchen, and in the middle of the layout is a shower room/cloakroom. On the first floor, there’s a main bedroom with en suite, two children’s bedrooms (one doubles as a…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Francesca Johnson, a marketing consultant and interior designer, (@theconcept_incuration) and her partner Ben Shapland, an analyst for an energy company. THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom first-floor flat in a shared Victorian building in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, bought in 2020. Being confined to their London flat during the spring 2020 lockdown conversely made Francesca Johnson and partner Ben Shapland want to buy a property together. ‘We always thought we’d never leave London but, during lockdown, had enjoyed a quieter pace of life. We looked to St Leonards-on-Sea where we’d spent happy weekends and where several friends live,’ says Francesca. The couple discovered the right property after only a handful of viewings. ‘It was a glorious day and the flat was flooded with sunshine, feeling incredibly light and spacious and with so much…