Category: Rooms
-
12 things to know before you buy and fit a Wickes kitchen
When my partner and I decided to replace our tired galley kitchen with a new Wickes design, I assumed it would be fairly straightforward. We’d start with a bit of measuring, spend an hour or so making colour and unit choices at the showroom, and then after a couple of flat-pack building sessions (one of…
-
Kitchen island regrets: 5 things I wish I’d known beforehand
If there’s one thing Pinterest hadn’t prepared me for, it was how dramatically a kitchen island would change the way I moved around my home. When I renovated my kitchen, I was convinced an island was the pièce de résistance the whole space needed. But in all honesty, my island and I have a slightly…
-
I wait with anticipation for the Pantone Colour of The Year announcement every December, but this year I’m disappointed — is it even a colour?
The start of December not only heralds the beginning of the festive period, but for design lovers it’s also the time when the Pantone Colour of the Year is announced. Why does this matter? Because as a global leader in colour creation, whatever colour Pantone reveals will make its way into our homes in the…
-
19 home bar ideas to consider adding to your home
We’ll never completely give up a night at our favourite local or that fancy wine bar. But after enduring overpriced cocktails, a queue for the loo, and “background” music you have to shout over to be heard, it’s hard not to wonder if we could have a better time at home. No surprise, then, that…
-
Why open fireplaces may soon be banned
With the rise of modern log burning stoves and growing political pressure to cut air pollution, the days of the traditional open fire may be numbered. Labour’s updated Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) puts domestic emissions under new scrutiny, and experts say open fireplaces are the “worst offenders” when it comes to household air pollution. But…
-
This is the best ottoman bed I’ve owned and it’s on sale
You can trust Homebuilding & Renovating. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and materials in order to help you choose the best for your home and garden. Find out more about how we test. Let’s face it, there is never a problem with having too much storage in your home. The problem…
-
12 pink kitchen ideas that make cooking more fun
Every meal deserves to be cooked with love, which is why pink is the perfect shade for a kitchen – a colour that evokes joy, fun and passion. This pretty shade is having a major revival, but this time, it’s stylish, considered and grown-up, as seen in these pink bathroom ideas. Whether paired with green…
-
Moving a staircase: Pros, cons, costs and more
There are few home renovation projects that are more disruptive, or dramatic than moving a staircase. It’s the kind of project that instantly transforms a space, but it can be messy and complicated, particularly in an occupied home. A staircase isn’t just a way of getting from one floor to another. It’s often one of…
-
Moving a staircase: Pros, cons, costs and more
There are few home renovation projects that are more disruptive, or dramatic than moving a staircase. It’s the kind of project that instantly transforms a space, but it can be messy and complicated, particularly in an occupied home. A staircase isn’t just a way of getting from one floor to another. It’s often one of…
-
Bathroom lighting regulations: Everything you need to know
When you think about bathroom lighting, your first thought might be about how a fitting looks. A stylish pendant over the bath or recessed spotlights in the ceiling can be a standout feature and make a huge difference to the look and feel of a room. But, looks are only half the story. In a…