TRADE SECRETS

Experiment with industrial pieces like distressed chairs and metal boxes but keep a pretty edge with white-painted, reclaimed items like cabinets and picture frames.

Contrast monochrome with bold flashes of primary colour like yellow and green to create interest.

Recycle to get the most for your money with this look. A second-hand table can be sanded down and stained or painted to fit in with your colour scheme. Painting just the legs and skirting keeps it modern and funky.

Choose matte floor tiles. Gloss tiles look great in the showroom but are slippery and require daily upkeep.

Use a statement mirror to create extra light and add glamour. This Venetian-style mirror (using etched mirrors to create the frame) is unexpectedly boudoir-ish for a kitchen but fits in effortlessly with the mix-andmatch style.

Get creative. You can buy framed slogan pictures but you can make personalised ones as well. Write out your favourite poem, or print a saying in a modern font on white paper, then use a neat black frame to set it off.

Hang ornate frames on a long string – it increases the decorative space they take up.

Add natural movement and brightness with a big, lush palm. Either set it on top of a work surface or get a really tall plant so the foliage is at eye-level for maximum impact.

Bring in storage options anywhere you can. An open shelf sideboard is perfect for wicker basket or metal storage boxes. We also love the trunk storage at the end of it. Alcoves are great for adding in-built shelves or cabinets – you can never have too much shelf space in a kitchen.