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‘Everyone wants to paint their houses grey at the moment,’ says Karen Haller, a color expert who teaches industry professionals the science of applied color psychology, ‘but it’s one of the most difficult shades to get right because of the colors that lie beneath.’ ‘Working with a neutral palette can easily end up bland. By using symmetry and proportion, together with simple but clean-lined fittings, neutral materials will come to life....

We’re firm believers that you should decorate your home in a way that works for you – and in many cases – this can involve incorporating features that are falling out of vogue just because it’s right. However, as we sit on the fringe of a new year, it’s only inevitable to want to investigate ever-evolving color trends – including those in the most impactful room of the home. As the first room of your home, the power of your entryway color ideas is unrivaled, and so there is a particular curiosity about which hues may fall out of fashion, even if you’re not looking to follow ’trends....

Walled gardens have a lovely feeling of privacy, but the clever elements used in this design also draw the eye away from the surrounding walls and encourage the viewer to explore the garden and its planting. Hard landscaping, strong sight lines, and a semi-formal pool combined with naturalistic planting are just some of the design features and backyard ideas to enjoy in this city garden. The cumulative effect helps to create a garden of ‘rooms’ to be enjoyed throughout the year....

See: Cottage decorating ideas – charming ways to get a characterful look The property Renovation experts All4House were enlisted to help on the project as was interior designer Amelia McNeil. ‘We had similar tastes,’ says the owner, ‘and I could see that Amelia had a clever eye for maximising space.’ See some of the world’s best homes – beautiful properties from around the globe Dining area Built-in storage painted in a bold shade of blue creates a style statement as well as providing practical shelving....

We want the recipes to be relatively simple, yet impressive; and we want the menu to focus on seasonal ingredients that our guests will love. It’s not difficult to tick all three boxes at this bountiful time of year. Having a fabulous dessert in the bag is also a boon, so we have chosen some of our favorite sweet recipes – a cheesecake and a panna cotta – both of which must be made ahead....

Bathrooms are now much more than clean and clinical spaces, they are rooms to relax and unwind in and help you feel refreshed at the start and at the end of each day; with bathroom ideas becoming more adventurous, unique and exciting to establish a calming retreat in the home. Exploring ceiling ideas and how you can add character, style and visual interest to this fifth wall will only help to achieve a more unique, personal and memorable space....

Lighting can make or break even the most thoughtfully decorated room, so it’s important to get it right. ‘Lights are the interior enthusiasts secret weapon, both for creating an atmosphere with the light they give, and for providing those important little finishing touches in a room’s décor,’ says Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky (opens in new tab). Bathrooms are an area ‘often overlooked from a lighting point of view,’ notes Paul Nulty, founder of Nulty (opens in new tab)....

A key part of any wildlife garden ideas, a bird house can be installed at any time of year, although the optimum time is late February, just before the birds start looking for a spot to build their nests. ‘Individual species often require specific sizes and designs of nest boxes. If you seek to target certain birds, consider searching online for blueprints or for well-reviewed nest boxes listed for sale,’ says Marc Parnell, author of The Birding Pro’s Field Guides (opens in new tab)....

A classic and versatile pairing, black and white can be used to create myriad interior looks, from Parisian chic to mid-century modern, plus, the two-tone combination works well with nearly every shade on the color wheel. Here we’ve rounded up an array of living room color ideas (opens in new tab) that embrace the monochrome palette alongside some tips from the experts to help you master two-tone decorating. Black and white living room ideas – 13 statement looks to inspire Black and white living room ideas can be tricky to get right, the key is to first decide on the look and mood you want to create as this will dictate the tones and the proportions of black and white you use....

Indeed, a central kitchen island can serve a multitude of purposes – from being a preparation station to housing sinks, cookers and appliances – transforming the way in which you use your country kitchen. Extending the countertop and adding bar seating even provide a dining space that’s perfect for quick breakfasts or entertaining. ‘Larger, fitted islands can be multi-functional, incorporating appliances, breakfast bars and many other elements. In smaller kitchens, a peninsula can often be a better alternative to a central island....

Whether you prefer a classic look with lots of detailing or something more modern, such as flat-fronted doors, these dark kitchen cabinet ideas will provide you with the inspiration you need to create a scheme that fits your home’s period, your decorating style and the room’s proportions. If you’re looking for more kitchen color ideas, this selection of dark kitchen cabinetry will provide inspiration. Dark kitchen cabinet ideas From mesmerizing materials that will add depth to your space to the added extras that will make a dark kitchen ideas shine, we’ve asked the experts to explain why a dark kitchen cabinet should have a place on your list of top kitchen cabinet ideas....

Notably, Karin is a lead cast member of the new design-meets-travel Netflix show, Restaurants on the Edge, for which she traveled around the world helping restaurant owners transform their businesses into beautiful food and travel destinations. We talk to Karin Bohn about the design process. THE PROPERTY ‘My home is a 1,400 sq ft, two-level townhouse located in North Vancouver,’ says Karin. ‘I bought it almost four years ago because I love the location and I was looking for a renovation project....

When curating kitchen ideas for the whole family, the big appeal is for the kitchen and cook to be part of the action when entertaining and, on a day to day basis, for the whole family to be together – in this time-pressed age, it’s a real boon to be able to offer help with homework while preparing the evening meal; and to be able to keep one eye on tots and teens while managing other tasks....

The kitchen is probably where you spend the majority of your time, so considering how to integrate farmhouse-style wall decor into your kitchen ideas is a great first step to creating the mood you want. Rather than a last-minute add-on, you’ll achieve the best effect when rustic wall decor is a part of your overall kitchen styling, incorporating open shelving, display cabinets, and decorative features. By introducing artwork, texture and color to farmhouse kitchen walls, these spaces can become a strong feature of the home and bring a sense of individuality and creativity....

When it comes to kitchen ideas, creating an inviting space is about how you curate a kitchen layout coupled with comforting kitchen decor ideas and soft kitchen lighting ideas. Creating a cozy kitchen is also a great way to make a kitchen feel inviting, especially in the fall and winter months when the temperature drops and we gather more frequently in our kitchens for feasts and holidays. How can I make my kitchen more inviting?...

Microwaves make preparing a whole host of favorite foods as well as tasty leftovers easy, but spills and splatters happen, so knowing how to clean a microwave easily is valuable. As well as satisfying the demands of good hygiene when cleaning a kitchen, cleaning a microwave properly is a task that will banish lingering and unpleasant odors, while getting rid of food debris also ensures the interior of the appliance will remain in good condition....

And be prepared for more than scheduled cleaning, too. Laundry room ideas should include space to keep the rescue remedies that will prevent upholstered pieces becoming permanently marked when there’s a spillage. Whether it’s a leather couch, a linen armchair or a velvet headboard, our expert guide on how to clean upholstery will ensure it stays looking as lovely as the day you bought it. How to clean upholstery It’s not the type of furniture that dictates your method – the cleaning tips are generally the same regardless of shape or size....

Even if you know how to clean a bathroom and cleaning a kitchen is top of your daily to-do list, black mold may still be a challenge you need to deal with. That’s because black mold is a symptom of a damp problem – which is also one of the causes of cracks in walls and is cited as one of the most undesirable home decor features that put home buyers off....

If you are wondering what you need to do before you paint a room from top to bottom or simply paint a wall, we have all the answers you need. How to prepare walls for painting – 5 simple steps to follow Anyone who says walls don’t need much preparation, is clearly not concerned about the paint finish! A well prepared wall will ensure your paint adheres better and your surfaces look even and smooth....

But just as when you’re painting a room, carrying out the task the way the experts do is a must to avoid damage to the wood and complete the task in the most efficient way. To make achieving all these goals easy, we’ve put together an essential guide. How to strip paint from wood When you’re looking for the answer to how to strip paint from wood, there are actually three alternatives....