Welcome

August is the perfect month for getting to grips with

Home IMPROVEMENT

If you work from home but struggle to find a

Make waves and move to a waterside home

We do love to be beside the seaside – and

CASE STUDY

When Sally and George Hamilton first moved to Northern Ireland

Property know-how with George

I ’m very lucky that I get to travel a

Gardening

If you’ve always dreamed of having a calming water feature

Create a stunning first impression

The front garden is the first thing that visitors see

Your letters

Q As a house-proud bachelor, i have been an avid

Shopping guide

The Apple Tree Gift Shop and Tea House 01332 987001

Eco news

We spoke to Dr Rachel Warmington, Plant Pathologist at the

This month we love...

If you haven’t yet made plans for the bank holiday

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

✓ Air your bedding everyday, opening the window for at

What to look out for THIS MONTH

Make hanging out the washing less of a chore with

We test... barbecue cleaning tools

This cleverly-shaped sponge scourer has ridges to help it fit

A colourless future?

Stay on top of the latest issues and hot topics

Money matters

If you struggle to manage your money each month, it

Eye spy

A survey by George Home at Asda has revealed some

Shed dwellers

Following on from the 2015 Shed of the Year competition,

Power up

If you have a mobile plan with EE, you may

Consumer news... IN FOCUS

When natural disaster strikes, there’s little we can do but

Decorating

Whether you’re a seasoned upcycler or are having a go

Totally tropical

Background wallpaper Nalina 111047 wallpaper from Amazilia collection, £56 per

I’ve created a year round garden room

When Rebecca Flynn, 29, first viewed the two-bedroom terrace, she

Our dated conservatory is now a fresh, pretty garden room

A wood-burning stove makes a great focal point and gives

Rental revamps

If the flooring in your property is dated, or a

Choose hard-working storage for every room

We all have things in our homes we love to

It’s a great place to entertain

Louise Allan, 26, a professional nanny, was thrilled when she

Kitchens & BATHROOMS

Bring out your bathroom’s exotic side with this Moroccan-inspired trend

It’s now light, bright and double the size!

Christine Leech, 41, a writer, lives in a two-bedroom terrace

Make the most of a COMPACT KITCHEN

A lthough many of us dream of an airy, open-plan

We swapped a cloakroom for an elegant en suite

Elaine Colleton and David Dunphy, run Dwell Living, a property

Achieve a classic look in your bathroom

If your bathroom seems lacking in character, why not consider

Make it easy!

The sun is out and we’re going to make the

Make, do & craft

• 15cm florist’s wire per charm • wire cutters •

Furniture facelift

Tea chests are very on-trend at the moment and can

Girls’ Guide to

Once you’re happy that the door is the right size

ASK THE EXPERTS

Frostbrite film and white printed film, from £30, The Window

Your August checklist

If you’re lucky enough to be going away on holiday

Our house is full of childhood memories

Clare Hantrais has special childhood memories of her cottage in

The whole of our house is filled with light

With two small children, Liz and Padraig Nolan were finding

EDITORS CHOICE

‘Create a pretty vintage feel on your patio with Tesco’s

We have an artisan cottage renovated with love

Gaynor and Simon Thomas honeymooned in St Ives 32 years

I love mixing patterns, textures and colours

If your favourite pretty plates are too nice to hide

Food & Drink

• to make a fruity marinade for chicken, pork or

Sun, sangria and salsa

✓12 prepared sardines ✓1 tbsp olive oil ✓lemon wedges, to