<![CDATA[ Latest from Ideal Home in Open-house ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house Fri, 01 May 2026 08:30:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ I was afraid my house would be really dirty when we got a dog but instead it’s made it more homely – here’s how ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lucy-kalice-how-i-pet-proof-my-home 28MQ9qAYMejzbiquRYsUBM Fri, 01 May 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ My kitchen renovation is finally complete – take a look at the big reveal! ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/natalie-jahangiry-kitchen-chronicles-part-six Zm2bbhvq2oFCKgbzbJY6D Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The reality of a builder’s finish – and why prep work is essential to save both time and money ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/leah-hodson-the-importance-of-prep-work-when-decorating becBkYgpvv6pUoYkHRmsQB Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ My low spend year, what I learned – and why I would do it again ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/amanda-jones-my-low-spend-year j5vmymH3CfcHDasWowfgM6 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The cost of haste – in my rush to cross the finishing line, I made some decorating choices that I’d change in a heartbeat if I had my time over ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/grace-h-the-cost-of-haste zgsg93pKE4UksoYXYENGnm Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ We thought the summerhouse would be the easy bit of building our forever home – but *spoiler alert* that was definitely not the case ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/francesca-swan-how-our-summerhouse-became-the-most-difficult-part-of-our-reno 4syi3dfnFh4dpUGYfnucp6 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How I throw a garden party – without spending too much or rushing out to buy everything new ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/ammarah-hasham-how-to-throw-a-garden-party-with-things-you-already-own sNh3UKDATsMpUHVigEmK3i Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:59:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ Dark blue walls and big opinions – why designing my 8-year-old son’s room challenged me more than I expected ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lara-winter-designing-my-sons-room XrGnS2WTRR4vankAnqJhe4 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The rooms we use the most and why they weren’t the ones we expected – how the reality of a renovation has quietly reshaped our plan for our home ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/the-home-boys-the-unexpected-rooms-we-use-the-most G2yFXW4Esim9kBNQkU8sGk Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:21:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ Slowing down and making do – how I'm embracing a home that evolves slowly and imperfectly ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/hannah-carvell-slowing-down-and-making-do mhx7rVTvuk9k5G8fy2shFM Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ I’m answering your domestic dilemmas – these are my top tips to solve your real life cleaning queries ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lucy-kalice-domestic-deilemmas-april-2026 QAwtPuqgu66L372hUpb6aK Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:44:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ Flatpack, but make it bespoke – the IKEA hack tips and tricks I swear by ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/natalie-jahangiry-the-ikea-hack-tips-and-tricks-i-swear-by xcWmuHFnQZnZPYgziuKyP7 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ 5 ways I’ve saved money during our renovation – without compromising on quality! ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/leah-hodson-5-ways-i-saved-during-our-renovation 3VRy7AN9duRS4H2qjLEo3k Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ After years of being obsessed with tiny homes, I’m now living in a smaller space – but is it everything I thought it would be? ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/amanda-jones-is-living-in-a-smaller-space-what-i-thought-it-would-be jGMZdZDEkhrdNxHmpZtvQL Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The power of the cordless glow – my guide to rechargeable lights and how I use them to avoid the glare of 'the big light' in my home ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/grace-h-my-guide-to-rechargeable-lighting 68JcBegWw6cednutx7A8re Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The chandelier that changed the way I approach designing my home – seeing a light as sculpture, presence and emotion all at once ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/francesca-swan-the-chandelier-that-changed-how-i-approach-design tReow9PSdUoBrabEUzp6pY Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:09:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ What my child's favourite colour taught me about interiors – the unexpected red theory and why it brings balance, energy and a whole lot of zing ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/ammarah-hasham-my-childs-favourite-colour-unexpected-red-theory im3eB9X3FHLKQf4Uh55CY8 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:45:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How I make my sweet pea tents (and why you should too) – no complicated carpentry, no fancy tools, just some bamboo canes, string and a bit of patience ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lara-winter-how-i-make-sweet-pea-tents dsBXYm3zNajPPhdegGQTGR Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Avoiding the quiet pressure to keep a renovation moving – the rooms we’re choosing to leave alone (for now) ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/the-home-boys-the-rooms-we-are-choosing-to-leave-alone-for-now 7N3wELKhMmCC58LwRu5tT4 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The conundrum of decorating a teenage boy’s bedroom – how I created a space that feels stylish, cool and practical ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/hannah-carvell-decorating-a-bedroom-for-a-teenage-boy YScTc4SGeoVMUwRxrbQdWN Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Renovation regrets – what went right, what went wrong and what we’d never do again ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lucy-kalice-renovation-regrets cnJsrEJHt2oSZHF7oVBbT7 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ What I’ve learned on my hunt for the perfect kitchen worktop – it's not just a design choice, it’s a long-term investment in how your kitchen functions ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/natalie-jahangiry-kitchen-chronicles-part-five-choosing-the-perfect-worktop dZczhzN9AJSpDTKtRX3h2Z Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:06:35 +0000 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:20:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ I hate cleaning! I've realised I'd rather clean in regular small doses than do a full house deep clean and these are my must-have products that help ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/leah-hodson-low-effort-cleaning-must-haves pUN2oUvaAV2cQTzp846cZ9 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:06:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ I’ve developed a very simple system to edit out the stuff in my home – why a cardboard box is my secret weapon to a clutter free and orderly home ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/amanda-jones-clutter-free-home-secret-weapon jRpQjvioSFm8zNnD5iahuG Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How I approach decorating my hallway and landing – life's too short for boring thoroughfares so I've made these spaces destinations in their own right ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/grace-h-decorating-hallways-and-landings HvNfBwidmi3vehkdj5iARD Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:45:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ My desk chaos was infamous so I designed an office that works for my ADHD brain – a space that supports mental focus, creative energy and health ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/francesca-swan-adhd-friendly-home-office-space EbnmT7kSEhGsAPyggwvWRU Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ My 3 non-negotiables as a renter – what I've learned after living in three countries and across many rentals and it all starts with getting the fundamentals sorted ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/ammarah-hasham-savvy-non-negotiables-as-a-renter D7EZVDJxJovwS7vps5ciWK Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Little habits that keep our home running smoothly – keeping it organised isn’t about heroic cleaning sessions or magically making everything disappear ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lara-winter-habits-that-keep-our-home-running-smoothly Je8ofofdmFJZLSrQXhUmaf Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The 3 things we'd never DIY again (and the 3 we'd absolutely repeat) – why we’re no longer trying to do everything ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/the-home-boys-things-we-would-never-diy-again aWH4ST5jL34gvb4TuaHscC Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ I found my perfect rug at the perfect price – one that can handle muddy paws, popcorn explosions and everyday chaos, whilst still making my heart sing ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/hannah-carvell-sourcing-the-perfect-rug Rm2YMCgG45nbwMovwCDDJ5 Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The 3 interior decor mistakes we made when we moved into our first home – learn from my errors so you don't fall into the same trap ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lucy-kalice-first-home-interior-design-mistakes 5GvGy5PJESnuTHFySdgL5a Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:20:36 +0000 <![CDATA[ I don't mind if you don't love my style – why designing your home for likes might be the very thing holding it back ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/natalie-jahangiry-your-home-doesnt-need-anyones-approval 8vWMZaFZCGy2GuMLyVqmBU Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ 3 things our builder has done that have made living through our extension project more bearable – the renovation essentials I never knew I needed ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/leah-hodson-builder-renovation-essentials 3fJpkdt4p6BPKoLNaxxAA4 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Why we happily choose to sleep next to the kitchen sink – how we've reconfigured our home to suit living with our adult children ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/amanda-jones-living-with-adult-children jREoY8VGzqUrZhhBnYF5qH Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:10:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The 8 'pick and mix' interior rules I (actually) live by – remember the best homes are the ones that break a few rules along the way ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/grace-h-the-interior-rules-i-actually-live-by WuS2JJy9Tk2XRMNZh7hGUk Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:26:40 +0000 <![CDATA[ My worst interiors mistakes – from £30 fake art to Banana Dream Yellow ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/francesca-swan-my-worst-interiors-mistakes GZphwWFTiWsgDbMDsG8yx6 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:24:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ Simple household habits I learned from my mother to use in my own home – time-tested housekeeping tricks that actually work ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/ammarah-hasham-home-care-tips-from-my-mother iWdfyKFGbg63hHLB5nZbrZ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ More is more, but make it calm – how I’m layering patterns in our dining nook and bedroom without tipping the house into visual overload ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lara-winter-mixing-patterns-in-a-calm-space iTw4wfTAAAhRs8wY8GFBeM Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:05:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Decision fatigue is the real renovation villain – it's not about making the 'wrong' choice, it's losing confidence in the ones we’ve already made ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/the-home-boys-renovation-decision-fatigue yDL7tWwtkPuCDAYs2RmR69 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:05:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ I’m obsessed with sample sales – how I track down wish-list homeware at a fraction of the price, plus my insider tricks and tips ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/hannah-carvell-shopping-sample-sales JdVTRQgkEvwyoUAzMrhAGN Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ My spring cleaning routine transforms my home every year – my tips and tricks so that your home can have its own transformation too ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lucy-kalice-my-spring-cleaning-routine aQRSsYGDFvo6ZFKyYXuq2a Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:30:00 +0000 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:13:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ My smart spending guide to creating a chic kitchen without breaking the bank – plus I reveal which fixtures and fittings I'm using in my own space ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/natalie-jahangiry-kitchen-chronicles-part-four-spend-vs-save cTWHr76RaKoFPzXmrcJYqS Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Renovation Diary: We’re at a turning point in our kitchen renovation, and for the first time since we started, the end feels genuinely within reach ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/leah-hodson-renovation-diary-walls-going-up HbAfGrELJqurcXUKkn794A Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How I scratch my interior design itch without filling my home up again with new ‘stuff’ – easy (and free!) ways I use to make it feel fresh and inspiring ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/amanda-jones-how-i-keep-home-fresh-without-spending-any-money awWK8MxP6EN8yFzKkk78rk Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Is the fear of 'getting it wrong' standing between you and a home full of personality? My advice on treating colour as an accessory rather than a commitment ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/grace-h-love-colour-but-not-too-much zLodKSpWoJSXEVTjWGozc Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:38:47 +0000 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:19:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ We're extending a period home – here’s how we're avoiding the ‘white box’ trap to expand our space but make it feel like it's been there forever ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/francesca-swan-avoiding-the-white-box-trap-when-extending-a-period-home g5RVWhY5kiMYULDksKFzsH Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:40:18 +0000 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:25:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ How I avoid making these common colour mistakes in my rented home – my confidence-building tips to help you make your space feel more personal ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/ammarah-hasham-avoiding-colour-mistakes-in-my-rented-home 2gtS945mK3i7vr522JnvsF Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The 5 design features I consider completely non-negotiable – secrets behind every well-designed home that make everyday life easier and calmer ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/lara-winter-5-things-every-well-designed-home-secretly-needs g5pab7AuvzF8ugUY86h56L Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How we’re making 2026's interior trends work in our renovation – a real life home that includes budgets, compromises, changing tastes and all ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/the-home-boys-interior-trends-for-2026-in-a-real-renovation LYHT85jPHaBSqSiv8Bg3Hi Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How my screen printing shapes my use of colour at home – it's about balance, layering and intuition, and not knowing how it will turn out is part of the fun! ]]> https://www.idealhome.co.uk/open-house/hannah-carvell-how-screen-printing-shapes-the-way-i-use-colour-at-home xAsFiAUMTnfSaDX6WGvscV Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000