He’s the new host of Strictly Come Dancing, but, quite frankly, we wouldn’t blame Josh Widdicombe if he decided to swap the dance floor and stay at home in his gorgeous Cornish coastal retreat.

Josh and his wife, interior designer Rose Hanson, invited The Sunday Times Style into their beautiful home in Mullion, which includes six bedrooms, a cosy TV snug, an open-plan kitchen-living space and an expansive farmhouse-style garden.

After 18 months renovating the property, Josh and Rose have achieved a rare feat; they’ve kept the coastal charm throughout by making use of natural, earthy and rugged materials. All while bringing a touch of high-end style and modern character with the repeated use of vintage lighting, antique displays and brass and gold flourishes.

Inside Josh Widdicombe's luxurious coastal home

One of the most notable changes they made when they started renovating the house after purchasing it in 2022 was turning separate spaces into one farmhouse-style kitchen-living area. To create a sense of openness and light, Rose and Josh kept the design features connected.

By weaving similar colours and textiles throughout the spaces, each room feels like an extension of the one that came before. One of the best examples is the repeated use of natural textures and materials, including oak flooring, wooden design features, and marble finishes.

Running through the kitchen and into the newly adjoining living space, the natural grain patterns and warm honey tones of oak create a light and homey atmosphere. The flooring’s natural variations and characteristics catch the changing Cornish light throughout the day and seasons.

With young children, the couple’s flooring isn’t just stylish; it’s sturdy and will survive muddy wellies and the scrapes and scuffs of happy children.

At the heart of this new room is a stunning, authentic table, an essential in achieving the farmhouse look, one of the most popular kitchen trends. Made from solid, dark wood, it anchors the room, acting as an alternative kitchen island.

Proving how small details can tie a room together, Rose and Josh have chosen accessories and statement pieces that elevate this rustic, farmhouse feel, using a blend of new and old.

The weathered, rustic wooden dining table is paired with smooth, light-coloured painted cabinetry and brass hardware, adding layers of visual depth. Gold and bronze pots, pans and utensils also hang from soft pink walls, bringing the feeling of a vintage farmhouse alive while feeling suitably modern.

Layered lighting is the final touch that completes this warm, almost-timeless feeling. Traditional overhead statement pendant lights are paired with subtle accents like the small lamp on the back counter.

These same design ideas repeat into what Rose describes as their TV snug, which features soft, sky-blue cabinets and warm, earthy colours. A huge L-shaped mustard sofa dominates most of the room, covered in plump pillows with minimal clutter around it.

A clean, neutral marble coffee table sits in the centre, with natural lighting pouring in through the expansive windows, and a painting of the coast hangs above, completing this feeling of indoor-outdoor open living.

Upstairs, a sense of unity continues. This time, Rose and Josh have chosen to repeat a stripe theme throughout each of the bedrooms.

From striped wallpaper in the children's rooms to pillows and cupboards with subtle colour stripes in the master bedroom, it's a clever way to add cohesion and bring a sense of character to a space.

Rose also offered a great tip for repurposing old fabrics for a small but impactful statement. Rather than ruining a stylish aesthetic with ugly shower curtains and blinds, Rose made her own using old fabric she found online.

Unexpected for a bathroom, it gives the room a feeling of history and fits with the subtle notes of antiquity and timelessness throughout the home.

Josh and Rose have designed an indoor space that feels open and effortless, and that is also reflected in the expansive gardens.

Perfectly imperfect, the couple have opted for a garden of wildflowers as well as a natural orchard. Keeping with this theme of wilderness and promoting nature, Rose and Josh have opted for a chemical-free swimming pool – something which, Rose explained, could end up with them attracting newts.

If you’re going to go in on the wild cottage aesthetic, you may as well go all in.

An elevated kitchen needn't be filled with patterns, colours, and unconventional designs. In fact, Penny Lancaster has just shown how you can keep the space neutral but level it up with small but significant design touches.

Whether you're looking for a way to make your kitchen look expensive or want to start adding more personality to your home, that doesn't mean you have to completely transform your space. In fact, sometimes the more subtle yet considered design elements can make all the difference and at the same time cost much less.

Posting a comedic reel with her son on her Instagram (@penny.lancaster), Penny Lancaster gave us a glimpse into her exquisite kitchen, complete with cosy layered lighting and sleek marble worktops.

With so many kitchen design rules to be broken, it's a surprisingly easy space to customise to your needs and style. With the right elements, you can completely transform your kitchen with just a few humble changes and additions.

Penny's kitchen showcases a few of them, the first being how she's used indoor layered lighting to make the otherwise luxurious space feel homely. With LED strips illuminating the cabinets, double-sided wall lamps and a chic, dimly lit glass ceiling light, there's a real mix of lighting in the kitchen, and it softens the space.

Along with the lighting, there are subtle design elements that elevate various kitchen essentials. The enamel sink has an unusual yet stylish ribbed finish on the outside, which takes it up a notch and adds interest to an otherwise classic design.

This small yet significant style can also be seen with the marble countertops that have a chic edging instead of the clean-cut style we so often see. This, much like the lighting, helps soften the stone counters and also adds another layer of luxury. Making your space your own like this is one of the biggest kitchen trends this year and it's no surprise why.

Aside from the fittings and fixtures, the accessories used in Penny's kitchen help tie everything together. With colourful houseplants, matching marble shelves and, of course, her very own memoir, the room, as luxurious as it is, feels lived in and filled with character.

So if you want to give your kitchen a refresh, it's a great idea to try to see how you can add small changes to the space and work up from there.

Where Penny has used layered lighting, there are many ways to make your kitchen cosy, especially as we enter the autumn season. From candles to washable rugs, there's lots to be done to create a more welcoming cooking environment.

Christmas, whether we want to admit it or not, is on its way and with it the charming yet chic decor we look forward to surrounding ourselves with all year. And last year these door swags won us over.

Whilst you may be excited to get your best Christmas wreath out of storage the moment December arrives, this decorative alternative might sway you to change things up this year. After watching them sell out on the M&S website last festive period, we had to hunt down some worthy replacements. But the good news is that M&S's fresh door swags are finally back in stock, and look better than ever.

So, although it is rather early to try out some new Christmas decorating ideas, there's no harm in browsing and if a swag takes your fancy? Well, what can you do!

Every year we see new and old Christmas trends rise in popularity, from the cutesy bow trend to the nostalgic festive trend; there's really something for everyone's taste. But Christmas door swags? Well, it looks like they're here to stay.

These bestselling options from M&S are made in-house at their Flowershop. The Natural door swag has 17 stems, including eucalyptus, elderberries and pussy willow amongst other plants. All of which are sourced from sustainable and trusted growers.

To ensure they last all season long, the swags, when possible, will arrive in bud form. Then, all you have to do is trim their stems, place them in a vase with water and a flower food mix, and watch them begin to bloom. To hang, you can use a wreath hook, or if you're so inclined, a command hook will do the trick too.

The red door swag is a great way to add a bit of personality to your home before your holiday guests have even got through the door. This one has ilex red berries and a deep crimson ribbon tied in a bow for that extra festive look.

We expected more swags to become available, but if you're worried about keeping the plant life happy through the season, there are plenty of artificial alternatives to choose from; Dunelm has a huge selection, in fact.

And if you're fancying a door swag before Christmas officially begins, endless designs work as autumn decor ideas and will ease you into the new season.

When Bake Off returns to screens later this month, viewers might miss seeing Dame Prue Leith, who left the show after nine seasons. The good news is Prue is inviting viewers into her stunning Cotswolds kitchen with her own ITV series.

And because of this charming look at her life in her purpose-built home in her Gloucestershire barn conversion, we get to see her unique kitchen design – full of vibrant colours and, perhaps controversially, embracing curated clutter as a design choice rather than something to hide away.

Certainly a bold choice that might not be for everyone, Prue revealed on her blog that her decision to go big and bold with her yellow kitchen design "makes [her] smile every morning."

Prue's purpose-built kitchen cabinetry comes from Omega, a British kitchen designer based in Doncaster. Prue chose daffodil yellow units against white walls, adding extra pops of colour via green and yellow blinds.

Prue’s use of such a bright colour in an unconventional way is a form of colour drenching. Rather than saving bright colours for an accent wall or one specific feature, colour drenching creates a cohesive, immersive colour experience by using a single shade throughout the space.

With such a bright colour chosen, Prue is also sure to spotlight them. Lighting appears built into the yellow cabinets, creating added vibrancy and really exaggerating the happy hue.

Overhead lighting here might have cast shadows or prevented the colour from really shining through, so it’s a lesson in staging your lighting properly.

If you’d consider going bold like Prue, an interior designer previously spoke to woman&home about embracing the trend.

“Colour drenching isn’t only easy; it’s transformative. It allows a completely new take on a room without the additional budget required for a range of colours,” says Michael Rolland, managing director at The Paint Shed.

By extending the same colour to accessories like kitchen cabinets, you maximise impact without costly renovations. Simply painting cabinets to match walls or, in Prue’s case, contrasting a bold yellow against an easy-to-blend white instantly updates your space, giving it a new lease of life on a budget.

What we really love about Prue’s daring kitchen is how she added personality with the kitchen chairs. Keeping with the theme but managing to avoid it feeling too much, Prue’s mixed-and-matched green and yellow chairs continue the joyful theme.

If the colours weren’t already bold enough, Prue decided to make her smart storage solutions out in the open. Creating a usable utensil wall that doubles as an installation, Prue’s cutlery wall is a distinguished feature within the space.

While some might see the utensil wall as cluttered, it certainly makes a statement and offers a touch of industrial design to her sunny kitchen.

This isn't the only example of Prue going against the conventional rules of kitchen storage. On one of her tabletops, rather than opting for a clear and clutter-free look, Prue has created a stylish centrepiece with an oversized spice rack, complete with spices, ingredients, knives and wooden utensils stacked together almost like a floral bouquet.

Not one for the minimalists or those who need things hidden away, but it does give the room character, similar to how antique books on display in a reading room fill the space with character.

Jennifer Lopez has given fans a rare peek inside her Hidden Hills, LA home, where the star has fully embraced classic English heritage style to give her living room an air of elegance.

Eschewing the sort of airy minimalism more often seen in celebrity homes in Los Angeles, Jennifer has favoured an aesthetic heavily inspired by the classic English country house. Her fondness for the Regencycore interiors trend is perhaps not surprising given her well-known love for Bridgerton (Jennifer even had a lavish Bridgerton-themed 55th birthday party in 2024).

She's made clever use of layers, textures and a consistent earthy colour palette for warmth while adding timeless luxury with accessories including marble and plush velvets – and of course a grand piano.

Starting with the living area, it draws us in to get cosy through the intentional use of textiles and colour. With a pale mauve-pink sofa, olive-green fringed pillows, and burnt orange curtains, everything is grounded in calming earthy tones and blends to create cohesive harmony.

A large woven rattan tray holding amber glass and candles, resting on a heavily patterned textile footstool acting as a coffee table, adds immediate depth and texture.

Illuminated by a warm, antique-looking lamp and a flickering candle, layered lighting once again proves hugely valuable because it can truly make or break the desired effect of any space.

Inspired by JLo's home?

Framed art, sketches, and vintage pieces hang against a soft sage green backdrop. It exudes a sense that these have been collected over time, telling not just the story of the current resident, but the families who have lived in the home for generations before.

It’s quintessential English heritage, and JLo has masterfully shown how you can recreate that feeling but make it more modern.

What’s important to note is not only what she’s hung up or even how she’s hung them (avoiding a polished, neat look), but what she’s framed them in. Against the earthy, soft sage green walls, Jennifer has relied on dark wooden frames, creating a seamless sense of timelessness that still connects to the overall palette of the room.

Forgoing the idea of ‘perfection’ again, JLo has opted for a wilder, more natural aesthetic in her choice of floral displays. Rather than preened floral arrangements, this feel of the English countryside is evoked by the ‘just foraged from outside’ slightly wild and free-looking sprawling bouquet of moody burgundy florals.

Adding touches of whimsy, Jennifer showcases a flair for the grandiose. A marble fireplace or archway houses antique-looking books, bookended by two lion figurines.

A proud Leo star sign who often posts about it, JLo has instantly added a touch of personality while channelling one of the most timeless aesthetics there is.

And then there’s the grand piano. Again, a timeless nod to a time gone by for many, JLo has masterfully modernised this touch, choosing a plum or dark-red-looking glossy piano over the traditional black.

It’s a subtle change, but it’s one that ties every accessory and accent in the room together, creating the feeling that nothing is there by mistake.

Continuing to evoke a proper old-school country home, Jennifer’s walls are also aesthetically cluttered and full of charm. Rather than showcasing one or two key pieces, Jennifer has embraced that feeling of heritage and ancestry, with a hodgepodge, dense collection of mismatched prints and images.

Summer blooms may be fading, but there's still plenty of beauty to be found in our gardens throughout autumn. To make your plot feel instantly more appealing, follow this expert advice to help revive your heat-stricken container plants.

Patio container plants are a great way to add flowers and flora to your garden no matter how much space you have – whether you can build flower beds or not. They're also brilliant for all-year-round colour and interest as you can easily replace the plants seasonally, and move them indoors to your greenhouse when the frosts arrive.

BBC Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost has shared his tips to give container plants a simple autumnal refresh to keep them looking their best before winter weather arrives.

Whether you've got some plants that provide autumn colour or have invested in some of the best trees for pots. Summer heat and hosepipe bans have taken a toll on our container plants; it's therefore no surprise the pots aren't looking their best.

"After a hot summer, containers can start to look a little tired, but a quick tidy-up now can keep them looking their best right into Autumn," says Adam.

"Remove any dead or dying leaves and keep deadheading to encourage more flowers. Clear away any spent flower heads and get rid of any straggly growth," he instructs.

"Just a few minutes can make all the difference," Adam points out.

And while you will need to protect your container plants from frost once it arrives, the wet weather also affects the plants. It's recommended that you lift your pots and add feet to them; this will help improve drainage when the rain comes and provide a constant water supply to your plants, whether they like it or not. These terracotta feet from B&Q are only £4 and are perfect for the job.

As long as you keep an eye on your autumn potted plants and avoid any container gardening mistakes, they should stay happy and thriving through the season.

Don't make an autumn gardening mistake and neglect your garden once the nice weather leaves. You can do plenty to keep your space looking its best and growing to its full potential.

The KitchenAid stand mixer is already iconic, but the new Design Series Luminaire takes that silhouette and turns it into a style centrepiece with an elegantly lit glass bowl, showcased on a brand-new French Blue body.

Every year, KitchenAid adds to their collection of stand mixers with a stand-out, limited-edition model. We've seen hammered copper bowls and ones made out of walnut wood, but fluted glass is a first.

They've also showcased the brand new features of the Artisan Plus stand mixer beautifully. So, whether you're getting Bake Off ready or looking for new ways to fall in love with your kitchen, this has all the ingredients for a luxury look.

The first thing you'll notice about KitchenAid's Design Series Mixer is the namesake feature, the lights in the bowl. This is a new element that KitchenAid launched on the Artisan Plus and they've used the fluted glass bowl to give your stand mixer an almost chandelier effect in the kitchen.

Whilst this KitchenAid isn't the first stand mixer to have a glass bowl, it's the most beautiful version of it that I've seen. They've also hardened the glass for better durability, fluted the edges so that it casts elegant patterns of light across your room, and kept a smooth finish so you get a sculptural look, but still the functional visibility in the bowl.

The new colourway is also an exciting move for the brand. Their Colour of the Year, a cheerful Spearmint blue set the tone for bright colours in the kitchen, but the new Blue Peppercorn works in the opposite way. The calming blue with a colour-matched trim band and a tactile crinkle finish as well as polished metallic accents.

More iconic KitchenAid Stand Mixers

KitchenAid’s Design Series has become something of an annual event for kitchen obsessives, and the Luminaire is shaping up to be another seriously covetable addition. With its standout design and the performance we’ve come to expect from KitchenAid, this is a mixer that’s as much a statement piece as it is a hardworking kitchen appliance. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to upgrade your stand mixer, this could be it.

TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse is proudly showing fans her recent kitchen renovation, after opening the doors to her beautiful Grade II Listed farmhouse in Berkshire.

While preparing for a new baby and managing busy family life, Oti felt like now was the perfect time for a kitchen transformation. Tired of navigating an awkward layout, where the fridge opened into the hallway, Oti had a clear vision for how she wanted to improve the space – making the most of every inch available while embracing the latest Kitchen design trends.

From practical pocket doors to prevent open cupboards from encroaching on high-traffic areas or, worse still, creating a hazardous layout for little ones, to bespoke spice racks and spinning storage concealed neatly within contemporary cupboards, the finished design is a masterclass in small kitchen storage essentials

Inside Oti Mabuse's kitchen impressive transformation

Teaming up with the experts at Howden's to bring her vision to life, Oti wanted to create a stylish space that served her better – making it a safe space for children, freeing up as much floor space as possible and maximising storage.

It's safe to say her brief has been fulfilled, as she now proudly stands in her new streamlined, stylish kitchen design which remains open and airy while providing plentiful storage for a busy family kitchen.

Beginning the revamp by swapping a kitchen island for wall-mounted storage was the perfect space-saving solution, opting for floor-to-ceiling storage instead.

"As a passionate cook, dedicated storage was a priority, so we created a practical spice storage shelf that keeps ingredients organised, visible and within easy reach when preparing meals," says Howdens’ kitchen designer, Emma Dolman. "Combined with the spacious larder and other clever storage solutions, the kitchen is perfectly tailored to Oti’s love of cooking."

To give the space a sleek new look, Oti chose Ilfracombe Beaded in-frame shaker cabinetry in Truffle and Sandstone with pops of antique brass in the sink and handles that align with the property's heritage style.

"The design beautifully complements the home’s farmhouse character, creating a space that is both stylish and highly functional," says Emma.

Utilising every inch of available space, Gavin designed the components vertically by installing a tall fridge, freezer, and drawer storage to the full height of the ceiling.

To achieve the streamlined look, the ovens are seamlessly integrated into the tall wall of cabinetry, and Gavin suggested a Lamona venting induction hob to transform the space normally reserved for an extractor fan into convenient spice jar storage.

For me, it's these finer details that stand out as simple yet effective ways to maximise functional space, from the drying racks over the sink to keep counters clear to the slimline storage racks above the hob to elevate everyday kitchen essentials.

To bring her ideas to life, Oti enlisted carpenter and joiner Gavin Tutton, and Howdens’ kitchen designer, Emma Dolman, to help create a timeless kitchen she'll love for years to come.

Speaking about her kitchen renovation Oti said: “We loved working with Gavin, he has brought our dream kitchen to life. He suggested solutions we hadn’t even thought of to guide us to the best design decision for Marius, me, and our growing family.

I love the pocket doors and the InSinkErator. The brilliant space works for all our cooking appliances. It’s such a good system that finally makes sense for us.”

Another impressive Howden's transformation worth checking out is Emma Willis' stunning pink kitchen renovation.

If you're feeling inspired to take on a kitchen makeover, be sure to read our expert advice on the kitchen design mistakes to avoid – because from forgetting to include bins to ignoring the working triangle design rule, there are plenty of easy ways to go wrong.

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in any home, and because of that, it can get pretty grimy fast. And while cleaning the counters is self-explanatory, there are some hidden spots we often miss that, over time, build up with dirt.

Surprisingly, there are more common kitchen cleaning mistakes than you may think; from overusing bleach to ignoring hard water damage, it's easy to get it wrong when cleaning your kitchen. However, aside from these, there are certain spots in the space that you might've forgotten to tackle as they're out of sight and out of mind.

One of these spots is the edge of induction hobs; the seal around your hob can quickly collect food scraps, spills and grease. Luckily, Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie, is here to show you how to tackle it.

Revealing the commonly forgotten grime hotspot on her Instagram @lynsey_queenofclean, she points out that while you may think your hob is clean, you need to make sure you're checking around the rim of the cooking appliance.

"It’s one of those sneaky little spots where dirt, grime and all sorts like to hide," warns Lynsey.

Knowing how to clean an induction hob properly can be a challenge in itself, with burn marks and streaks to battle against. However, taking that extra step to also remove build-up from around the appliance will ensure your cooking space remains hygienic and odour-free.

To ensure you don't leave a crumb behind, Lynsey recommends using a scraping tool to manually remove the build-up from around the seal of the induction hob. If you have one of the best steam cleaners, then this is a good time to use it too.

After scraping around the stovetop, it's time to crack out your usual cleaners for the actual glass surface of the induction hob. Whilst you can use your beloved luxury cleaning products here, Lynsey uses a classic Cif cream cleaner and finishes with a white vinegar spray.

While we would definitely add your hob to the list of things you should clean more regularly in your home, it won't need adding to your daily cleaning habits. Just keep an eye on the spot and tackle it when needed.

If you want to get your space reset quickly, then you can clean your kitchen in under an hour with some expert tips and tricks.

Smeg's first air fryer exceeds the brief. It's sleek and stylish, designed with a steam jet so that your food isn't just crispy, it's juicy too.

Lots of brands have been vying to make the best air fryer, but with thousands on the market, very few cut-through the boxy designs and chunky baskets that make up the most practical designs.

Just a few days ago, I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview and a little taste of Smeg's stylish air fryer launch and it's everything that you'd expect and more. Packed with clever details that give style and substance in equal measure, their air fryer is one that I'm going to clear some counter space for. Could it be better than even Ninja's air fryers?

Smeg's 7L Air Fryer is a first from the brand and it has been worth the wait. Available in Black, White, Emerald Green and Storm Blue, all four styles have a matte finish that's practical for marks, but also attractive in any kitchen. When I first saw these, I was struck by how genuinely beautiful they look on the counter, more so than anything else I've tested. And, importantly, the drawers are lined with a ceramic non-stick, so they're classed as non-toxic air fryers too.

But this air fryer boasts more than beauty, let's talk about the basics. A sensitive touch screen on the top lets you toggle between presets and manual modes. I thought it might get greasy or difficult to interact with as more foods were cooked, but it remained quick to respond and easy to navigate. I watched chefs whip up mini brioche, sausage rolls, crisps, and cheese bites in the drawer.

When quizzing them on what the air fryer has been like to use over the last few months, they had nothing but good things to say. One did mention, "This errs on the side of caution when you're cooking, so if you like your chips a little softer, you might want to tweak the pre-sets, but I'd rather have a more powerful, faster air fryer than anything else."

Most of the features that Smeg has included in its menu of pre-sets are classics, a meat setting, a roast chicken setting, and shrimp setting for seafood lovers. But Smeg starts to flex some culinary muscles when you look closer at the pre-sets and the design. You'll notice a Crispy mode, which gives you the classic air fryer results, but there's also a Juicy + Crispy mode. One of the things that annoys people about air fryers is how much they dry out food. So, Smeg dedicated a neat water insert and steam-diffusing tap to send moisture straight into the basket, so you can get a crisp finish on your food, but still enjoy moist, juicy chicken thighs.

The whole air fryer opens and closes with a soft, satisfying motion, operated by a neat button on the front. When you press it, the lid lifts fully up, giving you access to the full basket. Inside, the 7.2L basket is roomy enough for a whole roast chicken.

The basket lifts out using two heat-safe silicone handles that sit on either side, making the whole basket really manageable. Whether you have stiff wrists or a particularly heavy dish, being able to hold this like a dish or a tray, rather than from a front handle gives you a really good grip. This is a rare feature on an air fryer which makes a big difference to the recipes you'll want to tackle. And the best part is that the drawer can go in the dishwasher afterwards too.

There's also a handy clear panel that gives you full visibility across the drawer, so you can watch your food cook without an unsightly big glass box or a good guestimate of what it is like in terms of power. You get functionality, features, and still Smeg-quality design.

Alternative Air Fryers

A price point of £199.95 is actually very reasonable, especially for a premium brand such as Smeg. It's comparable to the Ninja, Cosori and Breville air fryers which I have included below, for context.

It's tough to cut through in the air fryer market and with more brands launching developed designs and microwave alternatives, I was beginning to think air fryers might have had their time. However, Smeg's new stylish design and thoughtful features tackle lots of issues that people have with their air fryers (dry food, utilitarian design) and brings back my hope that air fryers aren't going anywhere any time soon.

It's no secret or shock that our plants have experienced some rather unusually intense weather this summer. Aside from premature withering and drought, the heat has made dahlias particularly susceptible to mildew.

Learning how to grow dahlias is such a rewarding task in the garden; they flower well into autumn and provide a unique petal formation that comes in so many bold shades of colour. So when they fall victim to a plant disease like mildew, it's all too easy to panic and assume the worst for your beloved florals.

However, whilst mildew isn't the easiest disease to get rid of or even prevent when the weather is so intense, there are ways you can help your dahlias and stop it from spreading any further.

As some of the most beautiful late summer flowers, dahlias are a popular choice for many plots. With the weather being so hot and dry this summer, though, the plant has become vulnerable to mildew more than ever.

"So this summer has been very stressful for our plants, and we've had a lot more mildew on our dahlias than we normally do. We often get a bit of mildew, but this year it's much more severe," explains Josie, Head Gardener at Perch Hill (@sarahravensgarden on Instagram).

"It's not great for the plant; it does spread. So what we do is strip off the lower leaves just to help the plant out a bit because in September you're going to have at least six weeks of flowers," she adds.

Luckily, the solution is rather simple and will only require your essential gardening tools, such as a pair of secateurs, to be clean and sharp.

"So, on a plant like this, we'd take off the bottom third of the leaves, just taking the worst ones off. There's still some mildew on the higher leaves. We've got to leave some leaves on the plant for it to photosynthesise," Josie points out.

"We want it building up its tubers and still flowering, but as the new ones come through, we can take the worst of the mildew leaves off again," she continues.

Whilst you continue to tick off your September gardening jobs, just make sure you keep an eye on your dahlias as they produce new leaves. Then you can make sure any mildew-affected ones are removed as soon as possible.

Once your dahlias have survived their last blooming period, make sure you overwinter them properly so you can enjoy the mesmerising flowers next summer too.

Gardening, while a sustainable practice, can quickly become expensive, especially during planting season. So finding ways to cut costs and reduce waste can help a lot.

Whether you're looking for different ways to keep costs down with your gardening or want to start trying out some sustainable garden ideas, DIYs are a great place to start. You can make your very own shade solutions and water propagation techniques; the garden is the perfect place to cut down on waste and get creative.

This particular DIY not only will stop you from needing to spend any more money, but it'll also stop unnecessary plastic waste in your garden. And it uses cardboard, which has more than one benefit for your plants.

You might not know, but using cardboard in your garden has several benefits, and it's a great way to keep clutter out of your home if you get a lot of packages. This particular DIY from gardening expert Ish Kamran, @gardening.with.ish on Instagram, shows how you can make your own plant pots out of the recyclable material.

"Forget plastic pots, I'm going to show you how to make your very own cardboard pot using an old delivery box," starts Ish.

"Making your very own cardboard pot is incredibly simple. First of all, get yourself some regular old cardboard. Now, I've got one from an old Amazon parcel here, and you want to make sure it's plain brown cardboard, not the printed stuff," he continues.

"The next thing you want to do is really soak those layers in a tonne of water. Leave it there for a couple of minutes, and you should end up with some nice and soggy cardboard," shows Ish.

Whilst you can use toilet paper tubes to make pots, this method allows for large seedlings and allows you to customise what size pot you'd like to make.

"Get yourself a little paint can or tin can, whatever works for you, and just roll it around. As you can see, it's all soaked up, and you can squeeze it quite hard, and it'll stick to itself. Leave about a couple of inches at the top here and just push it around, being quite harsh with it, and that will form the bottom of your pot," he demonstrates.

"You wanna place that somewhere where it's going to dry over the next day or so, and then you can eventually demould it from the can, and there you go," says Ish.

"The benefits of this are that, first of all, it's decomposable, so you can put this straight in the ground when putting your plants down so you don't have to take it out and disturb the roots. You can bury it; it'll break down and help retain moisture too," he adds.

It's also a great way to recycle and use household waste in your garden, which won't just help keep your home uncluttered, but it'll save you some pennies with your gardening too.

With so many vegetables to plant in September, now is a great time to try this DIY and start sowing seeds ready for a spring harvest next year.

TOAST is famous for their cosy, earthy collections, but I bet you didn't know that they're mostly made up of independent creatives. From hand-thrown pottery to organic beeswax candles, it's a treasure trove for bringing meaningful pieces into your home.

Whilst it would be easy to spend a small fortune on TOAST homeware, in this year's Autumnal collection, I've noticed lots of beautiful kitchen décor that's (mostly) under £50 - and I just couldn't resist them.

So, while you're making small tweaks to bring Autumnal textures and palettes to your home, make a showcase of TOAST - as well as the independent creatives in Cornwall, Norfolk, Leeds that they support.

Whether you're looking at transitional bedding for the Autumn or patterns to bring some texture to your home as the season changes, I love these little TOAST pieces too. Not many people know that they work so closely with independent creatives, which is why I'm thrilled their collection continues to champion that spirit of craftsmanship and considered design. It's a reminder to bring some layers to your home and some little pieces with a real story behind them.

When decorating a kitchen, it often feels tricky to put a personal stamp on the space. When functionality takes priority, character can fall by the wayside, but actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore just proved you can have it all.

There's no denying that we're starting to see more colour and personality present in the latest kitchen trends, but with a space that prioritises functionality and order, it can feel like a room that limits how much personality you can add to it.

However, thanks to the beloved Charlie's Angels actress, a unique way to add colour and character to a kitchen has just been brought to our attention – and it's certainly making a statement

While there are non-negotiable kitchen essentials every cooking space needs, finding creative ways to add a little magic to the room ensures it feels more welcoming.

Sharing a sneak peek of her kitchen on her Instagram @drewbarrymore, Drew inadvertently showed her striped yellow-and-white countertop. Firstly, we're wondering why we've never thought of tiling our countertops, a sleek yet fun alternative to more expensive marble and granite countertop options.

Secondly, these striped tiles are a great way to play around with some interior colour trends and bring depth to your kitchen decor. The butter yellow colour continues to be popular in interior spaces, and looking at Drew's countertops, we understand why.

As with other dopamine decor ideas, it's important to balance out colours and patterns with more muted design elements. In Drew's kitchen, that's been done with white cabinets and lots of wooden kitchen accessories. A subtle coordination with the tiles can be found in the light yellow-painted door, though.

If you don't quite have the budget or plans to change your kitchen countertops anytime soon, then there are other ways to incorporate these characterful style notes. Whether that's tiling your backsplash instead or simply adding a feature wall with some decorative paper.

It needn't cost the earth for you to inject a little bit of yourself into your home, and finding ways to do it within your budget will ensure you enjoy it all that much more.

Looking to make your kitchen cosy ahead of the new season? Adding warm colours, a rug and making the place smell good with your favourite candles can all help keep you happy while you cook, bake and dine this autumn.

Earlier this month Stacey Solomon made the surprising announcement that she was leaving her beloved Pickle Cottage, swapping the Grade II-listed Essex home she had so lovingly restored and redecorated for a new mansion.

It is, perhaps, not surprising that the efficient Sort Your Life Out star has wasted no time in getting crafty to put her own stamp on the new place – focusing on small-but-impactful additions that bring a lot of life to a space while leaving the bigger projects for later. And as huge fans of autumn decor ideas, we've been captivated by Stacey's creative autumnal display.

Using garlands of golden leaves, fairy lights, lanterns and pumpkins, Stacey has been inspired by the season to create a show-stopping autumnal showcase at the entrance to her stairs.

While she's still unsure how to redecorate the space to add personality to the home, Stacey has temporarily got to work by adding light to the dark, wooden staircase without having to change its DNA.

Proving that a little can go a long way, the autumnal flowers wrapped around the bannister add colour that enhances the dark wood, evoking a sense of biophilic design and conjuring up feelings of a walk in the woods during the crisp autumnal months.

The pumpkin lights add a bit of whimsy, while staggering the lanterns on different steps creates a soft ambient glow that adds depth and character to the staircase. Much like when her fellow Loose Women co-star Ruth Langsford created her autumn sideboard, Stacey's efforts have left us feeling inspired to tap into some autumn decorating ideas too.

There’s a lesson to take away from Stacey’s impulse to focus on such a small area - you can make any home feel more personal and cosy without worrying about tackling everything all at once.

Sure, Stacey will have to think about bedrooms and bathrooms and bigger projects eventually, but why should all of that be in place before she can start creating new memories for her and her family?

This way, there’s a little corner of her new home that feels lived in and full of whimsy - perfect for the upcoming autumn and Halloween season and offering a place where you can think about what the whole house will feel like when it’s finished.

As for what to do with her classic, dark staircase, Stacey isn’t sure what direction to go. Writing in the caption of her post, she shared, "They’re old and worn, but they’re beautiful. The question is… Paint them? Sand them back & lighten them? Or keep them dark? Every little detail is just so special I want to honour them, but also they need some TLC!"

Comments seem just as divided over what she should do as Stacey appears to be. While many are in favour of Stacey honouring the dark, original character of the staircase, some are urging her to sand them back to a lighter hue.

Others suggest keeping the wood dark but lightening the area around it, bringing in a softening wall colour and a light runner for the stairs. Whichever way she decides to go, we’re excited to see the progress.

Upright vacuums have always been seen as retro and cumbersome, the powerful workhorse you'd wheel our for a proper clean and then push back into the cupboard of clutter with a sore back and tired arms. But Shark has redesigned the upright vacuum into something sleeker and more versatile

The new Shark PowerDetect Transformer is a system that converts from a full upright vacuum into a stick or a handheld model in a matter of seconds. It's a clever feat of engineering that brings our nostalgia for the old, powerful upright vacuums to the convenience of stick vacuums. And, as a bonus, it folds in the functions of a handheld vacuum too.

With all that to boast about, the PowerDetect Transformer is set to be one of the best vacuums of all time. No longer will we have to choose between three styles of cleaning, compromising somewhere along the line. The Transformer tackles pet hair, everyday mess, and tricky tasks with speed and flexibility. We are entering a new era of vacuum cleaning.

The upright vacuum hasn't really changed in decades. It's the same basic design our parents used: powerful, reliable, but bulky, and not exactly built for a quick five-minute daily tidy to keep your home clean. Cordless sticks and handhelds solved that convenience problem, but often at the cost of the deep-cleaning power an upright gives you. Shark's new Transformer system is the first real attempt to close that gap.

As James Kitto, SVP Managing Director for EMEA at SharkNinja, puts it: "The upright vacuum hasn't meaningfully changed in decades. With Transformer, we've rethought what a vacuum can do by removing unnecessary complexity and creating a system that adapts to real life." They've looked at the common mistakes that people make with vacuums and worked around them to deliver "the deep-cleaning performance you'd expect from an upright, while giving consumers the flexibility to clean every part of their home, from floors and carpets to stairs, furniture and those harder-to-reach spaces."

The new Shark PowerDetect Transformer is deep and thorough when you need it, quick and convenient when you don't. Here's how it breaks down across the three modes:

As an upright, it has the deep-cleaning power of a corded vacuum, ideal for picking up pet hair, deep cleaning a carpet, and tackling a proper home clean. Shark has reimagined the traditional upright design and removed the hose, making it more streamlined with zero compromise on performance.

Switch to the stick vacuum for the runs that don't need full power: a quick pass for cobwebs on the ceiling, dust on the curtains, or a five-minute tidy before guests arrive. It's light and nimble enough that reaching for it doesn't feel like a chore.

And for the car, fiddly bits by the stairs, and upholstered chair cleaning there's the handheld. Transitioning between all three is promised to be as seamless as a click, with Shark's usual flexibility for reaching under sofas and beds.

Importantly, Shark has held on to lots of the features that we love: the reveal technology that illuminates hidden debris, a special detect floorhead that responds to dirt levels, floor types, and edges, as well as HEPA filtration and an auto-emptying bin.

Similar vacuums that we love

The Shark PowerDetect Transformer Vacuum can go from deep cleaning carpets to tackling stairs, upholders, skirting boards, and the car, you don't need multiple machines. The PowerDetect Transformer can do it in one. And I think it'll make you more motivated to clean than ever before.

If you've often been tempted to introduce a sofa or armchair in a bolder accent colour but haven't felt confident enough to commit to such an investment piece, look no further than Fearne Cotton's pink sofa for inspiration.

The dusky pink shade of her stylish sofa demonstrates how impactful accent colours can be for adding personality to your home. Set against a striking navy blue backdrop, the strong but sophisticated rose tone enhances the decor without overwhelming the space.

While we're used to seeing inside Fearne's kitchen as she shares stories about her busy home life on her Instagram @fearnecotton, this week she gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes of her characterful living room, with her relaxing on the pretty pink sofa – which we instantly fell in love with.

Not only is the shade divine and the velvet irresistible, but the shape and style are notably on-trend right now. Modular sofas, curved silhouettes and cloud-like cushioning are all hugely popular design choices in current sofa trends. Particularly the modular aspect, because it provides greater flexibility to tailor a sofa to meet your individual needs.

No doubt, with a busy family household, that played a role in Fearne's decision-making process, alongside the highly pleasing shade of pink.

I feel like Fearne must be a fan of Loaf because I once spotted that she had one of the old classics, the Betsey, and I'm almost certain her latest striking sofa choice is that of the Squishblocks Chaise, the delicious finish 'Strawberry Milkshake Pink Velvet'

After all, what's not to love about Loaf? They make comfy furniture with a colourful twist to add personality – none more so than the sofa we believe to be the one that Fearne has. "Squishblocks is exactly that," says Eleanor Davies, sofa & furniture category lead at Loaf. "A modern modular you can properly sink into. Bounce-back technology means no plumping, the seat is deep enough to disappear into, and there's absolutely no compromise on comfort."

Adding context to the growing popularity of modular sofas, Eleanor explains: "A sofa should move house with you. Fixed sofas ask you to predict your next ten years; modular lets you change your mind, and that flexibility is what people love.

Movable blocks become footrests, or extra seats for guests. People now want somewhere the whole family can be properly comfortable for an evening, rather than the formality of a three-piece suite."

And while we're saying it's about being confident with colour, it's more about whether a bold piece of furniture can prove as timeless as a 'safe' neutral option. Yes, that's the answer. Because if you choose a colour you truly love, it will serve as a treasured living room staple for years to come.

As a huge fan of sophisticated pink paint colours and striking accent furniture, I'm instantly invested in this look. I have a velvet footstool that is incredibly similar to the shade of Fearne's sofa, so naturally I'd consider a matching sofa in the same colour palette. Especially as I've recently used the 60-30-10 decorating rule, where pink is one of my highlight colours. Watch this space.

Autumn is very much in the air, inviting us to forge ahead with our September gardening jobs and prepare for the cosy season.

With the change in the seasons comes a change in what we see out and about, from the lush golden leaves that start to fall to the shiny brown seeds being dropped from the conker trees. And it’s these little chestnuts that have a surprising purpose beyond playground games of trying to break them apart.

Former Bake Off winner and queen of green cleaning, Nancy Birtwhistle has an incredible recipe for making your own all-natural cleaning detergent for free – using nothing but fallen conkers and boiling water.

How to make Nancy's all-natural laundry detergent using conkers

When you’re next out on a lovely autumnal walk, collect some fallen conkers – as many as you can carry home, pop them in a sandwich bag and then place them in the freezer. Freezing your conkers means you can keep making this detergent as long as you have a handful ready to thaw, as the finished detergent only lasts a few weeks.

When you’re ready to whip up a batch of entirely natural detergent, thaw a handful of conkers. Nancy suggests 10 should do the trick for a litre of detergent.

Slice them up, removing the outer shell, leaving you with the light coloured fleshy centres. Add all of these to a measuring jug and then pour boiling water over them – enough to completely cover them.

Once the conkers are fully submerged in water, leave them to soak overnight, or around eight hours. Use a sieve to strain the infused liquid into a bottle, and then, with the leftover conkers, add more boiling water and, after giving it time to cool, use a handheld blender or processor to whip it into a foamy liquid.

Strain all of this into your bottle, and here is where you can adjust the solution to your fancy. You can add drops of essential oil to the bottle, perfect if you want a specific fragrance.

Once you’ve added your essential oils – if you have chosen to do so – your detergent is ready to use. Just add it to the washing machine drum in a cap when you do your next load, and your washing will come out fresh and clean, all thanks to nature’s conkers.

The reason this works is that conkers, or horse chestnuts, contain natural soap-like compounds called saponins.

It should be noted that this is a gentler, all-natural detergent, better suited for freshness and light cleansing. Heavier stains might still require something a tad more substantial, but that's what the best luxury cleaning products are for.

So, what better excuse than to head out for a bit of fresh air? You can even make a fun game out of it with your children or grandchildren, tasking them with finding the shiniest, biggest conkers before turning them into a chemical-free, all-natural detergent for freshening up your laundry this autumn.

When the seasons change, there's always lots to be done in the garden, and as summer begins to fade away, deadheading and pruning are among the most important tasks.

If you've been catching up on your September gardening jobs this month, you may have been wondering if your agapanthus needs deadheading. The answer is yes. Like many other late summer flowers, once agapanthus have stopped blooming, they need deadheading to ensure their energy is stored for next year.

And who better to walk us through the process than gardening icon Monty Don? Presenting on BBC Gardeners' World, Monty explains that now is the best time to deadhead your agapanthus – showing us how you can still enjoy the plant after cutting.

As one of the best drought-tolerant plants, your agapanthus won't have been negatively affected by this year's heatwave. But that doesn't mean they won't need deadheading to ensure they thrive again next year.

"Agapanthus have had a good summer, relishing the heat and sunshine. But as soon as they finish flowering, they will develop seedheads, which will take energy away from next year's flowering," starts Monty.

"Cut them back right at the base of the flowering stem, and that will leave you with a collection of dramatically beautiful seedheads that you can put in a vase for indoors," he adds.

You'll also want to make sure your essential gardening tools, whether that's secateurs, scissors or loppers, are sharpened and cleaned before you start deadheading. The last thing you want is to stress or damage the plant, or worse, pass on a disease from another plant you've pruned or deadheaded previously.

After deadheading your agapanthus, all that's left is to protect it from nasty frosts during the winter. And with it being so drought-tolerant, it's also important that it's protected from heavy rain.

Then, next summer, you'll be able to enjoy the blooms once again.

If you want to add agapanthus to your garden, choosing drought-tolerant plants for our plots is only going to get more important, and they need to be planted in February for impressive summer growth.

Once the early winter nights arrive, our gardens don't feel quite so appealing. But that needn't be the case, as Jennifer Aniston's garden has just shown us – you can make your outdoor space welcoming, no matter the season.

While you might embrace layered lighting inside your home, it's easy to overlook your garden lighting scheme. However, using smaller lights to make a big impact works just as well in an outdoor space. The best part is that you can incorporate your favourite trees; even if you've only got some of the best trees for pots, they'll be ideal for this lighting method.

It's no surprise that Jennifer Aniston's garden is the one showcasing the hottest exterior lighting trends and has done so on a seriously impressive scale. Her illuminated trees are magical, and we're taking full inspiration for the upcoming season.

If you've been looking for ways to make your outdoor lighting feel layered and cosy, especially as the colder seasons approach, then string lights are a great option. They're inexpensive but make a real impact with that ambient, warm glow.

As you can see in Jennifer's garden, shared by Stephen Shadley on Instagram (@stephenshadley), you can wrap your trees with LED lights around the trunks right up to the leaves. And while you can make your garden look expensive with lots and lots of lights, you don't need to splurge to cover every inch of the bark.

And if fairy lights aren't really your thing, maybe you're going for more of a quiet luxury look, then Jennifer's garden also showcases spotlights. Spotlights are another great way to add interest to your planting during the winter months, but in a more polished, sleek-looking way.

Lighting not only helps you feel more inclined to spend more time in your garden during the autumn and winter, but it's also a great way to transform your outdoor space on a budget. And if you're looking to keep costs down in the garden, opting for solar-powered lights is the way to go – because we still get sunlight during the winter months.

The additional way Jennifer elevates her outdoor space is by hanging wicker lanterns attached to the tree closer to her seating area. Lanterns, whether hung or not, are a stunning way to keep your outdoor living rooms lit up when the nights get darker.

Pair that with a warming firepit, and you'll be enjoying your best outdoor furniture right until the wet weather arrives.

If you're struggling with a garden patio space that ends up looking compact and cramped rather than cosy, try using exterior lighting to make it feel bigger. Whatever your plot offers, one thing is for sure – layered lighting is the key to transforming your outdoor space this winter.

With Soulful Sage being announced as the Dulux Colour of the Year 2027, it's official: soft green is the colour to watch in interiors for the year ahead.

We've celebrated the sage green colour trend for years, thanks to its timeless and enduring appeal. And while it's already one of the most popular interior paint colour trends of 2026, it's about to become even more present as it's just been named the Dulux Colour of the Year 2027.

“There’s something wonderfully uplifting about green," says Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director and Colour Expert at Dulux. "It’s the colour we instinctively associate with nature, new growth and the feeling of taking a deep breath outdoors."

Dulux Colour of the Year 2027 'Soulful Sage'

In its 24th year of celebrating a chosen tone, Dulux's panel of colour experts and design leaders have named Soulful Sage green as the Dulux Colour of the Year 2027. This deliciously soft, soothing shade is the perfect alternative to a neutral, because it's a gentle enough pigment to build a beautifully grounding colour scheme without feeling overwhelming.

“It’s incredibly versatile," Marianne explains. "Soulful Sage can feel warm and nurturing alongside earthy tones, peaceful and restorative with quieter shades, or fresh and energising with more joyful colours.

“Our overarching theme, ‘Live Lightly’, reflects what we feel people need from their homes right now," she continues. "With increasingly busy lives, information overload and a world that can often feel quite heavy, our homes should provide a counterbalance - somewhere we can switch off, reconnect and make room for moments of joy.

Soulful Sage captures that feeling beautifully. Its soft, silvery quality brings a sense of lightness while retaining that reassuring connection to the natural world."

"When we were looking for a shade that captured our desire to ‘Live Lightly’, green felt like a natural place to land," says Marianne. That adaptability made it the perfect shade to sit at the heart of our three colour stories, Glow, Light and Lift – giving people different ways to create a lighter home for a lighter life.”

As a nuanced alternative to a neutral, it has become an enduring presence in kitchen trends in recent years, as homeowners seek a soft colour that doesn't feel as 'safe' as white or cream. It has also secured its place as one of the best bedroom paint colours thanks to its tranquil qualities that aid a better night's sleep. Proving just how versatile it is as an interior colour.

Last year, the paint specialists broke with tradition by naming three influential tones rather than just one; the 'Rhythm of Blues' trio felt like a stark move away from the unapologetically bright yellow 'True Joy' as Dulux's Colour of the Year 2025.

Returning to a more muted tone feels more aligned with my previous favourite of mine 'Sweet Embrace', the soft pink Dulux Colour of the Year 2024. These softer choices feel more usable across the board, and less intimidating for most of us to embrace in our own homes.

Monty Don's breaking news has broken our hearts. He's hanging up his gardening tools at the end of the current series of BBC Gardeners' World, after 23 monumental years of entertaining, teaching and helping the nation with his horticultural excellence.

Taking to his Instagram @themontydon this morning to announce that he will be stepping away from the show later this year, he revealed: "I have a big piece of news to share with you, because I've decided that this is to be my last series of Gardeners' World."

"I've worked with some amazing people, and it's been a joy to share my gardening life and my dogs with you, but it's time for a change."

Monty Don, O.B.E., is one of the UK’s leading garden writers and beloved broadcasters. While he has worked on many significant projects over his thirty-year career, his most prominent posting has been as lead presenter of the BBC Gardeners’ World.

In his statement, he recalls, "I began hosting Gardeners' World 23 years ago, and for the last 16 years we've been here in the garden at Longmeadow (his impressive Herefordshire gardens), and it's been fantastic."

Looking visibly moved, he ends the short Instagram clip by saying, "So no doubt new adventures in the future, but for the moment this is the end of a chapter." It certainly is the end of a chapter, one that we were not ready for at all.

Monty has been presenting on the show since 2003, helping audiences tackle all manner of gardening dilemmas. From sharing his surprise advice for making Dahlias bloom bigger to his 'genius' planting tricks to help establish our own thriving plots, there have been so many wonderful takeaways from his time on the show – as we tuned in every Friday at 9p.m or watched the repeat on the Saturday morning.

After warmly welcoming his loyal audience into his beautiful garden at his Herefordshire home in 2011, we've followed not only his gardening endeavours but also the lives of his beloved dogs, who have accompanied him around his plot each episode. It genuinely feels like we're saying goodbye to a friend.

But he has said he'll never stop gardening altogether, thank goodness, so we live in hope that the next chapter involves a new TV series where we still get to enjoy seeing him in his natural habitat.

September is here, the school run is back, and the summer of salads seems to be over. I did love it, but I'm thrilled for the return of soups, stews, and broths, especially the 30-minute dinner that the founder of Deliciously Ella calls "a favourite in the Mills household."

The meal, which Ella points out packs "seven plant points and plenty of fibre in each serving" showcases a beautiful broth that's light enough for these September evenings but still hearty enough to hit that cosy season spot.

But the recipe isn't the only reason that I love this dinner. After launching her Deliciously Ella x John Lewis collaboration, Ella has been on my radar for her cookware and serveware. In her video, Ella uses three simple tools, showcasing easy, one-pot dinners at their finest - one in particular has been the focus of the comments section. And luckily for you, I've tracked down all three.

Shop the look

I can personally vouch for all three products above, but if you want to shop around, here are some more options.

What I particularly love about Ella's cookware is that it's affordable. I am all for investing in special, statement pieces - Em The Nutritionist's five recommendations is a good example - but sometimes we just want simple, reliable pieces that anchor our kitchen set-up. Ella's got style and she's got substance. I'm inspired.

Ella Mills has always been my reliable go-to for foodie fixes. She's full of healthy meal ideas and quick wins (fittingly, the title of her latest cookbook), and endlessly clever ways to make plants taste like a treat rather than a chore. And while I've been experimenting with Le Creuset one-pot cooking, taking a break from lengthier dishes has been a nice palette cleanser.

The broth is a perfect example of how to make a healthy meal in under half an hour. Leeks and celery simmer in a creamy coconut broth with beans, peas, and tomato tortelloni, finished with lemon, basil, and pepper. You can have it on the table, seven plant points per serving, before anyone can ask "what's for dinner?" And now that we're juggling the back-to-school September energy, this is a brilliant way to enjoy real food with minimal effort.

You'll also notice that Ella uses Allplants, her plant-based food company that I think I might be personally funding. She's using their Tortelloni (an easy pasta that I love), but I'd also recommend trying the tofu goujons. On her podcast, The Wellness Scoop, she's shared that they're a family favourite - and I love them too.

There's more than one way to get the Ella Mills look in your kitchen . Her collaboration with John Lewis showcases some beautiful, hand-painted pieces that are perfect for welcoming in the harvest season. We even sat down with Ella to hear more about the collection, which you can read about here.

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. And it’s because of this that we’re loving Kelly Hoppen’s expert advice on how the smallest of choices can really help shape the feel of any room - and how easy it is to switch it up depending on the decor.

Sharing a look at her new Splice Centrepiece bowl for M&S, "one bowl, endless possibilities", Kelly reminds us not to underestimate the impact of a centrepiece. It can anchor the room, but it’s also incredibly versatile and can be used to enhance any interior.

Kelly recalls how versatile a centrepiece bowl is for any home, saying: "There’s so much you can use it for… great as a table centre with flowers, or to put your keys, or even in your dressing table for jewellery and more."

Sharing the video on her social media, Kelly assembles a more traditional colourful fruit centrepiece using lemons and plums, but she explains how you can do so much more. "You can really design your kitchens using nice vessels," she begins.

"It's also great to throw keys and stuff on a whole table, " Kelly continues. "It's always good to have something like that. It's really versatile because it's small, but you can use it for anything.”

While a more formal centrepiece is always a great anchor for a dining table, creating a focal point that can set the mood in any space is just as valuable. It’s these more everyday examples Kelly offers that prove a centrepiece bowl can be added to any room, without the need for a special occasion.

If you want true versatility, a smaller centrepiece bowl or tray works as stylish storage. A bronze or hammered brass shallow bowl looks visually striking while giving you somewhere to keep your keys, phone, wallet, dog lead or anything else you’d normally need to grab before heading out.

A decorative bowl like Kelly’s M&S centrepiece can also tie together the overall feel of a room if you choose the material well. A sculptural ceramic bowl will add a statement piece to any space that is going for an earthy, outdoorsy feel, or the addition of a metallic bowl in a more industrial-designed space can be both functional and practical.

You can also easily dress up a coffee table or hallway table with floral arrangements or accessories that showcase natural elements and scents, such as bonsai trees or tabletop water features. This small but subtle design choice will help you foster a sense of wellness and a connection to nature throughout different pockets of your home.

As the colder months approach, using centrepieces to play with layered lighting is another option. Rechargeable lamps and smaller light features of different heights can be placed on centrepiece bowls and trays, allowing warmer, softer lighting - perfect for low-lit nights in front of the TV or for having conversations into the late hours.

Given her years of expertise and knowledge, we often turn to Kelly for advice when adding accent colours or creating simple displays to get the best out of any space.

As one of the busiest spaces in our homes, the kitchen needs to be kept organised and easy to use. However, when it's always in use, managing that can be difficult. Luckily, organising expert Dilly Carter has shared her kitchen design tips for keeping your space functional at all times

With so many cupboards, drawers and appliances, knowing how to organise your kitchen is essential to ensure every design aspect is optimised. And while you can do this at any stage, professional organiser Dilly Carter recommends prioritising it from the moment you design your kitchen space.

Sharing her recent kitchen renovation on her Instagram, @declutterdollies, Dilly walked us through the thought process behind certain aspects of the space. She also explains how she consistently prioritised functionality and flow when deciding where to place things.

"I think the most important thing when you are designing your kitchen is to think about your daily routine: what matters to you? What do you do every day? How does your family function? And we've really thought about all those things," says Dilly.

"Obviously, my kitchen was well organised before; it was well designed before. I've just taken it up another level. You know the cupboards are still blue, but now they're much better quality," she points out.

"I've got more drawers in the island; I've got drawers instead of cupboards, which also makes a huge difference to how your kitchen functions because you can get to the back of drawers rather than scrambling to get into the backs of cupboards," explains Dilly.

"So, if you can invest in drawers in your kitchen, always invest in drawers; they're more expensive, but they're worth it," she adds.

All you'll need now is to master how to organise your kitchen drawers, and thanks to their easy accessibility, they won't need reorganising every week.

Then it's simply a matter of putting your kitchen essentials right where you need them, somewhere you can easily access them once you've started cooking.

"Think about what you do, so when you are standing at your hob and you're designing your kitchen, think: what do I need? My oils, my vinegars, my spices, my pots, my pans. Make sure when you're laying your kitchen out, all of those things are around you, so when you're making and creating, everything is easy," says Dilly.

"Think of zones. Do you need a baking zone? Do you want a breakfast zone? These are the things we want to think about when we're laying out our kitchen, when we're unpacking it after a renovation," she continues.

"So everything is about layout, everything is about flow, is about zones. So when you are designing your kitchen, think about how your family functions, what makes sense and then imagine yourself in it," recommends Dilly.

While it's helpful to look at this year's kitchen trends, the top priority is creating a space that works for you day in and day out.

After the world tragically lost Gloria Steinem at the beginning of the month, the world has celebrated the iconic activist's work and life as well as mourned the devastating loss. One snapshot into the American journalist's life is her home, which is itself a celebration of her full and bold life.

It's not often we look at the homes of public figures after they've sadly passed away, but such a powerful space like Gloria Steinem's NYC apartment is one to be honoured and enjoyed. The trailblazing feminist hosted Architectural Digest in 2024, and her home is one filled with inspiration, iconic memorabilia, and of course a truckload of personality.

So whilst we continue to remember the important work Gloria did in her 92 years, we'd also like to show appreciation for the space she curated so wonderfully and the eccentric four walls she called home for over 50 years.

It's not often we see a space that's had so much personality added to it over such a long period of time. Gloria had lived in the Manhattan brownstone for more than 50 years, and the house was not only a home but a space where she did much of her advocacy work.

The feminist icon hasn't simply used picture frames as a creative way to decorate a wall without paint; instead, she's curated an apt celebration of her lifetime achievements. From newspaper clippings to historic images of herself, the collection is a powerful trip down memory lane.

Perhaps more subtly, we can see other instances where Gloria's bold and eventful life has added that same character to her space. With deep jewel tones, colourful patterns and unique decor pieces, there's not only an area in the home that doesn't show a life well lived and, more importantly, enjoyed.

Not to presume we know where everything in her home is sourced from, but it's apparent that Gloria mastered the art of combining heirlooms with contemporary style. Despite having the home for over five decades, this is a home that showcases timeless style as well, allowing for those more sentimental, vintage pieces to shine through too.

It's no surprise that one of the nationally recognised leaders of second-wave feminism was ahead of the curve in most other aspects of her life. Her home, with its decadent mural, cohesive colour palettes and layered lighting, is a tasteful cocktail of everything we've come to know and love in the interior trends of today.

So, whilst we may not all have quite the impact Gloria did on the world, we're certainly inspired to take a leaf out of her book and celebrate our lives loudly in our homes.

If you're looking for ways to fall back in love with your home, injecting a little more personality into the space can be a great help. As well as having fun with the decor of your house, what better place to celebrate your life than your own home?

What with the unusually hot weather and nationwide hosepipe bans, it's been all too easy to solely focus on keeping our garden plants alive. But houseplants are in need of a little TLC this time of year too, and who better to help us through that than Monty Don?

Whilst you may have mastered how to water your garden plants properly through the summer and multiple heatwaves, our houseplants can be similarly affected by the heat and need some more attention because of it. So although your houseplant watering routine has worked in the past years, your plants may need some more thorough watering thanks to the warmth of this summer.

With that in mind, we spotted that Monty Don had shared his brilliant houseplant watering method that ensures your leafy friends are properly hydrated, all without any water waste.

Sharing his wisdom on BBC's Gardeners' World, Monty explains that along with the daily tasks of caring for indoor plants, they will need a more thorough watering every now and again. Especially with the hot weather being so persistent this year.

"Although houseplants should be misted daily, it's a good idea now and then to give them a really good drink," starts Monty.

"Fill a container full of water, plunge the pots in below the surface and hold them down until they cease bubbling. Then drain them thoroughly, and when you've finished, you've still got water that you can use on your favourite plants outside," he adds.

Keeping in mind this year's drought, knowing how to water your plants amidst a hosepipe ban is becoming increasingly important, and that includes your houseplants too.

Collecting rainwater is a great sustainable houseplant hack as well as being a crucial backup when these rules do get put in place. In the same way Monty encourages gardeners to use the leftover water on their garden plants after watering houseplant varieties, any rainwater harvesting in the garden can be brought inside.

Again, this isn't just a way to save money and reduce waste in the garden, but your houseplants will thrive more than if you used tap water thanks to the lack of fluoride. It's a win-win!

If you are interested in rainwater harvesting, we recommend exploring clever garden solutions to help you collect rainwater. That way, your plants can still be watered when the drought arrives again next summer.

A good night’s sleep is sometimes all anyone needs to feel like new, but when your pillows are limp and lifeless, it can be easier said than done.

Even if you invest in the best pillows, over time, the filling can start to feel flat and lifeless. But there is a solution that doesn't involve constantly replacing your pillows - in fact, there's a trick that's totally free and basically effortless on your part, and now might be your last opportunity to get it done before next spring.

If it's still sunny where you are this weekend, you can revive any flat pillows by leaving them out in direct sunlight – it's a hack experts swear by for helping pillows expand and getting rid of any moisture locked in.

If you needed any more convincing that this trick is trustworthy, it comes courtesy of Martha Stewart - queen of all things home and lifestyle. As shared on her website, experts swear by the trick as it tackles moisture buildup, something which can affect both the smell and feel of a pillow, but also its shape.

Whether it’s sweat, body oils or other moisture, our pillows absorb these over time. The longer we keep them, the more moisture can seep in and weigh down the filling of your pillows, causing them to sag and flatten. Experts actually say we should clean pillows more often, so it's well worth doing now.

With the heat that’s dragged on for months, now is the perfect time to try this out too, as you're likely to have sweated more throughout the night.

To effectively fluff up a pillow with nothing more than open air and sunlight, remove the pillowcase (and protector if you use one) and place the pillow in direct sunlight for at least two to four hours, flipping it halfway through.

The warmth can help trapped moisture evaporate, while the benefit of the fresh airflow will then help the fibres separate and expand back to their full volume.

A bonus of this tip is that UV is known to help kill bacteria and mould spores - so your pillows might also smell fresher and help you sleep even more soundly.

Before you rush out and stack your pillows out in the garden, there is one warning: this should only be tried with down, feather, polyester, and down-alternative pillows. UV exposure can negatively impact memory foam and latex pillows.

Fortunately, there are other ways of fluffing up pillows, provided they pass the osteopath pillow test – including those you can’t leave outside in the sun.

Recommended ways to plump up flat pillow

• The Accordion Method: This method works the same way one might play the musical instrument, hence the name. Safe to do on any type of pillow, it works by holding opposite sides of the pillow in each hand and pushing them in and out repeatedly for 15 seconds. You have to give this some effort, because the intention is to break up compacted filling and force air back inside.
• The Tennis Ball Dryer method: For down, feather, polyester, and down-alternative pillows, you can try popping them in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls. It might sound odd, but if you place a couple of tennis balls in individual socks, knotted and securely shut, and pop them in with your pillows in a dryer, the heat and the tumbling help airflow and expansion, while the tennis balls can physically break up stubborn clumps.

Making the most of the last days of summer sunshine ensures your bedding is refreshed and ready for the cold months ahead. After your bedding is prepped it's then time to consider ways to make your bedroom feel cosy to maximise the comfort.

Whether you've got a large, bland room you want to make cosy or are looking for ways to add visual interest to a space, actress Fay Ripley has made a serious case for colour drenching with brown.

Looking at the top interior paint colour trends from the past few years, earth tones and brown hues especially have continued to be popular. We're now seeing them used more boldly with the likes of colour drenching and statement walls in any room in the home. Brown is no longer just one of the best bedroom paint colours for a restful and serene decor.

And whilst you might not think of brown as a shade you'd have in your kitchen, Cold Feet actress Fay Ripley has us ready to transform our cooking and dining spaces with a new cosy paint colour.

Although the transformation, shared on Fay's Instagram @fayripley, is from a while back, it's certainly a timeless shade and one that's surprisingly well placed in a kitchen and dining area.

And whilst brown is becoming more popular, especially as we head into the colder months, and is being used in more versatile ways it's helps to have some interior design tips for decorating with the colour in any room.

“These colours evoke feelings of comfort and are easy to live with. They are a warm palette that delivers cocooning, soothing and restful schemes," says interior designer Michelle Shakallis Johnson.

"These hues work beautifully in living spaces, paired with velvet textures, dark woods, and soft metallics for an effortlessly elegant look," she adds.

We particularly love the way that Fay used colour drenching in this partitioned segment of her kitchen diner, with the colour wrapping up from the walls and across the ceiling.

Not only is this an incredibly chic way to utilise a timeless colour like this rich, dark brown, but it's also an easy way to make your home cosier. Which we're all keen to start doing once the summer ends and those colder, early nights begin.

If you want to do something similar to what Fay has done here, it's really as simple as finding the right shade of brown for your space and decorating the room with complementary decor. Perhaps add some autumn decor ideas with the season around the corner.

If you don't have the time or budget to paint your space, then completing some seasonal rituals to reset your home for autumn is a great alternative that will get your house ready.

With the summer coming to a close, it's time to prepare for the wet weather and damp air. And although our gardens will be glad for the much-needed moisture, the rain also brings some unwanted visitors that can pose a threat to your pets.

If you've noticed your garden is suddenly full of slugs and snails, it's probably because of the rain we've been experiencing recently. And whilst that helps our gardens recover from a heatwave, it also encourages some slimy, unwelcome visitors to our outdoor spaces that can be an issue for more than just our plant life.

When the wet weather arrives, our gardens can quickly become filled with slugs and snails, and whilst that's definitely an issue for plants and vegetables we're growing, it's also a risk for our pets.

Vets warning for autumn garden pest

If you have already tried to attract birds to your garden to help with a slug or snail problem, then you may be aware of how dangerous the molluscs are if you have a dog because of the potential lungworm they can carry.

"Lungworm is a type of parasitic worm that is found in slugs and snails and can infect dogs and travel around their body through blood vessels," begins Dr Sean McCormack, Head Vet at dog food subscription brand Tails.com.

"Once they have entered the body and migrated through the tissues, they can cause serious harm to your canine’s heart and lungs, as well as damage to other areas of the body," he adds.

"This is because the larvae release a chemical that stops the blood from clotting when they enter your dog's blood vessels, leaving them at risk of internal bleeding that, if left untreated or undiagnosed, could prove to be fatal," Dr McCormack says.

In the same way, you need to be careful with certain plants that flower nonstop and grow in your garden that can be toxic to pets; these pests can easily be eaten or licked by your dogs.

"Our dogs are curious creatures, and often love to sniff and explore when it comes to wildlife, whether that be in the garden or when out on a walk, meaning that they can become infected with the lungworm parasite if they come into contact with slugs and snails when rooting around in shrubbery," explains Dr McCormack.

"Though slugs and snails are usually a lot more prominent during the spring, due to warmer temperatures and rainfall, we’ve seen a spike in searches for lungworm in dogs over the past few weeks, due to long periods of wet and humid weather that the UK has been experiencing, which has encouraged the creatures to hang around in gardens, parks and the countryside," he continues.

"While the greatest risk of lungworm comes from your dog directly eating slugs and snails, whether that's accidentally or on purpose, even your canine coming into contact with the slime trails that they leave behind can be dangerous. It is therefore important to be vigilant for slugs and snails over the coming weeks, especially if you have a puppy who is more likely to investigate the garden creatures," Dr McCormack points out.

Dr McCormack says various signs indicate your dog has lungworm, from lethargic behaviour to poor appetite. It's important to keep an eye on your pet and consider getting lungworm medication, which can completely prevent your pet from ever getting the disease.

Whenever you're sorting your garden out, be sure to keep an eye on any spots where snails or slugs could be attracted and remove them to keep your furry family member safe this autumn.

If you are participating in the rewilding trend, then your garden might be more susceptible to slugs and snails, so be extra vigilant when letting your pets outside this coming season.

It's all too easy to give up on your garden during the winter months, but there are so many ways to keep it alive and thriving. Creating a stunning winter hanging basket is just one of them.

Whilst you may already know how to plant a summer hanging basket like a professional, filling baskets through the colder months is often overlooked or abandoned completely. However, when you choose the right plants and set up your basket properly, autumn and winter hanging baskets can bring that much-needed lushness to an otherwise dormant garden.

Not only can you make some stunning plant arrangements for autumn hanging baskets, but if you choose hardy varieties, these baskets can thrive right up until next spring. It's just a matter of getting it right!

Whether you're looking for plants to add some autumn colour to your garden or need to fill your sad-looking hanging baskets, garden design expert Ish Kamran (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) has just the thing.

"Today in the garden, I'm going to show you how to make my super hardy hanging basket that will last throughout the winter," says Ish.

"Now, my summer basket was starting to look a little bit ropey, so I've decided to clear that out and make way for my winter hanging baskets. And you can start this from about September; it will last all the way through to around February or March next year. Which is the ideal time to start your next summer basket," he explains.

"And I've got some pretty cool classics here; I'm gonna go with some perennials like my ivy. I'm gonna go for some winter classics like cyclamen and even some heather too, and spice it up with a little bit of annuals as well, with some violas," Ish shows.

Although you don't need to worry about your garden's soil type when making a hanging basket, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure it flourishes.

"When starting a hanging basket, you wanna go for the biggest hanging basket you can get and fill it with a really good multi-purpose compost. And the reason is that hanging baskets dry out so quickly; even in the winter, they're prone to doing it," Ish explains.

"So, you can go with a good multi-purpose compost, but most peat-free is absolutely naff at retaining any moisture, so I like to add just a little bit of moisture retention crystals just to keep that going. And by having a bigger one, that should help it from drying out too quickly too," he adds.

Ish also adds a multipurpose feed to his basket's soil; this will keep it fed throughout the winter so you don't have to do much. Whilst there are many feeds for different uses, multi-purpose is a great all-rounder.

"When my hanging basket is half full, what I like to do is just, within the pot, put your plants in and see if you can come up with a layout. And remember, lean these out slightly sideways, as you never see the top of a hanging basket, so you want to make sure you get that drama spilling out," points out Ish.

Once you've filled your hanging basket right to the top with soil, you can start adding your plants in with the layout you've decided. Ish reminds us to give the roots of the plants a good rub before planting them in the basket, as it encourages them to find the new nutrients in the new soil.

"Once you've hung your hanging basket, make sure you give it a really, really good watering to allow it to absolutely flourish. This should keep it happy all through winter," Ish finishes.

Now you can enjoy life and colour in your garden all year long.

Jennifer Garner’s Pretend Cooking Show series is more than just a bit of fun - it's packed everyday ways to elevate your bakes - and my favourite is her £35 KitchenAid accessory. It's one that I swear by for buttery shortbread and melt-in-the-mouth pastry.

In the latest instalment, a lesson on making "bisquettes", which Garner celebrates as “something new for back to school breakfasts” she reveals a treasure trove of KitchenAid insights.

From her slightly unconventional choice of KitchenAid Stand Mixer (more on that later) as well as the KitchenAid accessory that will elevate your banking to Paul Hollywood handshake territory - and it's only £35.

Jennifer Garner's Pretend Cooking Show is a joy to follow. She's self-deprecating about tea towels with holes in and bakes that don't come out picture perfect, but underneath the humour, she shares tips that hold up.

Her latest instalment on bisquettes - a hybrid of biscuit and muffin - makes for a handy grab-and-go bake which she says is perfect for back-to-school breakfasts. I'll be trying these myself this weekend, but, as ever, it wasn't just the food that caught my eye.

Garner fixed her KitchenAid stand mixer with a pastry cutter attachment, describing it as "a bit of a flex." The tool works by cutting cold butter into flour and sugar without the warmth of your hands softening it, which is what gives pastry and shortbread their signature crumbly, flaky texture rather than a dense or leathery one.

The KitchenAid pastry cutter attachment has had its moment in the spotlight since KitchenAid bundled it with their 2025 colour of the year mixer in butter yellow and I've noticed more bakers reaching for it since. It should be £49, but Currys has it reduced to £35 at the moment, which is a steal.

I've been using mine for years and my aunty, who's baked every wedding and birthday cake in our family (with some almost unbelievable showstoppers among them) wouldn't be without hers.

We also can't overlook that Garner bakes with the bowl-lift KitchenAid rather than the tilt-head version more commonly seen in celebrity kitchens - Nigella Lawson and Kate Middleton's to name just two.

Both designs work well, but the bowl-lift model (Jennifer's) offers more stability for heavier doughs, especially breads, as well as a family-friendly 5.6L capacity. It's the one that professional bakers often opt for, making Garner's choice a very telling one - especially when paired with her dough scraper, which is a tool that only earns cupboard space if you're regularly elbow-deep in dough. Garner's clearly a serious home baker rather than someone playing it up for the camera.

Alternative pastry cutters

I love investing in KitchenAid accessories and attachments, because they can give your stand mixer a whole new function. In this instance, the pastry cutter is simple and affordable, but with a delicious pay off. Whether you're buying this as a gift, or stocking up before cosy baking season, this is a small accessory that earns compliments well above its price point. Thank you, Jen.

Le Creuset officially kicked off pumpkin season with this year's release of its much-loved pumpkin-shaped casserole dishes. Available in creamy white, rich green, and their signature orange, they're the very essence of Autumn.

This year, there's also an extra treat for fans. Le Creuset's collection isn't just their iconic cast iron, it includes designs previously only available in the US, including the irresistibly cute pumpkin mug with its own lid and matching butter dish.

With Le Creuset's casserole dishes starting from £50, I've rounded up my favourite pieces. And, while the brand may be leading the charge, I've also been looking beyond Le Creuset for cast iron alternatives, as well as cookware and bakeware that brings the same seasonal charm to the kitchen without quite such a hefty price tag.

Autumnal tableware and Le Creuset Alternatives

As soon as Le Creuset announced their Autumn collection, we spotted lookalike pumpkin casserole dishes starting at just £15. Whilst we're still waiting for Aldi's famous pumpkin casserole dish Le Creuset twin, we've been browsing charming extras, including pumpkin oven gloves and spoon rests. There are plenty of ways to give your kitchen and table an autumnal update.

It feels like autumn is in the air for everyone. The White Company's collection is brilliant for bringing the outdoors in, whilst there are other cosy throws and earthy hues aplenty in different shops. And, of course, the kitchen is no exception. From beautiful casserole dishes in rich, autumnal shades to practical cookware and bakeware, all that's left is for us to dig out our heartiest, cosiest recipes for warming nights in.

Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried’s gorgeous home hits all the right notes as she puts it on sale and offers fans a peek at the surprisingly traditional, laid-back decor.

The Oscar nominee might be celebrated for her red carpet looks and daring film roles, but we’re loving the timelessness and vintage-style country feel of her Hollywood home. The chic decor proves that while maximalist interior trends are worth considering, simplicity is elegant and creates a space to feel truly lived in.

Offering a masterclass in less is more – a nod to the quiet luxury trend that continues to inspire more evergreen stylistic choices – the Mean Girls actress has chosen a pared-back aesthetic, down to the hardwood flooring and antique light fixtures throughout.

Throughout each of Amanda’s rooms, there’s a recurrent theme of biophilic design, or a sense of bringing the outside in, and there’s clear inspiration to glean from the use of natural textures, centring natural light and allowing the feeling of one space blending seamlessly into the next.

With at least five windows in many of the rooms, each of the seating areas – including a round, wooden dining table to allow the best light at any angle – offers a prime viewing spot directly outdoors. The reading nook is the cherry on top, offering a prime view of the landscaping outside while being bathed in direct sunlight.

As well as staging the room so that every seat has views of the outdoors, Amanda has decorated the walls with a vintage floral print, extending that feeling of the outside being brought in, almost playing with the idea that no walls are separating the inside from the outdoors.

She repeats this in the primary bedroom, with a direct line of sight from the bed to a set of windows that offer the sense that nature is always just a reach away - a perfect lesson in bringing a touch of wellness and calmness to any room.

Amanda also echoes some of Kelly Hoppen’s tips on creating a home gym with her converted garage. Turning it into a place you’d actually want to use for home workouts, rather than a dark, shadowy space that will make exercise feel like, well, exercise. The converted garage is an airy, light space with direct access to the garden.

The repeated use of natural looking materials, including the darker stained hardwood floors, antique-looking chairs and the lighter coffee tables in other rooms, also promotes more warmth from the natural and soft lighting.

In each room, whether it's the comfy seating areas or the finishing touches, it's all anchored in warm, soft and natural textures and tones that complement the vibe of extending the outdoors in.

It’s not just the focus on making nature a central motif that gives Amanda’s home a timeless quality. The colour scheme is evergreen and lays a foundation that can be easily tweaked.

Instead of traditional white trim paired with a darker wall, this space uses crisp off-white on the walls and a slightly deeper, on-trend greige tone on the skirting boards and trimmings. Instead of colour drenching, this use of subtle gradient layering brings attention to structural details - like the wide archways and built-in windows – creating depth and opening the space up.

Where colour is used, it’s still chosen to continue this idea of calmness and celebrating nature. The use of blue and white in the kitchen – again flooded with natural light - conjures up images of the sky and being in the open air.

After a summer of unprecedented heat, our typical 'essential' September gardening jobs will look a little different from previous years. After a prolonged drought, gardens most certainly need some extra care and attention this season – something professionals are acutely aware of.

Leigh Hunt, RHS principal horticultural advisor, recalls being 'inundated' with gardening questions on what to do now about the damage caused by persistent hot weather and a lack of rainfall.

He begins by saying, "The reality is, gardens will have to adapt to these conditions," and therefore changing how we garden to acclimatise our plants and consider planting in autumn rather than waiting until spring.

Reasons to plant in autumn rather than spring

"One good tip for future droughts is to plant in autumn," Leigh explains, suggesting an alternative to spring planting. "Things like hardy, drought-tolerant trees and shrubs and perennials can all be planted at this time of year, once the rains return. They'll have time then to get their roots down and establish and survive future droughts much better."

"If you're looking for plants that perform really well in these conditions, here at Wisley we've been pleased with sea hollies and wisteria. Things like the Salvia 'Blue Spire', strawberry trees and ice plants have all been fantastic.

Where you have got some dead or dying plants, Leigh suggests using this as an opportunity to try new drought-tolerant plants that will fare better in years to come when the 'new normal' of hot summers returns.

Spring is historically the most popular time of year for planting, despite the autumn offering many benefits, such as those highlighted by the RHS advice...

• Heat retention: This year more than ever, autumn gardens benefit from the heat after months of warm weather. "Soil holds summer warmth, helping roots grow and settle before winter."
• Climates are more forgiving: "Cooler conditions help plants establish with less stress from heat and drought."
• Additional time means the plants are more established: "Plants build stronger root systems before spring growth begins."
• Watering routines are easier: "Autumn and winter rainfall supports establishment and reduces the need for watering before drier summers."

To save suffering plants now, Leigh recommends moving pots into the shade and using greywater – that's recycled water from the kitchen or bathroom. Of course, these things will have already eased now that the rains have returned, thankfully, so it's time to think about getting some mulch on the ground to help preserve stored water in the soil.

So while it's challenging times for gardeners to know what to do for the best, "by working out what's working and what's not, it's possible to make sure we can carry on gardening and enjoy beautiful thriving gardens."

If you're anything like me, you've been counting down the days until Practical Magic 2 is finally in cinemas. And while I'm excited to see what happens with the beloved Owens family, I'm admittedly just as giddy to see those iconic whimsical interiors.

If maximalist interior design is up your street too, you'll have been just as enamoured with the set design in the original 1998 Practical Magic film. With warm woods, charming floral patterns, potion bottles and classic Victorian-style architecture, the set in the first film was a feast for the eyes. More importantly, it was a valuable lesson in making your home feel cosier, witchcraft included or not.

With that in mind, let's throw some salt over our shoulders, grab a fresh brew and take a closer look at the standout interior style elements we've noticed on set of the new Owens home in Practical Magic 2.

What's immediately clear from the snippets we see of the set in the official trailer is that the Owens family are masters of curated clutter. While the home is filled with things, from decorative china to spiritually charged houseplants, it all feels purposeful and cohesive.

One of the first things that caught our attention throughout the entire home is the use of layered lighting. Not only does this add to the charming yet spooky feel of the film, but it retains that original cosy atmosphere – which is what bewitched audiences back in the 90s.

Lamps are, of course, a great way to do this, but also adding your favourite scented candles for an ambient warm glow makes all the difference. Alternatively, try some incense for an autumnal, witchy twist.

The soft furnishings also add to the cosy appearance of the house, specifically the detailed patchwork throws. Those heavy, heritage patchwork blankets are a perfect way to bring a familial look to the Owens family home and help audiences reminisce not only about the first film but also about their own nostalgic upbringing.

The furniture, decorative cushions and even bedding also follow this style; it's as if the Nancy Meyers interior trend has been stirred together with a touch of gothic.

Which brings us perfectly to the last design touch we'll be immediately adding to our own homes: the decorative china and dinnerware. Not only can we spot some rather decadent blue and white china on display in a glass cabinet, but the plates are also used to add more interest in the kitchen too.

Crockery like this needn't be ridiculously expensive; it's something you can find secondhand, or collect over time to make it more affordable. It is, however, a great way to add personality to your home, whether that's at the dinner table every night or in your hallway being displayed to view every time you pass it.

The Owens family certainly know a thing or two about timeless decor and the film set has mastered the art of an intergenerational family home filled with hand-me-downs, heirlooms and of course, essential potion ingredients.

So whether you're looking for timeless autumn decor ideas or want to make your space cosier, there's no better inspiration than this home of a stylish family of witches.

Ninja's first ever microwave is finally here - and it solves the one thing that microwaves have always been bad at: making your food crispy and crunchy.

Ninja's microwave is the hybrid that we've all been begging for. They've taken the brand's famous air fryer functions, combined them with modern microwave technology, and created a kitchen appliance that's free from toxic coatings and packed full of clever features.

This is the moment that modern microwaves stopped being an afterthought and started being the most useful tool in your kitchen. They might be the biggest threat your air fryer has ever seen.

The Ninja Crispi Microwave is available to buy today from Ninja and trusted retailers including John Lewis.

The Crispi name is a clue for the biggest and best feature on this microwave. Ninja has carried the signature technology from its Crispi air fryers across into a microwave for the first time. Rather than soggy microwave meals, it will give your food some proper crunch.

The idea, says James Kitto, SVP Managing Director of EMEA at SharkNinja, grew out of Ninja's ongoing mission "to solve everyday consumer frustrations." As he puts it, the microwave has "historically forced a trade-off between fast and good," while standard air fryers "didn't offer the transparency or clean-cooking reassurance of glassware." The Crispi is built to close that gap, giving consumers speed, capacity, and "perfect crispy textures they actually want without compromise."

It's a workhorse, too, with dedicated functions for popcorn, potatoes, defrosting, beverages, soup, frozen dinners, frozen vegetables, and even softening butter. And as someone who loves a sparkling clean home, it's even easy to clean thanks to the design and shape.

The all-new flatbed design swaps out the traditional turntable for 20% more usable surface area, which is perfect for feeding the family. And if you're in a hurry, the "superheated cyclonic air" technology takes food from frozen to crispy in as little as 10 minutes, which a 60% cut in cooking time compared to a conventional oven.

Ninja has also been a pioneer of the non-toxic air fryer, so have made sure that the interior of the Crispi Microwave non-toxic, PFAS-free CleanCrisp Glassware has enough capacity to cook a 3kg roast chicken.

Alternative modern microwaves that we love

With microwaves firmly back on the menu, there's room to experiment beyond the basics, too. MasterChef winner Brithi Parathan recently shared his tips for toasting nuts and making spices more aromatic using a microwave - and the Ninja opens up even more possibilities. So the question isn't when you'll use yours. It's what you'll make in it first.

Oh, how we love a dramatic home makeover, as does Chef Clodagh McKenna, clearly, as she proudly invites fans in for a peek at her incredible bedroom transformation in time for the cosy season.

As part of the transformation of Broadspear, the 100-acre Hampshire estate she’s been renovating – Clodagh initially painted the bedroom a dark green, creating a brooding, atmospheric sleep space. But now she’s ready for the room to feel "lighter, brighter and incredibly calming," but just as cocooning.

While the makeover looks dramatic, she’s revealed how simple it can be with the right paint, lighting and refined finishing touches – as well as offering tips on why a neutral base makes the most "restful backdrop" that is easy to "change with the seasons."

For Clodagh’s room to capture the lightness and warmth she craved, it was all about finding the right colour to anchor every decision that followed. She settled on a creamy, warm white that reminds her of something very specific.

Sharing a video to her social media, she explains, "I colour-drenched [the room] in Dulux Heritage Linen. It's a shade of white that I really love. It reminds me of when I'm making a panna cotta and the egg yolk has popped into the milk, and you get that perfect, creamy, warm white."

By colour-drenching the room – that's painting every surface in the same colour, including the ceilings and the skirting boards the space feels opened up but not in a cold, empty way thanks to the warm, earthy tones. The before-and-after in her video makes the difference immediately clear.

A bedroom being a bedroom, Clodagh wanted sleep to be the most important part, inspiring the choice of warm, layered lighting.

Showcasing her choices of lights at different heights and positions, she shared, “I love these little twin lights, wall lights. They're really beautiful. I put them on either side of the bed. I put on some lights for reading. So I got these on so when I'm sleeping, [her husband] can have a little read.”

Using the smaller lights at varying levels plays with shadows and depth, creating a relaxing feel around the bed. The repeated use of natural wood, from the flooring, shelves and bedside table, adds a further element of warmth to the lighting by creating a soft reflective glow.

Outside-in decor is a reliable design trick to mimic the calming effects of nature in any room, and Clodagh shows us how to do this in a way that doesn't overwhelm the decor.

To do this, Clodagh pressed flowers from her garden and framed them. The result is perfect little pops of colour that stand out without feeling too jarring against the creamy colour scheme. This is also evident in how else she uses colour sparingly but effectively.

Her velvet pink chair, for example, is bright enough to add a noticeable accent tone that breaks up the creamy colour scheme without overpowering and throwing off the soft, warm tones. On her bed, she uses mustard cushions to add just the right pop of colour, but one that fits in with the overall scheme and feels grounding.

An added benefit of choosing a neutral coloured room is that it allows quick and easy updates in the future, for when you might fancy a change of accent colour.

It’s easy to imagine how something as simple as adding a colourful bedspread and framing a few brighter or pastel-coloured flowers would create a more spring-like feel. Similarly, if you wanted to play with contrast, adding darker touches would prove striking and dramatic.

It’s something Clodagh had in mind when choosing the colour, she revealed, saying, “I'm excited for all the seasons, the changing of the seasons where I can add different colours in because this colour is so evergreen, but it's so calming."

Sure, they might cause us to shed a tear, but who doesn’t love an onion? Crunchy, flavourful and the perfect starting ingredient for many classic dishes.

Garden writer Simon Akeroyd, who has shown us how to grow thyme for free, has now revealed we can do the very same thing with onions. And while they are fairly inexpensive, it saves you adding them to the food shop each week, plus it's a great way to reduce waste and practise sustainable gardening ideas.

So next time you’ve sliced your onions and were planning to toss the remainders in your homemade compost pile – don’t. This incredibly simple method is all you need to begin growing vegetables from scratch, producing new shoots in less than 2 weeks. This genius plan will start you on your journey to sow all the onions you’ll ever need.

It really is so simple, too. Once you’ve chopped your onions (and dried your tears as a result), keep the thicker, coarser base that you wouldn’t normally add to your recipes. This is the bit which will have some stringy roots coming out of it – and this is what you want.

You then take this base cutting and place it in a small dish of shallow water. Simon initially leaves his cutting in something as cheap and easy as the lid of a jar just filled with water.

Leave this for a few days and when it starts to grow new roots and shoots, plant it in some compost. In just one week’s time, you’ll see the onion starting to grow new stems.

You can use these stems as they are – red onion shoots can be used similarly to chives, a little culinary sprinkling that elevates stir-fries, soups, salads or even sandwiches. If you are going to do this, make sure you leave some of the shoots alone if you want to regrow actual onion bulbs.

Once you’ve left the shoots to flower and set seed, you can collect the seed and sow it.

According to the RHS, sowing onion seeds can be done indoors or outside, from mid-winter to mid-spring. However, it’s not the right time to sow onions outdoors, as these need to be done when the soil starts to warm up.

To make the most of this trick as we head into the colder months, you can use Nancy Birtwhistle’s trick and use a homemade, upcycled propagator as you do this. With this, sow your seeds about half an inch deep into your trays filled with peat-free seed compost.

The RHS advises one seed per module is effective, but it's also possible to sow three or four seeds per module, although the resulting bulbs are likely to be smaller.

Place the tray in a heated propagator or on a warm sunny windowsill. Seedlings should appear within a couple of weeks. Remove from the propagator, place in bright light and keep the compost slightly moist. Harden off indoor-sown plants before planting into prepared ground.

Le Creuset's new paper fibre chopping boards are already my favourite launch of this year. Not only are they a brilliant non-toxic alternative to plastic, they're lightweight, dishwasher safe, and an easy way to bring Le Creuset's luxury into your kitchen.

Everyone has coveted Le Creuset at some point over the years. Whether you've been eyeing up their cast iron casserole dishes for hearty stews, or you've invested in their whimsical collaborations, the brand is hailed for its heritage style and eye for design.

Le Creuset brings all those famously beautiful and practical touches to this chopping board trio. The refined design is non-toxic, of course, but there are plenty of genius features that make them essential for every kitchen too.

The standout feature of Le Creuset's Paper Fibre Chopping Boards is, of course, the composition. Paper fibre works hard to cover a whole host of different needs. Unlike plastic, paper fibre is naturally anti-bacterial. That softer surface is more gentle on your knives, helping them to stay sharper for longer, but it also holds steady for professional chopping (helped by some silicone feet)

Le Creuset's chopping boards can also go straight in the dishwasher, which is unusual for organic materials like this. And, unlike your butchers block or solid wood chopping board, you don't need to oil them and can lift them easily with one hand.

These chopping boards a brilliant addition to any kitchen that's already been editing plastics and chemicals out of your cupboards. Lots of people have swapped food containers for glass or stainless steel, PTFE air fryers for non-toxic air fryers, and water bottles to steel.

If you're sold on the paper-composite material but not set on Le Creuset, there are other brands that offer paper fibre chopping boards too. Here are three of my favourites:

I love this Le Creuset launch more than almost anything else I've seen this year, because they've paid attention to a part of the kitchen that's often overlooked. The eco credentials that the brand already has at their heart really get to shine with paper fibre put front-and-centre in the chopping board collaboration. So, for anyone swapping their plastics out for stainless steel and glass, this is the perfect next step.

We've all watched a Purdy & Figg advert, coveted those beautifully scented bottles, and then popped the supermarket own-brand in the trolley instead. This autumn, though, the natural cleaning brand is giving us good reason to finally invest in some luxury cleaning products: their collaboration with breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!

For a limited time, Purdy & Figg is selling a "pink" range with different cleaning products for your home, from their classic trio of Counter Clean scents to their Marjoram & Geranium Oh! De Loo drops

50p from every sale goes directly to CoppaFeel! meaning your little home treat doubles up as support for the charity. It's reason enough to swap the supermarket alternative for the real thing this time round

The Purdy & Figg collaboration is a revival of last year's campaign, which raised over £10,000 for CoppaFeel! - proof small purchases add up to a meaningful sum.

The partnership speaks directly to why both companies were founded. Jack Rubin, Founder and CEO at Purdy & Figg explains that the brand is based "around the power of small, positive daily rituals" whether that's chest checking or giving the house a good clean. He champions the collaboration because it "helps to turn a routine household chore into a regular, life-saving reminder" and to spark conversations that save lives.

This is echoed by Lucy Barnes, Corporate Partnerships Manager at CoppaFeel! She explains that partnerships are important "not only to raise vital funds, but also to reach a wider audience than we could alone. CoppaFeel! exists to educate, encourage and empower young people to know their bodies and to end the late detection of breast cancer."

Purdy & Figg's collaboration doesn't just promise to work hard for charity, it promises to make your home smell incredible, whether you're using geranium and ylang ylang in the kitchen, pink grapefruit and pepper in the bathroom, and rose and clove in the bedroom. It'll make you want to clean, not just because you have to.

Although hedges are usually low-maintenance additions to our gardens, except for their regular haircut, there's a huge threat to their health right now that you may be misreading as something else.

As one of the best plants for privacy, box hedges are a hugely popular choice for most people's gardens, but they are unfortunately susceptible to common invasive pests. You may have noticed whilst getting ahead on your September gardening jobs that your hedges are covered in spider's webs; however, chances are spiders have nothing to do with the covering.

Garden design expert and influencer Ish Kamran (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) has warned homeowners that they need to act now to stop box hedges from falling victim to this overlooked pest.

When sorting your garden out this month, you may have spotted that your box hedge isn't looking exactly right; it might even be covered in some sort of webbing.

"If your box hedge is starting to look like this and is covered in some kind of a spider's web, it needs to be acted on fast. Let me tell you what's actually going on," says Ish.

"First of all, that's not a spider's web; that is caterpillar silk, and more specifically, it's box caterpillar. They accidentally got introduced into the UK about six or seven years ago now, and they are running rife. So they need to be taken care of; it is invasive," he adds.

Similarly to how invasive plants that can grow in your garden can quickly take over, the box caterpillar can breed out of control rapidly.

"The way that it works is once one is in there, you'll end up with thousands in a few weeks; they really do breed quite fast. How do we deal with this?" asks Ish.

"The first thing you want to do is order yourself some nematodes. You can find them online, you can find them on Amazon, you can find them even in garden centres as well. Now, they come in a little sachet; you pop it in some slightly warm water, give it a shake, and you spray it directly over this," he explains.

"What it does is, effectively, it's harmless to children, to us, to our pets, but these tiny little microorganisms make their way inside of the caterpillar, and as a result eat them from within," Ish says.

Should you be participating in the rewilding trend, you may want to find other ways to remove these pests, but unfortunately, due to their invasive nature, there's not much that will help aside from nematodes.

"Now, if you've missed the boat on box caterpillar and you're getting box moth, you can get box moth traps as well. But if I don't deal with it now, this hedge, well, it won't be a hedge in two weeks," Ish warns.

"If you've got the little topiary balls, that's probably about a week, so you need to act fast; otherwise, these guys are gonna win," he finishes.

It's a good idea to keep checking on your hedges; spotting these pests early can make all the difference and will stop you from having to lose your hedges entirely.

Box hedges are a great way of boosting your home's value as they add that all-important layer of privacy to a property without it being an eyesore.

It's a busy time in our gardens, and that means I find it all too easy to forget what a wonderful privilege it is to grow plants and enjoy seeing the flowers bloom. Luckily, I had a timely reminder of this thanks to none other than Pamela Anderson.

Whether you're sorting out the garden this weekend or are cracking on with your September gardening jobs next week, it's all too easy to focus on the negatives. Too much weeding, the heatwave consequences or even a nasty case of black spot on your roses. I'm guilty of it all.

However, when I came across actress and model Pamela Anderson's Instagram reel (@pamelaanderson) on harvesting roses, I remembered that gardening should be celebrated and romanticised. Especially when you're picking beautiful florals from your very own garden, why shouldn't you be doing it in a flowing white linen dress?

It's not the first time I've been completely enamoured with Pamela's gardening set-up; the large overflowing raised beds her garden is made of are a true inspiration. In fact, her entire farmhouse property is something you don't usually expect from a celebrity home, but it's a welcome, refreshing change indeed.

Roses are some of the best cutting flowers you can grow in your garden, and luckily, once you've figured out their care needs, they aren't that difficult to grow and enjoy. Pamela has certainly mastered the art, as her roses are not only ginormous but incredibly bright too.

If you're growing your own roses, the latest peek into the star's gardening routine is going to be just as inspiring for you as it was for me. Pamela, looking as naturally glamorous as ever, starts with a bunch of fluffy pink roses in her hands.

And of course her essential garden tools: a pair of secateurs and thick gardening gloves with which she trims the stems and removes leaves.

Aside from the essentials, Pamela has injected whimsy into her flower harvesting with her charming wicker trug basket. Something as simple as this not only makes the job that much easier but is quite a special accessory to enjoy in your gardening.

Whether you're pruning your lavender or collecting tomatoes from your fruit-heavy plants, trugs are a really useful tool that will hang easily and rather chicly from your elbow. I'll be picking one up to help with autumn harvests and more.

Now inside, Pamela takes the impressive haul to her basin, which, in true farmhouse fashion, is a deep enamel sink. Trimming each stem with secateurs, she fills multiple mismatched vases with the flowers, placing them around her home to enjoy.

If this hasn't inspired you to get out in the garden and enjoy every moment, then I don't know what will; I'm going to get my secateurs out right now.

Before the change in season comes, you may want to brush up on some essential autumn care tips to keep your roses alive through winter, no matter the weather.

It's an almost impossible treat to see new prints from William Morris himself. In fact, it's been over 150 years since the brand showed us any pattern for the very first time. But in an historic collaboration with Ruggable, the brand has taken 26 of the designer's unfinished, private sketches (never intended for public eyes, let alone footsteps) and turned them into something to be walked on and lived alongside.

The Unfinished Works rug collection does more than revive Morris' legacy. It's reframing heritage design, giving you artwork for your floor that's as practical as it is beautiful. We've seen Morris & Co on our sofas, our cushions, and our wallpaper, and now we have brand new prints that will make you fall back in love with your home.

Painstakingly revived through hand repainting, the rugs showcase Morris' artistic genius with honeysuckles, daises, and tulips as well as oak leaves, acorns, and vines. It's a palette straight out of 1860s London and perfect for modern homes that want a reset this season.

Ruggable x Morris & Co The Unfinished Works Collection

With prices ranging from £109 to £1,049 depending on size, we've picked a few of our favourite patterns to inspire you:

You can see Morris' distinctive botanical design in the aesthetics of these rugs, but they've been reworked to suit modern homes. The medievalism and folklore that inspired Morris are still there, but translated into rich colours, on practical designs that make them easy to style into modern homes.

The sketches themselves were uncovered in the archives of the Huntington Library in California, where they'd sat untouched since the 1860s. Now, thanks to Ruggable's collaboration with the brand, the once-precious archival work can exist in the real world. You don't need to worry about coasters and "don't touch" signs, because Ruggable's designs are made for family life. Each rug is machine-washable, available in multiple sizes and tuft styles, so you can shape it around your room and let a little bit of Morris' artwork live on your floor.

It's not just through Ruggable that you can enjoy Morris & Co prints, we've covered bedspreads, cushions, and sofa collaborations too. Here are some of our top picks:

I've always thought that the most fitting way to honour a designer's legacy is to live alongside it. Preserving previously unfinished works is a wonderful way to keep the Moris & Co heritage alive and transform your living room without spending a fortune.

Although the heatwave has been hard on our gardens, there are some plants that have thrived in the hot weather. And some that have grown so tall and successfully that they simply cannot hold themselves up. So how can you support them?

Whilst you may know how to support your plants as they grow, sometimes our larger plants can need some special attention, especially when they have an unexpected growth spurt. And when plants carry lots of fruit on higher stems or branches, they can easily droop, causing damage and stress to the plant itself. The same goes for plants with large flowers.