Ideal Homes
From chocolate box cottages in the Cotswolds to super-sleek modern homes in the capital, we go behind the front door of houses up and down the country, and find out how the owners and renters created their dream homes, whatever their style and budget
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Homes
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With this thatched cottage 'all practical thinking went out the window, and my heart won!’'
An all-white French farmhouse scheme enhances the beautiful original features of this home
By Alice Roberton
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'We swapped a beige, bland living room for a luxe, colourful look – and all on a budget of under £2,500'
See how these home owners transformed a tired living room into this warm and relaxing space
By Karen Wilson
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‘We decorated by using colour to influence how we feel in each space.'
Check out this luxurious, well- thought-out family home, packed with stunning design features and striking artwork
By Marisha Taylor
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‘The cottage seems to embrace everything that’s quintessentially English'
This thatched stone cottage is the country dream for its lucky owner – and it's full of small-space solutions
By Natalie Flaum
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Opening up the side return has transformed this kitchen into a stylish place to entertain
A natural colour palette has added a sense of space to this serene kitchen
By Rachel Christie
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This luxurious en suite is packed with charming rustic details including a bathtub that took 6 people to lift
Space was taken from a walk-in wardrobe to create this stunning bathroom with views of the surrounding countryside
By Ali Lovett
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This all-white coastal house sparkles at Christmas – it has a perfect 'mix of modern and coastal elements'
This is how it's both calming and cosy all year round
By Sara Emslie
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'Simple ideas often make the most impact' – this home demonstrates how less really can be more
This homeowner opted for simplicity when decorating her 400-year-old cottage for Christmas
By Maggie Colvin
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The worthy winner of 2024's Ideal Home's Reader Home Best Room Makeover award
A south-facing extension and a sunshine-yellow kitchen is perfect for family life
By Ginevra Benedetti
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‘People can be a bit afraid of using wallpaper for a kitchen, but I love seeing pattern'
This home is a masterclass in how to make festive decorations work with a room's wallpaper and fabric designs
By Karen Darlow
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'I love to have vintage baubles and lots of candles all around the house'
These homeowners have blended vintage and modern pieces to achieve a unique look
By Alison Davidson
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This Hampshire home blends mid-century design with Georgian elegance
And it's full of style tricks to steal for the festive season
By Janet McMeekin
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'We finally got the house of our dreams and can’t wait to spend Christmas here’
This home owner has indulged her passion for colour and pattern throughout
By Karen Wilson
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This stylish and relaxed home has been turned into a Scandi-style winter wonderland for Christmas
Design flourishes and a beautiful tonal colour palette brings a stylish and relaxed feel to this London property
By Marisha Taylor
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It took years to restore this period property to a glamorous home that shines at Christmas
It's magical in the festive season
By Sharon Parsons
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‘We’ve given our dining room a fabulous festive makeover in time for Christmas’
Painting the dining room a stylish shade of teal and adding on-trend bow decorations made all the difference
By Laurie Davidson
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'I used DIY skills and clever furniture hacks to give every room a contemporary update'
Starting with the bedrooms and finishing in the kitchen, this home owner transformed a 70’s house into a stylish family home
By Lisa Moses
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Check out this Scandi-style home, beautifully decorated for the festive season
This inviting family home has plenty of space for hosting magical festive get-togethers
By Janet McMeekin
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‘We had to learn DIY along the way as we’d never even painted a wall before!’
How this first-time buyer's property was transformed into a stylish family home
By Lisa Moses
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Take a tour of this festive 16th-century former pub in rural Hertfordshire
With cosy throws, seasonal arrangements and twinkling candlelight, this home is all set for a very special Christmas
By Naomi Jones
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'Not many people could claim that Banksy paid for their kitchen'
A lifetime’s collection of vintage bargains, and a little help from a world-famous graffiti artist, created this unique home
By Karen Darlow
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'The character was all there, it had just been buried under years of neglect'
Looking past the dark brown 1980s decor, the owners could see the potential in this once-dingy cottage
By Heather Dixon
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The quiet luxury makeover of this Victorian house revealed unexpected features
Hidden floorboards and concealed doorways have now been revealed
By Sara Emslie
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‘We got a stylish new-look kitchen for less by repurposing our old units'
See how the home owners saved a fortune with this eco-friendly kitchen makeover
By Karen Wilson
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'We couldn’t justify ripping out a perfectly decent kitchen and bathroom, so we gave them a budget makeover'
With plans to extend in a few years, these home owners managed to decorate and furnish their five-bedroom home on a tight budget with impressive results
By Karen Wilson
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'We used green as a neutral throughout the house - it goes with everything!'
From dark and dated, into a bright family home, packed with pattern and personality
By Ali Lovett
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'This barn had a leaking roof and no insulation – we needed help!'
This neglected Norfolk barn is now an exceptional home
By Alexandra Pratt