Ali Lovett

1 month ago | idealhome.co.uk | Ali Lovett

After making the move from a commuter town in Essex to a tiny village in Suffolk, Dorothy and James Clark set to work to transform their new ‘blank canvas’ garden into a haven for wildlife. ‘After retiring, we wanted to move to the countryside,’ says Dorothy. ‘Lots of properties around here have enormous gardens, but it was important to us to find somewhere manageable. This one wraps around the house without being too big.'The garden ideas seemed endless.

1 month ago | idealhome.co.uk | Ali Lovett

When the owner of this beautifully calming bathroom moved to their new house four years ago, the original bathroom was a good size and perfectly liveable, so the couple started redecorating elsewhere in the property. But when niggles started to mount up and their second child arrived, it was time for a revamp. ‘There was just no real storage,’ recalls the owner, ‘which meant things were always feeling untidy. And it was cold in there all the time, it felt damp and towels never really dried.

2 months ago | idealhome.co.uk | Ali Lovett

The owners of this home had always dreamed of renovating the kitchen of their two-up, two-down terraced cottage in southeast London from the moment they bought. After moving in, life got in the way and their plans were postponed, until, with twins on the way, they finally were able to make their dreams a reality, albeit on a tight budget.

Feb 15, 2025 | idealhome.co.uk | Ali Lovett

When this young family first moved into their Victorian home in Brighton, the kitchen was part of the original structure and typical of a period property - long and narrow, with a lean-to utility that had been added at a later date. ‘We extended out to the length of the lean-to and a metre to the side,’ says the owner.

Jan 19, 2025 | idealhome.co.uk | Ali Lovett

When this family moved into their new house two years ago, the entire property was in need of renovation. The existing kitchen wasn't big enough so they embarked on a project to extend the rear of the house to incorporate a large, open-plan kitchen-dining area. When it came to kitchen ideas, they had a clear idea of their likes and dislikes. ‘We really knew what we wanted,’ says the homeowner. ‘I love Scandinavian-style interiors, with neutral colours and lots of wood.