‘It was a bland building and the biggest difficulty was introducing architectural interest,’ says Elizabeth. The clients, two busy doctors with young sons, were keen for their home to have character, be low-maintenance and have plenty of sociable areas. The year-long project, resulting in one of the world’s best homes, involved a full renovation of the bathrooms and kitchen and replacing uPVC windows with distinctive metal-framed ones, in addition to installing doors to match....

Opting for neutral colors, natural materials and high quality furniture and fittings will ensure a classic space which is a joy to be in time and time again, while introducing some luxurious features and glossy finishes will bring that sought-after spa-like feel. As small spaces which are not used for long periods of time, half-baths also make brilliant rooms for daring to decorate a little differently. Why not try experimenting with some creative bathroom ideas and playful decor options to give guests a joyful surprise?...

Walk-in showers are a hybrid between an open-plan wet room and fully-enclosed shower cubicle, offering easy, low-level access and a luxuriously spacious showering area. Whether you’re looking to create a statement space on a small footprint or want help choosing shower room ideas, wet rooms and bathroom ideas for a more spacious room, these statement enclosures and different walk-in showers ideas are sure to provide plenty of inspiration. ‘Walk-in shower rooms make for ideal, easy-to-access and clean family wash spaces,’ says Homes & Gardens’ Editor in Chief Lucy Searle....

Choosing the best bed sheets for your needs will help you fall asleep in comfort – and at the right temperature – so you can wake up and feel rejuvenated. There is already a lot of information about finding the sheets of your dreams – from knowing the best places to buy bedding to the bed sheet colors to avoid. However, the question of what bedding material is often more of a mystery....

Given that everyone is different it can be difficult to implement blanket home-organizing ideas. Whether decluttering and tidying is overwhelming, or you simply find that you function better in a more chaotic space, there is a multitude of reasons for mess. Here, experts offer their opinions on what a messy space says about your personality, and what you can do to change your habits if the mess is affecting you....

As anyone who has been through the process of searching for kitchen cabinet colors will attest, choosing the right color for kitchen cabinets can be a minefield with endless choices and subtle nuances to understand and overcome. Naturally, you’ll want to select a kitchen cabinet paint color that you’ll be happy to live with for a while to come. But you might also want to consider the decorative power of white – the most popular kitchen cabinet color....

While it may seem strange to buy new decorations a year before putting them out on display, the Christmas sales offer a great opportunity to pick out high-quality, timeless pieces at a more affordable price. With the end of the year upon us, this is when our favorite home stores will be offering their left-over Christmas decor stock for less. When are Christmas decorations on sale? The good news is that many stores have started their Christmas decor sales early, and we only expect the deals to get better as the holiday season comes to a close....

Reaching up to 6ft (1.8m) high this fast-growing plant grows from a bulb and, most commonly, bears its striking deep green foliage on jet black stems, each beautifully marked with deep purple veins and blotches. New hybrids and discoveries have emerged over the last 20 years, broadening the choice of leaf color and markings available to include unusual black and white, blue-grey and deep purple-black leaves. A lover of moist, boggy conditions, this subtropical plant thrives in full sun or partial shade....

These tall, stately blooms come in a myriad of shades – from subtle, smoky hues to vibrant breezy colors – and won’t fail to capture everyone’s attention as part of an array of the best spring bulbs. What’s more, they are perfect for introducing height into pots and borders with varieties ranging from delicate 2ft high (60cm) beauties to more statuesque plants reaching up to 4ft (1.2m). Soaring skywards, they dazzle with their different flower shapes and textures and have a surprisingly long flowering period, too....

There’s a huge variety of potatoes you can grow from fast-growing early varieties such as ‘Swift’ that provide small new potatoes in summer, to maincrops like the popular ‘King Edward’ that can be stored for the winter months. With some planning and successive planting you can be harvesting and enjoying potatoes from June right through to Christmas. If you’re learning how to grow potatoes knowing when to plant them is key, and this is the lowdown....

Both functional and decorative, curtain ideas and window blind ideas are the barrier between inside and outside. They shield us from harsh light during the day and are drawn tight at night. What’s more, window dressings create privacy from prying eyes. Equally, like a stand-out painting, window treatment ideas can bring character and verve to an interiors scheme or be a quiet counterfoil to a flamboyant scheme. So why spend money on beautiful paint shades and great quality furniture if you’re going to skimp on the window dressing ideas?...

Lighting in your home is not only responsible for creating a specific ambience, but is also an easy way to make a design statement, which is where trend-watching comes in handy for discovering new designs. This year, however, it’s not all about aesthetics – Claire Antsey, lighting buyer at Heal (opens in new tab)’s has researched thousands of Instagram posts for us to reveal which designs have been shining through on social media platforms, and top of the list is LED – eco-friendly lighting....

See: Kitchen garden ideas – easy ways to get started At Homes & Gardens, we have seen our fair share of gardening mistakes, but none that specifically focus on herbs. So, whether you’re picking up your first herb plant or you’re an avid grower and cooker, we’ve rounded up the most common herb mistakes from an expert at the top of the garden world, Kate Turner. Here, Kate, who has shared her advice on BBC’s Garden Rescue, among other shows, discusses the five most important mistakes to bear in mind and what you should be doing instead....

Bathed in natural light, the bright apartment celebrates the original features of the building, while boasting modern amenities for the perfect blend of old meets new. From beautiful botanical prints to a bold, statement shade in the kitchen, the delights of this stylish flat are a great lesson for anyone looking to introduce color into a small space. And these are our takeaways. 1. Go for this green in a small, dark kitchen If you’re looking for inspiring kitchen ideas, this chic chartreuse beauty is an excellent start....

Gradually, as a more northern approach to life took hold, her design language evolved, with her own home a clear example of where the journey led her. ‘When I was starting out, my style was very bohemian and bright with big pale sofas and blasted white walls – it was the look I was hired for,’ says Heidi. ‘But things started to change once I’d moved to Seattle. I was taken on by an older, savvy client who asked for a very different style and that totally shifted things for me....

They haven’t always been country converts, however. Hayley and Alex moved here from central London, and before that Alex had lived in Glasgow. The decision to move to the country depended on them finding their ideal country home. Hayley was happy to let Alex take the lead in their house search. ‘He grew up in Dorset, and his family are all nearby, so he knows the area well,’ she says....

But a closer look reveals an interior that also has substance, a reflection of Kristen’s philosophy. ‘A home should be a museum of memories,’ she says, referring to the many mementos sprinkled throughout the house. See: World’s best homes – tour the globes most beautiful houses But perfection doesn’t come overnight – when Kristen, her husband Luis and their two daughters first moved in, the house was very different. ‘Oh it was a doozy,’ says Kristen....

Durable and practical, tile is also one of the best ways to add stylish individuality to your bathroom design. Material, color, pattern, texture, shape and size can all be used to introduce interest, whether you are looking for subtle sophistication or something bolder with maximum impact. Bathroom tile costs vary, but the amount of choice on offer means there really is something for every budget. To keep costs down, you might choose to simply tile the backsplash behind the sink and inside the shower enclosure, rather than the whole room....

From top gooseneck kettles for coffee lovers to smart kettles that offer adjustable temperatures for different types of teas, there are many innovative designs out there to choose from, and we have curated a collection of the very best. Electric kettles can come in a range of colors and patterns and can be a great way to make a unique, colorful statement in your kitchen, however, metallic tones and muted shades always prove popular too, establishing an elegant, understated look....

You can even become a true barista. Tip: add your favorite syrups on hand for the true coffee house experience. We can’t guarantee you’ll nail down the latte art right away, but frothing milk itself doesn’t require much skill. In fact, that part is almost foolproof. Seriously, once we added a milk frother to our coffee set up, we’ve never looked back. Consider ourselves, spoiled. We’ve examined the best milk frothers available and broken down the various types of milk frothers, so you can choose which type is best for you (electric, handheld, or manual)....