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‘I know you don’t wish to “resort” to clichés, but your best solution would be to not ignore stereotypes altogether — and embrace a few’
‘In my favourite armchair, I curl into the shape of a croissant and can easily resist moving for a very long period of time’
Containers for indoor plants are notoriously dull — but imaginative alternatives do exist
‘We want pieces that won’t look out of place at home. In fact, let’s aim higher. Let’s hunt for beauty!’
‘The eye-popping colour should please you, while its boxy shape could be right up your husband’s street’
‘In my book, a bit of oddness is always a good thing’
‘Lofts set themselves apart, feeling more like treehouse cabins than anything else. They lend themselves to the unusual’
‘I can’t say I had foreseen feeling so strongly about a light switch, but I really am in love with the LS 990’
Reupholstering existing pieces is often the most sustainable option — but the range of materials can be formidable
‘I love leaving it up to the gods (or dealers and shopkeepers) to place the right book in front of me’
‘As a tenant, I could never have rented a house with a no-painting rule in place. The horror!’
‘A toaster and a table lamp is all very well, but listen to your heart too’
Pile stuff on, strip it back, aim for both harmony and jarring contrasts — in short, joyously freestyle
‘I understood that I’d need to tie the spaces together enough for them to feel harmonious, but I also wanted them to have their own character’
‘A minibreak might not only provide a holiday, but also spark ideas. In essence, it’s all research’
‘The preparation doesn’t happen by magic. Rope in a teenager to help, then focus on partying’
Painted tiles, rustic textures, lots of greenery — but, above all, you need a sense of languid nonchalance
‘Laying gravel instead of paving would provide space for your car and still allow plants to grow’
‘I like the idea of taking an off-the peg standard or vintage piece of furniture and giving it a DIY facelift’
There are plenty of wonderful things in small galleries or websites — just avoid cheap reproductions
‘I use inexpensive containers to hold my tulips: I always like a simple glass cylinder, and I adore a bucket’
Time to ditch the bifold doors: ‘I see castellations, I see finials’
‘When I think of country comfort, I think of squidgy sofas, ottomans the size of small cars and plenty of soft lighting’
Three-dimensional art can range from a piece of rock on the mantelpiece to a pair of satyr’s hips on a plinth
In spring, a young man’s fancy turns to garden furniture
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