STYLE SECRETS

Recreate Anne’s look with these top tips and ideas

BE BOLD WITH COLOUR

Break free from safe neutrals and brave it with a darker paint shade such as navy, charcoal or emerald green. If you have a long room – like Anne’s dining space – painting a shorter end wall a darker shade will make it appear to come forward, so the room feels shorter and squarer, rather than overly long. Or if you have a large open-plan area, painting one or two darker accent walls is a good way of breaking up the space and defining the different zones.

SIZE-UP A MIRROR

As a general rule, if you’re hanging a large mirror or piece of art above a fireplace, aim for one roughly two-thirds the width of the mantel, rather than one that lines up exactly with the edges. Hang it horizontally, so it finishes around 12-15cm above the mantel, with the centre at eye level. Or, if you want to create the illusion of height, hang it vertically instead and the wall will appear taller.

TAKE TO THE SLOPES

Make a feature of the slanting ceiling in a loft room, by papering the end wall in a bold feature wallpaper to accentuate the room’s shape. Paint adjoining walls and sloping sections in a pale, co-ordinating shade rather than wallpaper, so any wonky walls or uneven lines aren’t accentuated.