Author: News Room

In the heart of Prague, where historic facades tell tales of centuries past, a unique rooftop apartment has emerged as a modern ode to the city’s layered history. Conceived by the team at OBLIQO, this 1,808-square-foot home blends classical elegance and contemporary functionality, nestled atop a building dating back to 1893. This project began with an evocative question posed by its new occupants, a couple transitioning into retirement: how can a home embody the emotions and memories of a lifetime, while embracing the future? Their answer lies in a space that masterfully intertwines the grandeur of Prague’s architectural heritage with…

When the temperature starts to drop, our gardens tend to take a backseat. But if you want to get a headstart on next year’s garden, it’s well worth making the most of these winter composting hacks. After all, this organic matter can give your spring and summer gardens the boost they desperately need.Every garden needs feeding, and adding compost to your outdoor space can improve soil quality, conserve water, and promote healthier plant growth. Plus, nailing how to make compost will also save you money on buying ready-made bags from the garden centre. However, this can be difficult in the…

Picture your favorite mug, the one you reach for first thing in the morning. Is it handmade? Is it heavy? Is it, despite its flaws or possible chips, beautiful just as is? Pottery is as ancient as we are, the true mark of civilization. The first synthetic material ever made, pottery is inextricable from the human experience, guiding the ways we eat and socialize for millennia. Following these ancestral lines, the No. 16 Collection by Norm Architects with Ancher Studio fuses antiquity with modernity. The No. 16 Collection elegantly encapsulates forms we know and love, yet brings an understated modernism…

Christmas is the best time of year for showing off your hosting skills and a particular favourite is making cocktails as part of the celebrations. But whether it’s a festive G&T or cranberry mocktail, a crystal clear ice cube is the final touch and there is an easy hack to ensure they look high-end cocktail bar-ready.There’s nothing more disappointing than fetching the ice tray and realising all your cubes are opaque. Clear ice is not only aesthetically pleasing but also can make your drink taste better as it lacks impurities.For cocktails worthy of your swanky bar cart ideas, you don’t…

Come autumn every year, the demand for all things ‘cosy’ goes up. But this year, cosy took on a life of its own, it became a buzzword and a major pop culture moment – one with no signs of slowing down as we head into the new year. And the cosy living room trend is getting a new look for 2025 according to experts and trend forecasters.So what will cosy living room ideas look like next year? Comfort will still be prioritised above all else – but the living room colour schemes, shapes and textures that make up the ‘cosy…

It’s a quieter month for gardeners, but if, like me, you’re a fan of houseplants, you’ll know there’s plenty to keep you busy indoors during the colder months.Besides learning how to care for houseplants over winter, it’s a great time to expand your collection. My local garden centre was bursting with indoor plants at the weekend, from flowering Christmas houseplants to tropical favourites.If you’re looking for houseplant ideas, I’ve rounded up five of my most favourite indoor plants to give you a little inspiration.1. TradescantiaMy favourite colour is purple, so it’s a given that Tradescantia is one of my go-to…

Is your sofa the right size for your living room? George Clarke has revealed that when a sofa is the wrong size and shape for your living room, it can come as a detriment to your living room.Choosing the right size sofa, or sofa scaling, is incredibly important for achieving a harmonious living room. Having invested in one of the best sofas, you don’t want it to come as a detriment to your space.Speaking to Ideal Home about his work as an ambassador for Sofology, The Amazing Spaces presenter, George Clarke says ‘You need to get one [a sofa] that’s…

If you have ever stopped to wonder exactly how a barista keeps their coffee machine up to scratch you’d be correct in thinking there are certain things they do every week to keep their machine in tip-top shape.If you’ve invested in one of the best coffee machines, one can assume it’s because you love quality coffee at home (don’t we all). But are you giving it barista-level care to ensure it stays in the best working order?Of course, we all know the importance of cleaning a coffee machine, but coffee machine experts have revealed these are the three things baristas…

Choosing a new mattress is a big decision. There are loads of different factors to consider, and one of them is certainly your budget.Yes, finding the best mattress for you is the priority, and you might be wondering: is an expensive mattress really worth it? And while we can all dream – you may have a budget that doesn’t afford you the full bells and whistles mattress that costs £1000s.A double mattress can cost anything from around £150 to £1000s. Our top-rated mattress – the Simba Hybrid Original – costs £799 for a double.But fear not if your budget doesn’t…

We moved back to Belfast from London two years ago and found a Victorian home with such good bones we could live there comfortably, taking our time to put our stamp on it.Our vision was always to plan a kitchen extension and make the most of the space to the back of the house and let lots more light in.Now our big kitchen extension idea is becoming a reality with planning permission granted and contractors on site, we chose to get the project off to a good start sooner rather than later to keep to our renovation budget.Even though it’s…