Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom – December 2013

The new year always heralds a resolve to make things better. At home that might be making over the master bedroom, adding a guest bathroom or going all out on a new open-plan kitchen, dining, living space. Our pages are packed full of inspiration for any exciting projects you may have been dreaming about over the holidays from modern city living Flying High (page 22), Contemporary Classic (page 30) and City Slick (page 68) to traditional country living, Model Looks (page 36). Wood and natural texture is back on trend for 2014 and what better way to add warmth to a bathroom scheme than by choosing to use wood throughout. Designer Daphne McKinley has created an enchanting Japanese-inspired room to make bathing a pure pleasure – see Spa Sense (page 96). Another hot homefront topic is heating. With fuel prices on the rise yet again and the great eco debate still riding high on the political agenda, it’s not surprising that we’re looking at alternatives to the traditional gas boiler. Our feature The Heat Is On (page 84) aims to simplify the options available and take out some of the tech speak that only serves to confuse rather than inform. The big questions to ask if you’re planning a large kitchen extension are what form of heating should you install, how do you insulate it properly and then – something that is often overlooked – how do you control it so you can have all the heat and hot water you want and need, whenever you want it, without heating an empty house when you don’t. Control is the new buzz word for efficiently heating your home. A great secondary heat source in a house with wonderful visual appeal is a wood burning stove. Turn to Turn Up The Heat (page 66) for Kirsten Jones’ round up of modern options to choose from. After all, there’s nothing quite like spending a cold January afternoon curled up on the sofa in front of a roaring log fire. Happy New Year!