After renovating this beautiful Edwardian house, Lucinda Kellaway used her interior design know-how to create a family home that is packed with bespoke fittings, statement furniture, bold paint colours and even bolder design ideas.

‘We moved down from London to Hove in 2019, as we wanted to escape the city for seaside living. We bought our first house in the area, but once our children were born, we quickly outgrew it. My husband spotted this property for sale and we loved the proportions of the rooms and the size of the garden,' says Lucinda.

'It had been a family home for 20 years, and it needed a lot of TLC and renovation. As a young family, we didn’t know if we would have the time or money to take on all the projects we had in mind, but we couldn’t pass on this opportunity. We took a gamble, bought the house in April 2023, and immediately cracked on with four months of building works.’

Designing the perfect layout

‘Our new home was a mash-up of an Edwardian property with a ’00s extension on the back. We found a good team of builders who took out the chimney breasts in the living room, family bathroom and master bedroom. With these gone, I could play around with the layouts of the rooms. We tore down a wall between the sitting room and galley kitchen, making a larger open-plan kitchen/dining space,' says Lucinda.

'Along the way, we uncovered issues like mouldy walls, a leaking roof, crumbling coving and rotten windows. We were lucky that we could still live in our old house while we renovated, avoiding all the builders’ dust and mess.

'In total, we renovated 11 rooms, which is wild thinking back on it. Having lived in a house during renovations before, we wanted all the chaos out of the way so that when we moved in, we could focus on enjoying the space.’

Starting renvoations

‘We turned a downstairs bedroom into a playroom, which one day will be a teenage hideaway. We put a shower room downstairs for hosing down the dog and so that when one of us is up very early for work, they won’t wake the other getting ready,' says Lucinda.

'We made the living room really cosy and inviting, with different zones so that it can feel like a family living room in the day and a grown-up adult space to relax in at night. Taking out a chimney breast in here was a big structural job. The original fireplaces were long gone, so we didn’t feel guilty about removing them.’

‘We didn’t want this connecting space to go to waste, so we created a cosy lounge area with a wraparound bookcase. A local company made the shelving.’

Creating their dream kitchen

'At the heart of our home is the kitchen, which is my favourite room. It opens out onto the garden, so our son and the dog can wander in and out. I love having a space where everyone can be together regardless of who’s cooking, it’s such a social and inviting space,' says Lucinda.

‘We removed a wall between the narrow galley kitchen and sitting room to create one big space. We chose our dream modern heritage kitchen.’

Mixing and matching the kitchen colours adds a fun, informal feel to a practical space.

Adding character to the bedroom

‘I’m a huge fan of colour-drenched rooms – it makes them feel really calm and inviting. I matched the bedroom carpet in a similar teal and painted the woodwork, walls and ceiling in the same shade,' explains Lucinda.

She added interest with a shapely headboard that will introduce gentle curves.

Channelling hotel chic in the bathroom

‘The family bathroom was inspired by a design in the Mitre Hotel. I wanted a luxe look in here, with a roll-top cast-iron bath and curvy Victorian-style basin. The panelled walls finish off the look.’

Lucinda dressed the windows with Venetian bathroom blinds that allow light to flood into a room while still ensuring privacy.

The ensuite channels moodier vibes.

‘One of the items on my mood boards was a black double vanity unit. I found this chest of drawers and customised it with our own washbasins and marble offcuts, which saved us a small fortune,' says Lucinda.

‘I love adding personality to functional spaces. The brass accents bring a touch of old-style glamour to our modern shower and blue bathroom.'

‘There’s not one room that hasn’t been touched. And for every single space I’ve really thought carefully about how I want it to work for our family for now, and in the future,' says Lucinda.

Swapping London for rural life was an easy decision for Kate and Arnold, who were keen for their children to reap the benefits of country living. However, finding the right location wasn’t so easy, thanks to a long wishlist that included being close to London, good schools and a pub.

Many viewings later, the couple found their dream home, on the edge of a village green. ‘It was big enough for what we wanted, but it needed a lot of work,’ says Kate.

Discovering the history

Before plans could be drawn up, a Heritage Report was required to determine the age of every part of the house and identify areas of historical interest that had to be kept.

‘We worked with our architect to stay faithful to the history of the house, while creating a layout that works for us.’ It took 18 months to get planning permission, then work could start.

Starting the work

The house had last been updated in the 1970s and needed a complete overhaul, including turning the dark, compact rooms into spaces with flow. The solution was to replace an old lean-to with a pitched-roof kitchen diner extension, creating a bright kitchen-diner and turning the old kitchen into a cosy snug.

‘The pitch of the extension mirrors the house, and we used similar roof tiles to make it blend in. The only giveaway is the modern glazing – it floods the space with light and creates a seamless link with the new patio,’ says Kate.

Functionality was top priority when it came to the ground floor layout, and Kate added a large utility and small pantry to the extension.

‘The utility was one of the best decisions we made as all the appliances can be tucked away behind the reeded glass pocket door,’ says Kate. Reworking the older part of the house, however, was more challenging due to its Grade II listing. The architects devised clever adaptations, such as dividing an awkward yet historically important area of the house into a guest en suite and a cloakroom.

Restoring original features

The beams required restoration. ‘We hired a firm which specialises in low pressure micro-strip soda blasting designed for listed buildings, and it was the best investment we made. The beams bring warmth and interest to the rooms,’ says Kate.

The couple also restored the floor in the guest room, scraping away a screed to reveal quarry tiles. ‘We’ve reused as much as possible, such as the upstairs floorboards that became shelving in the utility and bathrooms, and wall cladding in our bedroom. I even repurposed three mid-century cabinets and turned them into vanity units.’

Interior design

Kate has created a cosy, layered look that flows cohesively from room to room, despite each space feeling uniquely different in character. ‘When it came to decorating, I allowed the period features and the daylight levels to direct me,’ she says.

‘I’ve added richer colours like deep greens and pinks in the darker rooms, and kept the brighter rooms light and airy, while the old, rustic elements of the house have been enhanced with vintage furniture, tactile tiles and quirky heirlooms. It’s come together perfectly and we couldn’t be happier.’

The main bedroom was originally three small rooms. 'We felt it was perfectly positioned to become a main suite with its own corridor away from the kids’ bedrooms,’ says Kate. ‘Taking out all the walls meant the ceiling had to come down, and that’s when we found the beautiful attic beams, crying out to be a vaulted ceiling.’

The walls were painted in Chalk limewash paint from Bauwerk Colour, which lets the walls breathe and the beams shine.

‘I wanted to make this a fun, playful family bathroom, so I picked boldly patterned floor tiles from Bert & May and robust fittings that would stand up to the demands of teenagers,’ says Kate. ‘Green and white with brass is one of my favourite colour combos.’

What is your favourite part of this stunning period property renovation?

When this young family first moved into their Victorian home in Brighton, the kitchen was part of the original structure and typical of a period property - long and narrow, with a lean-to utility that had been added at a later date. ‘We extended out to the length of the lean-to and a metre to the side,’ says the owner.

‘This kitchen extension allowed us to reconfigure the space and provided side access to the garden and wonderful uninterrupted views to the outside.’ Originally, the kitchen felt dark and confined. ‘There were two decaying patio doors at the back that slugs loved to slide underneath to come in and the utility space was blocking views down the garden, sothat was moved to the centre of the house.’

Alongside architects Flower Michelin and interiors by Rebecca Wakefield, the couple completed their dream supplier team with a kitchen from Pluck. ‘We found Pluck via Instagram and they were really great to work with. The quality of the kitchen is one of the best parts of the build,’ says the owner.

When it came to the design, the couple used Pinterest to find inspiration, as well as elements to avoid. ‘We love a bit of Scandi-chic – spaces that feel really quiet and calm, but with warm and cosy features, too.

'From looking at our Pinterest boards we realised that it was always wooden kitchens we were drawn to,' she says. 'They feel warm and homely but classic at the same time – something we wouldn’t get bored of.’

The kitchen island was a key feature of the layout and the couple opted for a long run of units to complement the design. ‘Not only is this a great space when we’re filming and creating content (for our Instagram account @theannaedit), but it’s a real hub for everyone. We all seem to congregate here when friends and family are over and there’s plenty of room for our little one to play while we make dinner or tidy up.’

The family lived in the house during the build, moving the kitchen temporarily into the playroom. ‘It wasn’t ideal, but we made it work,’ she says. ‘The build definitely didn’t run as smoothly as we’d like and we ran into a few problems when the concrete floor was poured. However, we have since had this fixed. We started renovating in November 2022 and the space is still not entirely finished - but it really is the heart of our home.’

Take the tour of this Scandi-style kitchen extension...

‘We’re big fans of drawers, it makes organisation and keeping things tidy so much easier. And means we don’t need to get down and crouch to get something out.’

‘We have underfloor heating under the polished concrete floor. We just love the textured, unrefined look it gives.'

The run of units includes a crockery cupboard, a fridge and a double unit pantry, with two hidden drawers inside.’It’s pretty good for storage - there’s just the right amount of space for what we need and everything has a home,' she says.

‘Initially we wanted to keep the floating shelf bare, but over time we’ve collected little bits and bobs from places we visit and we want to keep growing the collection. It’s those little touches that make it feel like home.’

'My husband insisted on the skylight and I’m so glad that he did! It really adds a gorgeous light to the space, even on a grey day. We are going to add in a few more lamps for moody evening lighting in the future.'

‘Our old kitchen had so many wall hung units and we just found that it really closed up the space. Thankfully we didn’t need them in the new space as the run of cabinets was pretty long.’

‘Over time we’ve collected little bits and bobs for our floating shelf. It’s those little touches that make it feel like home.’

'In terms of design we could have done with a bigger sink, but it just wasn’t something we really noticed at the time.'

‘Behind the dining table is fluted oak veneered MDF. We love it so much - it’s such a statement piece - again it’s great for texture and sound in the room, too. The table was from our old flat, but our carpenter sanded and varnished it to fit in with our new kitchen. The old in the new.’

'Having a little one in our lives means the kitchen is the heart of the home. There’s plenty of space for him to play with his cars and trains, whilst we make dinner or tidy up.'

'We moved the utility to the centre of the house and now have the full width of the back of the house looking out onto our garden. It’s such a great view.'

'The best decision was the large windows. It gives us uninterrupted views at the back - we’re so lucky it doesn’t feel too overlooked. The curtains are a semi-sheer linen. They add such a softness to the room. We use them every evening - it makes the room feel cosier.'

‘Sitting in the corner seat is one of our favourite places to sit in the house - it gets a lot of use. It’s bespoke from our carpenter Caleb, from Oak & Almond, and there’s a lot of slide-out storage underneath which we keep a few garden and beach bits.'

'There’s storage under the banquette seating in the dining room, too. It’s so lovely to look out through our windows into the garden - the sunset can sometimes take your breath away!'

Get the Look

A family media room has always been on my home must-have list, so when we moved into our 1960s detached house in Worcestershire four years ago, I set about working out how to create one. The front of the house had an ugly car port that was too narrow for a modern car, so I drew up plans to create an infill extension. I took my time trawling through living room ideas before coming up with a plan that we could achieve on our budget.

We financed the project through a loan and knew the maximum we could spend, including all furniture, tech and finishing touches, was £30,000. Considering how much an extension costs in the UK (around £2,000 per m2), and our finished room would be 27.5m2 – our calculations meant it should cost closer to £55,000 for the build alone. But using a combination of savvy planning and DIY, we managed to bring it in on budget.

1. We got the basics right

Because the car port was at the front of our house, I knew we’d need to apply for planning permission for the extension. We didn’t need an architect as I had a clear idea of what I wanted the layout to be like. Instead, I paid a local CAD designer to draw up the floorplans and elevations we needed, then managed the planning application with our local authority myself.

We also needed a structural engineer to calculate the size of the steels we’d need. In total, these fees came to £500. Building regulations approval through our local authority, came in at another £600.

To keep costs down, I designed the extension to use three existing walls – two on the house and one on the garage. This meant the building work, including a 3m aluminium window and a 2x2m rooflight, came in at £18,000. I halved the size of an existing large downstairs toilet to give us the easiest access to the new space.

2. We were savvy with our media wall design

For me, the media wall aspect of this new space was key. It needed to look good but also function. Hours on YouTube and Instagram helped me draw up plans for a studwork media wall with LED strip lighting and space for integrated TV. I hate wires and cables being on show, so I designed a shelf space to be hidden behind the TV where we have a wireless booster, TV boxes and games consoles.

We looked at various options for heating the room but decided on an electric fire as we could install it ourselves and it didn’t need any flues adding or planning permission. The room is 5.5m wide so we looked for the biggest fire we could find and settled on this 190cm Onyx Avanti electric fire..

We opted for real logs to sit in the bottom which make it look as real as possible – although my daughters insist on having pink flames, which might not be quite as realistic! Part of the fun is being able to adjust the colours, flame height and heat output using either the remote control or app.

We have a smaller snug where we try not to use the TV but for this room we knew we wanted the biggest and best-quality TV we could find. We built an alcove to fit a 77’’ flatscreen TV on a mount that pulls out to allow easy access behind. The Samsung S90C QD-OLED is incredibly slim so perfect for wall mounting. I like brains with my beauty and this TV performs, offering crystal-clear picture, great gaming (according to the husband) and sound that gives a cinema experience at home. Probably my favourite thing is that it automatically enchances everything you watch to 4K, so even older films and TV shows look lifelike.

3. We really thought about finishing touches

There’s no point having a great TV and roaring fire with nowhere to sit and enjoy them, so we hunted high and low for a big sofa without a giant price tag. The Joules Gilmorton corner sofa is really big (320x320cm), super comfy and brilliant value. It also comes in sections, which we needed due to the narrow access to the room. The buttoned footstool has already doubled as a stage for the girls, as well as doubling up as a handy coffee table when we pop a tray on it.

The room is north facing so I decided to embrace that and paint in a dark blue-green called Tea with Florence, from Little Greene. To add extra warmth, I chose an accent chair and cushions from Dusk in a rust colour.

4. We did what we could ourselves

Given that we’d spent £20,000 of our £30,000 budget on the building work and permissions, we knew DIY was the only way we’d get the look we’d wanted without overspending. We spent every spare moment we could taking on tasks that would save us money – from installing the insulation to plasterboarding and my husband being the electrician’s apprentice!

We used YouTube tutorials to build the media wall from studwork. This is where our forward planning came in to it's own as we built the frame to fit the TV and fire we’d chosen – there’s no way we could have added these in at the last minute.

I’m the decorator in the household, so I sanded, mist coated and painted the walls, ceiling and woodwork myself, which saved us another chunk of money.

Doing so much DIY has meant the room has taken three years from start to completion, but it’s been well worth it as we’ve learnt so many new skills and saved at least £25,000 on what we’d have paid contractors to do the work for us. We’ve now got the perfect family media room – even if it has taken a while to get it!

Buying their parents 1930s home from them, was a safe bet for these home owners. But while they loved the style of the property, they couldn’t wait to get started on the kitchen reno.

‘Having bought my parents’ home from them in March 2019, we were keen to make changes,’ says the home owner. ‘Moving from a new build, we loved the 1930s character and knew we could eventually reconfigure the layout and add a two-storey extension to create a fourth bedroom and bigger kitchen’

‘So after decorating the two reception rooms, kids’ bedrooms and bathroom, we turned our attention to the galley kitchen. As well as giving us time to save up, we wanted to live here for a while and see how we used the space.’

The kitchen before

‘The old kitchen was a long galley-style layout lined with cream gloss units from top to bottom. It felt really claustrophobic and dark despite being a south-facing room and some of the doors were hanging off. There was a small space next to the door for a tiny table but no dedicated dining space for a family of four.’

‘Creating a connection with the garden and having a sociable island with hob were both important with the kitchen extension. I also wanted dark green walls, gold accents and shelves rather than wall cupboards.’

The kitchen now

‘I’m glad we waited a couple of years as our original vision for the kitchen was massively different to what we ended up with. Originally we'd intended to make the kitchen a lot bigger and incorporate our second reception room.'

'However, we realised we needed a proper working room that you can shut the door on and not be surrounded by cooking smells while watching TV. It also meant we could keep more of the side terrace.’

‘Our architect helped us re-think the space in a way we couldn't imagine. I’d envisaged bi-folds across the rear as previously you had to go through the utility to reach the garden. However she put them at the side leading onto our courtyard area and said a large window overlooking the garden would give more room for a bigger dining table. In the end we went for three windows as I felt one would've been too much.’

‘After we ripped out the old kitchen units, our builders knocked the old kitchen and utility into one and added a small extension. We also stole some space from the garage to create a more compact utility/laundry room.’

‘The entry door to the kitchen was moved to give sight lines from the front door to the garden. It also allowed for more effective placement of kitchen units and meant we could squeeze in a downstairs shower room. To support the upstairs, we needed a structural beam, which was sunk into the ceiling so it didn’t divide the room.’

‘As there were some miscalculations made on the groundworks, the four-month project stretched to nine months and we moved into a rented flat for six months. The foundations took a huge chunk of our budget, so we had to save money by choosing a cheaper kitchen with laminate worktops, which we might change later on.’

‘The dark green wall colour and dark wood-effect LVT flooring were the starting points for the dark kitchen colour scheme. Cost dictated the units as we couldn’t afford a bespoke colour.'

'We opted for a matt black handleless design called Milano Ultra in Nero Satin from Wren Kitchens with a black worktop and gold accent island. More money was spent on appliances we could re-use in future but we bought them during the sales and stored them in the garage.’

'Not wanting any wall-mounted kitchen cabinets, we used reclaimed wood for shelves so the space would feel more ‘decorated’ but with extra storage. We also packed in as much storage in our island as possible and included one full-length cupboard next to the oven.’

‘Having run out of money, most of the accessories are pieces we already had in other rooms. We added wooden shelves along the full wall opposite the kitchen so the room didn’t feel unbalanced.'

'To help the light bounce around, we went for a gold ceiling and gold trim by the windows. Finally we mounted a Samsung frame TV and complementary artwork in a gallery wall.’

‘Kitchen lighting was really key too, so we chose four separate light sources all operated on a dimmer switch to create focal interest and light the kitchen depending on the occasion. Having a tight budget forced us to shop around and get better value for money.’

‘When it came to the island, I was inspired by a beautiful gold island I’d seen online and we managed to find gold laminate doors within our budget. I'm so pleased with how it looks.'

‘The kitchen is amazing at Christmas as we can have a full house with us four, my mam, dad, brother, uncle, and two grandparents. The kids have space elsewhere to play while the adults are in here having a drink and chatting to my husband who cooks dinner.’

‘Having a hob on the kitchen island makes it easy and is much more sociable. We hung two pendants off-centre as I was really conscious that the kitchen was busier on one side and I wanted to balance it out’

‘I was worried the kitchen colour might look too dark but with the extra windows, it still feels bright.'

'I’d originally just wanted gold around the windows, but we decided to paint the ceiling as well to stop the dark walls making the room feel dingy. Although the first coat looked dreadful, by the third coat I felt a lot better about it and my husband loved it too’

‘As my parents had previously lived here, I was a little bit apprehensive about what they’d think, but they absolutely love the kitchen and my dad said they should’ve done this 20 years ago.’

We moved back to Belfast from London two years ago and found a Victorian home with such good bones we could live there comfortably, taking our time to put our stamp on it.

Our vision was always to plan a kitchen extension and make the most of the space to the back of the house and let lots more light in.

Now our big kitchen extension idea is becoming a reality with planning permission granted and contractors on site, we chose to get the project off to a good start sooner rather than later to keep to our renovation budget.

Even though it's not the best timing, with winter well and truly here, we decided that to save on our new kitchen further we would knuckle down and stay put for the build to keep costs down. It made sense to avoid moving our young family out with all the further upheaval that would bring to boot.

And with that decision, came the tricky question: how will we cook? That's where our temporary kitchen plan and set-up came into play.

With the help of our contractors, some open shelving and a small utility space we have created a little kitchen set up to cook. It's nothing fancy and is not unlike camping, but it's been a game-changer for our family. We can cook almost everything we could in our kitchen space and I'm not even exaggerating.

If you're considering setting up a similar temporary cooking space during your renovation, the following three kitchen appliances are making our daily culinary adventures a breeze.

1. A multi cooker is our new best friend

When your kitchen is out of action, a multi-cooker quickly becomes your best friend. This relatively compact, versatile appliance is the superhero of temporary kitchens, offering a multitude of cooking functions in one sleek package.

What makes a multi-cooker ideal for a renovation is its adaptability. Many models combine slow cooking, pressure cooking, steaming, and even baking into one device. We've been relying on our multi-cooker even before our renovation began.

We have the Ninja Foodi Max Multi Cooker, 7-in-1, which can do pretty much anything you need it to, including pressure cooking a hearty stew or bolognese, sautéeing a stir-fry or just air frying the perfect chips, this is one of the best multi-cookers and it has got you covered, no oven required.

The only thing we find it doesn't do is cook a pizza as it's just not big enough to house one whole and it doesn't really work when you cut it into slices. But I'm seriously considering the ProCook electric pizza oven air fryer to add to my culinary arsenal as our ProCook electric pizza oven review says it's a surefire hit. And I've also had my eye on the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 multifunction oven which will cook a pizza easily and has lots more oven features.

However, the multicooker is one of those gadgets that will keep earning its place on your worktop long after the paint dries. A top tip? Opt for a model with a removable, non-stick pot for easy cleaning because the last thing you need during a renovation is more mess to deal with, especially if you haven't got a dishwasher plumbed in.

2. A portable induction hob is a game-changer

As foodies, we couldn't bear the thought of weeks without a proper cooked meal so a portable induction hob has been an absolute lifesaver.

These compact and energy-efficient devices offer precise temperature control and can handle everything from boiling pasta to sautéing vegetables. We opted for the Tefal Everyday induction hob which you can pick up easily at Amazon. It boils water in a matter of seconds and has also convinced us we need to get an induction hob over gas.

If you have more space to play with, look for one with dual burners - it’ll feel like a mini version of your soon-to-be-fabulous kitchen. A good alternative to our portable induction hob is the Smeg portable induction hob, which you can pick up on their website. It gets stellar reviews (and our review is imminent).

One thing I will say is you should position the hob near a window or extractor fan to keep cooking smells in check.

3. We can't live without our humble microwave

Having a microwave in a temporary kitchen seems like a no-brainer but this humble kitchen appliance essential deserves a big shoutout as we use ours on the daily. It's compact, versatile and efficient.

Truthfully, we are using my in-law's old microwave as our built-in was sold with our old kitchen. However, if I were to invest in one for our temporary setup, I'd look for a model with a combination function - grill, convection, and standard microwave settings all in one, like the highly rated Russell Hobbs RHM2366B 3-in-1 microwave. They are on the pricier end of the scale but they let you get creative without needing multiple appliances. Think crispy jacket potatoes, a bubbling lasagne, or even a Sunday roast, all without the bulk of a full oven.

If you're not looking to spend a ton, a slimline model with easy-to-clean surfaces is important too, and the Russell Hobbs solo manual microwave is a great option, especially if your temporary kitchen doubles as your dining or living area. Just make sure you place it on a sturdy surface near a plug socket, and if you're not sure where to put a microwave, just ensure there’s ventilation around the appliance for safety.

And we've stashed a ton of microwave-safe containers handy as they’re our go-to for everything from reheating leftovers to steaming veg or even poaching eggs.

So there you have it; the three kitchen appliances we invested in before embarking on our renovation.

It's also important to note that a good steady surface is a necessity for these appliances, alongside enough space to do your food prep.

For many homeowners, creating a light-filled space and increasing storage are two of the key driving forces behind a kitchen renovation – and this was certainly the case for Julia Williams and her husband John. The couple’s existing kitchen was starved of light and looked out onto an alleyway, putting it in desperate need of a refresh.

Following a small extension, the couple considered several types of kitchen ideas until they decided on a country kitchen design in a beautiful green colourway that befits their Victorian townhouse.

Extending the kitchen to create more space

To give Julia and John more space for their new kitchen, they added a kitchen extension, designed by interior architect David Rose, linking it to an existing barn.

This transformed the previously compact kitchen into an open-plan hub and the space was instantly brightened by the addition of a skylight above the main cooking area.

However, as with many kitchen renovations – especially those in period homes – it needed extra character to bring it to life.

Creating a colourful country kitchen

To help with the kitchen design, Julia enlisted Kasia Piorko, founder and lead designer at Kate Feather, who came up with some creative solutions to incorporate all the things on the couple’s wish list. Julia wanted traditional Shaker-style kitchen cabinets to bring heritage charm using a dark colour scheme for drama.

‘Initially, Julia wanted to paint the cabinetry black, but I suggested a deep-green shade; it is slightly softer and grounds the space,’ says Kasia. ‘We paired it with lots of natural materials to keep things fresh and bright.’

Together, these elements channel the country aesthetic that Julia loves, as well as providing a sense of harmony with the garden, which is visible through the sliding patio doors. The walls are clad in simple birch kitchen panelling with a wood grain for a rustic texture. ‘We chose to dress the space with a blend of natural materials that would develop a patina over time,’ explains Kasia.

Aged-brass details, including the tap, hanging rails and hardware, bring warmth to the inky-hued cabinets and neutral wall panelling. The Carrara marble worktops keep the design classic in style, while the engineered oak wood kitchen flooring adds warmth underfoot.

Figuring out the perfect layout

Kitchen layout also plays an essential role in bringing a bright and spacious feel to the new kitchen. Due to the pitch of the ceiling in the small extension, the wall where the kitchen cabinets were positioned with the kitchen sink and the Aga was quite low, so Kasia came up with the solution of using open shelving instead of tall wall cabinets. This adds character while maintaining the light and airy feel.

One of the key elements the couple wanted for their new kitchen was an island. ‘Julia and John wanted to have as large an island as possible, but they were also concerned that it could end up too big. We played with the scale and mocked it up in the space,’ says Kasia. ‘We eventually decided to add a freestanding butcher’s table to the end of the island that could be easily moved if needed.’

Enjoying the Aga

The Aga range cooker was another non-negotiable in creating the cosy country kitchen that Julia craved. ‘She was brought up in a home with an Aga and she fell in love with its warmth and cosiness,’ explains Kasia. ‘Julia’s had an Aga in every one of her places ever since.’

For practicality, a second oven is cleverly concealed within the island with electrical cables hidden down an island leg, while deep pan drawers were chosen for efficiency in the main kitchen.

Installing a pantry

A walk-in pantry, tucked away behind a barn-style sliding door, provides ample kitchen storage ideas and keeps the rest of the kitchen uncluttered. Opting for a sliding door saves space and also adds another element of interest to the kitchen.

The kitchen pantry space also houses an American-style fridge freezer so it didn’t dominate the kitchen and become a focus. ‘We had to install the appliance first and then build the pantry wall around it,’ explains Kasia. ‘We chose to paint the pantry in a warm plaster shade and also used it on the butcher’s table as an accent colour.’

With its timeless aesthetic and rustic finishes, Julia and John’s new kitchen certainly brings a taste of the country to this city townhouse.

Family is often the guiding force behind a renovation project – after all, we all want a home that lets us relax and spend time together.

For many households, the motivation for a kitchen renovation is to create a space where family and friends can gather to share a meal and where children can play or do homework while their parents cook.

In order to create their dream family kitchen, Olive and Hugo Guest – with the help of designers at Neptune – sought to transform a former stables into a spacious kitchen-diner.

Designing the perfect kitchen

‘We wanted to create a haven for our family that felt warm and inviting,’ says Olive Guest. However, their home, Glebe Stables, was a long way from this vision when she and her husband Hugo took over the property in 2020.

‘Until the 1950s it had been the stables for the Georgian vicarage, Glebe House,’ Olive explains. ‘In the 1980s, Hugo’s parents had turned it into a residential outbuilding – the hay loft was transformed into two bedrooms, while the old stable beneath became the garage with a very small kitchen area. Where our new kitchen extension is now had once been the pig sties.’

Extending the space

In order to achieve their dream, Olive and Hugo planned the two-storey extension to create a new light and spacious traditional kitchen, plus two new bedrooms and a bathroom above.

‘We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty so planning can be lengthy,’ says Olive. ‘It took around two years to get planning permission for the extension and another year for the build.’

An island was a must-have

One essential element of creating their dream family-friendly kitchen was a multi-purpose island.

‘Not only would it provide space for us to prep, but also somewhere for family craft projects and for the boys to play. They are four and two years old, and we love cooking with them – baking biscuits, rolling out pasta – and generally getting very messy,’ says Olive.

‘Having a large kitchen island space as well as a little seating and dining area means we can all live, play and work together in a way that doesn’t feel like we’re all on top of each other.’

Creating an Italian-inspired kitchen

When it came to cabinetry, the solid oak and painted timber of Neptune’s Henley kitchen was the perfect fit. Its classic country kitchen style and the exposed wood of the base units complemented the original Georgian building while embracing warm kitchen colour trends brought much-needed character to the extension.

‘We love how kitchens in Italy have happy colours and lots of character, and we wanted to bring some of that to our home,’ says Olive. ‘We also get inspired when we’re out on walks with the boys at the local beaches. We love the oranges and patchwork of greens of the unique cliffs along the nearby Jurassic coastline, and it led us to pick the warm terracotta shades.'

'There is also a postbox-red boat that sits on the beach at Branscombe, and we love the idea of having a bold pop of red somewhere, which inspired the colour for the red island.’

The space was completed with a subtle chequerboard terracotta kitchen flooring. ‘It was a real labour of love – I hadn’t quite appreciated it would need six coats of sealer, but it was worth it,’ says Hugo.

Adding lights

For artist Olive and chef Hugo, natural light is essential, both for their creativity and work.

Having windows on three sides of the kitchen certainly brightens the room and the eye-catching green frames contrast with the walls and emphasise the natural light.

Softer golden kitchen lighting ideas provided by lamps, wall lights and glass pendants add to the atmosphere and illumination. Understanding how to plan kitchen lighting is essential in winter – it will transform a cold dark space into a warm and cosy spot.

Living the dream

‘Previously, we didn’t spend much time in the kitchen as there was not enough space,’ explains Olive. ‘However, our new kitchen-diner has surpassed all expectations – we’re always gathering in here now as a family.'

'We feel very house proud and have a long list of friends to invite over for our Christmas celebrations.’

When Victoria and Max moved into their house 13 years ago, soon after their wedding, it had just been converted from a stable into a three-bedroom family home. After having their third child eight years later, they realised that they would have to move if they didn’t extend.

Making the kitchen larger to include an open-plan seating area meant that the original living room could be converted into a master bedroom, with the adjoining garage playroom becoming an en suite. Their aim was to create a good-sized bathroom in keeping with the aesthetic of the house but with a practical, modern finish, all within a budget of £10,000.

‘I wanted to include a bath, walk-in shower and separate washbasins,’ says Victoria. ‘I knew I wanted a green colour palette as it’s my “colour for calm” and the tiles were my starting point. I fell in love with two tile choices: a stripe configuration and a chequerboard. I simply couldn’t decide which one to use, so I used both!’

The chequerboard floor tile idea has been used throughout, including inside the shower, to help the space flow. Tiles in a stripe design work well with the tongue-and-groove panelling, and elongate the room.

'The tile designs have married well together – the checks anchor the space, and the stripes are stunning yet practical,’ Victoria adds.

The couple knew they wanted brushed living brassware taps and mixers so sourced those from Claybrook. ‘I loved the utility feel of the taps - they looked like pipework coming out of the walls,’ says Victoria. ‘I went on to choose a simple bath, large enough to bath all the children in at once.'

The reeded glass shower screen allows the light through, keeping the space open, and brings another texture into the space. It was also important to Victoria that they reused materials where possible, so she asked a local carpenter to modify a storage cupboard, which was originally in the kitchen.

‘Throughout the build, I repurposed different elements of the old house into the new renovations,’ she says. ‘One of the most challenging moments of the project was that the walk-in shower had to dip to allow for drainage. The tilers wanted to cut the tiles diagonally, but I insisted on keeping them whole, so that the pattern stayed consistent - and we got there in the end.'

'The vanity unit was a whole other story,' Victoria tells us. 'I wanted it to be classic looking with drawers, and to fit two washbasins in a limited space. I love how the rounded washbasins contrast with the lines of the tiles.’

The couple went for a bespoke vanity unit from Parker Howley & Co, which ticked all of their boxes. 'It could even be finished in the same paint colour I was using on the rest of the woodwork, Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball,' Victoria adds. 'All the walls were painted in a soft white to allow the green tiles to shine in the space.’

Brass detailing brings in a luxury finish, while living brassware taps and mixers add an organic texture and utility feel. The long niche ensures toiletries are kept easily to hand. Fortunately, the project didn't require any exterior changes, as Victoria insisted on keeping the garage doors. 'This not only saved money, but it also allows easy access to the plumbing,’ she explains.

'Now the project is complete, the bathroom is like a sanctuary tucked away at the far end of the house,' Victoria tells us. 'Not only can we wash all the children in the bath at the same time, but I can enjoy relaxing alone time there too.’

Get the look

Undertaking any interior renovation project requires an intimate understanding of the space – from how the sunlight travels across the room during the day, to working with original features and embracing unique layouts. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, especially when it comes to kitchen renovations.

Creating a focal point

When designing a kitchen, the first task is to identify a focal point, explains Destiny Smith, designer for Harvey Jones, who created this space. ‘I always start by pinpointing a stand-out feature, which I can then build the kitchen around. It helps to ground the room and ensure that everything works together harmoniously.’

This was an easy task when it came to Kathryn Parker and Hyder Jumabhoy’s home. Located in the heart of the stunning Cotswolds, the stone property is brimming with personality, potential and an abundance of original features. From the outset, however, it was abundantly clear that the restored fireplace would serve as the focal point of the kitchen, the point around which everything else would orbit.

‘We chose the chimney breast as the focal point because of the texture, charm and warmth it brought to the space. It is also positioned centrally, which made it a natural heart to the room,’ explains Destiny. ‘The muted honey colour of the exposed Cotswold stone also inspired us when we were planning the more decorative elements.’

Establishing a colour palette

One of the first decisions was the colour palette, decided upon before even the layout and kitchen cabinetry style were finalised. Influenced by the golden tones of the brick fireplace, they opted for a soft cream tone on the walls with a slightly darker shade on the cabinetry, this kept the room feeling bright while also bringing in a sense of timeless country charm.

With that decided, the next step was to select the cabinetry. ‘The homeowners were immediately drawn to these Shaker-style doors and they work so well here. The raised beading gives it a really traditional look that is befitting of the 17th-century farmhouse,’ explains Destiny.

The units were topped with wooden worktops which imbue the room with an intrinsic warmth, and the addition of another natural material perfectly complements the exposed stone of the fireplace. Cupped and knobbed handles complete the country aesthetic.

‘We didn’t set out to plan a country kitchen, but each element came together to create this stunning space that is full of rural charm,’ says Destiny.

Celebrating original features

Another stand-out feature is the leaded windows, set in stone mullions, through which the sun illuminates the room with a soft autumnal glow at this time of year.

‘We wanted to capitalise on the natural light and embrace rustic kitchen ideas to create a space that felt warm and welcoming,’ says Destiny. ‘We kept the tall and wall cabinets to a minimum, using them to frame the chimney breast, and balanced closed-door cabinets with an open plate rack and glazed panelling to ensure everything felt bright and airy.’

The addition of a separate larder and utility room also helped, removing the need for excessive kitchen storage in the main kitchen.

Embracing open-plan living

The rise in open-plan kitchen ideas has changed the approach to kitchen designs. In this case, the kitchen is connected to a generous dining area through a beamed archway, joined by spacious kitchen island ideas.

‘The island was pivotal when we were planning the kitchen layout because it links all the areas together. Both homeowners are keen cooks, so it was essential that there was enough space for them to both work in the kitchen simultaneously,’ explains Destiny.

‘To unite the two areas, the side of the island that faces the dining area features open shelving rather than closed cabinetry – giving the homeowners space to store their favourite cookbooks. Aesthetically this joins the two spaces together and introduces a lifestyle element while still being very functional.’

The finished kitchen is a masterclass in simple elegance. Everything works together in perfect harmony with the newer pieces blending seamlessly with the history of the house. But the real test is what do the owners think? ‘Destiny designed such a beautiful kitchen and really brought our vision to life,’ says Kathryn. ‘Coming downstairs to make a cup of coffee each morning really brings us such immense joy.’

Every day is a school day when you’re building an extension. From plot levelling and planning permission to unexpected, usually unwelcome, structural surprises, the process is full of valuable lessons.

My husband and I have renovated several properties in the past 20+ years, and we’ve always been completely hands-on, doing as much as we can ourselves and project managing every step of the way. Due to lack of funds more than choice admittedly but there’s been lots of highs, lows, memories and silly mistakes made. My (least) favourite was the time the roofer took the ceiling up in our loft bathroom…while I was in the shower. 

We built a 10m x 4.5m single-storey extension to the rear of our Victorian detached home in Devon in 2019/20, creating an amazing open-plan kitchen-diner extension that opens level to the patio and garden beyond. It was our first extension of this scale, and a massive learning curve. Here are 9 things I discovered along the way.

1. The importance of getting a good architect

For your average, straightforward rear extension ideas, this doesn’t necessarily mean good in creative terms. What I rate more highly in an architect, is a practical head and down-to-earth approach. I was straight about my budget from the get-go, and I didn’t want or need a unique, imposing, unnecessarily complicated vanity project. I’ve watched Grand Designs; it rarely goes smoothly!

My architect explained the cost implications of every inch of his design, so I could decide what was worth it, and what really wasn’t. Labour fees can have the biggest impact, and he was good at identifying when there was a quicker building approach that wouldn’t compromising quality. If your architect does get carried away, don’t be afraid to beat him or her back to reality (not actually beat, that’s illegal).

I also recommend taking your builder to planning meetings if possible. Ours came up with some fast-track suggestions – like using Trench blocks in the foundations rather than bricks back-filled with concrete, which saved several days’ labour costs.

Focusing on the practical – how the extension will connect with the garden, the best roof options etc – doesn’t mean you’ll end up with an ugly, boring box. I asked my architect for a design that would complement our Victorian redbrick home, using attractive materials and with a bit of shape/detailing to give it interest. I think the boy (man) did good. 

2. You may need to update your existing property

Unless you live in a fairly new property, adding an extension may have knock-on implications for the existing plumbing and electrics. In short, ours did not comply with modern building regulations, especially the fuseboard, so everything had to be updated before we could connect up the new extension. Otherwise, it wouldn’t get signed off by the building control officer. 

Everybody knows to add a 10-15% slush fund for unexpected costs but redoing all the electrics and plumbing throughout smashed ours out of the park. Not least because it also involved new fittings for three bathrooms that we hadn’t planned to update for a year or three. Ouch.  

A friend of mine had to re-route public drainage underneath where he planned to extend, which involved all manner of paperwork and permissions, delaying the project by months. Another discovered her home had woeful foundations and she had to spend thousands remedying that before laying one brick of her extension.

The take-home here is to really do your research regarding your home’s existing infrastructure and utilities in an attempt to swerve any nasty surprises.

3. Get detailed quotes

It’s no doubt boring for tradespeople to have to write detailed costings when quoting for work but if you don’t insist upon it, you may wind up getting stung for a whole host of unanticipated extras that don't fit in your original cost to build an extension plan. Things like screed (so much screed), expanding foam, ducting, guttering and even radon barrier sheeting, which I didn’t even know existed, all add up.

Other expenses that are hard to quantify but need considering include external groundworks – our existing garden got absolutely mullered by all the diggers and concrete mixers driving over it, and the lawn need to be levelled and resown once the extension was finished. I also had to install a new patio because the exit level was different from before, which I had been forewarned about but it was still shockingly expensive. 

4. Shopping for glazing must not be rushed

Most extensions are heavily glazed to make the most of that indoor-outdoor living experience. If bringing more light into your home is one of your top priorities, you’re probably considering some form of sliding/bi-folding doors and plenty of roof windows.  

Glazing can account for around 40% of your budget, so the pressure to get it right is high. My budget was £10,000 for two sets of sliding doors (1 x 3.8m wide and 1 x 2.4m wide), plus four windows and three big skylights. I thought this was generous. I was wrong. It was enough to buy uPVC framed glazing, but I ended up stretching to around £16,000 for aluminium because it offers slimmer frames (to maximise the garden view) and better stability. Steel frames would have been the dream, but sadly not on our budget!

When it comes to the shopping part, you really do need to get out there – I visited seven showrooms, sliding sliders and folding bi-folds to check for smooth action and runner quality. Another glazing tip is to splash out on solar control glass, especially if your extension is south-facing. I’ve experienced extensions with large roof lanterns that feel hotter than the surface of the sun in spring and become unbearable in summer. 

5. You need the layout planned before first fix

The first fix in building parlay essentially means running in the electrical cables and plumbing pipes before the walls and ceiling are insulated/plastered and the flooring is laid. To do it, your electrician and plumber will need to know exactly where each wire and pipe goes. 

Your architect and builder will provide the necessary technical drawings for the trades to work from, ensuring everything complies with building regulations, but only you can decide where you want each light fitting, socket and tap to go. 

If your extension is for a living room, you’ll need to plan the position of your TV, sofas and any alcoves and shelving that might be illuminated. Your kitchen designer will help with planning services in the kitchen, but you’ll need to be ready with details like the number of light pendants above the island and socket positions. Make sure the space is future-ready by including additional sockets for extra appliances/lamps/gadgets. I didn’t even know air friers existed when my kitchen was being planned so it is now sharing a socket with the coffee machine. Not a disaster but also not ideal.

Proper layout planning before first fix can prevent costly changes and delays later on, ensuring a smoother construction schedule and a functional, well-equipped space. Rush the process at your peril.

6. The dust levels are insane

If you get the opportunity to move out while building an extension, grab it with both hands. Force yourself on relatives, offer to house sit for free, put up a tent…do whatever it takes because, trust me, your expectations of living in a building site will be far removed from reality. 

I knew it wouldn’t be easy but at the same time I thought it might be fun, an adventure even, and it was at times. But mostly it was stressful, noisy and incredibly dirty. It didn’t help that the main house had to be rewired and replumbed of course, but all attempts to block the extension work off from the home I was living and working in with my two (then young) daughters, three dogs and husband, were hopeless. 

There were a few things I did to make site life more bearable. Firstly, I set up a drinks station for the tradespeople, fully loaded with everything they needed, including cake and biscuits, to stay refreshed. That way I didn’t feel the pressure to offer drinks every hour or two.

Secondly, I put a restriction on site opening times (8am-8pm), which was probably counterintuitive in terms of our timeline, but it definitely helped on the sanity front. This was mainly aimed at one builder, who liked to start work at 7am and clock off at 2pm, but we also had a couple of trades trying to fit in extra work very late, which wasn’t ideal when trying to get the girls into bed.  

Finally, I sealed off the construction zone from the rest of the house using heavy-duty plastic sheeting and zippered dust barriers. It didn’t stop everything we owned getting coated in dust, but it helped a little.

7. Don’t be afraid to take time out

Taking a breather when doing any renovation project is not ideal, but sometimes it can work out for the best. I hate admitting this but * whisper it * we ran out of funds before completing our extension. Kevin McCloud would have waxed lyrical. It was watertight, plastered and screeded but we had no loot left to pay for the flooring or kitchen. Lacking a mystery relative to gift us the extra £20,000 or so we needed to complete, I decided to embrace the opportunity to stop and regroup (while furiously saving every penny we earned/selling body parts).

As it happens, this blip in proceedings was a blessing in disguise. We cobbled together a makeshift kitchen in the new extension, in roughly the planned layout. Then we spent two weeks trekking around the mock 4m-long island, in about the same time it would take to circum-navigate the globe, before conceding that it could, possibly be a tad shorter. After more weeks of trekking around we eventually agreed 3.4m was the sweet spot.

And the best thing about having extra time on your hands? The opportunity to get down and dirty on the decorating front, because actual DIY, in your own time, is almost free (I can recommend Wickes’ Bank Holiday sales for paint). The more painting and wallpapering I did myself, the more there was to spend on stunning worktops for that glorious island.

8. Check your insurance

Admittedly I didn’t learn this lesson on this most recent extension, but it’s a point I picked up during our last major reno, a barn conversion, and I’ve never forgotten it. Basically, you need to inform your house insurance company that you are renovating, and probably pay for extension insurance to cover the work, any tools on site and public liability. Also check that all trades entering your property have their own insurance.

This is important because in most cases taking on a significant building project, such as an extension, can invalidate your existing home insurance policy. And if, God forbid, anything major goes wrong, the entire project could be left in serious jeopardy. Even if the damage wasn’t your fault, there is often a question mark over who is legally and financially liable. 

I won’t scare you with the details of what happened in our barn, but it involved the tiler being carried off in an air ambulance (he survived) and a massive court case. I still have nightmares about it. Please check your insurance before so much as a single stone has been turned.

9. It will take longer than you think

All your friends and family will tell you this. Every house renovating TV show ever will tell you this. Your builder will be suspiciously vague about this, but you’ll still hold onto a tiny ray of hope that your extension will be the anomaly that manages to sail in on schedule. 

Our extension was meant to take four months, and although I can, and do, blame Covid for some of the delays, it was still comically optimistic. Except nobody was laughing. The good news is that building an extension is much like childbirth (with less blood), and you forget the pain, stress and dust pretty much the minute you move in. 

If you live in a home long enough, it tends to evolve as your needs change.

For example, you may need more space as and when your family grows, or you spend ages saving up for your dream renovation. When that time comes, extensions and conversions can be undertaken, rooms might be reconfigured, or new bathrooms added.

When the owners of this home first moved in, the property was a complete wreck with a downstairs bathroom beyond the kitchen. They reconfigured the layout straightaway, adding a central shower room on the first floor. And then again, after their first child was born, they added a much-needed bathtub to the back guest bedroom as a temporary measure.

Their original plan was to eventually convert the loft to add a family bathroom and guest room, but then COVID hit and their plans stalled. The experience of living through the pandemic with (now) two children made the couple realise what they really wanted was a separate grown-up retreat with their very own bathroom. So they shelved their original plans for a family bathroom, in favour of a master bedroom with a luxe en suite.

Here, the owner explains her story and why and how they decided on such a dramatic (and stylish) en suite design.

‘Throughout Covid, I spent time thoroughly planning the new space', she explains. 'I worked with loft specialist East London Lofts to design and build the space under Permitted Development, which included the master suite, dressing room and an office as we were working from home more.'

'We put the bed under the eaves so that we could use the full-height space of the dormer to create a large and luxurious en suite with both a bath and a shower.'

'I made templates of everything,' she continues, 'and I painstakingly laid them out to ensure everything worked in the space. We deliberately went for an archway to the en suite to create a hotel-style bathroom. We also felt a closed door would make the bedroom feel too small.'

‘I spotted the green tub on Pinterest and it was the first thing I saved – the bath became the centre point of the whole design. It inspired the curved theme that runs throughout, from the rounded edges of the mirrors and basins to the arched shower screen and doorway.’

‘I had a vision of introducing plenty of lush greenery with lots of bathroom plant ideas, so installing the bath at an angle allowed us to include the massive banana plant in the corner behind it for a tropical vibe, plus we can see it from our bed.'

‘My husband and I stayed at The Newt in Somerset and the bathrooms were exquisite,' she says. 'The layered bathroom lighting scheme really impressed us, so we wanted to recreate that in our bathroom.'

'We installed strip lighting into all the niches and under the vanity unit, with uplighters behind the WC and bath, as well as statement pendant lighting over the tub.’

‘We splurged on some really high-end pieces like the Kast concrete basins, which I adore, but it meant we also had to save elsewhere.'

'I found a lot of vanity units ugly, so I made my own IKEA hack using a hacked a Besta unit instead and sourced my own gorgeous marble top and added 3D fluted panels for a bespoke look.’

‘One of my favourite things is the rooflight above the shower; I love being able to look up at the sky during my morning shower and how it floods the space with natural light.'

‘The curved shower screen was a bit of a bargain from Victorian Plumbing and we installed a shower tray you can tile over so that we could maintain the striped tile pattern throughout uninterrupted.’

‘Our one top tip is to consider the little practical things - we installed the thermostatic shower mixer just outside the shower area so that you can set the right temperature before you get wet.’

‘My husband and I love a hotel stay, so we wanted to recreate that boutique spa-style vibe with our styling and accessories,' she adds. 'So investing in some nice bathroom toiletries and candles make all the difference.’

‘I can’t emphasise enough how lovely it is to have our own retreat away from the chaos of the house. It’s indulgent but I love it – I’m still pinching myself that we get to wake up here each day.’

One of the joys of renovating a house is that you can create the perfect space for you and your family – this can be adding bedrooms; designing a spacious open-plan living area or creating the luxurious bathroom of your dreams.

‘This bathroom was part of a larger house renovation project,’ explains the homeowner, interior architect Julia James, who shares her 1920s-built home in Wales with her husband, Steffan, and their two children.

‘We had been living in the house next door for 12 years and when our elderly neighbours decided to downsize, we took the opportunity to buy their property, making one larger home.’

Creating the perfect layout

‘There were two tiny bathrooms in the adjoining properties,’ says Julia. ‘After years of living with a small bathroom, we felt we deserved a generous space.’ They carved out a new principal bathroom by knocking down a wall in one bathroom, stealing space from a bedroom and ripping out a staircase.

‘In our original bathroom, we had a shower above the bath, so I wanted to have a separate walk-in shower this time – and a large roll-top bath to soak in,’ explains Julia. The shower fitted neatly into one corner of the room, with the bath in another recess, created by building a wall to screen off the entrance area.

Moroccan inspired design

‘In my interior design work, I’m known for mixing different interior styles with strong colours for an eclectic look, and I wanted to bring that aesthetic into my own home,’ says Julia.

In keeping with the age of the house, she chose a classic-style vanity and traditional brassware, plus floral inspired tiles which have a beautiful antique finish.

‘The pretty blue hue of the tiles was the starting point for the colour scheme,’ she says.

The herringbone pattern of the terracotta floor tiles introduces more texture, adding to the rustic appeal of the room and beautifully contrasting the pearlescent glaze of the almond wall tiles that stand around the bath.

‘Together, they have a rustic look that reminds me of a Moroccan riad,’ Julia adds.

The traditional-style tap echoes the age of the house, while the black finish adds a contemporary edge. Julia also spray-painted the chrome knobs on the navy vanity unit to match the taps.

Adding character with reclaimed finds

Typically used as garden screening, Julia used a trellis with a Moroccan-inspired design that echoes the pattern of the wall tiles, screening the bathing zone from the entrance hallway.

Warm towels are easy to reach on stepping out of the bath, thanks to the handy position of the wall-mounted radiator.

Secondhand and reclaimed elements also have a home in this elegant space. To make a linen cupboard, Julia recycled a pair of louvred wardrobe doors, painting them in Blackjack by Frenchchic and an antique washboard has been re-purposed as a handy bath rack.

Juila sourced a wooden sill on Etsy and used it to hide ugly pipework behind the sink as well as adding another element of natural texture to the room.

Shop the look

After 15 years in their south London terrace, Susanne and Jeremy Hewson decided to move to a house that offered more space, and scope to take on a creative remodelling project. ‘Jeremy began searching online and discovered this interesting-looking detached property,' says Susanne. The pictures were unintelligible, and the house looked very weird, but we were intrigued.’

The couple booked a viewing and fell for the place immediately. The property itself was something they knew could be fabulous eventually, but it was the spectacular garden that came with it that nailed the deal.

Before

‘The house was a mishmash of styles, but essentially it was a 1970s chalet-style brick bungalow surrounded by a huge exotic garden,’ says Susanne. ‘There was no obvious front door and strangely, no doors which opened onto the main garden. The kitchen and living area were separate rooms, which didn’t work for us, as we love entertaining. 

'Upstairs the rooms were built into low-ceilinged eaves, making them dark and pokey, and the ensuite bathrooms were decorated in garish, seventies pink and green colour schemes.’ 

After

 ‘Jeremy’s dad, Dennis Hewson, is a retired architect living in New Zealand, and during a visit in 2018, after we’d been in the house a year, we sat around after dinner discussing how to make sense of the space,’ says Susanne.  ‘Dennis sketched out a hand-drawn design with watercolour paints and produced his vision to transform the place into an ambitious, Kiwi-style open-plan, modern home, with light pouring in, and views onto the garden.’ 

The family communicated via Zoom meetings throughout the build, with Dennis advising on and tweaking the design from down under. ‘We hired a local firm, Taylored Lofts, to carry out the work. It was an unusual project which took them out of their comfort zone a few times, but they totally delivered, despite Covid, lack of labour and shortage of materials,’ says Susanne. 

The deck that extends out from house is one of the best design decisions the couple made. 'It's transformed the house more than any other feature,' says Susanne. 'Giving us an outside space in which to hang out, entertain and enjoy the garden.'

Jeremy built the deck himself using Millboard composite decking, a brand that is 100 percent wood-free. 'You never have to clean it and it never goes slippy or slimy. It’s sustainable too, and it looks just like real oak.'

‘We tackled the downstairs first, tearing out the kitchen wall to create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, which we kitted out with a mix of old and new furniture,' Susanne says.

The addition of large picture windows, sliding doors and a rooflight ensure that the open plan living room is flooded with daylight. 

‘The plain rugs used throughout the house are inexpensive remnants taken from large carpets, that we got cut to size and then edged. I chose the softest, thickest pile, so they are super comfy underfoot.’  

The garden room with its many small windows was entirely rebuilt, with the walls pushed out to create a cantilevered corner with huge sliding glass doors that lead straight out to the deck that Jeremy built. 

‘Rebuilt to exploit the view, the cantilevered corner with sliding glass doors, which have no middle post, gives us uninterrupted views. This element of the redesign transformed the house, and it makes for a spectacular guest room too,’  explains Susanne.

‘We kept the existing kitchen units (see the kitchen before), and added a peninsular breakfast bar, and a new skylight was needed, as it was quite a shady spot. We laid luxury vinyl wood-effect tiles and extended these out into the living area for a cohesive, pulled together look.’ 

An open wooden staircase teamed with a glass bannister allows maximum light to bounce around the living room. 

Upstairs, the builders removed everything brick by brick, leaving just the ground floor in tact. ‘Then winter came, and with it, high winds and lashing rain, leaving us battling the various drafts and leaks,' says Susanne. 'But within a couple of months the timber framework for the new upper floor was in place, a flat fibreglass roof was installed, and we were water tight.’ 

The new floor features a bedroom, ensuite bathroom and a multi-purpose room, as well as a wide, light-filled landing. ‘The landing used to be low ceilinged and dark, but now it’s double the original height, with bi-fold doors opening onto a balcony.’ 

The main bedroom with sloping eaves and traditional windows has been replaced with a modern design, encompassing a porthole window and timber ceiling. 

‘One interior design decision we particularly love is the cedar ceiling in the bedroom. With the room’s plain white walls, the wood makes the room really warm and cosy.’

‘Dennis was keen for us to have an island bed, which we had made to measure, with fitted shelves at the back for book and shoe storage, as well as integrated side tables cum drawers.’

‘And the dead space in the eaves was extended up and out to make a walk-in wardrobe', Susanne adds.

‘In the bathroom, a double vanity unit was essential, but we couldn’t find one that looked right, as we were keen for white drawers to offset the cement walls and warm wood, so we commissioned one from local cabinetmaker The Dovetail Joint,' says Susanne.

Not all windows have to be rectangular! The porthole window in the bathroom shows how effective it can be to integrate a different shape into a room's redesign. 

‘We didn’t want tiles, so we decided to cover all the walls with micro cement', Susanne says. 'Our builders were reluctant to handle it at first, but our plasterer was so skilled, and he did the job to perfection.’

Polished plaster or micro-cement makes a modern alternative to tiles and is easy to clean and maintain.

‘Despite the potential the house offered, it was the garden that really blew us away. It was so unusual and we were a bit nervous about taking it on,’ says Susanne. 

‘The previous owner was from Jamaica, and he had planted it with all these palm trees, to remind him of home. Initially he had accepted an offer on the plot from a developer who was going to demolished the lot and build six three-storey townhouses with parking on it. The neighbours were up in arms. They stopped it from happening, which meant that we got to buy it.’ 

‘The final job was to create a proper front entrance,’ says Susanne. ‘The original small, grey, steel door was a bit underwhelming, and our builder suggested we knock it through and install something double the size, with full length glazing, to allow light to flood into the hall. We built a new pathway at the same time, which leads up to a larch clad porch design.’ 

‘With the new glazed door, the hallway gets so much more light. Sound proofing wood was used to make the doors to the coat cupboard. It’s warm and attractive looking and it works as a stylish cladding finish.’ 

Specially built in hallway storage for shoes will also keep floors cleaner for longer.

‘We’re waiting for Jeremy’s dad Dennis to come and inspect his creation – hopefully soon!' says Susanne. 'It’s been an incredible experience to design and build this renovation together, and it gave us, as a family, a great project and purpose during lockdown, when we were so far away from one other.’ 

Hallways can often be tricky to decorate, as it's a room that not only gets a lot of footfall and needs to be practical, but it's also the first impression of your home that guests will get – so it's important to make it a space that lifts you the minute you walk through the door.

If you're looking for some hallway wall decor ideas, it's worth remembering that many makeovers start with one item that the whole room is designed around, whether it's a paint colour, patterned carpet or even a mirror that you've just fallen in love with. That was the case for this homeowner, who saw a wallpaper and knew she just had to have it.

Hallway makeover

Kitty Jones from North Wales was desperate to change up her hall, but it wasn't until she saw the Kalina wallpaper from John Lewis that she knew how she'd go about it. 

'I knew I wanted to get rid of the orange wood when it came to decorating our hallway,' she recalls. 'And once I'd seen (and fallen in love with) this wallpaper the makeover went from there.'

Before

A grey-brown carpet on the stairs and orange woodwork were the things that Kitty was most keen to change in the hallway, but there was also a rather dated wallpaper that she stripped off as soon as she could. 

After

The new-look hall makes a vivid statement, with the botanical wallpaper the star of the show as it runs up the stairs. 'We colour-matched the dark blue colour seen in the wallpaper using Valspar paint on the banisters and stairs, so that it goes beautifully,' says Kitty. 

'As we wanted the maximum effect, we also opted for a runner so you can see more of the beautiful blue at the edges of each step.' 

That dark inky blue has been carried through to the door frames and also used on the under-stairs cupboard, giving the hall a big hit of colour that really makes an impact. 'Painting all of the skirting boards and door frames in the same dark colour adds interest against the light walls,' says Kitty.

'The accessories were purchased from all over,' she continues, 'but the star of the show has to be the arched mirror that we managed to pick up from Aldi's Special Buys.'

Picking out the dark blue colour from the wallpaper rather than going for a standard white for the woodwork has made a huge difference and finished the room off nicely – and it's a good trick to use if you're after some painted stair ideas.

Even the radiator got a glow-up, with a lick of paint and a shelf from Etsy added above it for accessories.

'As we had purchased wood and metal paint we were able to paint the radiator the same colour (using our trusted Zinsser B-I-N primer underneath). We also colour matched the white on the other walls to the background colour of the wallpaper.'

So, we know we love the new-look hallway, but is Kitty happy with the outcome? 'We're over the moon with the transformation and it reflects our style from the moment you walk in the door,' she says.

You can see more of Kitty's home on Instagram over at @hafod_home. 

Have you been inspired to give your entranceway a revamp?

This apparently modest looking bungalow hides a secret. Take a look behind, and you'll see a double-height extension that has trebled the size of the house. 

The homeowners were already familiar with the property, which used to belong to the husband's grandmother. In just over a year since buying, they have managed to create an impressive transformation by turning the single-storey 1930s property into a well-proportioned home perfectly suited to their family of four. 

After sketching out endless layout options, Carl Turner of Architecture & More was drafted in to help turn the couple's dreams into reality. The big idea was for an eight metre by 11 metre rear extension to replace the tiny kitchen with an open-plan kitchen-diner and family room, along with a substantial loft conversion.

The extension

Before

'Carl suggested a dormer at the side to give them three bedrooms upstairs, and even managed to fit in a walk-through dressing area and en suite off the main bedroom,' says the homeowner. 

‘As there was no first floor before, we planned the bathroom first to suit our needs, with a freestanding bath, big walk-in shower and a double sink so our two kids wouldn’t argue.'

‘We even future-proofed the space by creating a spare bedroom and shower room downstairs, along with stairs that are wide enough to install a stair lift if we ever need it. The only thing we couldn’t fit in was the laundry chute I’d always wanted.’ 

After

When it came to finding a reliable builder, the couple struck lucky when their commercial architect friend Sean recommended Dave Roberts. 

‘He lives on our street, so we knew he’d do a good job,’ the homeowner laughs. ‘He and Sean were brilliant, and always on hand if there were any issues.’ 

The living room

Some neighbours objected to the extension plans, but permission was granted with a few changes – such as having a non-opening frosted window in the en suite and a Juliet balcony rather than a full balcony off the main bedroom.

After living in the bungalow while groundworks started, the family moved into a rented house once the old boiler was disconnected. ‘At one point we had literally three walls, no ceiling, roof, plaster or floor,’ she says. ‘People on the bus could see into our house from the top deck!’

The kitchen

Before

To keep costs down, the couple tackled many jobs themselves. ‘My husband and his dad built a custom staircase and made and fitted all the skirting boards and architraves, while I painted the whole house white with a spray gun. It took me 40 minutes to do a room, which was brilliant.’

After

The industrious pair also stripped and re-hung the original doors, fitted their own kitchen, tiled three bathrooms and fashioned the kitchen end panels and kick boards from MDF, along with the tongue and groove panelling in the utility room. 

The bedrooms

Before

After

‘We reused as much as we could, like original quarry tiles, and made pantry shelves and a dining table from the old wood rafters and joists,’ she explains. Although the project came in on budget, the schedule overran slightly. ‘We hit our deadline of moving in by Christmas, but we had to use the utility room as a temporary kitchen.’

Style-wise, the pair have enjoyed mixing up new and vintage pieces, and she created a Pinterest board for each room to help guide them through the decorating process. 

The bathroom

Before

After being made redundant a few years ago, her husband set up a business called Only Nice Things, where he sells reclaimed, vintage and handmade furniture, homeware and gifts. The house has proved to be a great backdrop for photographing his finds, and also doubles up as a photography location for other food and lifestyle brands.

After

Luckily, the building work was completed before lockdown, which left the garden as their pandemic project. The couple created a pergola with a slabbed floor leading to a summerhouse. 

The garden

‘Although I’d like a little greenhouse and more borders in the garden, we’re taking a break and just enjoying the house now, as we did get “decision fatigue” by the end,’ she says. 

‘It’s worked out brilliantly though, as we use the kitchen and family room all the time, while the summerhouse is a lovely spot for having lunch with friends or a glass of wine in the evening.'

Even only with a modest footprint at your disposal, you can transform your bathroom into a stunning oasis – as this beautiful Art Deco-inspired project by Joanne Tudda and Michael Graveston proves.

Of course, it wasn't easy: from totally gutting the room, building a new wall, plastering, completely retiling and installing new fixtures and fittings, the couple completed the entire project on a DIY-basis. A masterclass in small bathroom ideas,  you wouldn't believe these two spaces were the same room. 

Art Deco bathroom renovation

When Joanne Tudda and Michael Graveston moved into their 1920s semi-detached, they were faced with a huge renovation challenge – a challenge they have documented on their Instagram @renovation.nightmare.

'The house needed a full renovation, which is still ongoing – we’ve rewired, added central heating and stripped everything back to the brick,' explains Joanne. However, one of the most significant parts of the project was the bathroom renovation. 

From learning practical building skills to deciding on the best small bathroom tile ideas for the space, the couple quickly put their stamp on their new home. 

Bathroom before

The first step was to gut the space – taking it back to bare brick and floorboards. The couple also had to rebuild the wall that divided the bathroom from the adjoining bedroom. With a blank canvas, the couple then had to decide on the best small bathroom layout – incorporating a bath, sink and toilet.

'Michael plumbed in the bathroom and I plastered and tiled. This was my first time plastering a ceiling. I’m only 5ft 2” so it was a bit difficult, but I have since gone on to plaster other rooms in the house, too,' explains Joanne.

'The bathroom was completed in the middle of the renovation to enable us to move into the house. Due to lockdown, we have had to do most of the work ourselves. We have some renovation experience, but it has been a huge challenge,' says Joanne.

Bathroom after

With everything structurally sound, Joanne turned her hand to interior design. 'We fell in love with these emerald green hex tiles and just had to have them. We wanted the small space to look glamorous, in keeping with 1920s style, but also to have a practical modern feel,' adds Joanne. The tile choice also defined the small bathroom colour scheme, 'we were inspired by the bold Art Deco colours of the 1920s and decided to go for green tiles which shone against brass fixtures.'

However, as with every renovation, everything wasn't plain sailing.

'The first little hiccup was when we fitted the new window. We accidentally cracked the glass and had to live with it for a month until the new pane arrived,' explains Joanne.

'Then when we had fully tiled the room and were ready to attach the shower and taps, we developed a leak behind the newly fitted tiles. We had to remove them, repair the leak and then retile. Luckily it all worked out in the end.'

In addition to plastering, tiling and plumbing, the couple also turned their hand to upcycling.

'We knew we wanted to upcycle an old vanity for our bathroom but we had trouble hunting down the right one. The room is very compact, so it was difficult to find a chest of drawers small enough to fit the space,' explains Joanne.

'On a trip to Edinburgh, we spent a day trawling around charity shops and there it was: a perfect-sized, well-loved chest of drawers that we knew we could convert into a vanity unit. We sanded it all down, primed, painted and varnished it. We purchased the basin online and Michael plumbed it all together.' 

If you're hoping to undertake a similar upcycling project be sure you know how to upcycle old furniture and that you use the best paint for furniture to ensure a professional finish. 

We all know that transforming our home's interior can make a huge difference, but actually, the exterior is just as important. As well as bringing your home up to date and giving it a completely different vibe, it's great for creating a good first impression, which is crucial if you're thinking of selling it in the future. 

Using the right exterior paints and finishes is important for sprucing it up on a budget, but if you're looking to spend a little more, then you might want to take some inspiration from this homeowner, who gave her house an exterior makeover and added instant kerb appeal. 

House exterior makeover

Exterior cladding and new lighting and plants have given the place a total facelift, something that Jade Doutch from North Wales worked hard to achieve. Her 1930s semi-detached house in Anglesey had the same pebble dash look as many properties in the area, but Jade was keen to give the exterior a brand new appearance.

Before

An effort to re-render the exterior walls eight years ago hadn’t quite gone according to plan, leaving the house with a strange textured finish. 'The walls looked like they’d been Artexed,' says Jade. 'I lived with them, but really hated what it looked like outside.'

As a content creator on Instagram, Jade regularly posts photos of her interior home projects, but now it was time to tackle the exterior.

After

The new-look house has been given a modern glow-up with beautiful cladding in two different materials, along with a new open driveway and paving – and the result is incredible. 

Dark dramatic black cladding covers three-quarters of the front of the house, while a smaller portion features a composite wood trim to soften the overall look. 'I saw a few black houses and that was it, I just needed to have a black house,' says Jade. 'I couldn't get over the obsession!'

Cedral's Click cladding was the perfect choice, as it doesn't rust, warp or rot, and has the look of real wood. 'I love this product because of the grain,' says Jade. 'Plus it's hard-wearing and requires very little maintenance. I live on my own, so that was important to me.'

'I used a Cedral Select installer for the job and the whole process was absolutely brilliant.' she continues. 'The work took two weeks and in that time the installers not only fitted the cladding, but also put in new windows and a door, and fixed the guttering. The installer took control of everything and was really clear about the process – I wish I had other tradesmen that worked like this! '

So, how much does a project like this cost? To install the Cedral cladding, it was around £3,418, while the timber work, including fixings, cost £400. 

'The team worked in all weathers, including horrific rain and storms,' Jade recalls. 'They had a little pop-up tent to protect the tools and materials – nothing stopped them. With a big job like this, you’re almost waiting for something to go wrong, but that just didn't happen.'

A new front door completed the look, along with matching black planters and some plants for texture. 

'I’m quite emotional about the house now it’s finished,' Jade admits. 'I love it so much. In fact, my neighbour caught me a couple of times just pretending to take things to the bin, when really, I was going outside to admire the walls!'

'The house has been finished for several months now and people are still coming up to me to tell me it looks amazing.'

Reworking this kitchen layout has made the room spacious and sociableCreating a sociable kitchen, big enough for a young family and with plenty of space to entertain friends, was top of the wish list when the home owner began renovating this three-bedroom bungalow in Fife, Scotland. 

But the reality was a dark and dated decor, an awkward kitchen layout and a space that felt far from welcoming and sociable.

The kitchen before

‘The house was built in the 1970s by my husband’s grandparents,’ explains the home owner. ‘When we took it on, the kitchen was dark and gloomy and divided into two by a peninsula with top-heavy cupboards that made it hard to use the worktops.'

'The kitchen was the first room we tackled as we felt it needed updating the most urgently. It was really dark and drab and divided into two halves – the kitchen layout just didn’t flow.’

The kitchen now

Getting rid of the peninsula unit and row of bulky overhead cupboards has opened up the layout of the kitchen and immediately made it feel much lighter and brighter. A central kitchen island has taken its place, providing extra prep and worktop space, while still leaving plenty of space to move freely around the kitchen.

‘I wanted to create a sociable space where we could enjoy spending time as a family, but that also lends itself to entertaining when we have friends over,’ explains the home owner.

‘I started researching the possibilities and realised that one of the mums in my walking group was an amazing interior designer, Terian Tilston, a former competitor on BBC’s Interior Design Masters. She specialises in creating fun, affordable spaces for family homes with a touch of glamour and I was thrilled when she agreed to take on the project.’

Get the look: Greenwich matt white handleless cabinetry, Howdens

A spacious new layout

Interior designer Terian guided the home owners through the process, ensuring that the new re-worked small kitchen layout made the most of the space available. 

With the peninsula and bulky overhead units gone, the new improved layout sees base units running along one side of the kitchen, with no top cabinets, but instead a large full-height end unit which gives plenty of storage and ensures that appliances like the fridge and freezer are hidden out of sight.

‘Terian helped us choose cabinetry and accessories that enabled us to stay within our budget, while achieving a result that was as glamorous as it was economical,’ adds the home owner.

Sleek white cabinetry 

‘I craved light and space, as we’d been living in a camper van prior to moving in,’ says the home owner. ‘So we went for crisp white kitchen cabinetry, with integrated appliances that create a streamlined minimal look.’

‘Also on the list was to make sure it was a sociable space, so a wine fridge was a definite must-have, along with space for art and somewhere to display collections. I didn’t want the room to be completely stark… it needed to be somewhere we could enjoy ourselves.’

A central island hub

Prior to the renovation, the bulky peninsula and overhead units created an awkward divide between the cooking and dining area. With both now removed and the freestanding central kitchen island in their place, the space has a better sense of flow, with a wood-clad dining area at one end that the family can now make better use of.

The dining area with hidden TV

‘While budget was important to us, as we are planning to stay here for a while, we did indulge in one or two quite expensive touches,’ adds the home owner. 

‘The Samsung Frame TV, for example, was a bit of an extravagance, but it provided a happy compromise as I didn’t want a TV in the kitchen and my husband did. The fact it can act as an artwork when it’s turned off means that we are both delighted by it.’

Get the look: Frame TV, £365, Samsung

Luxe oak flooring

The kitchen flooring was another luxury. It’s a beautiful pale engineered oak in a herringbone pattern that runs throughout the whole house.

‘We wanted a floor that would really complement the contemporary, mid-century style of decor we were planning for our home. Our aim was to update the house and maintain the history of it as well.’

Get the look: Painswick Ghoul Oak herringbone flooring, £99sq m, Luxury Flooring and Furnishings

The utility space

A door at one end leads to a separate utility space where a second sink and washing appliances are located away from the main kitchen area. 

Fun neon sign

The cheerful neon sign from Bag & Bones was custom-made and looks stunning hung against the fun green wall made up from faux greenery tiles from Ikea.

Get the look: White hexagonal mosaic tiled splashback, £108sq m, Topps Tiles

Focal point lighting

The trio of pendant kitchen island lighting help to zone the open plan space and define the kitchen prep area. Interior designer Terian encouraged the home owners to add punchy details, such as the shiny brass ceiling light roses and dimmer switches. 

The stunning slatted wall, designed by Terian and made by the home owner’s husband, hides plenty of generous storage as well as a home office, with the styling of the room beautifully minimal. The acoustic panels help to soften the noise in the kitchen, which can be amplified by hard surfaces elsewhere in the room.

Get the look: Bespoke slatted wall acoustic panels, The Wood Veneer Hub

Finishing touches

Distinctive semi-circular handles add a touch of luxe to the plain white kitchen cabinets. Interior designer Terian sourced the handles on Etsy.

Get the look: Quartz worktop, £2,995; white composite undermounted sink, £169; Howdens

Stylish shelves

Open shelves give space to display favourite kitchenware, plants or framed pictures and are a great way of adding a touch of colour in a mainly-white kitchen like this.

Sociable seating

A waterfall edge gives the island unit a more luxurious and complete look.

‘It’s lovely to be able to sit at the island with friends now that the kitchen renovation is complete,’ adds the home owner. ‘We have so much extra space and I’m so pleased with how the kitchen looks now.’

Get the look: Wooden bar stools, £165 each, Rose & Grey

It was ‘all about the bath’ for the owner of this recently-renovated bathroom. With a statement copper roll-top bath as inspiration, it promised to set the tone for a super-glamorous bathroom makeover. And despite a few hiccups along the way, is now the stunning focal point of the room.

‘A copper roll-top bath had been top of my wish list for years,’ says the owner, ‘and renovating this room in a traditional style was the perfect way to finally realise this dream.’

Before the bathroom transformation

The bathroom had already been updated by the previous owners to help sell the house, but it lacked personality and wasn’t to the new owner’s taste.

‘It was functional, but there were more pressing projects in the house that needed tackling before we could get to this transformation,’ explains the owner. ‘Although we’ll generally give anything a go, the bathroom felt like a major job as I wanted to incorporate the freestanding bath and re-design the room to a style that was more in keeping. We decided to save and get the professionals in, which meant this room went on the back burner for a few years.’

The bathroom afterwards

With the bathroom renovation complete, the glamorous copper roll-top bath now takes centre stage with a re-worked layout and opulently dark decor that showcases the luxe finish beautifully.

‘The wait gave me time to fully consider what I wanted from the room,’ explains the owner. 'Particularly the layout, as the old one didn’t make the most of the area. I wanted to move the shower to the opposite wall to make space for the bath and a large vanity unit, and we decided to remove a false wall hiding some piping to make the room feel bigger.’ 

Get the look: Dark Copper Patina Inside and Outside Double Slipper Bath, £2,499, Metal Hardware

Walk-in shower

‘Once we’d finalised the layout, we started thinking about the fixtures and fittings which was when we chose our gorgeous bath and decided to have a wet-room style shower, so that the beautiful, tiled floor I’d chosen was uninterrupted by a shower tray.’

‘The sleek shower screen is almost invisible, making the space flow and feel a lot bigger.’ 

Get the look: Milano Elizabeth Gold Traditional Triple Exposed Thermostatic Shower with Grand Rigid Riser Rail, £469.99; Matt Gold Milano Auro 800mm Wet Room Shower Screen, £379.99; all Big Bathroom Shop

Statement bath

‘We initially expected the work to take about three weeks, but it ended up taking six because we struggled to get the bath into the room. It’s huge so I initially thought the stairs would be the biggest challenge. I was thrilled when we managed to get the tub up to the first floor, but it wouldn’t go through the bathroom door, which we hadn’t anticipated.’

‘We took it back downstairs and decided to erect scaffolding to take it through the window, but it wouldn’t fit through there either. By this point I was in floods of tears, suspecting that my dream bath was going to have to be returned. Then our builder suggested taking the landing wall out. I was really nervous about the idea but they cut through the newly plastered walls and thankfully this finally worked.’

Get the look: Walls in Dulux Rich Black Matt Emulsion paint, £19 for 2.5L, B&Q

Dark decor

With the bath as the main event, the owner then created a moodboard to help visualise her ideas. 

‘I decided to opt for black bathroom walls to give a dramatic contrast to the copper, and added gold accents to add to the opulent look.’

‘We also added a dado rail ourselves with pine moulding underneath to give the otherwise plain walls a bit of added interest. The animal prints are a fun nod to historical formal portraits.’

Get the look: Savoy Vintage Gold Traditional Heated Towel Rail Radiator, £399.95, Victorian Plumbing

Mood lighting

‘I also thought a lot about the lighting as I wanted a solution to soften the spots in the ceiling,’ says the owner. ‘These wall lights give off a lovely warm glow, and although they can’t be seen, we also added small spotlights on the floor around the bathtub.’

Get the look: Milano Towneley White Traditional Close Coupled Toilet with Cistern, £279.99, Big Bathroom Shop

Tiled floor

‘The black-and-white mosaic bathroom floor tiles was a must-have for me,’ adds the owner. ‘It’s such a classic, timeless look that I knew would complement the rest of my style choices.’

‘The layout of the flooring was quite complicated because I wanted the border, so I laid the tiles out first and decided where the cuts were needed. Then the fitters simply followed my plan and stuck them down.’

‘Although at one point I really thought the bathroom wasn’t going to happen, now it’s everything I dreamed of. And despite a few funny looks when I said I was going to paint the walls black, the dark, moody vibe is exactly what I wanted. I love how we’ve transformed a small boxy bathroom into a luxurious room full of hotel-style luxe.’  

Get the look: Victoria White & Black Chequer Mosaic Floor tiles, £83.40sq m, Tile Mountain

How to upcycle a vanity unit

The bathroom vanity was an upcycle project with the owners buying the unit secondhand, the countertop sink on eBay and the tap from Amazon. The whole project cost just £50. 

• Choose a piece of furniture solid enough to take the weight of a basin full of water.

• Consider the height of the unit as if it’s too low it can affect your water flow. Think about the size of the unit, too – you want the proportions to work well in the space.

• A countertop basin is a good choice as your plumber will only need to cut a small hole in the top for the pipework, though bear in mind that there will also need to be a cut in the back of your vanity for the plumbing.

• If the top is wood, make sure you waterproof it really well with a quality grade varnish.

Additional words by Lisa Moses

This handsome extension is stunning both indoors and out, with bespoke cladding in a botanical leaf motif the icing on the (renovation) cake, transforming a plain dated property into a light and bright family home.

Located in South London, this three bedroom, Arts & Crafts house originally lacked a suitable layout for a young family. The existing ground floor of the property was awkward and confined, with a small dark space that lacked any modern kitchen ideas.

The homeowners longed to build an extension on the back, opening out the rear of the house and removing the dark and dated doorway out into the garden with an open plan kitchen diner. They eventually hired Novak Hiles Architects to come up with a design that tacked all the items on their wishlist. 

We spoke to architect Adam Hiles, director of Novak Hiles, whose practice was responsible for this transformation. 

The kitchen extension with exterior bespoke cladding

‘We began by removing the existing kitchen,’ says architect Adam Hiles, ‘and then we opened up the back of the house completely.'

'In its place,' continues Adam, 'we designed a new extension with a staggered open plan layout, introducing more natural light through a rooflight, glazed sliding doors and a window seat, which lines up with the front door to give a view right through into the garden as you enter the house.'

Novak Hiles also designed the bespoke kitchen cabinetry, which was then built and painted by the main contractor. 

The muted earthy tones are complemented by gold in the door pulls and pendants, with the olive-green cabinets and chevron subway tile kitchen splashback ideas mimicking the hues of the greenery outdoors. 

Simple wooden stools tuck neatly under the island worktop and pair well with the dining set to provide a further sense of cohesion.

The design has been drawn up to use every inch of space, with the open shelving unit at the end providing a break from the closed cabinetry. 

This shelving allows the family to display their favourite objects. It also contributes to bringing the outside in with trailing house plants mixed in with cookbooks. 

All the wall-hung cabinets reach the ceiling, while clean, white kitchen ideas are clearly evident via the white worktop, which provides ample space for food preparation.

On rainy days or at times when it’s too cold to be outside, the homeowners can still enjoy the garden thanks to this window seat idea.

Built with clever built-in storage, it’s the perfect spot for hosting plants and provides a place to explore the world outside from the comfort and warmth of the kitchen.

Plants continue to play a big role in establishing an inviting space with little pockets of interesting features drawing the eye around the space, while looking clean and considered.

The living and dining area

Views out towards the garden through the largely glazed rear elevation help create an uninterrupted connection between the two areas. 

The colours chosen for the kitchen cabinets reflect that of the plants that grow naturally in the garden space, further encouraging a sense of continuation. 

The design and arrangement of the furniture in the space have been planned to make the most out of the views from each corner of the room. High level cabinetry is located to one side only leaving sightlines clear. 

This setup also means that multiple occupants can be in the same space at the same time, for instance prepping food at the island or sink while someone  else sets up the dining space inside or guests sit at the table.

Top down lighting filters through the rooflight and reflects off the large format kitchen flooring ideas, with the choice of porcelain providing a neutral canvas from which the interior scheme has been built off. 

This cost-effective solution is also a durable one, with the material also suitable for use outside. The tiles have been laid on top of the underfloor heating that has been installed throughout the extension to provide a low maintenance high quality finish. 

Clean lines, both horizontal and vertical add interest with the half panelled wall providing texture and the exposed timber beams in the ceiling making the plan seem deeper.

A small collection of wall art makes a big impact, stopping the large white wall from looking stark and bland. 

The internal set up mirrors the external with the dining table positioned to reflect the seated area outside. 

The architects chose to use a large format sliding door from Maxlight. These doors feature slim frames, which help maximise the views into the garden. 

The frames were colour matched to the external zinc and tiles to again create a sense of continuity between the two spaces. 

The porcelain tiles continue into the living space helping to blend the new open plan kitchen-diner with the older part of the property. 

Here, the theme of subtlety continues with existing features such as the fireplace sporting neutral hues, while the burnt orange furniture and indoor plant provide an injection of fun and colour. 

The bespoke cladding

'The rear elevation of the extension, explains Adam, 'features contemporary zinc combined with bespoke ceramic tiles, which gives the back of the house a refreshing new look.'

'The tiles were designed by us,' explains Adam, 'incorporating Arts and Crafts references such as fern leaves into a repeating pattern that contrasts with the crispness of the zinc.'

'We worked with a tile maker to see the design realised on site and experimented to ensure that the tiles would complement the zinc in colour, but contrast with it in terms of pattern and finish.'

'We were keen for the extension to reflect not only the place and setting of the original property,' adds Adam, 'but the modern time the extension was built in.’

The property before works began

Before works began, the Arts and Crafts house had a dimly lit, cramped lower ground floor layout, with a small kitchen to the rear that opened out to the garden via a single door. 

Focus On: Bespoke cladding

• Seek out local suppliers. Source materials such as coloured or reclaimed bricks, timber or clay tiles from local craftspeople where possible. We worked with specialist ceramic tile manufacturers and metalworkers to create the unique facade for this home. Bear in mind that specialist materials will require expert tradespeople and it’s important to get their input early on so you can budget for costs and plan time frames for work. 
• Be adventurous with your choice of external cladding as there are lots of different affordable choices available, rather than using brick. Take inspiration from properties and materials used in buildings in the local area and incorporate that into your design.
• Applying a specially designed tile to this property was a great way of introducing a pattern inspired by the Arts and Crafts period of the property. The cost wasn’t much more expensive than quality shop-bought tiles and they provide a unique character to the project. 
• Choose eco-friendly materials where possible. Zinc is a good choice as it offers a high-quality, crisp and durable finish. It comes in a range of colours and is often recyclable. 
• Combine different finishes. Think about using different materials together. Team metal, glass or coloured tiles with more familiar options such as brick and timber to create a distinctive but affordable finish.

A couple from southeast London has transformed their bathroom into a stylish, spa-like space, complete with a green bathtub. The homeowners chose a monochrome scheme, adding warmth and a feeling of luxury to their small bathroom ideas through timber and brass.

The makeover goes to show how neutral walls and pale-coloured flooring can really enhance the sense of space. What was dark and cramped is now bright, airy and soothing, with the bath providing a clear focal point.

Before

Previously, the bathroom walls were two-tone, and the window frame was painted white. The bulky built-in units where overwhelming the space, making it feel much smaller.

After

Now, it feels so much lighter and brighter, with the freestanding tub and black window frame leading the eye outside. The walls are finished in micro cement which provides the look and feel of concrete at a fraction of the cost and weight. 

'We wanted a lot from our new bathroom – it needed to be a practical space as well as providing a calming, home spa feel – and I think we have actually managed to achieve it,' say the homeowners. ‘With a busy household, we needed a practical solution that could also be a space to get away from it all. 

'No structural work was involved so we didn’t need planning and we did have another bathroom in the house so that eased the pressure.' The couple also used builders that they had already worked with previously, so they knew the bathroom renovation would be done with minimum fuss.

'Our designer Samantha Watkins McRae created the mid-century scheme we wanted and maximised a sense of light and space by taking away the chunky built-in bath and vanity unit, giving us room for his-and-hers basins and ensuring our beautiful freestanding bath would be the focal point,' they explain.

The stylish built-in vanity unit ensures bathroom clutter remains unseen. It provides enough space for two sinks, each with a mirror above. The wall-mounted taps require forward planning to ensure pipework is accurately placed in the wall. 

'We love how the neutral colour palette highlights the brushed brass fittings, which add texture and warmth and evoke the calm ambiance we were after,’ the homeowners explain.

On the other side of the bathroom, is a sleek small bathroom shower idea, in warm brushed brass ties in with the bath and basin fittings. Cool stone and an unfussy style allow the brass fittings to shine and the elegant bath to take centre stage.

Freestanding baths are sculptural statement pieces and very desirable, but there are a few things to think about if you are considering installing one in your home. First, installation. Compared to a built-in bath, a freestanding bath is actually easier to install. Instead of a decorator and a contractor, you’ll likely just need a plumber. 

Second, placement. Freestanding baths allow you to use your space more creatively. While built-in baths may need two or more walls for their installation, with freestanding versions, anything goes! 

And if you want to combine a shower enclosure and bath, a built-in bath is the way to go. It is possible to mount a shower to a freestanding bath, but it looks clumsy. Some come with a small hand-held unit for rinsing off, which might be a compromise. 

Last of all, bathroom storage ideas. Bear in mind that freestanding baths have less space to put your shampoo or candles. A recessed shelf in the wall is a good option – or you might end up buying bath trays or a storage unit on wheels.

If you're thinking about extending, it could be worth taking a step back and seeing if you can change the layout of your home instead, as this couple from the Midlands have proved. The pair saved more than £30,000 on building fees with a clever room swap tip, turning a ‘too big’ living room into their dream open-plan kitchen.

A year later, they have put a snug where the old kitchen used to be. Laura Crombie and her husband Rian, who live in a village in Worcestershire with their daughter Sophie, and baby Amelia, had originally planned to extend out, but they were put off by just how much an extension costs. And now they’re sharing their tips on changing rooms to inspire others to do the same.

'When I told people we were switching our old kitchen and living room, they looked at me like I was mad,' Laura says. 'I probably was a bit, but we knew it’d make more sense for us as a family.'

When they moved in just over two years ago, the existing kitchen was quite small and separate from the rest of the house. 'This was a nightmare with a toddler,' Laura recalls. Sophie, now 4, would be climbing the walls in another room while Laura was cooking and she couldn’t see what she was up to.

‘We got a couple of quotes for a kitchen extension but we couldn’t afford £30,000 of building work, as well as a new kitchen, flooring and all the finishing touches we wanted.’

Changing rooms

Instead, Laura, a homes journalist, printed off a few floorplans for the house and started drawing out alternative layouts. ‘The old living room was way too big for us,’ she says. ‘Our furniture only filled a third of it and I couldn’t see how we’d ever use the space effectively.’

The couple, who renovated their first house aged 25, realised there was plenty of room to fit in a kitchen and dining area, and that the old dining room next door could become an open-plan sitting area. The original kitchen would become a snug living room.

‘As soon as she showed me the plans I knew it was perfect,’ adds Rian. ‘We wanted to save as much money as we could so we started researching what we could do ourselves.’

DIY project

The couple completely stripped out the rooms, including steaming 1960s wallpaper from all of the surfaces, ripping up the pink carpet, removing the fireplace and sanding the walls. 

While on furlough from his job as a pilot, Rian used YouTube to teach himself how to do the plumbing for the kitchen and reposition all of the radiators. ‘It was tough at times but luckily the only thing we disagreed on was whether to keep the 1960s arch between the two rooms,’ he says. ‘I wanted to get rid of it but I actually really like it now...not that I’d admit I was wrong!’

A builder, who is a family friend, changed the window openings, added a side door and moved the entrance to the room so that you can see out to the garden as soon as you walk into the house.

‘We know our limits and have got the whole house to renovate, so we paid for a kitchen fitter and somebody to install the flooring for us,’ adds Laura. ‘It’s satisfying doing DIY and decorating but sometimes you have to know when to call in the professionals.’

Dream open plan kitchen

The family moved into the house during lockdown, so used a free Zoom consultation with Magnet to help design their dream kitchen. ‘We knew we wanted a modern take on traditional style, so blue and grey Shaker units with white quartz worktops were the winning formula,’ adds Laura. 

They opted for a U-shaped kitchen idea with an island that doubles as a breakfast bar, and chose an AEG double oven, induction hob and built-in fridge, freezer and dishwasher to finish the space. ‘I was almost scared to use the kitchen for the first time as I didn’t want to make a mess,' laughs Laura.

Herringbone luxury vinyl flooring from Karndean and marble hexagon tiles from Topps Tiles were the perfect finishing touches to the space – our how to grout tiles guide has all the advice you need if you are tiling your own splashback. The velvet sofas are from Swyft and the black glass storage cabinet from JYSK.

‘When I look back now I can’t believe this use to be a living room,’ adds Laura. ‘It’s such a sociable space for the whole family to enjoy now – and I can even see when Sophie is climbing the walls!’

The snug 

Now with two young kids, Laura and Rian saw the kitchen as the number one priority, but a year later they were able to transform the old kitchen into a small living room. Again, they did almost everything themselves, apart from plastering and fitting the floor, and the snug was finally finished in March this year.

'The old kitchen is smaller than most living rooms but the space works perfectly for us,' says Laura. It's the ideal spot for settling down on the sofa and watching TV once the kids have gone to bed. By reconfiguring the layout, Laura and Rian have been able to create a grown-up space and have kept the kitchen as the heart of the downstairs.

They went for a lovely corner sofa (the Wilson Medium Corner Chaise, from Next) and accessorised it with cushions from Dunelm. The wall paint is Good Intentions at COAT Paints and they chose a natural rattan lamp shade, at MADE.COM.

Laura has put up some travel photographs that she took in the days 'before their holidays revolved around soft play and having to pack to the kitchen sink'. These inject colour and personality and tie in with the snuggle chair in bottle green velvet, from Next, which overlooks the garden.

Plus, the built-in media unit painted in dark green helps to conceal the TV screen when it's not being used. It also provides plenty of space to display books, plants and other decorative pieces.

After doing so much of the reno themselves, Laura decided the media unit would be their one treat, and had it built bespoke to her design from MDF. Although she then painted it herself... 

'This was hard work,' she tells us. 'I used two coats of acrylic primer and three coats of Helmi 10, colour matched to Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball. All with sanding in between.'

Tips for remodelling

Changing rooms, not to mention a kitchen is a daunting job. If you're considering trying this hack yourself here are a few of Laura's top tips:

1. Think about your windows and doors first as you want to make sure the space has enough natural light and flows well
2. Then consider whether you need to change your lighting. We’ve layered lots of kitchen lighting ideas, with spotlights, pendants, wall lights and lamps, with both dimmer and traditional switches, so that we can create different moods. Use a qualified electrician for this
3. You’ll probably need to relocate radiators, which is only a job that competent DIY-ers should tackle. Call in a plumber if you’re not sure
4. Don’t scrimp on things you’ll use every day. For me, the floor, appliances and worktops needed to be the best quality we could afford

Good bones and rustic finishes have enabled the owners of this property to transformed a bland barn conversion into a unique modern home that’s bursting with style and inspiration.

They tell us how they achieved their stylish and individualistic real home.

The exterior

The detached barn near York was originally built in the 1800s. While it had been renovated in the 90s, it hadn’t really been maintained since, so needed quite a bit of work. A clever combination of textures and a neutral palette made the vision of the owners work.

The kitchen colour scheme

As the kitchen is a large room the owners chose a neutral scheme so it wouldn't date. The soft greys and marble worktops are timeless so they wouldn't tire of it any time soon.

'We started from scratch with the kitchen area,' say the owners. 'It needed everything doing to it;  insulation, re-roofing, new windows, new doors.’

The kitchen

'The plan was to make the best use of the available space and I think we have done that, as now we spend most of our time here,' say the owners.

They designed the units and layouts to suit their needs, while the cabinets were hand-painted so we they can easily change the colour as and when they want. With so much neutral on display, the beautiful Carrara marble worktop becomes the focal point of the room.

If you have high ceilings like this, note that a pair of feature pendants will draw the eye, making the space feel even larger and create a real sense of purpose.

The hallway

Along with any type of timber, brickwork adds a real sense of character in a home. Here, light parquet flooring adds a contemporary feel, while letting the original architectural elements shine.

'For me, houseplants are a must, too, as natural greenery softens a space that has few soft furnishings,' says the owner. 'The grey drawers are one of my favourite upcycling projects; they started life as school art drawers. I gave them a new lease of life with a coat of paint and some new handles.’

The family space

When revamping the open-plan living and dining space, the owners built in a window seat. As well as working as extra seating for guests, there is additional storage beneath.

'The paint on the walls is a limewash,' says the owner. 'I love its beautiful patinated finish – just sand and prime your walls before you apply it. We put in the arches and floating shelves ourselves.'

The open-plan area

Although the owners kept much of the house as it was layout-wise, the kitchen was in an unconverted barn attached to the main building and it made sense for them to knock through to create one large open-plan living space.

Running the same flooring throughout the downstairs gives a sense of flow and cohesion. Wood flooring is warmer both practically and visually than tiles, and is easier to keep clean than carpet.

The living room

'The living room was originally painted a pale neutral with deep pink alcoves which I felt did nothing for the space,' says the owner. 'Instead we painted the lower half of the room a deep grey which feels wonderfully warm and cosy. This is the perfect room to settle down and watch a movie together, especially in the winter when the wood burner comes into its own.’

Warm accents of burnt orange and mustard mixed with the rustic/luxe finishes against the grey gives a sophisticated, but homely feel.

DIY artwork adds a personal touch. The owners made the pieces above the fireplace by pinning MDF pieces onto backing, then painting.

The staircase

The original stairs were open tread with a carpet and traditional spindles, and at odds with the style of the room. The owners removed the spindles and newel post, filled in the risers with MDF, and made the balustrade. The carpet was replaced with brass sheets that were attached with silicone.

Speaking of the imaginative staircase idea the owner says, 'I love the hint of glamour it brings. The stairs now look spectacular when the light hits them.’

The home office

In the office, pale-pink contrasts well with the Cole & Son Circus wallpaper. It’s striking but doesn’t overwhelm the space. This room is filled with fun and quirky accessories, as well as a cheerful gallery wall.

'I’ve let my love of fun run loose in here!,' says the owner.

The master bedroom

The walls in the master bedroom finish at a relatively low level. Taking the bedroom wallpaper idea up onto the ceiling counteracts this very cleverly, giving the impression of taller walls. And the fun cloud design makes perfect sense, particularly as the ceiling is vaulted.

The guest bedroom

In this bedroom the ceiling isn't very high and doesn't have an obvious end point due to the vaulted part, so the owners decided to embrace it and paint it all the same colour to make the scheme more coherent.

We love the DIY headboard idea! 'We made the headboard out of plywood and foam before adding one of our favourite fabrics, Graffito by Kelly Wearstler,' say the owners.

The bathroom

The owners had always wished for a copper bathtub and so made this the starting block for our new en-suite. Having removed the carpet and discovered a hole and rotten floorboards beneath it due to a limescale build-up, gorgeous mosaic tiles were the great flooring replacement choice.

'We exposed the original wall bricks to tie in with those in the rest of the house,' say the owners. 'They add to the cosy feel the room now has. I absolutely love it!’

Additional words by Laura Ewart

Be still our beating hearts… this stunning barn conversion has our pulses racing with its explosion of laidback interiors, smart layout ideas and lush countryside views.

Set in the village of Ascott-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire, Meadowbank Barn is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom property that oozes charm, with a relaxed decor that's almost New England in its style. In fact, it's so beautifully decorated that it's even been featured in a number of interior publications.

That's no surprise when you learn it's been renovated to an exacting standard by a renowned local interior designer and includes a contemporary extension and separate one-bedroom annexe.

What we love most about it though, is that despite having an open-plan layout, every area is very defined. The dining room, living area and kitchen all flow from one to the other, but each display their own individual style and space.

Meadowbank Barn exterior

Here it is, Meadowbank Barn in all its glory. Built-in traditional Cotswold stone, you can see that there's plenty of glazed doors and windows to allow light inside.

Living room

After some blue living room ideas ? Then you're in luck, as this space shows how small hits of blue can really punctuate a palette of neutrals to create a relaxed setting with subtle pops of colour. We're not sure what we like best about this area - the white panelled walls, mid-century desk tucked into an alcove, or the mix of striped and patterned upholstered seating.

This space is open-plan with the dining room and kitchen. Each space is in the same colour palette to tie them all together.

Kitchen-diner

On to the kitchen-diner where one end hosts a large dining table, while the other features a fully-fitted kitchen. Integrated appliances, a range cooker and a central island unit with breakfast bar ensure this kitchen has every base covered.

If you're stuck for kitchen ideas note the wine rack at the end of the island, the gorgeous glass pendant lights and the scaffold shelves over by the cooker.

Wondering what the door in the corner is, with the blackboard on it? It's exactly as the sign above says – a walk-in larder!

At the other end of the room you can see some good dining room storage ideas. A large built-in coat rack area sits next to the stairs, with cubbies for shoe storage, a cushioned bench to sit on when taking shoes on and off, and more cubbyholes overhead for storage baskets.

To the left, the dining table is a statement in itself, with beautifully upholstered chairs and a black and glass pendant light overhead. 

Bedrooms

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, with the master including an en suite with a separate shower and a walk-in wardrobe.

How luxurious does this design feel, with its scalloped-shape headboard, sparkling glass pendant lights in place of lamps, and layers of bedding and pillows? We'd happily have this as our room to retreat to each night.

We couldn't resist showing you a sneak peek of this deep blue-coloured bedroom as well, with its striking wallpapered ceiling, blue-painted wall panelling and smart fabric headboard. Notice the sliding doors into the room too, which maximise space even in rooms like this.

Outside space

Slide back those bi-fold doors and step out into the gorgeous secluded garden, which has an attractive alfresco dining area. We love the mix of stone and cladding used on the barn, which creates a real contrast of textures.

As if all that wasn't enough, Meadowbank Barn also offers a completely separate annexe, which is currently used as a design studio. It has a good-size sitting room with log burner, a kitchen-diner, double bedroom and shower room with separate WC. Perfect for letting out on Airbnb or using as a home office – or even just for friends and family to stay in when they visit.

If you're as in love with this property as we are, you can find out more over at Knight Frank, where it's up for sale for £975,000.

A savvy DIYer transformed her downstairs bathroom into a luxe retreat for just £8, thanks to some clever tile stickers and leftover project supplies.

Cloakrooms or the downstairs loo, whatever you call them, when hunting for bathroom ideas, renovating the small space is often the bottom of the list. However, DIY-er Hayley Nelson decided to get creative with some leftover materials from another project and give her dull loo a revamp.

Hayley admitted to Ideal Home that she never liked her downstairs bathroom - it was pale, dull and nothing to write home about. But after giving it a makeover using leftover supplies, paint and budget-friendly tile stickers, she said that she now 'loves it as much as the rest of the house.'

'We had decided to tackle wall panelling in the dining room. When we finished we realised we had some panels leftover,' Hayley explains how they started considering the small bathroom ideas.

'The toilet was always going to be next on the list for a makeover as the rest of the house had been put first and was now complete. We measured up and had just enough panelling to do the one wall.'

As luck would have it the wall panelling wasn't the only supply leftover from another project. Hayley discovered that she had leftover grey paint from decorating the lounge. She used the paint to freshen up the panels on the wall - while keeping the bathroom in theme with the rest of her home.

'The only thing we had to buy was the tile stickers for above the sink,' Hayley said - revealing that they were only £8 from The Tile Sticker Company.

'They were so simple to apply but yet so effective,' Hayley added. 'It was a fairly straightforward process and the easiest makeover we have done out of each of our rooms.'

Hayley admits she still has some finishing touches to add to the room, like plants and artwork, but we think it looks totally transformed already.

On a shoestring budget, Hayley managed to completely freshen up her downstairs loo - making it a perfect haven to escape for five minutes… or maybe 10. We’re not judging.

Here at Ideal Home, we love a church conversion – and this one is simply heavenly. There's just something so serene and regal about them with their lofty spaces, stained-glass windows and amazing original features, and as soon as we saw this property we knew we had to show you.

Located in the heart of London's Battersea, The Sanctuary is a three-bedroom apartment that's been immaculately designed.

The Sanctuary exterior

Imagine calling this place your home! Set in Brussels Road, close to St John's Hill, the apartment covers 1,914 sq ft and its impressive exterior is certainly pretty unique.

Kitchen

Inside, the kitchen, living space and dining room are all one large open-plan space, set under the beautiful arched beams overhead.

A bank of neat kitchen cabinetry has been carved into the right-hand side of the room, with a spacious breakfast bar and high-quality appliances offering everything you need. We love the dark tapered-leg bar stools, that work perfectly with the dark grey, black and taupe colour scheme.

Dining space

Turn the other way and you're hit with the most stunning church window at the back, which allows natural light to flood the room. Set in front of it is a large extending dining table and it's clear that this apartment is just made for entertaining.

The church is an incredible mix of charming original details and designer-look furniture and this area is a prime example. We love how there are big cosy chairs at the end of the table, while it looks like the table has gold legs, making it a real statement piece. Then, of course, there's that huge cowhide rug – and all of it sits under a single globe pendant that hangs from those arched beams.

Bar area

There's so much to look at in this property, with beautiful windows wherever you look, bare brick and even a stylish bar area that sits by a set of stairs.

Head down those stairs and at the base of the iconic church spire you'll find a viewing gallery, which offers 360 degree views over the London skyline. We had to show you these amazing stained-glass artworks – aren't they beautiful?

Bathroom

Upstairs you'll find three double bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom. We love the metallic roll-top bath in this room, sat atop a step – we bet when those uplighters are on and you're gazing out the window at the stars, you'll feel like royalty in this tub!

Related: 7 style update ideas to steal from this contemporary Yorkshire home

The Sanctuary is up for sale with Knight Frank at £2,000,000. What is your favourite part of the heavenly home?

A savvy DIY-er completely transformed her dated, wooden kitchen for £100 thanks to a clever Shaker-kitchen makeover hack.

Kathryn Symons, with the help of her husband, decided to update the space after their old Welsh dresser inspired them to try some new kitchen ideas.

'What inspired me to do this project on my kitchen was my Welsh dresser, I have always loved the doors on it. My husband and I had it handmade when we got married nearly 25 years ago,' explains Kathryn.

'It was white pine originally but had yellowed over the years. I wanted my kitchen cupboards to reflect the style of the dresser doors.'

Kathryn started researching how to get a Shaker kitchen effect without the price tag. It took a while to get her husband on board with the DIY project, but after some convincing, he agreed to give it a try.

The couple started by ordering thin MDF from eBay which they cut to the width and length of the cabinet doors. 'We attached the MDF to the doors using wood glue and used a staple gun to secure them, the small holes were filled with wood filler,' she adds.

Once the base layer was completed all that was left was to give the doors a lick of colour. Kathryn turned the doors of the cabinets and Welsh dresser from drab to fab by covering them with three coats of Frenchic paint in Swanky Pants. If you are a fan of the lovely grey hue, you can pick up Frenchic Swanky pants from Amazon for £15.94.

The finishing touch was a new set of silver handles. Kathryn's husband created a template for them to check they all lined up perfectly on the newly decorated cabinets. The finished result is almost unrecognisable from the original kitchen.

It is proof of how simple and transformative grey kitchen ideas can be. The only thing that changed in this kitchen was the cabinets, but they have given a new lease of life to the other surfaces without changing them.

The entire project came to just £100, a tiny fraction of the cost it would have taken to replace the cabinets with shaker-style ones. This is one DIY hack to bank for your next home improvement project.

Former Corrie-star, Catherine Tyldesley, newly transformed kitchen is stylish, sophisticated and full of flair – much like the star herself!

The TV actress teamed up with kitchen experts Magnet to turn her kitchen into a glamorous space at the heart of the home. However, as a busy mum Catherine had some clear kitchen ideas about how her dream space should look.

'We wanted the room to be stylish and warm, whilst also hard-wearing,' she told Ideal Home. 'With a young son this is so important to our family life as we spend so much time in this room. The key for us was making our lives easier in the kitchen – having everything we need to hand, being practical and also looking great. Magnet’s fantastic design gave us that and then some!'

Catherine Tyldesley's kitchen

While it is hard to draw your eyes away from the art-deco style light fitting, the real hero in this kitchen is the cabinetry. The deep, dark midnight blue colour has given us lots of navy kitchen ideas. 'Our style is classic modern, which is why we went for the Magnet Luna kitchen in Midnight,' says Catherine. 'We love timeless, classic styles with a modern twist, so the flat frontal door is modern, but the midnight blue colour also feels like one that won’t date as we love it so much.'

'Blue has been such a calming, serene influence in the heart of our home and is one of our favourite colours,' Catherine continues, 'so we know we’re going to enjoy it for a long time to come even though it’s currently a big trend. We find ourselves pretty much living in the kitchen these days! We're so in love with it.'

Material world

The cabinetry isn't the only surface that we picked up on… the quartz worktops and mirrored splashback also make quite a statement - take that for unique Kitchen splashback ideas.

'The quartz worktops are a real stand-out feature for me,' says Catherine. 'They're hard wearing, kid-proof (and Cath proof!), yet so beautiful. They’re such a lovely contrast to the midnight units that they work perfectly.'

Smart and sleek

 Busy family life means that Catherine's kitchen needs to be practical, with plenty of kitchen storage ideas and appliances that can be relied upon to do the job well. 'We love to bake with Alfie and Tom and I try out new recipes all the time,' she says.

'The storage solutions Magnet suggested within our design make this much easier than before. We feel so organised!'

Favourite features

Every star needs a place to store some bubbly and the wine fridge provides the ideal spot, although that's not Catherine's favourite appliance. 'My favourite thing in the kitchen has to be the coffee machine,' she says. 'I’m big on coffee!'

Island life

Smart grey bar stools at the large island unit complete the look. 'I cook from scratch every day, so a prep island was essential for me as a home cook,' says Catherine.

'It’s the perfect way to ensure you can cook and be sociable at the same time. It’s also a great place for Alfie and I to bake as it doesn’t feel like we’re limited on space – we’re very lucky to be able to include one.'

Related: See here for more kitchen ideas and planning advice

It's safe to say we are smitten with this navy blue kitchen.

We can't resist a drastic makeover, and this is one of the best we've seen in a while. This Miami-inspired bathroom makeover might have been completed on a very small budget, but it makes a big impact.

Related: Small bathroom ideas to maximise compact spaces, cloakrooms and shower rooms

Craving a holiday, 31-year-old Lauren Hubbard decided to bring the sunshine to her own home with a bathroom makeover that's bright, colourful and fabulously quirky. The mum of two, from Hull, decided to document her efforts on Instagram after moving to her partner's home just before the pandemic.

'I started a home account initially to track my own progress and to show off my efforts to family and friends who couldn't visit,' she says.

'The room has had a complete makeover and looks like an entirely different space,' Lauren told home insulation supplier Insulation Express. 'Including all the accessories it cost just £350 in total.'

Miami-inspired bathroom makeover

Before

As you can see, the initial space was crying out for a revamp. Neutral walls and plain tiles gave Lauren a blank canvas to play with and she certainly gave it her all, with vibrant colours and artistic accent pieces.

'My style is fearless,' she says. 'I love colour, pattern and bold designs and I'm very experimental. I like getting the maximum effect for the least money possible and I'm not afraid to try different combinations, either – if they don’t work you can always change them.'

Let's take a look at the finished result…

After

The first thing you'll notice is the striking colour scheme, where walls painted in a hot fuchsia pink from Valspar clash boldly with the peppermint wall tiles. The tiles have a gold border that was created with Annie Sloan's gold metal leaf size.

Lauren runs an online business, Get Kooky, which sells self-adhesive decorative vinyl, and she chose a design to cover the bath panel and wall above that combines her two favourite colours - pink and green.

'This bathroom is mainly enjoyed by the kids and I knew they'd love the nice bright colours,' says Lauren. 'But equally, it's perfect for me to wind down in with a soak after a busy day.'

On the other side of the room, the under-sink cupboard from B&M was painted in the same peppermint green, while the Enhet mirrored cabinet above was transformed using gold spray paint from Rustoleum.

There's plenty of fun artworks dotted around the bathroom, most of which are from Oh So Daisy, Printed Weird and Nanas of Anarchy. And you can't have a Miami-style bathroom without a flamingo!

In another corner, floating shelves from Homebase have been painted the same petrol-blue shade as the wall, while a gold disco ball from Amazon completes the look overhead.

Related: See how this cluttered hallway has been turned into a country farmhouse boot room

According to Jenny Turner, property expert at Insulation Express, the colours that Lauren has used are the hottest choices for next season. 'Our research shows that warm exotic shades of pink, pale pink, and mint green are on trend this summer 2021,' she says.

Are you a fan of 60s Miami style? Has Lauren's bathroom inspired you to go bold with your next colour scheme?

Whether you're looking to move or simply fancy daydreaming about a new home, there's nothing better than finding a property that transports you into another world – especially one where that world includes a babbling brook, stunning views and a modern country aesthetic that's fitting of a fairytale.

See more real home transformations

Welcome to the beautiful Long Barn. Long Barn is on the market for £885,000 with Mrandmrsclarke.com. The property is set on the southern edge of the Peak District in Ashbourne.

Here you'll find rolling countryside and an interior that's just as stylish as the outside is peaceful, along with a slow pace of living that is both inviting and enticing. Meander down a long private drive and there you'll find it – let's take a look around, shall we?

Long Barn exterior

Set within 1.4 acres of beautiful gardens, Long Barn is exactly as its name would suggest – a long, secluded barn conversion. Aside from the main house, there's also an additional larch-clad four-bay garage with space above that could be transformed into potential living quarters if you wanted.

Kitchen

Country living demands a country-style kitchen and Long Barn certainly delivers, with a cream four-oven AGA nestled into a chimney breast and flanked by off-white Shaker-style cupboards. Traditional terracotta-coloured ceramic floor tiles make a practical addition underfoot, as do the black granite worktops, Belfast sink, larder unit and separate utility room.

Large enough to house a spacious table, the kitchen is ideal not just for cooking but for dining, too – open the French doors out to the patio area and drink in the beautiful setting.

Living room

This house has not one but two reception rooms to enjoy, and this living room boasts a log-burning stove in a large-sized inglenook fireplace that makes for a very cosy space to relax in. Again, it's a light-filled room with plenty of character, from the beams overhead to the rustic brick fire surround.

However, it's not without its technology – this room is equipped with fully wired theatre speakers to give you the ultimate sound experience.

Bedroom

Upstairs, four bedrooms have been wonderfully designed, with the master bedroom featuring an en-suite and dual-aspect Velux windows. We love the wall panelling that adds interest to this calming scheme, along with a sturdy sleigh bed, tufted rug and neutral-coloured bed linen that together creates a stylish and soothing scheme.

Dressing area

We can't get enough of this delicate and feminine blush wallpaper, either, which sets the background for an elegant dressing table and rose-gold wall frames.

Bathroom

Long Barn has three bathrooms in total. The family bathroom includes a roll-top bath, while all of the bathrooms feature Duravit fittings, with Neptune furniture adding that unmistakable note of quality and craftsmanship. Despite the sloped ceiling here, a wall-hung vanity has plenty of space, with plain white-painted walls keeping the backdrop simple and fresh. Visit bathroom ideas for more inspiration.

Patio

Step outside and you'll find yourself on the south-facing terrace, with views over the pastures and brook. Can you imagine yourself out here?

The land also includes a natural pond, private patio from the kitchen, fruit trees, a copse with oaks and a garden swing.

Related: This home in Warwickshire hides a beautiful modern meets country decor scheme

It's a dreamy place and easy to fall in love with – whoever snaps this place up is going to be a very lucky homeowner.

The kitchen is one of the most costly rooms of the home to renovate, but you can make a massive difference to how it feels with some simple, budget tricks. One DIY fan has proven this to be true by transforming her drab kitchen for £300.

Related: Budget kitchen ideas – spend less without compromising on style

At 37 weeks pregnant, most mums-to-be are taking it easy. But Eloise Mitsides-Willumsen decided to show her kitchen some love in time for her baby boy's arrival. Eloise follows some DIY makeover pages online and was really inspired by other people's transformations. 'I was curious to see what I could do myself,' she tells Ideal Home.

Budget blue kitchen transformation

Before

She set to work decorating her kitchen all while trying to keep to a tight budget. Eloise applied geometric kitchen tile decals from discount store One Below over the original 'plain and dull' tiles. Then, she covered the grey kitchen counters with an oak effect DC Fix, which only cost £16.

After

'I painted the top cupboards and all the handles, used some offcuts of wood to cover the boiler pipes, painted a feature wall, and hung a floating shelf with some decorative pieces,' she says. As for the flooring, Eloise's husband lay down a new Lino floor bought from a local shop. This step really warms up the space, creating a more homely feel.

Come evening, the space takes on a whole new mood thanks to clever kitchen lighting. 'We used LED strip lighting for £15 from Amazon under the kitchen cupboards to add to the mood in the kitchen,' Eloise says.

'With the exception of a new washing machine, the total spend for the makeover was only £300,' she says. 'I am a keen home cook and share a lot of my recipes on my social media pages, and having the kitchen improved definitely helps with that and is a nicer environment to cook in!'

Eloise also shared some before-and-after shots on Facebook page Extreme Budget DIY and Life Hacks. Captioning the pictures, she wrote, 'this has been more rewarding for me than paying £20k for a new kitchen and I wanted to show that you can transform a room on a small budget.'

Her Facebook post soon attracted hundreds of 'likes' and many comments praising her for her DIY skills. 'I love the wooden floor and the navy and copper colour scheme. Also that clock on the wall really adds some character,' one commented. 'This looks beautiful, great job,' said another.

Related: DIY fan uses clever terrazzo tile hack to transform drab bathroom for £85

You can follow Eloise on her Instagram @thecypressgarden where she shares food inspiration and recipes.

At Ideal Home, we think the bold colour choice, the copper-coloured handles and addition of faux flowers are what really makes it.

Former Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh has shared some photos of her newly decorated bathroom. With a pink and navy blue colour scheme and bold tile choices, she's made a gorgeous space ahead of the birth of her third child.

Related: Bathroom tile ideas – stylish wall and floor tiling solutions for baths, showers and sinks

'So my bathroom is finally finished...we started it in November,' the actress and TV presenter captions the Instagram post. 'It turns out renovating in the middle of a pandemic can be tricky.'

She explains that while she usually keeps her home away from Instagram, she'd been feeling the 'nesting' urge recently. Also, like many of us, she says that she's been spending a lot of time doing home DIY and decorating.

'I do love a bit of painting though, it’s very therapeutic and has been good for my head. It may have taken longer than I anticipated but it was worth the wait. This is where I will be until baby number three arrives!'

Inside Kimberley Walsh's bathroom renovation

It may have taken several months but at Ideal Home we're loving the result. Kimberley's choice of contemporary tiles adds depth and fun, and introduces pattern into the bathroom.

Both the navy Insta-famous Lily Pad tiles from Ca’ Pietra (underfoot and up the walls) and the gleaming pink Carter Rose metro-style tiles contrast against the room's traditional features such as the archway and coving. The different tile choices create interest while also zoning the shower space, making it feel separate from the rest of the room.

Kimberley's opted for gold hardware for a modern, luxurious look, and a plain glass shower screen that lets the tiles do the talking. She also chose a gorgeous free-standing bath from Sanctuary Bathrooms. As for bathroom accessories, Kimberley added character with house plants, a playful vase with dried flowers, and a very on-trend candle in the form of a female torso. The hand towels also tie in with the bathroom colour scheme, a simple detail that makes everything look considered.

The Instagram post attracted praise from the star's fans. 'Love the pink!' one said.

'Absolutely fabulous, love every bit of it,' commented another.

If you're wondering how there are no shampoo bottles in sight, the pink under sink cabinet shown in her Instagram post provides some handy storage.

'I first came across Ca’ Pietra on Instagram a year ago and since then have become totally obsessed with their page!' Kimberley says about the renovation. 'They have the most amazing selection of tiles, that can completely transform any room. I’m also loving their new Proper Good Paint collection, I’m already eyeing up what room to do next.'

Related: How to clean a bathroom – the easy way to get your bath, loo, shower and sink sparkling

We can't wait to see what room Kimberley transforms next!

The bathroom is said to be one of the most popular rooms for makeovers. However, a bathroom makeover doesn't mean investing in all new things, as this vintage bathroom makeover proves.

Related: Small bathroom ideas for compact spaces, cloakrooms and shower rooms

Owner of online store Betty & Maude Vintage Home, Tania Moseley's bathroom was crying out for a change – and you won't believe the transformation.

Inspiration can come in all sorts of forms, for this homeowner it came in the shape of a piece of fabric that she fell in love with. With the help of a piece of fabric, she transformed a lacklustre small bathroom into a vintage haven.

Vintage bathroom makeover 

Before

Tania's compact bathroom was very much a blank canvas. It had a small shower enclosure, an old towel rail and walls devoid of any colour. It was definitely time for a refresh!

'Inspired by my bargain remnant of Sanderson fabric, I decided to create an easy sage and pink colour scheme,' Tania recalls.

This pretty colour combination is ideal for injecting a feminine vibe into your room scheme and Tania decided to turn her fabric into a blind. The colour scheme wasn't the only change to be made though…

'I had been fawning over black shower screens in magazines for months, but they were way out of my budget,' says Tania, 'so I was thrilled to find a cheaper version at Victorian Plumbing.'

The black shower screen ties in with a new black loo seat and small storage basket, keeping the scheme feeling fresh and modern.

Bathroom makeover

Buy now: Matt black frameless pivot shower door, £299.95, Victorian Plumbing

Behind the loo, wood panelling hides any pipework and Tania painted it in Lichen by Farrow & Ball – a heritage green shade that suits the scheme perfectly. Meanwhile, the pink elements come from pretty accessories, such as the towels and shower mat, all from Betty & Maude.

In the shower enclosure, Tania chose some striking star tiles for the wall. 'They are actually floor tiles, so they are thicker and heavier, but my builder assured me they will be fine,' she says.

Buy now: Scintilla star tile, £3.99 (45 x 45cm), Tiles Direct

The bathroom boasts various secondhand items, from the cupboard door handles to the wall lights. 'Owning a vintage home store means that I often find pieces of furniture that I end up keeping instead of selling,' Tania says. 'The wall cabinet and bathroom chair are both prime examples!'

The small wall cabinet is ideal for storing lotions and potions, while a reclaimed wood floorboard has been cleverly used as a shelf above the loo.

Buy now: Thistle Garden linen, £69.99m, Sanderson

Of course, we can't forget the fabric that set the mood for the whole scheme – it was used to make this pretty Roman blind for privacy at the window.

An ornate mirror, gluggle jug filled with blooms and a beaded chandelier overhead complete the look. Pretty as a picture, wouldn't you say?

Related: How to plan a bathroom – a complete guide designing your perfect family bathroom or chic en suite

We'd love to know what has inspired your colour palette for a room scheme.

This stunning new kitchen is an eclectic blend of contemporary elements, traditional materials and retro finds – residing in a 1920s semi in Beckenham, south London.

‘We like a separate dining room for entertaining, so rather than knock through, we extended our long, narrow kitchen to the side' explains the homeowner. 'I’m a design consultant @futureicons_, so we saved on architect’s fees and planned it ourselves.'

'We like high-quality craftsmanship and lots of detail, so took our ideas to a local kitchen maker, Pluck. Everything’s solid, thoughtfully designed and well made – both beautiful and practical.'

See the trends: Kitchen trends 2021 – the latest kitchen design trends and ideas for the new year

‘We had a vision for the kitchen. Dark green is a favourite and terracotta tiles suit the age of our house. We knew we wanted a kitchen island, but not high-level units as I’m not that tall!' the owner explains. ' The island top has green marble in it – a traditional material, but used in a contemporary way.’

Glorious green kitchen makeover

'Having invested in the cabinetry, I shopped around for appliances and, as we were buying them all from one place.' Adding, 'I haggled to get the extractor half price.'

'For four months we used makeshift facilities in the dining room and washed up in the bathroom. Fitting took three weeks and cost about £3,000. The new space is great for cooking and entertaining and it will stand the test of time.’

The owners chose plain worktops. ‘I felt anything too distinctive would compete with the island top, which is a big feature of the room.’

It cost £27,319 in total to transform the kitchen. Broken down like so: Units, £18,800; Plain worktops, £1,800; Patterned worktop, £1,200; Appliances, £3,756; Sink and tap, £588; Flooring, £800 and Wall tiles, £375.

Mermaid tiles

Buy now: Syren Natural Linen Wall Tiles, £83.17sq m, Topps Tiles

The units’ door and drawer pulls have a contrasting coral interior that adds a pretty detail. Laminated birch plywood units in Bonnington Green,  £620 for a 600mm base unit, Pluck. Island work surface, £450sq m, Altrock Surfaces.

Multifunctional kitchen island

'Instead of working in my home office, I’ll often sit at the island. I love the garden view' the owner says, delighted.

The island is a hard-working piece, with a breakfast bar on one side and drawers on the other for everyday crockery and glassware. The homeowner revealing, ‘The dishwasher’s directly opposite, so it’s really quick to unload.’ 

Statement lighting

The kitchen features ceiling spots to create multi-directional lighting, for practical tasks. However a futuristic pendant updates the traditional and retro elements in the room.

The light is Flos Arrangements 1S feature light, £1,046, Ivor Innes. The vintage bar stools were an eBay find and they work with the birch ply larder doors to add natural texture.

Framed samples of vintage wallpaper makes for interesting alternative artwork.

Buy now: Andalucia Rojo Terracotta Floor Tiles, £39.95sq m, Walls and Floors

Related: Kitchen island lighting ideas to illuminate all your needs – from cooking to socialising

What the owners learnt form their kitchen makeover – 'Be prepared to pay extra for anything that’s not standard. It took our tiler three days to fit the unusual fan-shaped wall tiles, but I’d only budgeted for one'.

Original feature by Annabelle Grundy appeared in Ideal Home January 2021.

Re-doing a bathroom, complete with new tiles and paint can cost a small fortune. However, this savvy mum's £45 bathroom makeover is proof that you don't need to be sitting on a gold mine to give the space an on-trend update.

Related: See how Frenchic paint has given these bathroom tiles dramatic hotel-worthy makeover

Samantha Daley, a mum-of-one from Huddersfield decided to transform the bathroom herself after being quoted £4,000 to redo the tired-looking space.

'I had wanted to change this bathroom for ages, but it wasn't really that bad - it just wasn't to my taste,' Samantha told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk. 'We were quoted £4,000 for a full refit so that's when I decided to make it over.'

£45 bathroom makeover

'When I was originally quoted to update the bathroom, I was a bit despondent. It wasn't dated enough to spend so much money on when there were other more pressing jobs that need doing in the house, like the kitchen, so I had resigned myself to having a boring downstairs loo.'

'Then I realised that I was going to be able to refresh the bathroom for almost next to nothing, and as soon as I was inspired to give it a makeover, I was excited to start!'

For the transformation, Samantha picked up Frenchic Paint from a local supplier for £6.95 per 150ml. She also brought a roll of Fablon to cover the counter from Amazon for £8.99, five handles for £10.99 and a grout pen for £3.99.

Samantha started by painting the cabinets with Frenchic Paint and allowed the cabinets to dry fully before applying the handles. She then applied the Fablon, which is a self-adhesive vinyl, to update the countertop.

'I watched YouTube tutorials to work out how to apply the Fablon,' explains Samantha. 'I started off with marble Fablon but it didn't work so I changed it to the terrazzo style instead.'

'All in - other than the faffy trinkets! - it cost about £45, so it was a complete bargain!'

Samantha finished by accessorising the space with houseplants, vases, prints, rug and a candlestick holder she had picked up on the high street or on travels abroad.

'I am normally a procrastinator but I finished this project in a matter of weeks. I absolutely love it now, and it's one of the happiest spaces in the house despite it being the smallest.'

Related: How to give a sideboard an Art Deco makeover – get a glamorous look for less than £20

For less than £50, this bathroom transformation has given us some serious bargain DIY inspiration.

‘The old kitchen hadn’t been touched for 15 or 20 years,’ says the owner of this five-bedroom Victorian terraced house in East Dulwich, London.

'It was too small, and all the cupboards and units were falling apart. We wanted to make the space bigger, and with a baby on the way, to turn it into a useful family room.' So they added an invaluable narrow kitchen extension to create the space of their dreams.

'We planned everything ourselves, working out dimensions, what space was needed between seating areas. Even the positioning of appliances and units to ensure it would work for us. So we could have a kitchen that we can entertain in, with all of us enjoying the same space.’

Before and After: narrow kitchen makeover with extension

‘Our main objective was to create a spacious kitchen with the island and dining table taking centre stage. In the old kitchen, we squeezed a small, round table into a bay window but could only seat four people – now, we can accommodate eight comfortably' explain the couple.

'We used Resi, an architecture practice, to secure planning permission, but I’m a builder so I built the extension myself' says the homeowner proudly. My partner and I produced several different layouts on graph paper, detailing the dimensions for the space needed – for things like walking between the island and kitchen units. And what might be required for the seating area.'

Being a builder, the owner not only built the extension but designed the pitched glass roof as well.

‘It was a fairly straightforward design using planed structural timber, double-glazed panels and power-coated aluminium capping. In fact, it was probably cheaper than a slate and Velux alternative and allows plenty of light to flood in.’ The combination of a glazed pitch roof and large steel-style windows and doors provide a bright, airy feel to the kitchen.

'After introducing texture in the form of an exposed brick wall and raising the ceiling to reveal the upstairs floor timbers, we opted for a white colour scheme, allowing the windows, tiles and island to become the main showpieces.'

'We fitted our Range cooker within the island, so that you are facing the dining table while cooking. Now, when we’re entertaining, we can prepare the food while chatting to our friends. Before, one of us would be stuck out in the kitchen, not involved in the conversations. We chose a leathered granite worktop because it’s not only strong but has a slightly uneven surface so you don’t see cleaning streaks or marks.'

Stylish storage solutions

'We wanted plenty of cupboards and storage space – and in convenient locations, too. For example, to the left of the oven is a pull-out bin for food scraps when you’re chopping and peeling' they explain. 'On the other side is a cupboard for pots and pans – so everything we need is within reach.'

The owners wanted to avoid traditional shaker-style doors. Instead, they chose a simple v-groove design from Howden’s which provides depth to an otherwise flat panel. The addition of plain black handles creates a classic timeless look.

Concealed appliances

To make this kitchen seamlessly stylish, everyday design aspects were well considered. 'Microwaves are invaluable when you have young children but aren’t the prettiest of items, so we’ve hidden ours' the couple reveal. 'We just open the door when we need it, then close it off again when we’ve finished. It helps the kitchen remain clutter-free.'

'Essentially, we’ve created plenty of storage options without it appearing like the space is full of cupboards. In fact, it’s quite a clean space. We’ve achieved that effect partly by not fixing wall cupboards; they would have enclosed the space too much.'

Thoughtful layout

‘It's important to take time to explore different options and layouts, focusing on where items, such as ovens, tables and islands, will be placed. Or how much room you want between your table and any cupboards or islands.'

Adding, 'For us, the inclusion of an island has been a big success. Now, we can sit round it and read the paper, watch TV or chill and chat while our two-year-old plays around us. As well as the big stuff, remember that the best ideas aren’t always the most expensive ones. For example, we decided to hang free or inexpensive paintings by family and friends to our walls, adding a splash of colour in the process.

The owner explains, 'The build took around three months and went smoothly. Although was a little delayed thanks to a massive storm striking halfway through the project. We’re very happy with our new kitchen.'

'Although, in hindsight, installing underfloor heating might have been a good idea. We can definitely say that our bigger, smarter, more contemporary kitchen has improved our lives.’

Further finishing touches: Kitchen wall decor ideas – easy and affordable ways to style your space

This impressive kitchen makeover was featured in the July 2020 issue of Ideal Home. Words by Richard Webber.

Want a new look for your kitchen but not at a huge expense? How about taking inspiration from this brave homeowner who has completely transformed her space with a budget painted kitchen tiles idea.

Using a simple stencil this homeowner has created a completely bespoke tile splashback for her kitchen – and may we say it looks incredible!

Another wow makeover: Grey spray-painted kitchen cabinets transform this family kitchen

Stencil painted kitchen tiles

DIY pro Daniela Nesca tells Ideal Home, 'I had been playing with the idea of painting the tiles in my kitchen for some time. But until now I have not had the time, or found a stencil that I liked enough.'

Before: plain white kitchen tiles

After some research Daniela came across Dizzy Duck Designs – a company that specialise in stencils and decals to upcycle furniture. As Daniela says they sell, 'beautiful stencils, for all tastes.'

Adding, 'I bought tile paint and a sealant, and went to work.' And with that Daniela takes her kitchen tiles from plain white to patterned wow!

Buy now: Zaris Tile Stencil, £7.08, Dizzy Duck Designs

Daniela candidly says, 'At the beginning I was a little afraid of making a mistake. But then I said to myself, what can happen in the worst case?' She came to reason if she went wrong she could repaint, no real harm done.

'I did some tests on a cardboard to practice – which I highly recommend' she says. 'I used a stencil brush, that must always be removed from the excess on a kitchen sheet.  The important thing in the end is a good sealant, to make them water resistant.'

Daniela goes on to explain,'They are not perfect at all... this is something anyone who starts must know.  You have to accept and make compromises as they are not printed but handmade one by one – with a lot of patience and love.'

That's the beauty of doing it yourself, the result is totally unique and a labour of love.

Interiors fan Daniela shared her stencilled tile makeover with us courtesy of the Ideal Home Room Clinic. It’s safe to say it went down a treat with follow members…

‘Magnificent 😃’ exclaims one. ‘Awesome job. 🙌🌈’ says another.

With one writing, ‘A brave move but the right one-it looks super!’.

See more of Dani's DIY here: Bathroom makeover proves the power of a painted ceiling

Thank you once more for sharing with us Daniela. Have her brave home improvement projects been inspiring you? Please share with us too, in our private FaceBook group as Daniela does.

For any couple that loves cooking and entertaining, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. But sadly for these owners, theirs was a total mess. With broken cupboards and dirty magnolia walls – it all had to go.

'The room has a low ceiling and felt like a tunnel,' recall the owners. 'A side return extension wasn’t an option and everyone advised us that the space suited a narrow kitchen.'

'Instead, we decided to go with our instincts and create two areas, separated by a peninsula, and open up the back wall to let in light and give us a view of the garden.' And what a difference that made...

New kitchen layout

The owners designed and measured everything themselves, sourced the building materials – including eden units by Second Nature – and tradesmen. They removed the old kitchen, did all the painting and bought everything online to keep costs down. The work took three months and fitting cost £5,000.

Because the room felt narrow and dark, the owners decided to move the kitchen to the opposite end. That allowed them to fit in French doors to increase the light, and have a dining space overlooking the garden.

Open shelves help a narrow room feel more open, and offer extra display space. ‘We custom-designed the peninsula with open shelves, so it wouldn’t block the view of the French doors and light can travel through to the rest of the space.'

'The carrara marble worktop does attract stains and marks, but we love its imperfections and patina’ say the homeowners.

Losing the dining table gained the couple extra space for a breakfast bar and a small living area. Removing the back wall has made the kitchen much brighter, too.

Get the look
Buy now: Grace pendant, £159, Heal’s

Opening up the original chimney breast provided the couple with the perfect space to slot in a big range cooker.

Get the look
Buy now: Smeg Opera 90 dual-fuel range cooker, £1,999.99, Currys

With a dark grout, this zig-zag pattern makes budget tiles look more expensive.

Painting the units blue-black has given the traditional design a modern edge.

Get the look
Buy now: Farrow & Ball Railings Estate eggshell emulsion, £6a for 2.5ltrs, Designer Paint

'We wanted the kitchen to look in line with the age of the house, but contemporary, so we filtered decisions that way – traditional units in a modern colour; butler’s sink, but in stainless steel, and so on,' add the owners.

Get the look
Buy now: Astini Belfast 800 2.0-bowl sink and waste, £329.99, Taps UK

The owners made the unusual stainless-steel butler's sink into a feature by adding overhead lighting.

Both of the owners work long hours but love coming home to spend time in the kitchen, cooking and chatting. 'The room works exactly the way we envisaged – I’m so glad we had the courage to design the layout to suit us.’

'When we moved in, we weren't keen on the bathroom, but it had some nice features,' say the owners. 'We liked the shape of the basin, the bath was comfy and the big window kept the room bright.'

The couple decided to live with the bathroom for a while to give them time to think of all the different ways to change the space.

'We realised it would be crazy to spend thousands of pounds ripping it all out,' they say. 'The basics were fine and we were sure it could be revamped beautifully.'

Feel inspired: Planning a bathroom – everything you need to know about designing your perfect washroom

The savvy owners worked with what they had. Making smart changes to create a fabulous new on-trend bathroom scheme.

After: regrouting bathroom tiles

Poring over websites for hours, the couple fell in love with the industrial feel of white brick tiles with grey grout. As they already had white tiles, the DIY duo got stuck into scraping out the old grout.

'We found matching tiles to cover the bath panel, which made the room look sleeker and less 'country',' they say. And once the new grey grout was done, the room looked so smart. If this has inspired you to have a go at grouting yourself, our how to grout tiles guide has all the advice you need.

Related: How to clean grout in tiles – get wall and floor tiles looking as good as new

To blend the untiled wall with the white tiles, the couple were torn between two paint colours - white and grey. 'We thought grey would look bolder,' they say, 'so we used Mole's Breath by Farrow & Ball, which has a warm tone.'

Buy now: Mole's Breath Estate Emulsion, £57 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball at Designer Paint

Replacing shower curtain with a glass screen

The owners couldn't wait to get rid of the ugly shower curtain and replace it with a more solid-feeling glass panel. 'Having a curtain flapping around was really annoying,' they say.

The pair also treated themselves to a fixed rainwater shower, which creates a spa-like experience and injects a bit of luxury into the space.

Buy now: White Metro Tiles, £20 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Next, the taps were replaced. 'It's amazing how much difference such a small change has made,' say the owners.

Buy now: Topaz basin taps, £59.95, Hudson Reed at Victorian Plumbing

With regards to storage, the couple found a tall mirrored cabinet at Ikea, which fits behind the door and is great for keeping everything neatly tidied away.

The mirrored front also reflects light from the window on the opposite wall, making the room feel really bright.

Using plants in the bathroom

On their online search, the owners had seen some glass spheres with plants inside hung on walls, and they loved the look.

'We bought some glass orbs and vases on Etsy, and set to work, deciding on exactly where to position them on the wall. Cutting pieces of paper to the size of each vessel and taking our time as we stuck these to the wall to see where they looked best,' say the crafty pair.

'Once we'd got them in a position that we felt was just right, we fixed the vases to the wall and filled them with plants and flowers from the garden.'

On the windowsill, glass bottles also play their part. The owners have arranged a few here to add a quirky apothecary element to the scheme.

With the bathroom makeover complete, the owners are really pleased with their industrial-chic bathroom. 'We're thrilled that we managed to make use of so many existing pieces,' they say.

Related: Shopping edit – best bathroom mirrors to enhance beauty, on every level

'It just goes to show how a few changes can completely transform your bathroom.'

After moving into a new home Sara McCrae, from Kinglassie, Fife, was keen to transform her dated kitchen. But as we know, new kitchens don't come cheap and Sara needed to keep things on a tight budget.

So Sara decided to tackle the DIY project herself. Painting the kitchen units, wrapping the worktops in a sticky back plastic and replacing fittings to transform the existing kitchen.

A job well done, we think you'll agree, and all for just £85!

More inspiration: Grey spray-painted kitchen cabinets and new splashback transform this family kitchen

Sara's kitchen before

'I moved into the property three weeks ago. I’m a single mum to two children and just opened my own nursery in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Money is very tight,' Sara tells Latest Deals.

Sara watched YouTube DIY videos, bought budget buys from the likes of B&M and Amazon to keep the budget to a minimum.

'I loved the beams on the roof so tried to create a vintage, cottage look. I got ideas from Pinterest.'

She soon got to work painting the trad kitchen cabinets and transforming the worktops – all with bargain buys!

'The paint was furniture paint from Homebase, £15, the wrap was from B&M and cost £30. Handles were from Amazon, £11, the light was on sale from £90 to £20 from Homebase. The blind was £6 from Lidl.'

Wondering how you can do this yourself, without the trip to the shops? You can buy specially designed Rust-Oleum kitchen cupboard paint from Amazon. Plus, Create Your World sells an identical oak-effect vinyl worktop wrap to this on Amazon too, that comes highly recommended by reviewers. We've also found very similar brass shell pull handles for a budget-friendly price from Amazon, plus a similar retro-style light on Amazon for a slice of the price. Finally, when it comes to the blind, this one from Ruby Deals on Amazon has over 4,000 positive reviews.

Sara's kitchen after

Of all the savvy things Sara bought, she revelas one clear favourite! 'My best ever purchase was my white grout pen from B&Q for £7. It transformed the whole look.'

'I watched the wrap being done on YouTube. I siliconed the edges at the tiles to seal the wrap. I finished off by doing the wallpaper. I’ve wallpapered in the past so I found it quite easy.'

'I also painted the walls and ceiling with a white emulsion, that I had left lying around. I had to paint the doors twice after doing a light sanding.'

Kitchen complete, what advice would Sara offer to fellow DIY enthusiasts?

'My best tip would be to make sure you sand the front of the cupboards. It doesn’t have to be lots, just to take the grease off the outside. Honestly, anyone can do this!'

Related: Love It or List It couple transform kitchen on a budget – thanks to Kirstie's bold ideas

Sara is feeling very chuffed with how her kitchen turned out. Saying, ''I absolutely love it and feel so proud that I’ve done it all by myself. I’ve never done anything like this before,' she adds.

It's the age old saying 'don't move, improve'. A good mantra to live by if you're on a budget, because moving house is not cheap.

Much-loved Channel 4 show 'Love It or List It' brings this improvement ethos to life. And one room where it never fails to add value is the kitchen.

More kitchen inspiration: 14 kitchen makeovers – real-life ideas to inspire your dream kitchen

Love It or List It kitchen transformation

Last week's episode saw a young family torn between moving or improving their three-bed terrace in Albrighton. They were working on a tight budget, which included just £2,500 for the kitchen.

Finding out they were expecting their second child, the couple, Curtis and Jamie Lea, needed to decide whether they would move to a bigger house or make their first family home work for their growing family.

While Phil got to work showing the couple houses, within their buying budget Kirstie worked on the premise of improving. She worked with the couple to explore creating a bigger, more functional space to cater for their family needs.

Kitchen before

As always Kirstie was steadfast on making good use of every penny within the budget, with the kitchen being the primary focus.

As you'd expect with Kirstie in charge, this meant the couple knocking through all internal walls downstairs to create one large kitchen-living-dining area.

Kitchen after

'We were in need of more storage, and we needed a completely customised fit for our kitchen to make the most out of every inch of space possible,' explains Curtis.

'We did some research into kitchen companies locally and found The Kitchen Facelift Company who introduced us to the Blossom Avenue range of kitchens.'

'Their style fitted what we were looking for perfectly. We wanted a classic look, nothing too contemporary and with Shaker-style doors. Kirstie helped us pick a shade for the wood floor, which we decided to make vinyl to save on costs.'

From there, the couple decided to keep their worktops and sink low key, opting for a matte white laminate counter with a composite white sink. The light finish helps to keep the new space airy and matches the the remainder of the neutral colours.

Related: The embarrassing mistake Kevin McCloud says too many of us make when renovating

After a three-month refurbishment, which completely changed the way they live in their home, the couple decided to stay.

On the plus side, when they do decide to sell, the new kitchen will have added great value.

Need more rooms but can't afford/face moving? This garage conversion might be just the inspiration you're looking for.

When couple Kelly and Sean Magness, from Wales, found out they were pregnant with their second child they knew they needed more space. But with a child on the way, moving wasn't really an option. Instead the couple decided to rejig their home, to make space for the new arrival – and save some money in the process.

The room they decided to sacrifice was the garage. And choosing to doing it themselves, they saved a small fortune.

Related: Loft conversion ideas – how to create extra rooms in your attic space

The results are this amazing garage conversion, which the couple shared with Latestdeals.

Garage conversion before

'We knew we would need another bedroom so instead of paying thousands for planning permission and an extension which we definitely couldn’t afford, we decided to move the bathroom to the internal garage,' Kelly says. 'And turn the old bathroom into a bedroom.'

'We had a few companies come round to quote at the start, I don’t quite know what we were expecting? But one was £14,000 and another was £11,000 – many moons away from what we could afford.'

Faced with a lack of space, an impending birth and a mindful budget the couple bravely decide to 'wing it', as Kelly says, and do it themselves. Watching YouTube tutorials to learn as they went on.

Kelly explained, 'I follow so many home accounts on social media and love seeing transformations. This is exactly where my inspiration came from – Instagram, DIY pages on social media, Pinterest and home programmes on the telly.'

Removing walls

We had to get all the necessary checks done first. My husband had to raise the floor level, which was great to allow us to hide the pipes. A window had to be cut in as there wasn’t one in there. And the double garage doors had to be bricked up.

'A huge wall had to be knocked down to utilise the corridor behind the garage, which leads to the rest of the house. All water needed to be plumbed in and connected to the drainage outside. All this is before we could even start to build and design the bathroom. This is where the bulk of the cost went.

In order to make sure everything was done properly, Kelly drafted in the help of friends. She even contacted fellow renovators, on social media, to ask for tips.

'We paid friends, one who is a plasterer to plaster and one an electrician to come in to help', she says.' We had a tiler, who was a friend of the plasterer, to tile and my husband did everything else.'

The bathroom reveal...

Talking of the plans Kelly say, 'I knew I wanted a freestanding bath, so I could clean around it.' Alongside that they wanted a walk-in shower, double sinks and a hidden toilet system.'

The DIY duo scanned the internet daily to find the cheapest deals on bathrooms.

My advice to anyone looking to renovate themselves is 100 per cent go for it! But be realistic and plan. I’d also say don’t buy expensive materials, have fun and don’t be afraid to ask for help.’

Here’s how much it cost

Bath, free standing tap and shower head, double sinks, double taps, toilet and cistern and flush, ceiling shower head and handheld shower and wall dials , £1400, Victoria Plum
Mirrored Shower Screen, £170, Victoria Plum
Tiles, £500, B&Q
Sink unit and worktop, £300, B&Q
New window, £200
New door & fittings, £100
Spotlights and automatic light sensor, £100
Mould resistant and wipeable paint, £80, Dulux
Large white & grey cabinet, £260, Ikea
£3110 (main spends)

'We didn’t start off with a budget,' explains Kelly. 'We planned to buy some things or put a bit of money aside each payday, for items or tradesmen as we knew we had over a year to complete.'

Related: Incredible bathroom makeover for under £500 – DIY done right!

Kelly says of the garage conversion, 'It did not come without its problems and struggles. But overall it’s saved us thousands of pounds and brought us so closer as a family, because we all got involved in even the kids.'

Dream of overhauling your bathroom, but worry about the expense? This impressive transformation is sure to flush those worries away because this cheap bathroom remodel cost less than £500!

Courtesy of our very own 'Ideal Home Room Clinic' Facebook group, we found this impressive bathroom transformation. Interiors enthusiast and bargain hunter Tim Grainger, from Devon, turned his hand to a spot of DIY home renovations – to save on costs. And it's certainly paid off.

We think you'll agree from the below, it doesn't look like a cheap bathroom remodel – it looks like it cost Tim a small fortune.

More inspiration:See how one DIY fan totally transformed her living room – creating a fireplace for under £80

Tim's budget bathroom remodel – before

The time came when we needed to tackle the existing badly decorated bathroom’ explains Tim. 'The house, it seemed when we bought it, had not been decorated since the early 1980s or earlier going by the colour scheme.'

Going on to paint a picture he says, 'The bathroom had drab plastic marble effect panelling which had been stapled and badly siliconed to clad the existing walls. The first thing I did was remove all the panels.' It soon became apparent to Tim there wasn’t a supporting structure behind them.

'This caused the panels to flex and worse the plaster and lathe walls that were behind had missing plaster and holes everywhere, I had two choices either plasterboard or plaster the entire room, I was limited for space so chose plaster.'

The build

Unfazed by the state of the walls, he reveals, 'I removed the loose plaster and using online video tutorials (YouTube) learnt how to plaster. I already had the tools, as I had plastered a fireplace the previous year – but this was a much grander project.'

’I am not a tradesman,' Tim adds, 'I was just brought up on the amazing DIY Readers Digest bible and Changing Rooms, I just do it for fun’.

'Once dry the walls took several coats of watered down emulsion, which is an important process on freshly plastered walls – to allow the colour to stick without being absorbed,' he advises.

'The sash windows had been painted and therefore did not open. It took a good few hours to free them up but the benefit is certainly worth it as was the window ledge which I stripped back carefully with a heat gun.'

'More tricky was how to hide all the existing pipework for both the sink and bath tub as I didn't want pipes to spoil the look. I had the added challenge of radiator pipes too so I took pen to paper to draw a design I liked, this I then went to my local plumbing centre who helped with what parts I may need.'

'Initially all the pipes ran under the floor but this threw up two problems. The first is important for any budding DIY enthusiasts undertaking plumbing –you must have an angled run on your pipework or the water will not drain away.'

The second problem was that made it harder to lay the new flooring. Tim decided to run the pipes behind the bath tub and concealed them.

Tim measured the floor and bought a piece of hardboard to cut to size and tack to the floor to protect the exposed floorboards.

'I chose to keep the existing toilet but updated the flush mechanism. I also bought a new toilet seat, for £5 in the Homebase sale.

‘We’d previously found a gorgeous slipper bath for the grand price of £10 from our local tip. The foot of the bath had become detached, but I knew it was an easy fix with silicon. ‘

Tim humorously explains, 'We knew we had a bargain when two gentlemen tried to buy it off us as we wrestled it into our VW golf! Yes it went in.’

The stylish bath was upturned and painted in a light clotted cream colour. The foot was reattached with a flexible glue – to prevent it cracking under the bath's weight.

Tim's Bathroom after the transformation

'The wooden blind was from our old house, so cost nothing. Luckily it was a simple click fit to the sash windows.'

'We decided we wanted a warm lino and for practicality, with potential water on the floor. I sourced an off-cut for only £30.'

The walls were painted an on-trend shade of blue grey to really finish the whole look. The paint colour is 'Tin Bath' by Crown.

The sink made from an old mixing bowl...

'The side table for the sink was bought for £2, and painted it in a heritage aubergine colour. I added an old cream mixing bowl, using a drill for a pilot hole ground a sink hole in it. It did take some time as the bottom was almost an inch thick but it was worth it! Now we have a bespoke unit with a waterfall tap to avoid splashes.'

How impressive is that? We're taking our hats off to Tim for being brave enough to tackle this big a project himself. It proves just how much you can save, if you know what you're doing mind – otherwise it could prove costly.

Related: Linda Barker's kitchen is really not what you'd expect

'It was one of many rooms we have made over. Despite a few setbacks, like a burst pipe which sent water spurting everywhere, it's been a fun challenge. I learnt how to plaster, plumb, woodwork and lay a lino floor.

'Our town house, is a wonderful blank canvas to design. Spread over three floors, there's a lot of room to play with'.

Fingers crossed for more inspirational makeovers from Tim soon.

We needed a house 
with more space,’ 
says the owner of this Thirties semi in south London. ‘Although this place was dated, it was just about liveable and in our budget – not easy 
to find in London. We were planning to start with a new kitchen, but when the shower started 
to leak on our first weekend here, we decided to put that project on hold 
and focus on the bathroom.'

For more washroom inspiration, check out our bathroom ideas

'Our bathroom was a good size, but 
the boxy shower cubicle and hot water 
tank cupboard encroached into the space. Making the room function better was our priority, and gave us the perfect excuse to update the heating system and install a new combi boiler in the kitchen.'

'We also wanted a bigger walk-in shower, so I began researching showers, looking for a cubicle size and shape that wouldn’t feel bulky. The curved design we chose is perfect as it’s narrow at the back and widest at the front where you need the space most.'

'I thought about building a shower with solid walls but the frameless glass is essential here as it gives the illusion of space. When the shower tray first went in, it seemed so small, but the cubicle came together once the glass panels had been fitted.'

The walk-in shower works well for young children, who can step (or crawl) in and out with ease.

Get the look
Buy now: Winchester dual-valve rain shower, £299, Victoria Plum.com
Buy now: Excellence walk-in shower enclosure with tray, £175, Royal Bathrooms

'We’d decorated our old flat in shades of grey, knowing neutrals would help us sell it later on. This time, I wanted to play around with colour. When I spotted some teal crackle metro tiles, I surprised myself by making them the focus of the room. I also went for black, star-patterned floor tiles. Choosing the painted grey bathroom suite was easy, as I wanted a traditional scheme to suit the age of the house.'

'We had a rocky journey with the fit-out, which was frustrating because I like to be hands-on but I couldn’t get stuck in, with the children being so young. We went away in for a week and the plumber promised we’d come home to a working toilet and bath.'

'But when we returned, the bath wasn’t ready and the project dragged on for another month. Then the shower leaked because the sealant wasn’t finished properly. We also had a problem with a split bath panel and the shower valve broke, but both were replaced.'

Get the look
Buy now: Camberley satin grey wooden bath panel pack, £159, VictoriaPlum.com

'I love the pattern of the floor tiles and the worn, weathered finish, which works well in a busy family bathroom.' Electric underfloor heating operates on a a separate timer and is fantastic for keeping the kids warm after their bath.

Get the look
Buy now: Scintilla black patterned floor tiles, £25.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

'With the problems ironed out, I started styling the room. I made the stained glass on the window ledge during a course my husband bought for my birthday. Next to this, I’ve hung three decorative fish we bought from an artist in Cornwall on the weekend we visited to write our wedding vows, and I fitted the reclaimed scaffolding board shelves to chunky metal brackets.'

'Hanging them at the end of the bath means they don't get in the way.'

'This radiator is stylish and also had because it doubles as a towel rail.'

Get the look
Buy now: Dulwich black traditional towel radiator, £269, VictoriaPlum.com

‘I didn’t want a top-heavy look or for the room to feel enclosed, so I painted the walls above the teal tiles white for contrast.’ Speaking of the tiles, the owner has a top tip. ‘If you think you might buy from a particular shop,
 sign up to receive its newsletters – we were 
 sent a discount code we then used to buy our tiles.’

Ready for another? Before and after – from dated but spacious bathroom into classy retreat

'I’m really pleased with the bold colour scheme. We’ve really got into blues now and not only have I painted the joinery on the stairs and landing blue, but I plan to use it in the guest bedroom, too!’

All too often, we live with a tired room scheme because we don't think our budget will stretch to a proper makeover. But interior blogger Chelsea Stonier of The House That Black Built might just have proven that you can make a big difference on a relative shoestring.

Check out our bathrooms channel for more amazing makeovers

Granted, she was lucky enough to inherit a beautiful claw-footed roll-top bath, which was already in situ when she bought her Cheshire home. But her 'up for anything' approach to DIY made the real difference.

'We were willing to give almost everything a go ourselves, with no prior experience or knowledge,' she says.

The existing bath led the way for Chelsea in terms of design. 'We wanted to be sympathetic to the Victorian era but give it a modern twist, and our choice of tiles really drove this forward,' she says.

'We chose a clean and simple elongated, white gloss metro tile for the walls, topped with a traditional border. By keeping it all the same colour, it was easy to apply a modern look to the classic room.'

And that was done with chocolate brown walls and crisp black accessories, including framed prints, towels, lighting and a handy bath rack.

Get the look
Buy now: Similar Triple French mirror, £185, Cox & Cox
Buy now: Similar Millenium White Gloss Brick effect Ceramic Wall tile, Pack of 6, £16.20, B&Q

'As the wall tiles were so simple, we wanted to go for drama on the floor,' says Chelsea. 'We chose a beautifully patterned monochrome floor tile to add interest. It’s a way to wow without being overpowering.'

Chelsea refrained from bright paint or accessories in the bathroom, relying on house plants to add restful pops of green.

Get the look
Buy now: Similar Harlequin Decor 6 Porcelain floor tiles, from £40.80 per sq m, Mandarin Stone 

Ready for another? Be inspired by this dream millennial pink bathroom makeover

Chelsea picked shutters made of faux wood which makes them perfect for the wet conditions of a bathroom, since they are unlikely to warp or crack – a risk with some hardwood and MDF versions. 'I see plantation shutters as being an investment for resale too – they add extra value,' she says.

Get the look
Enquire online: Plantation shutters, from £75, 247 Blinds

As evidenced above, the DIY approach definitely paid off for Chelsea. 'What we saved on labour, we got to spend on products that we really adored instead, plus you get the added satisfaction of having done something yourself!'

This five-bed, six-bath, two-reception former Victorian tram shed is now a spectacular family home, with its fashion designer owner providing some truly standout interior touches.

Related: Take a tour of this charming family home in the Scottish Borders

Behind the unassuming exterior is a magnificent, and modern, light-filled space spread over 4,500 sq ft  that still has more than a nod or two to its period past.

Exterior

The outside of this home screams industrial chic, and this scheme is picked up in several areas of this truly unique property. The property also boasts an internal garage.

Living Room

Double and triple height vaulted ceilings, give this living room a grand feel. We love the contrast between more classic items such as the walnut dining table and French armchairs and contemporary touches such as the bold wall art and electric windows.

Kitchen

The main open-plan living area flows seamlessly through to a bespoke Beckerman kitchen featuring corian work tops, a wine cooler, utility space and built-in Gaggenau appliances.

Bedroom

There is so much to love about this expansive bedroom, which has the feel of a lush five-star suite. The end-of-bed chaise lounge is so inviting and the perfect place to perch if you want to cosy up to the built-in fireplace.

On the other side of the partial dividing wall is a surprise en suite. And who wouldn't love taking a soak in that glorious freestanding clawfoot bathtub?

Bathroom

Another bathroom offering. This time it's all about clean lines and a sleek white suite. The huge rainfall shower unit is exactly where we'd be heading to after a long day at work.

Terrace

This home hardly needs more entertaining space, but a pretty terrace with views over the capital is always welcome — and that's exactly what we have here.

Related: See how a charming cottage in West Sussex was transformed from two homes into one

Tramways House is on the market with Hamptons International for an asking price of £3.25 million.

Which is your favourite space in this home?

We invite you behind the scenes of Rylan Clark-Neal's recently renovated Essex home, ahead of his Celebrity Googlebox debut tonight!

Giving fans a glimpse of his home life, the TV personality has thrown open the doors to reveal his spectacular new open-plan kitchen and living room – in all its glamorous glory.

More celebrity kitchens: James Martin's house in Hampshire – and it has some very daring decorating schemes 

Having seen his flare for cooking on Celebrity MasterChef it's no surprise Rylan was keen to make the kitchen the heart of his new home.

He says himself the luxurious new kitchen, designed and made by Wren Kitchens, is very much the ‘social hub’ of his swanky new pad.

At home with Rylan Clark-Neal

Reminiscing about his time on the professional cooking show Rylan says, 'When I’m home I love to cook. I did do Celebrity MasterChef a few years ago. I was the runner up – some call me the people’s champ. But my family take the mickey out of me a bit. Whenever they come over, they say well you’ve got to cook MasterChef.'

Rylan's larger-than-life personality is most certainly reflected in the space. Complete with a champagne fridge, voice-controlled kitchen lights and four generous ovens, this kitchen was made for entertaining.

Reflecting on the glam style of his kitchen he says, 'I went for the Milano Elements range because I really wanted a concrete look. My house is quite industrial, there is a lot of stainless steel and concrete looking floors, so this was exactly what I wanted.'

Viewers of the forthcoming Channel 4 series will see Rylan and his mum Linda sat on this very sofa – no doubt providing hilarious commentary.

The high gloss kitchen look is reflected by a glam velvet sofa and furnishings. The flower wall adds an extra wow factor to this elegant open-plan living area.

'It’s really tough to say what my favourite part of the kitchen is, but I love my drinks fridge. Growing up I used to love watching Absolutely Fabulous and always wanted a Champagne fridge,' Rylan confesses.

However unlike Eddy and Patsy, ever the professional, Rylan’s go-to drink in the morning is fresh coffee. 'My coffee machine is genuinely one thing I couldn’t live without' he reveals.

Related: Best pod coffee machines – the top capsule espresso makers for your caffeine fix

In true Ab Fab style the open-plan kitchen was the hub of festivities during Rylan and Dan Clark-Neal’s first Christmas in their new house. Let's just say things got very merry!

The star tells us, 'On Christmas night there was my Mum and my Mother-in-Law singing karaoke sprawled across the kitchen island,' Rylan joked. 'I’m still trying to shake it out my head!'.

More celebrity homes: Step inside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's stunning homes in the Cotswolds and Cornwall

The Wren team pulled out all the stops when designing Rylan's dream kitchen. And might we say, it shows!

We're now just waiting for an invite over for a champagne-fuelled karaoke party please Rylan...

This first-time buyer was looking for an affordable doer-upper, and she struck gold in her home county of Lancashire. Having a number of friends and family (including her parents) in the building trade meant that she was able to tackle the three-bedroom Twenties semi, despite it's initial  – almost derelict – state.

Our kitchen ideas section is full of inspiration for your makeover

The house had been empty for months and was a complete mess inside, but the high ceilings, big rooms and amazing light flooding in at the back all appealed.

She initially thought she would keep the dining room and kitchen separate, but the kitchen was small and too dark, so knocking down the dividing wall was an obvious move. 'The kitchen worked best in the corner, leaving space for a table, and I knew I wanted a breakfast bar with stools, because I love having friends over for a glass of wine or a coffee and a chat'.

Buy now: Lofthouse Grey Stone effect Patchwork Ceramic Wall & floor tile,£19.80 for a pack of 9, B&Q
Buy now: Walls painted in Pencil Point emulsion, £21.50 for 2.5l, Crown

'I like modern and vintage looks, and I prefer angles and straight lines to curves. Top of my wishlist were the metro wall tiles. They’re not too expensive and it’s easy to create interesting effects. They also fit in with the clean, functional vibe I wanted'.

Brick was another must-have material for that industrial edge – 'I was thrilled that we could re-use the bricks from the dining-room wall to build the breakfast bar'. Patchwork-style floor tiles work well with white units and chunky open wooden shelves 'for easy storage'.

Her mum and dad recommended B&Q kitchen furniture (which they had fitted before), and she found the perfect cupboards at a reasonable price. She found her appliances and flooring there too.

Sourcing so much from one store saved hours of research and shopping around. And luckily, everything was in stock.

Related: Kitchen cabinets – what to look for when buying your units

Get the look
Buy now: Metro white tile, £19.50 per sq m, Topps Tiles
Buy now: Graham & Brown Julien MacDonald Honolulu Palm green Foliage Glitter Wallpaper, £20, B&Q

As soon as the dividing wall came down, the homeowner knew she'd done the right thing: 'the space felt huge, and installing patio doors brought in even more natural light'.

The old floor came up, a new boiler was installed and the room was stripped back to the brickwork. Three walls were re-plastered and days were spent scraping every tiny bit of mortar and plaster off the remaining wall and cleaning all the bricks saved to build the breakfast bar.

Then it was time to choose a wall colour: 'I painted two walls mid-grey, and my mum helped me wallpaper one, to add colour to the room'.

Get the look
Buy now: Similar Wire Basket Black Large, £8, Sainsbury's Home
Buy now: FINTORP Rail Black, £6, Ikea

This is one homeowner with an eye for a bargain. She managed to track down timber and brackets to make the open shelves, which she then stained for an aged look. Her Tom Dixon pendant lights were a thrifty car-boot sale find, costing just £50 – a saving of more than £900.

Ready for another? Before and after: demolishing two split-level extensions created a dream kitchen

She's understandably delighted with the results. 'My parents, brother and cousin did all the building work, plumbing and electrics, following my hand-drawn plans – they were amazing,' she says. 'I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together and I can’t thank my parents enough. This might not be my forever home, but right now I absolutely love it'.

‘The old bathroom was a beige, masculine space,' says the owner of this Victorian terrace in southeast London. 'It had heavy brown cupboards and an empty tropical fish tank set into the chimney breast. We lived with it for nearly three years while we saved up. I wanted a scheme with glamour and elegance but, as this is a family bathroom, it had to be functional, too.'

For more makeovers and inspiration to kick-start your project, check out our bathroom ideas

'We stuck to the existing layout, hoping that using the same plumbing would save money, but when the old bath came out, we found that the pipes were running along the walls rather than between the floor joists. They had to be re-routed, which was tricky and time-consuming. It was worth it though – the bathtub is the centrepiece that pulls everything together.'

Swapping the brick-walled shower enclosure for simple glass panels and knocking out some storage and boxing-in has opened up the space. The white bath and marble tiles bounce light around the room. Painting the ceiling in the same matching black smooths out the awkward angles 
of a sloping roof.

Get the look
Buy now: Walls and ceiling painted in 
Farrow & Ball Off-Black modern emulsion, 
£46.50 for 2.5 ltrs, B&Q

The couple replaced the fish tank in the chimney breast with a mantelpiece bought on eBay.

Get the look
Buy now: Boston fern, £44 each, Hello Flora

A birch-ply cabinet was 
built into the space and brass-clad doors added, ‘The brass dulls down and shows finger marks and splashes, but I’m not too precious about it,’ says the owner. ‘I prefer an aged patina.’

Matt brass is perfect for giving a bathroom simple glamour. The owner found her Art Deco-style lights on eBay, while the round mirror softens all the straight lines and right angles in the room.

Get the look
Buy now: Black Pradena floor tiles, 
£147 per sq m, Bert and May

Ready for another? Before and after: from bland bathroom to industrial-style space brimming with character

The roll-top bath is a nod to the house’s Victorian history. ‘We gained a lot more room by replacing the boxed-in bath with a freestanding one,’ says the owner. 'The kids love filling the bath all the way to the top and diving in! It meant we could fit in 
a larger shower, too.’

Get the look
Buy now: Victoria and Albert York bath, £2,295, Bell

'People were quite sceptical about the black walls and ceiling, but 
it looks great, and disguises the slanting angles. I’m 
glad I trusted my instincts and stuck to my plan,' says the owner. 'I'm so proud of the result – it’s probably my favourite room in the entire house.’