The coronavirus lockdown saw our favourite pubs shutting their doors, with many of us getting creative at home with cocktails, and free-poured G&T’s one man took his creativity a step further and brought the pub into his own garden ideas. The lockdown project cost him just £802, with many items sourced for free from Facebook marketplace.

Thomas Sherratt, 31 from Stoke-on-Trent told Ideal Home that he had the idea for his very own backyard bar just over a year ago, in the UK’s first lockdown.

Tiki-inspired garden pub

‘With my wife being pregnant and the pubs being shut I needed to do something,’ the dad-of-two said of the unique garden shed idea. ‘We had been talking about doing a home bar but never went through with it.’

Image credit: Thomas Sheratt

Thomas said he came across tiki bars online, thought they ‘looked cool’ and set out to build one of his own. ‘I collected loads of things from reclamation yards to closing down pubs, to skips and Facebook marketplace,’ the electrician said.

Most of the material was salvaged by Thomas for free, including 27 wooden pallets destined for the skip which he used for the bar’s walls and roof (the ultimate pallet idea for a garden); a free double fridge from a restaurant closure, a free log burner and fire bricks from Facebook Marketplace, and a free beer cooler from a bar closing down. 

In progress

Image credit: Thomas Sheratt

He sourced items at a budget price too, including a corrugated roof from a farm (£30), wooden cladding from Facebook Marketplace for £50; and a large table (£60), bar optics (£90), bar signs (£10) and beer glasses (£20) from a pub closure.

‘We started on a piece of the garden that was just a blank canvas of hardwood,’ he added. The project took Thomas eight weeks to build, and he learned how to do it along the way by watching Youtube videos and using forums. ‘I loved every minute of it,’ he said. ‘The best part was when the bar was put in.

The finished result

Image credit: Thomas Sheratt

‘We have pumps on the go and we have loads of beers from lagers to craft beers, as well as spirits,’ he told us. ‘We also do take passion in keeping it local and getting a load from local breweries and distilleries,’

The Tiki Junglebar has a thatched roof, working bar taps, neon signs, and is complete with trailing plants, free tiki masks from Facebook Marketplace and a living wall made from wooden pallets. It even has multiple signposts with names of different bars, pubs and breweries from around the world, pointing in the direction of his own favourite drinking spots.

Image credit: Thomas Sheratt

‘We only offer invites as we are not a proper pub but when we do it’s a great time, whether it’s [watching] the football or rugby, or we decide to have a film night in the bar, every occasion is just as good,’ he said.

Thomas documented his journey on his Instagram page (@the_tiki_junglebar), amassing over 9,000 followers – and he has since entered The Tiki Junglebar into this year’s Cuprinol Shed of the Year contest.

‘We have entered into this year’s Shed of the Year competition, so any votes would be a massive help,’ he added. ‘We would love to win and have the award showing in the bar!’

The post DIY-er brings the pub to his own backyard in a tiki-inspired garden shed project that cost £802 appeared first on Ideal Home.

Over the last few years a new phrase has started appearing in building circles, ‘fabric first’ or a fabric first approach. Fabric first is a simple concept for making comfortable, sustainable and affordable-to-heat homes by focusing on insulation, putting in good windows, reducing draughts and optimised orientation and design to capture as much of the sun’s heat as possible.

In other words getting the stuff that the building is made from, fabric, right rather than the technology of how you heat it.

It is one of those logical ideas that is so obvious that you already know it! Despite this I am constantly amazed at how often the plans we hear for sustainable homes, whether from the government or homeowners, focus on low carbon technology for heating – heat pumps, bio-mass, hydrogen boilers etc etc – rather than on saving it. It is the equivalent of having a hole in a bucket and obsessing about how to keep filling it up rather than fixing the hole.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson

How does fabric first reduce heating bills?

If you fix the hole (stop your building losing heat) you can be far less interested in generating heat because a properly insulated, super air-tight house with a good ventilation system requires no heating system. You, the kids, dog, computers, oven and electrical kit provide the heat you need on all but the coldest of days.

While no heating is the logical conclusion of a fabric first approach there is much the approach has to offer all homes. Not only does it reduce heating bills but living in a house that is not losing heat, that has no draughts or cold spots is utter luxury. Once you’ve experienced it you will never want to live in a normal (cold) house again.

A well insulated house is also a healthy house. Badly insulated homes often suffer from condensation and damp leading to mould, which has very poor health implications.

A further reason I am such an advocate of a fabric first approach is because while technology eventually goes wrong, insulation does not. I appreciate it is hard to get excited by insulation but it can last hundreds of years with no running costs and doesn’t break down on Christmas morning with 15 coming for lunch.

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Beyond the possibly mundane insulation and draught proofing there are things to get more excited about in the field of fabric first.

How does computer modelling help with fabric first?

One of the most important is the use of computer modelling to optimise the way a house uses insulation and passive solar design to create super efficient self-heating living machines: scavenging just the right amount of the sun’s warmth while losing as little heat as possible.

Image credit: Future PLC/Douglas Gibb

There are several computer programmes that help to achieve this, we use Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) in my office and it is a wonderful thing. During our design process we model the building to test what heating it will need and what effect changes in the size, location and orientation of both the building and its windows will have, so we can optimise the form.

We explore the most cost effective place for insulation and make an accurate estimate of what heating bills will be before it’s built, driving down running costs and CO2 emissions. This should be the focus for sustainable homes, embedding clever thinking in the house fabric through good design and building. Done right it will never need servicing or break down. It will not only make you happy and healthy but benefit the generations to come.

The post What is fabric first? Charlie Luxton shares his advice appeared first on Ideal Home.

George at Asda is selling a stunning gold bar shelf that looks just like one from the well-known homeware brand Rockett St George, but for almost £100 less. Both of these sleek wall-mounted bars are perfect for storing glasses and cocktail supplies.

Whether you’re thinking about outdoor living room ideas for the spring, or want to create a cocktail corner in your living room, these are bound to get compliments from guests.

Asda gold bar shelf

Image credit: George Home

The Asda gold bar shelf is a fab way to elevate your living space without breaking the bank. Since it’s wall-mounted, it takes up very little space and will also free up some room in your kitchen cupboards or drinks cabinet.

Have fun displaying your best glasses, a cocktail shaker, some nice bottles of spirits, and an ornament or two. You could even display a little handwritten drinks menu on it, depending on which spirits you have when guests come round.

Gold-Tone Half-Circle Shape Bar Shelf, £25 at George at Asda
Revamp a tired corner of your home with this bargain wall-mounted bar shelf. It’s £133 less than an almost identical one from Rockett St George. You could even use it to display plants and other decorative pieces. It measures 42 x 59cm.

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Rockett St George bar shelf

Image credit: Rockett St George

This new bar shelf from quirky homeware brand Rockett St George has a more spacious frame for holding your beverages, plus it has two wine glass racks underneath. We think this would make an exceptionally stylish cocktail corner be it in your kitchen or as part of your dining room ideas.

Rockett St George’s wall-mounted bar shelf has an antique gold finish with simple yet pretty spherical details.

Wall-Mounted Gold Metal Bar Shelf With Mirror, £138.00 at Rockett St George
With this wall-mounted bar shelf, you can store gin and tonic supplies while keeping floor space entirely free, which always makes your space feel bigger. Or why not repurpose it above a chest of drawers as a vanity station? The possibilities are endless.

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Both bar shelves are super versatile. They could be a fab addition to any garden bar ideas you’re bringing to life this summer, too.

Which would you go for?

The post Asda is selling a £25 dupe for this designer gold bar shelf appeared first on Ideal Home.

Beige bathroom ideas have been getting a bad rep in recent years, especially with all the colourful bathrooms we see on Instagram. But at the same time, there is also a huge trend for the natural look and the calming benefits of a neutral bathroom colour scheme.

Beige bathroom ideas don’t have to be boring, it’s all about using beige in the right way. Think about wall treatments, such as tiles, paint or wallpaper, or on the floor, or painting the bath. Blend it with other neutrals in different shades and add texture for interest or to add pattern. Bring in metallics to add shine and luxury, with brass taps for example.

Beige bathroom ideas

There are lots of ways to introduce beige into your bathroom that are anything but boring. It’s a timeless neutral for a reason, and can look luxurious and elegant, or cool and contemporary. Beige blends perfectly with that other neutral, grey, for a soothing feel that is also sophisticated. Warming up a white bathroom with deep beige accessories is an easy way to bring colour in, the possibilities really are endless. So read on for our beige bathroom ideas.

‘Beige might be considered boring or bland, but it’s the go-to colour for those looking for a neutral scheme that exudes warmth’ says Abbas Youssefi, Director of Porcelain Superstore. ‘As well as offering a beautiful backdrop around which you can style the rest of the bathroom, beige tiles can often give a space a really palatial feel.

Plus, there is something very timeless about beige, it is a safe and comforting bet when it comes to interior chic and you can still add plenty of interest by choosing tiles with muted patterns for a subtle hint of detail. Alternatively, mosaics are a timeless bathroom trend that brings detail and luxury.’

1. Break up uniform beige by tiling a decor panel

Image credit: Future plc/David Giles

Instead of the usual black and white marble, beige tones are a nice change, look sophisticated and ideal if you want a hotel chic look. But don’t leave it there, in a large shower like this one, add a mosaic panel in similar colours to break up the space and to create a focal point in the centre, and use the same colour marble on the vanity unit top.

2. Blend beige tones and colour with wallpaper

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles

A bathroom wallpaper idea welcomes subtle accent shades to enhance a beige bathroom idea. This pretty bird design wallpaper is sure to bring a smile in a compact bathroom. Paper onto the facing wall so you see it as you walk in and also to provide a backdrop for the freestanding bath.

Pick out the accent tones, in this case green tones, to introduce a collection of vintage glass bottles. In this bathroom a tall storage unit tucks neatly into a corner to store all those things you don’t want on display.

3. Choose coloured sanitaryware

Image credit: RAK Ceramics; Feeling Wall-hung Rimless WC, £49; Bidet, £399; Countertop Basin £419 each; Shower Tray,£818, all in matt capuccino

Once a horror story of Avocado and Sun King, coloured sanitaryware has been growing in popularity in recent years. Still not sure? Then try a beige suite in a contemporary shape that will add subtle colour. Team it with polished grey concrete walls and that’s a designer look right there.

Pick up the beige in the bathroom furniture and also on the shower tray for a cool, contemporary scheme.

4. Make a feature wall

Image credit: Tile Mountain

This small shower room is all beige but different textures have been used to ramp up the design. Large, smooth, beige tiles have been used on the floor and in the shower enclosure which means there are fewer grout lines, making the space look bigger.

Then to add interest, companion, colour-matched, split-face mosaic tiles have been used on the basin wall to give it an authentic, natural style. Combined with a rustic vanity unit and black brassware, it’s a sure winner in the style stakes.

Buy now: Yosemite Ivory wall and floor tiles, £25.95 m2, Tile Mountain 

5. Create a focal point

image credit: Stone and Ceramic Warehouse; Jurassic Marble-effect Porcelain Tiles from £72 m2; Jurassic Feature Tile, from £305 m2

Lots of beige in this design and all of it stunning. Beige marble-effect tiles have distinctive veining which adds interest without being overpowering. They have been used on the walls and floor, but the real show-stopper is the half-wall which is also a marble effect with an eye-catching swirl design which takes it to another level.

Building a wall in the centre of a big bathroom like this, breaks up the space and allows light through from the windows behind without losing any privacy. The wc and basin could be positioned on the other side of the wall.

6. Paint the bath

Image credit: Davey Lighting; Double well glass wall light, £785

For a creative bathroom paint idea to add depth to a scheme, paint the bath in a mocha shade. This antique bath has the benefit of a design on the side with decorative feet too, but even a plain bath would be enhanced by a deeper colour, and would add interest to a white bathroom.

The floor is also in beige, another way to bring colour in, so the colour is deeper in the bottom half of the room, getting lighter as you go up the wall.

7. Add colour with accessories

Image credit: Pulfrost

In a plain room, adding a textured finish to the walls is a subtle uplift, this could be achieved with plaster or with a paint effect. Then find accessories you love in interesting shapes and different shades of beige and cream, introduce wood and stoneware for depth and a deeper colour for the towels for a complete look.

Buy now: Polka Dots Window Film, £15.63, Purlfrost

8. Introduce pattern with a blind

Image credit: Future PLC/ Alex Sarginson

If you want to add colour, and pattern, with a beige bathroom idea why not introduce both with a blind? This funky, chevron design roman blind packs a punch and echoes the deep striped tiles on the lower half of the room and on the floor. It’s subtle but makes a big difference. Painting the bath black adds drama too to a beige bathroom idea, to create a more contemporary monochrome scheme to that of a black and white bathroom idea.

9. Bring in contrasting tones

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles

In a small bathroom like this one, for a great beige bathroom idea, make the most of what you have and add colour where you can with a distinctive bath panel. Using small scale tiles won’t overpower in a compact space. Choose three or four contrasting shades and mix them up in a random pattern then use a warm beige tone for the walls.

10. Use pattern to break up beige

Image credit: Simply Bathrooms (Surrey)

Although the overall effect is still neutral in this beige bathroom idea, the room is interesting due to the pattern created by the shaped beige tiles on the wall and the Moroccan-style floor tiles. The grey grout on the wall tiles gives them definition and even though the pattern on the floor is a large scale pattern, it makes the room look bigger.

What colours go with beige in a bathroom?

‘There are different perceptions of beige – if you use the guiding principle of a subdued greyish yellow/ fawn, you’re getting closer to the mark. It’s that little note of yellow that makes it work quite broadly with other colours.’ says Patrick O’Donnell, International Brand Ambassador for Farrow & Ball.

For more daring beige bathroom ideas Patrick suggests: ‘For drama, look at deep greens or rich aubergine tones. Green Smoke in Modern Eggshell would add a welcome contrast on a vanity unit, whereas Pelt would bring a glamorous twist to a free-standing bath exterior.

For a calm, clean aesthetic, look no further than our subtly yellow-tinged Wimborne White for all your woodwork and ceiling, which will gently play with the underlying yellow notes in beige. ‘To create a little romance, add a splash of deep rose-pink on some panelling such as Sulking Room Pink in Modern Eggshell – providing a flattering warmth against traditional white sanitary ware.’

What towels go with a beige bathroom?

‘The bathroom is the place to bring in soft and nurturing colours to create a calming environment.’ Says Joanna Ross, General Manager, Product and Innovation, Sheridan. ‘When working with a beige bathroom, I’d suggest choosing crisp white towels. This creates a modern and stylish look that is timeless.’

‘If you want to go with something bolder, I’d suggest adding shades of blue,’ Joanna adds. ‘Whether that be a sky blue towel set, or a more traditional navy. This adds to a neutral colour palette without overpowering the space. Blue is one of the most popular colours in the bathroom. It can have a positive effect on our mood as it connects us to a blue sky or ocean found in nature, which helps us to feel relaxed. The colour blue is known to help calm the mind and produce a feeling of tranquillity, a perfect sensation for winding down at the end of your day.’

The post Beige bathroom ideas – 10 ways to show neutral doesn’t have to be dull appeared first on Ideal Home.