Editor’s letter

As soon as March 29 went in the diary, my focus immediately switched from the multitude of indoor decorating projects we currently have on the go, to our outside space, which has been completely neglected since we moved into our house.

I’m excited about the prospect of being able to socialise outdoors (assuming everything has gone to plan, of course), but our garden is in dire need of a thorough tidy-up (understatement of the year) before it’s in a fit state to host visitors. Having moved here just before lockdown 3.0, this is my first chance to show off our new home to friends and family, and I’d like to make as good a first impression as I can.

There are some great quick fixes for your outdoor (and indoor) space in our Easy

Style Updates feature on page 96 that I’ll be doing now, before we tackle a larger garden makeover later in the year. And professional organiser Vicky has some not-to-be-missed advice for keeping your outdoor space tidy, too (page 144).

I’d like to finish by raising a virtual glass to the winners of our Kitchen Awards 2021.

Head to page 114 to find out which kitchen brands got the Ideal Home seal of approval. Congrats to all!