Author: News Room
If you’re going to spend good money on your home, it makes sense to put it where it actually adds value. Whether you’re thinking of selling soon or just want to future-proof your space, some upgrades are more worthwhile than others. These aren’t DIY quick wins or temporary fixes. They’re proper investments that can make a big difference to how your home looks, feels, and sells. Here are a few to think about. Kitchen A proper kitchen renovation is one of the best things you can do. Most buyers walk straight into the kitchen and decide how they feel about…
Hosting instantly becomes easier once you can tick drinks off of your to-do list. Incredibly, I might have crossed out the need for drinks-related dinner party and BBQ forever with my latest arrival to test as Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor: the much coveted Ninja Slushi.The Slushi, which we got very excited about in our first look back in November, is for the first time available with a steady stream of stock on the Ninja website (£349.99 at Ninja), so you don’t have to set your alarms to secure one.That means that I’ve finally been able to get my hands…
IKEA has given its iconic BILLY bookcase a gorgeous new design, but you’ll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on one, as it is a limited edition piece.The BILLY bookcase collection is one of IKEA’s most well-known and beloved designs, largely down to the fact that BILLY bookcase hacks can easily make them look like a high-end piece, masking the IKEA affordable price tag.Now receiving an on-trend update, featuring a vibrant green colourway and glass doors, this new design is a dopamine hit at an affordable price tag.Last year, the BILLY bookcase was given a…
Ninja’s bean-to-cup coffee machine is now on sale, with £50 off over the Easter weekend making it the cheapest it’s ever been, with the lowest possible price at Amazon and John Lewis for £499.00 (that’s cheaper by 99p).Since installing the Ninja Luxe Café in my kitchen, there’s constantly a fight to be the first one to the coffee machine in the morning. A truly startling amount of coffees have been extracted from this machine in the months since I started testing it. As per my 5 star Ninja Luxe Café review, one thing is for sure: it would take a…
Perched in the vibrant heart of Sliema, Malta, Grün Haus by studio NICHE. emerges as a serene home that deftly balances the demands of modern living with a commitment to timeless design. The project is a study in how architecture can evoke calm, invite connection, and adapt to the evolving needs of life. Balancing minimalism with bold furnishings and materials, the interior fosters a sense of sophisticated coziness that’s idea for a modern family. At its core, Grün Haus embodies a philosophy of quiet sophistication. Through a thoughtfully orchestrated palette of textures and tones, the space exudes a sense of…
Buying the best wok will give you the perfect tool to cook authentic Asian dishes and quick and easy stir-fries.With a deep and wide design, woks have the perfect shape for tossing vegetables and rice in soy sauce, and if you place them on a flame, the heat will spread along the sides of the wok to create super speedy dishes.Traditional woks work like cast iron, seasoning over time to create a natural layer of non-stick. More modern iterations include an actual layer of non-stick, and dishwasher-safe designs that won’t give you grief when doing the washing up.Many of the…
While the marriage of Japanese and Scandinavian design principles continues to allure us, we seldom see it materialize in a fashion-centric ideation like this. The HidaHida Chair, a collaboration between celebrated architect Kengo Kama and Swedish furniture brand Gärsnäs, reimagines this cross-cultural dialogue with a refined balance of craftsmanship, materiality, and form. More than a piece of furniture, HidaHida wears its influences quite literally. It’s draped upholstery, inspired by the Japanese word hida (which means to drape), cascades like a tailored garment, effortlessly blending structure and softness. The pronounced stitching and flowing fabric evoke the artistry of couture – not…
Despite being obsessed with hosting and acquiring the most aesthetically pleasing tableware, lettuce and cabbage leaf style crockery has always been a home decor trend I’ve resisted. That was until I saw H&M Home’s collection of designer-look plates.Maybe it’s because I don’t have that much kitchen storage for seasonal dinnerware or maybe it’s because I’ve seen it all over my social media feed – I’m not entirely sure, but I do know that I’m prepared to swallow my pride and say I’ve changed my mind about this trend I didn’t like.H&M Home’s collection of leaf stoneware is going to be…
At 10,600 feet above sea level, where the air thins and the landscape commands reverence, stands Mountain House, an embodiment between human intervention and natural splendor. The Colorado mountain house was designed by Gabriel Yuri, founder of New Operations Workshop, for his parents as an addition to their vacation home. The charred exterior walls of this mountain retreat – treated with the ancient Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban – appear as if the surrounding wilderness itself has scorched them. “I was initially uncertain about taking on the project, thinking my parents might encourage a more conservative, traditional approach than…
As Ideal Home’s Vacuums Expert, I get the exciting job of testing new releases from big-name brands – Shark being one of them. And over the past three weeks, I’ve replaced my regular vacuum with the Shark PowerPro to see whether it can compete with the best Shark vacuum cleaners around.Not only that, but I wanted to see how it would fare against the other cordless vacuum cleaners I’ve tested in the past. My verdict? It’s a great entry-level (and budget-friendly) Shark vacuum, with a few flaws that prevent it from topping the charts as one of my favourites.In a…