Living spaces

Why 'blue and green should never be seen' is outdated, absurd and just plain wrong

Arabella Youens investigates the old adage that 'blue and green should never be seen' — and finds that it's simply not true.

Susan Deliss's fresh country-house drawing room that shows how to be smart without being stuffy

Susan Deliss used a simple, but uplifting mixture of colours to transform a country-house drawing room.

How to create an antique-style kitchen

The new kitchen of Lisa Mehydene’s Cotswold barn was deliberately designed to appear old.

A formal country house library with sympathetic new touches

Interior designer Flora Soames has mixed old and new to revive a historic house in Northumberland.

An airy open-plan kitchen featuring reclaimed materials for a timeless look

Jessica Alken worked with Neptune to create this kitchen in a new Cornish house.

Ten lovely interiors ideas to refresh your house, from new lamps to complete room makeovers

New designs and inspiring ideas to welcome spring, selected by Amelia Thorpe.

A double-height library and drawing room that's full of colour and fresh flowers

The library of Bridget Elworthy’s Jacobean manor house in Oxfordshire bursts with vibrant colour.

A boot room and flower room rolled into one — with a space made just for the dog (labrador not included)

This hard-working space caters for the needs of a large, sociable family. Arabella Youens takes a look.

When is it right to show a bit of leg? (In your sofa covering, of course)

A new generation of upholstery is elegant, comfortable and doesn’t reveal too much leg, says Giles Kime.

Nine of the best new lighting ideas to brighten your home

Amelia Thorpe picks out some of the finest shades, switches and more.

How to add a garden room to make the most of a beautiful old house with a magnificent outlook

Architect John Comparelli has created a contemporary garden room to make the most of its pleasing outlook. Amelia Thorpe finds out more.

The best new interior design books which will set the tone for 2021

Giles Kime picks out some of the finest interiors books of 2020 for those seeking inspiration in 2021.

A drawing room that dodges the stuffy, formal feel and doubles-down on blocks of colour

The transformation of a Wiltshire drawing room by Lucy Elworthy demonstrates the rich possibilities of a carefully considered use of colour.

How reconfiguring an entire floor helped create a perfect bedroom

As part of the transformation of this London townhouse, Emma Sims-Hilditch put together this country-inspired scheme for its master bedroom. She spoke to Arabella Youens.

Where I work: Emma Sims-Hilditch, interior designer

A beautifully English living room that borrows some clever ideas from New York

Rita Konig has brought a north-facing living room to life with a lively mix of pattern and colour. Arabella Youens takes a closer look.

A traditional cottage with a room whose transformation was the 'key to unlocking the house'

Tom Cox has transformed the layout of this Oxfordshire house to create one light-filled living and dining space.

A graceful, museum-like hallway that shows how to refurbish without ripping up and starting again

Arabella Youens takes a look at a room revitalised by Meg Cunningham.

An elegant living space showing perfectly how to get the mismatched furniture look right

Interior designer Guy Goodfellow has created an elegant apartment above his Chelsea premises. Arabella Youens takes a look.

The secret life of fireplaces, and the fascinating tales they tell about the houses which host them

Fireplaces have all manner of wonderful stories to tell, as Amelia Thorpe discovers.