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The result is a tranquil and welcoming retreat, with a calm vibe that fits right into its peaceful woodland setting, and luxurious touches that truly make this one of the world’s best homes. Open-plan kitchen diner The property has been part of Sarah’s life for as long as she can remember. It was built in 1858 as the original Victorian stable block and coach house to her former childhood home, and was converted for residential use in the 1980s....

With a practical open-plan layout, the house now celebrates its original features in style. A harmonious interior scheme of warm whites and soft grays, teamed with natural textures and luxurious furnishings, enhances the new look. There’s an incredible sense of calm in this home, and we pick out our highlights below. Open-plan kitchen A new kitchen was created from the original building’s three dark and disconnected rooms – the shop at the front, a middle room that served no purpose, leading to a tiny galley kitchen....

Creating efficient organizational systems and eliminating clutter will not only make your entryway more inviting, but it’ll also allow you to get creative with your small entryway ideas. As the first thing people see when they walk into your home, it offers up an opportunity to create a striking first impression, regardless of size. Whether your entryway is awkwardly compact, narrow, or in fact, non-existent, we’ve compiled advice (with a little help from the experts) on how to create a usable transition zone that’s as stylish as it is streamlined....

An outdoor TV may become the focal point of your backyard landscaping ideas, providing a cozy outdoor living room or a welcome distraction in an outdoor dining area, an outdoor kitchen friend, or a smart addition to a pergola. When choosing the perfect spot, as with TV wall ideas indoors, consider convenience first. If you want to watch TV while lying in a hammock or on a sun lounger, choose a spot nearby, so you can comfortably use a remote control....

But the Parisian bathroom décor adored by many of us doesn’t require an address on the lofty, grand and sought-after second floor of a Haussmann building. It’s a point proved by Parisian interior decorators living on the higher and less architecturally blessed floors, including the unglamorous attic level, as well as those who dwell in boxier and more modern buildings. And even if your address is far from the city of light, Parisian bathroom décor can bring easy elegance and a confident, timeless style to your bathroom ideas....

For as many months of the year as the weather allows in your region, the best patio ideas can turn your space into an outdoor living room, dining area, kitchen or bar – or a combination of all of them – with furniture choices to accommodate family and friends. Your patio furniture ideas might also need to include generous storage that doesn’t detract from its lines. Of course, the best patio furniture choices will provide equal comfort and style to that you’d pick for interiors – plus be weatherproof for your local conditions....

Dating back to late 19th century, this angular aesthetic proves that the Arts and Crafts movement is still very much alive in architecture, even now. In fact, it’s not too hard to see how Prairie style homes have surpassed the test of time. Want to get acquainted with this beloved house style? Below, we take an in-depth look at Prairie style homes. What is a Prairie Style house? Dating back to the late 19th century and early 20th century, Prairie style homes swept through the midwestern United States for their symmetrical design and modest exterior....

Our kitchen ideas guide to small kitchen layout ideas covers all the bases to help you reach the full potential of your kitchen. While you might think options can be limited for small kitchen ideas, these smaller spaces often turn out to be far more ergonomically efficient. No traipsing miles to gather ingredients, or circumnavigating a monolithic island unit to reach the sink. When space is tight, everything is meticulously placed for convenience and is exactly where you need it....

While we all dream of generous pantries, well-stocked larders, and endless storage, for many of us, the size and layout of our kitchens quickly put an end to these grand visions. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have the kitchen of your dreams. Thankfully, there are lots of other clever kitchen storage ideas that will maximize your floorplan and ensure your kitchen is always ready for action. Whichever kitchen ideas you’ve fallen for, storage is a vital element and needs to be both sufficient and efficient to keep your small kitchen ideas functional, and feeling spacious....

While trying out our spring cleaning hacks and tips, think about what you want to do this spring, as a tidy home will support you in achieving personal and professional goals. Write out your own spring cleaning checklist inspired by ours below to help you stay motivated. Aim for no ‘zero days’ but don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t all go to plan – start now and your home is guaranteed to be unrecognizable by the beginning of spring....

Staircase carpet’s appeal doesn’t just lie in its aesthetics, though. It feels comfortable and warm underfoot, and makes the staircase quieter for everyone to use, so it’s worth adding to your hallway ideas for its practical benefits as well. Here, we’ve collected staircase carpet ideas to elevate the entrance of every style of home. Staircase carpet ideas A chic staircase carpet will lead the eye into your home to emphasize the proportions of a grand hallway and create the impression of greater space in a smaller version....

Between trying to understand tumble dryer settings and tumble dryer temperature guides, it can be tempting to just throw anything wet in and hope for the best, but this could be damaging both your belongings and the dryer itself, laundry experts suggest. Here are the six things they warn should not be put in a tumble dryer. What not to put in a tumble dryer ‘While dryers are a convenient and efficient way to dry clothes, it’s essential to know what items should not be placed in them,’ begins professional cleaner Marv, owner of Marvcleaning (opens in new tab)....

Perhaps the most impactful way (I have observed) to keep a kitchen looking good is through effective small kitchen storage ideas – because without an ordered system – it’s dangerously easy to let things fall out of control. However, as you can imagine, in a tiny kitchen, storage space is not in abundance. So, I had to figure out a way of maximizing my cupboard space to make room for even the most essential pantry staples....

Now complete, the private sanctuary encompasses immaculately kept landscaped gardens and breathtaking views of the water around the estate’s ten buildings. A Georgian-inspired farmhouse-style main house is at the center with guest houses, a pool house, entertaining barn, pottery studio, potting shed, and a carriage house arranged around it on a symmetrical grid of pathways. The sheer scale, attention to detail and luxury finishes involved in all spaces make this one of the world’s best homes....

This simple but effective garden idea is one of the most durable materials to bring into your exteriors – so it is no surprise that experts love its versatility. Here are the best ways to make this sustainable garden idea work in your space. Using straw in the garden – 3 expert-approved ways to incorporate its natural goodness Straw in the garden is best used like a mulch, so as a barrier to protect from weed germination and to also help shield the soil from the sun to increase the soil’s water retention,’ says Horticulture expert Eric De Boer (opens in new tab)....

Although the debate of whether rain chains are better than downspouts is contested, it is hard to deny that they make wonderful garden additions that can be used for both diverting water and collecting rainwater for use on plants and indoors. As the weather quickly drops below freezing in many parts of the world in winter, it is important to know what to look out for on a rain chain, or risk damaged roofs and broken chains come the summer....

If you’re constantly on the lookout for organic or permaculture gardening methods for your winter garden, then you’ll be delighted to know that leaf mold is a high-quality fall lawn care product. Free, easy to make and a great way to utilize the fall leaves that cover the lawn and clog up borders, it works well as a mulch, soil improver, even as a potting compost. Here’s why you should consider making leaf mold now, for a better garden tomorrow....

Besides being delicious, there’s a huge number of different beetroot varieties to try in varying colors, from deepest purple to orange, yellow, white, plus red with white rings. We grow beets because they are spectacular in recipes, but they also look stunning in the veg patch or planted in containers and the leaves are pretty striking and tasty too. To make the most of these roots it’s important to know the best time to harvest them....

These tall, elegant and timeless flowers can bring color and perfume to your backyard each summer and make a stunning statement in both pots and borders, and Easter lily care is pretty easy. They can also be cut and displayed indoors, filling each room with their unrivalled charm. These most wonderful of summer bulbs are best divided into three main groups: Species, Asiatic hybrids and North American lilies are easily grown from large, pointy bulbs made up of open scales, similar to a globe artichoke....

Knowing how to grow hydrangeas correctly is among the most impactful ways you can prevent brown spots from arriving. However, infection can still occur. Brown spots are (most frequently) caused by the fungus Cercospora that commonly exists in your soil. It usually reaches the plant through overhead watering or rainfall. So, while you may know when to plant hydrangeas for optimum growth, it’s equally important to know how to treat brown spots if they arrive....