The source

Erica Miller shows how you can achieve the style secrets in this issue’s homes mat ching pat t e rns Design ideas striking front door g l a s s ro om d i v i d e r

In the Browns’ spacious master bedroom, a largescale patterned wallpaper and fabric with a similare design but in a different colourway has been used to great effect. Gone are the days when everything had to match, and the key to this look is creating balance. Having one other item in a contrasting tone, in this case curtains, is enough to make a style statement. The vibrant lime green shade has been picked out as an accent hue and also used on the dressing table stool. Adding a dash of colour to a neutral space like this is often what brings a room to life. When planning a colour scheme, remember that soft furnishings on a small scale are a much more flexible way of introducing bold colour and pattern to a room. Believe it or not, it takes potential buyers no more than eight seconds to decide whether they like a property. Often the outer appearance is the deciding factor. The Catons have given their home a fresh, modern identity by painting the front door a daring pink shade. They have also applied an eye-catching geometric-print window film to the glass panes, which is a clever way to increase privacy. Frosted film comes in a wide variety of designs, and can be ordered online and precut to your requirements. It is easy to put up and take down, and coloured film can even be used to recreate the look of stained glass. Along with attractive door furniture, this is a quick and easy update that will give your home real kerb appeal. Besides being a great personal space, an en-suite bathroom is one of the better ways to add value to your home. A discreet frameless glass wall has been used in the Jopling house to separate the master bedroom and en suite. As well as giving the impression of a break between areas, glass also takes up less space than a conventional brick wall. Here, it allows the bedroom to receive plenty of natural light. To create a good flow between the two rooms, the owners have also decorated both areas in a harmonious neutral colour palette. The same wood flooring has been used to link the bedroom with the en suite, creating a feeling of continuity. And if you prefer a little more privacy, you could always opt for etched or smoky glass.

One of the walls in the Wood house is clad in plywood panels. This pale, untreated timber is ideal for creating a rugged look that adds warmth to a modern home. Sustainable and lightweight, plywood is very popular right now and lends itself well to wall cladding. Plywood may bow in rooms exposed to damp, but you could try some of the convincing wood-effect tiles available. The top of this bathroom by LLI Design is tiled in Pinocchi in Pino, £73.20sq m; the bottom is in Pinocchi in Tartan White, £126.36sq m, both Vicalvi. Delicately portrayed with beautiful attention to detail, decorative plasterwork elevates the Brownlows’ sitting room to another level. Plaster mouldings are usually an original feature in period properties – particularly in Victorian homes. Although artists specialising in contemporary friezes can be found, a simpler way to add this delicate feature to your home is with a hand-drawn wall mural made from tiles. This charming Dragonfly tile mural adds a tranquil touch to a bathroom. It costs £250 for a 30 x 60cm mural, Abigail Edwards. In the Allens’ modern home, polished plaster has been applied to one wall in the open-plan kitchendiner. Not only does this add warmth, it also gives a pared-back industrial feel. The trick is not to seek a faultless finish, but rather to embrace the beauty of imperfection. But it’s best to employ a specialist, to get a professional finish. Here, plaster panels in a matt, textural finish are made from Armourcoat Koncrete, an urban range of polished plaster finishes designed for contemporary projects, from £60sq m, Armourcoat.