By James Stalker, MCS-accredited heat pump installer and freelance NAPIT assessor, Exmouth, Devon When I visit a house for the first time people rarely ask about kilowatts. The questions are more practical and visual: how will the outdoor unit look against a stone wall, will radiators become huge, and will the boiler cupboard be lost … Read more

Finding attractive, well-fitting bedding for a round bed can be more difficult than you’d expect. Circular mattresses make a bold design statement, but standard rectangular sheets aren’t tailored to their shape. Fortunately, specialist makers now produce fitted sheets, flat sheets and full bedding sets designed specifically for round mattresses, offering a neater look and better … Read more

Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the look and feel of a room. It must be both attractive and practical—mood lighting is lovely, but it shouldn’t get in the way of daily tasks like cooking. While desk and table lamps can add personality, sometimes an overhead ceiling light is the best choice. Ceiling lights … Read more

Choosing the right paint colour can completely transform a north-facing sitting room. These rooms are often unfairly labelled as cold, dark or difficult to decorate, but the reality is far more encouraging. North-facing rooms have a unique quality of light that, when paired with the right colours, can create elegant, calming and incredibly cosy interiors. … Read more

Multigenerational living has quietly become a defining consideration for many families redesigning or building homes today. Whether an aging parent moves in with an adult child, an adult child returns home to support a parent, or a household was intentionally planned to include grandparents, parents, and children, the challenge is the same: create a space … Read more

If you’re fortunate enough to own a generous plot, a larger garden brings exciting possibilities as well as a few design challenges. Open space can feel like a blank canvas, but if left unplanned it may resemble an underused field. The key is to divide the landscape into purposeful zones so every area earns its … Read more

When you need more room at home, extending outwards isn’t always practical. Small gardens, limited space around the property or the desire to preserve outdoor areas often make building up the better option. Converting the loft can add valuable living space without reducing garden size. A dormer loft conversion is a popular way to turn … Read more

There are materials in interior design that outlast fleeting trends. They appear in ancient palaces and modern penthouses because their qualities feel timeless. Alabaster is one such material. Soft, luminous, and richly veined, alabaster offers a warm, natural glow that few synthetic materials can match. For thousands of years designers, architects, and artisans have prized … Read more

Bathrooms are no longer purely functional rooms. Increasingly they are designed as calm, restorative spaces that reflect personal taste. That raises a common question: should I use wallpaper in a bathroom? The concise answer is: yes, in many situations—but choose the right material and location. Modern wallpapers and improved installation techniques have made wallpaper a … Read more

A waterfall shower head can turn a standard bathroom into a spa-like retreat. Rather than producing a concentrated spray, these heads create a broad, gentle sheet of water that cascades over the body. The result is relaxing, visually striking and increasingly sought after in modern bathroom design. Not all waterfall shower heads perform the same. … Read more