House tours
From chocolate box cottages in the Cotswolds to super-sleek modern homes in the capital, we go behind the front door of houses up and down the country, and find out how the owners and renters created their dream homes, whatever their style and budget
House tours
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This stylish and spacious four-bedroom house was once 'little more than a shack'
Now it's been extended upwards to become a fantastic family home
By Karen Darlow
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‘We wanted to completely rejig the layout to make it feel more balanced and practical for family living'
It took vision to create an elegant family home from a neglected house with an awkward layout, but the owners knew where to start
By Janet McMeekin
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Feast your eyes on Ideal Home's Best Home 2024 winner
Once a neglected property, this house has been completely transformed into a stunning family home and the worthy winner of Best Home 2024 in our Reader Awards
By Ginevra Benedetti
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'I wanted to create a warm and colourful home for my family to enjoy and remember'
Vibrant wallpaper, texture and colour are at the heart of this stunning family home
By Jane Crittenden
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A new downstairs layout allowed this dated cottage to become a spacious home filled with rich pattern and texture
And now it's more stylish and welcoming than ever
By Janet McMeekin
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This stunning home sums up the modern-classic look with muted hues, limewashed pieces and vintage-style artwork
Take a tour of this elegant family home, renovated from top-to-toe by this homeowner to create a welcoming modern space that oozes style and charm
By Karen Wilson
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Would you swap homes with your parents? This homeowner did, and gave her childhood home a full makeover
After buying her childhood home from her parents, see how this homeowner has put her own personal stamp on the place
By Karen Wilson
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These homeowners took their time renovating this West Sussex Victorian property with stunning results
'We've adopted a relaxed approach, living in the house as we discover what changes we want to make'
By Alice Roberton
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A smart reno turned this disjointed house into a dream home
The warren of rooms is now spacious and full of style
By Marisha Taylor
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With this thatched cottage 'all practical thinking went out the window, and my heart won!’'
An all-white French farmhouse scheme enhances the beautiful original features of this home
By Alice Roberton
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‘We decorated by using colour to influence how we feel in each space.'
Check out this luxurious, well- thought-out family home, packed with stunning design features and striking artwork
By Marisha Taylor
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‘The cottage seems to embrace everything that’s quintessentially English'
This thatched stone cottage is the country dream for its lucky owner – and it's full of small-space solutions
By Natalie Flaum
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This all-white coastal house sparkles at Christmas – it has a perfect 'mix of modern and coastal elements'
This is how it's both calming and cosy all year round
By Sara Emslie
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'Simple ideas often make the most impact' – this home demonstrates how less really can be more
This homeowner opted for simplicity when decorating her 400-year-old cottage for Christmas
By Maggie Colvin
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‘You don’t need a big house to have fun with the design'
The interior designer owner of this country cottage shares her revamp secrets
By Karen Darlow
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‘People can be a bit afraid of using wallpaper for a kitchen, but I love seeing pattern'
This home is a masterclass in how to make festive decorations work with a room's wallpaper and fabric designs
By Karen Darlow
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'I love to have vintage baubles and lots of candles all around the house'
These homeowners have blended vintage and modern pieces to achieve a unique look
By Alison Davidson
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This Hampshire home blends mid-century design with Georgian elegance
And it's full of style tricks to steal for the festive season
By Janet McMeekin
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This stylish and relaxed home has been turned into a Scandi-style winter wonderland for Christmas
Design flourishes and a beautiful tonal colour palette brings a stylish and relaxed feel to this London property
By Marisha Taylor
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It took years to restore this period property to a glamorous home that shines at Christmas
It's magical in the festive season
By Sharon Parsons
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'I used DIY skills and clever furniture hacks to give every room a contemporary update'
Starting with the bedrooms and finishing in the kitchen, this home owner transformed a 70’s house into a stylish family home
By Lisa Moses
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Check out this Scandi-style home, beautifully decorated for the festive season
This inviting family home has plenty of space for hosting magical festive get-togethers
By Janet McMeekin
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The Biscuiteer founders' home is a riot of colours at Christmas
And it has a party barn, too!
By Sara Bird
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‘We had to learn DIY along the way as we’d never even painted a wall before!’
How this first-time buyer's property was transformed into a stylish family home
By Lisa Moses
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Take a tour of this festive 16th-century former pub in rural Hertfordshire
With cosy throws, seasonal arrangements and twinkling candlelight, this home is all set for a very special Christmas
By Naomi Jones
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'Not many people could claim that Banksy paid for their kitchen'
A lifetime’s collection of vintage bargains, and a little help from a world-famous graffiti artist, created this unique home
By Karen Darlow
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'The character was all there, it had just been buried under years of neglect'
Looking past the dark brown 1980s decor, the owners could see the potential in this once-dingy cottage
By Heather Dixon