FROM THE EDITOR
Working from home has always been something of a dream for me, and the thought of swapping the daily commute and traffic jams for a leisurely walk downstairs to my laptop always seemed so appealing. The reality has not been quite the idyllic set-up I had perhaps anticipated. While I fully appreciate how incredibly lucky I am to have been working from the safety and comfort of my own house this year when so many others haven’t had that option, adapting to working 9 to 5 at home hasn’t been as easy as I perhaps thought it would be.
Sitting at the kitchen table was fine for a few weeks, but as lengthy office closures became apparent, I realised I needed somewhere more comfy to sit and something more inspiring than a kitchen cupboard to look at. My current workspace in our rear living room isn’t the quietest spot in the house to work, but that’s a compromise I’m willing to make to get plenty of natural light (never underestimate the importance of that) and views of the garden. Now I’m confident I’ve found the right spot in the house, I’m happy to start investing some time and cash to make some more permanent changes and get it working even better for me.
For many of us, our working lives will be no doubt be permanently changed by recent events, and working from home will become the norm, even if that’s only for part of the week. So if you’re thinking it’s about time you adapted your living space to make a few long-term changes, our home offices feature (page 54) will give you plenty of inspiration to find your perfect spot.
Elsewhere in this issue, we’ve got the lowdown on how even a small sidereturn extension can make a huge difference to your home’s layout and sense of space (page 79), and we round up the best new heating options so you can start cosying up for the arrival of autumn (page 123). Plus, now staying in seems to be the new going out, we show you how to give your dining space a fresh new look (page 45), and there’s all the latest on-trend buys for kitchens, bathrooms and more.
Whether you’re looking for quick ways to freshen up your home or ideas for a bigger transformation, I hope this issue inspires you to create your dream home (and work) space.