Illustration Sarah Overs Photograph Jon Perks
Every New Year brings with it the inevitable list of New Year's Resolutions, which, despite our best intentions, sometimes never come to fruition. This year, however, top of my list will be looking at ways to make my old – and slightly draughty – Victorian townhouse a little more energy efficient. Like for many others, the cost of living increase has made my family pay far more attention to how we use – and waste – energy in our home, and encouraged us to change our behaviours to help reduce bills. Every little makes a difference, from unplugging electrical items rather than leaving them on standby, to turning off lights as we leave a room. There are many ways you can look to draught proof or insulate your home to make it more energy efficient, too. In our special feature (page 111) Roger Hunt, author of Old House Eco Handbook, takes us through ways to retrofit a period property to make it more comfortable, ranging from quick and easy steps, to more major work that can be undertaken at the same time as other planned renovations. It is important to be mindful of how older homes are constructed before rushing in to insulate every corner, so heed Roger’s expert advice, and make decisions suitable for your property. If you are also planning to update your kitchen this year, but do not want the expense of a complete refit, there are many decorative touches that will give the space a new lease of life – from a lick of paint to new window treatments or wallpaper – see our guide for inspiration (page 105). A little creativity can go a long way, and our beautiful real homes this issue demonstrate what a difference an injection of colour and print can make to any space, creating unique schemes full of personality and warmth. Our decorating features, looking at new ways to introduce checks and tartan (page 35) or how to use dark blues in interiors (page 71) provide a wealth of ideas and advice. You can start small, so why not make it one of your resolutions to try your hand at creatively upcycling a piece of furniture by signing up to our fantastic subscription offer, which includes an Annie Sloan decorative paint and stencil set together with inspiration guide (page 32). Wishing you a wonderful and creative start to 2023.