Building wonky treehouses and making makeshift shelters in the woods with my brothers forms some of my strongest childhood memories. As adults, we can lose the sense of shelter, both physically and emotionally, particularly if we live in a city. Yet when we are on holiday, the idea of staying in a rustic cabin or beach hut or even camping and being close to the elements is highly appealing. No matter how urban or sophisticated we are, we all crave trees, grass and open air, they offer is something vital; we fill our lungs and heave a sigh or relief at being at one with nature.  At the Isle of Wight festival a few years ago, the mighty...

Concrete always strikes me as a relatively modern material and yet the Romans used an early form of concrete around 2000 years ago to build the Colosseum. River sand was mixed with lime water and sometimes animal blood Strands of horse hair were then added to prevent shrinkage; clever. Nowadays, concrete goes hand in hand with innovation. Hardworking, attractive and practical, concrete is a favourite amongst architects. One of the best things to me about concrete is the fact that it can be embossed with various materials or objects, such as to give interesting texture or relief. The Stamp house by Australian firm Charles Wright architects...

Do you stride merrily towards your front door, admiring the smart paving and well behaved shrubs or do you groan as you bash away knee high nettles and step over cracked bricks? If it’s anything like the latter, it might be high time you gave your front garden a makeover. A decent approach to your home makes a big difference. The route to your front door deserves some love. First impressions are important, even if the space is tiny. If you have a front garden, make it spectacular in some way, whether with dramatic planting or beautiful paving. Architect Ben Adams observes ‘Our clients want very modern front gardens and we are seeing lots...

Rooms with high ceilings are as highly prized as good bone structure. A tall room is blessed with an airy elegance. If you happen to live in a hobbit hole, with ceilings a bit on the low side, don’t despair; there are ways to make the most of the lack in height. Whereas in period properties and cottages low ceilings lend character and charm, in featureless contemporary properties low ceilings can feel claustrophobic. The trick is to either camouflage a low ceiling and draw the eye away from it or flaunt it and draw the eye towards it. If you opt for camouflaging, there are a few guidelines. Play with the proportions of the room; create an...

Interiors that take themselves too seriously are just no fun. Too much good taste is boring and uptight. Kitchens in particular can be guilty of being too serious or lacking in personality. The polar opposite of this is the kitsch kitchen. Kitsch is a way of life; a style choice that for those that welcome the sentimental and aren’t slaves to trends and taste. So, what makes a kitchen kitsch? It is an approach that requires total conviction and confidence. It’s not for the faint hearted. It devours colour and loves clutter. Eschew ideas of good taste. To quote Grease, ‘the rules are there are no rules.’ However, kitsch is identified...

Tie dyed textiles are back.  Oh dear, I hear you sigh. Fear not, tie dye has come a long way from the summer of love. Today this vibrant technique is adding a cool vibe to the catwalk and the home. Banish swirly psychedelic nightmares to the back of your mind and think gentle, boho deluxe. If you find tie dyeing a bit terrifying, rest assured that with more muted colours and less aggressive designs, it can be wonderfully soothing. Romo’s Shibori tie-dyed linen is thus named for the artisanal Japanese technique used to produce it. The fabric is bound tightly to create the pattern, giving each length a unique character.,’ says design...