Letter from the Editor and favourite buys

THERE’S A BEAUTIFUL old chestnut tree at the end of my garden and, for 21 years now, it’s been my herald of spring. I wait impatiently for the leaf buds to form and, when they turn fat and green, I know lighter nights are on their way – and that it’s time for me to celebrate by buying something new for my house!

At House Beautiful, we’re in the fortunate position of having a sneak peek at furniture, colours and patterns well before they arrive in the shops, so we can bring you the best of the new looks, as well as ideas and advice on how best to use them in your own home.

For instance, this month’s cover features the beautiful dusky pink shade Heart Wood, Dulux’s Colour of the Year for 2018. And starting on p20, our style experts show how to use the delicate new flower and fern patterns inspired by Japanese planting to create a calm and restful home – I definitely need one of those!

Calm and tranquil aren’t the words two of our readers would have used to describe their homes when they first bought them. Emma and Alex Main lived in a stable with their daughters while a rundown barn was converted into a stunning and spacious family home – see p30 – while Andrea Curtis and her family survived without a kitchen for five years while their neglected Victorian villa was renovated. Standing in her sleek new kitchen, she says it was all worth it – read her story on p41.

It’s the time of year when we’re all feeling the postChristmas pinch, so I was really pleased to read about apps that help to control spending – see Bricks and Money on p71. One thing definitely worth spending on is the Long Beach, the latest sofa to join the House Beautiful collection with DFS. It’s perfect for lounging on under a cosy throw, and modular, so it can be adapted to fit your room and family. See it in one of its 15 colours on p90.

Whether you’re browsing, dreaming or doing, I hope you find plenty to look at in these pages. See you next month!