SIGNING OFF

What the Homebuilding team have seen, recommend and love this month

A final word from the HB&R team

KITCHEN INSPIRATION

75% of homeowners in the UK would like to see a walk-in larder in their kitchen according to the kitchen experts Magnet. One clever trick we’ve seen cropping up over the last year – and one of my favourite design trends – is to conceal the pantry as if a normal tall kitchen cupboard, but when the door is opened a long walk-in pantry runs the length of the unit run. Whether it’s to stock up on flour, to hide away bulky appliances or, as in Ellie Inskip’s case (page 32), to find a quiet spot for five minutes away from the kids, I’m enjoying the creative and space-savvy ways that this trend is taking shape.the Main Company Kitchen shown to the right starts from £25,000.

And to Natasha’s point below, unfortunately my partner is in the Navy and obtrusively believes in the motivating power of a good sea shanty while doing any DIY — I can’t imagine any of his favourites have made the final list! Amy Reeves, Assistant editor

PAINTING PLAYLISTS

Having analysed over 70,000 songs and artists added to Spotify playlists created for jobs such as painting, plumbing, gardening and interior design, Roofing Megastore have determined that Taylor Swift is, in fact, queen of all things home improvement — followed closely by Billie Eilish, Tame Impala and The Beatles. This got me thinking about the songs we most listened to when renovating our house — I can’t hear ‘Wild Horses’ by The Rolling Stones without thinking of stripping wallpaper in the bedroom, while Paloma Faith’s ‘Can’t Rely on You’ conjures up barrowing mounds of earth out of what is now our kitchen. How about you? For full results of the survey visit www.roofingmegastore.co.uk

Natasha Brinsmead, Associate editor

THE MARVELS OF MISSION CREEP

As I write this my kitchen is echoing with destruction. All of my old, tired units are being ripped out in preperation for a streamlined new set-up in tastefully graduated greys. Meanwhile, the electrician is bringing my fuse box up to Regs spec — which isn’t something I’d planned on, buy hey, while he’s here there’s no sense in him doing half a job. And he might as well put some nice LED lights in my pantry while he’s at it. Oh, and as long as we’re sorting that out...

Jacob Barlow, Production editor