“There are so many more people in Tokyo than in New York, but it’s pristine. It’s so organised, and yet the address system is in complete chaos.” ~ Nick Wooster. Where are the most iconic streets in Tokyo?  If you’re preparing for a trip to Japan, there’s no doubt that you’ll want to create a…

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Stone cottage? Tick! Thatched roof? Tick! Village location? Tick! Yes, folks, if you’re dreaming of the quintessential cottage home, then this place has it all.

Whether you’re after a country living room where you can enjoy a roaring fire in winter, or some open-plan kitchen ideas inspiration, Todthatch could be the property for you.

Set in a peaceful village close to Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, this pretty semi-detached property is not only picture-perfect but up for sale.

Todthatch exterior

Image credit: Knight Frank

Approached through a gateway onto the private driveway, this partially-thatched Cotswold stone cottage has a stunning front garden. You can just see a slither of the terrace, where there’s plenty of space for al-fresco entertaining.

The gardens themselves back onto beautiful open fields and feature flower borders and two raised vegetable beds. From the front, you wouldn’t believe that the house includes three bedrooms, two reception rooms and two bathrooms.

Living room

Image credit: Knight Frank

Now if these living room ideas doesn’t spell country living to you, we don’t know what will. Exposed stonework, beams and a large inglenook fireplace with log-burning stove make for a pretty cosy interior, with sofas that are crying out to be lounged on.

No dingy dark rooms for this cottage either – those glass door open onto a small front porch with stone steps and ensure the space is kept light and bright.

Kitchen

Image credit: Knight Frank

Imagine cooking away at this range cooker and dishing up hearty meals on the breakfast table. This kitchen is a masterclass in how to use cottage kitchen ideas, with traditional wood furniture, old copper pans hung from beams and wall shelves showcasing pretty crockery.

An integrated double oven and dishwasher give you some mod cons, while just out of the picture is a stable door that opens out onto the front cottage garden.

Dining room

Image credit: Knight Frank

For a more formal dining setting, this room offers plenty of space for entertaining and we love the exposed stone walls and quirky shape to it.

Now, you can’t see it, but there’s also a useful utility room off of here, with a sink and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble drier.

Bedroom

Image credit: Knight Frank

Usually, we’d show you the master bedroom, but this sweet interior caught our eye and we wanted to show you how a twin doesn’t have to feel small or dull.

That vaulted ceiling adds an airy feel, while the large window creates plenty of light. Add to that the square of stone wall and sweet shelf where a headboard would normally be, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful if a little quirky, guest room.

Bathroom

Image credit: Knight Frank

Todthatch has two bathrooms and this one has both a separate shower (just out of the picture) and a bath to relax in at the end of a long day. Instead of the traditional holders, vintage bowls are used to store loo rolls, while artwork, candle holders and unique pieces of furniture give it an individual look.

So, how are you feeling after seeing Todthatch? Ready to see more of this beautiful cottage that’s on the market for £700,000? If so, head over to Knight Frank where you can see the listing.

Which is your favourite room in this charming house?

The post This charming Gloucestershire home is filled to the rafters with quaint character appeared first on Ideal Home.

Autumn is finally here! We’re already thinking ahead to Halloween and coming up with ways to give our homes a spooky update.

We spotted people making cute decorative pumpkins from Poundland mops – sounds like a bonkers Halloween decorating idea, but bear with us. We’re not ones to miss out on a bargain, so we gave it a go ourselves.

Image credit: Future PLC

We headed to Poundland and bought two double packs of mop heads. The exact type I’d seen people using online comes with another less woolly mop head with flat rectangular threads – always handy to have a spare on for cleaning.

I decided to pick up two sets, just in case things went drastically wrong. Plus, I think candles, succulents and many other decor pieces look much happier in ‘couples’ rather than on their own. Just me?

Mop head pumpkin hack

To make these little DIY pumpkins, you first need to tie a hairband a bit further than halfway down the mop head. Tie it nice and tightly (or things will not go well).

Image credit: Future PLC

Then, you have to make a hole in the middle of the mop by separating out the strands. It’s one of those things that’s tricky to explain, but you then push and rotate the plastic part of the mop head down into the centre.

So the plastic part should now be on the inside, upside down. Next, you start to push the loose ends inwards, too, while covering up the messy bit with the outer strands by gently pulling them around.

It will be fiddly – much more so than the Instagram reels make it seem. The first time I tried the hack, I didn’t have any plain, thin hair bands to hand, so used a scrunchie. It kind of worked, but the pumpkin didn’t really hold its form very well.

Image credit: Future PLC

On the fourth or fifth attempt – as well as questioning my life choices – I made it work. You definitely don’t want to tie the band too low down – just a little bit further than half way.

Otherwise, it’ll be too loose and won’t really look like a pumpkin. The woolly material catches and frays quite easily – definitely don’t try it if you’ve got a broken nail or the wool will start to look battered.

You then need to go foraging for a short twig and put it in the hole on the top of your mop pumpkin. Overall, we were really impressed with this budget trick – meaning more cash to spend on these beautiful autumn wreaths. It sounds totally crazy, but for £1.50 per pumpkin, you really can’t complain.

The post Celebrities are raving about this Poundland pumpkin hack to get your home Halloween ready appeared first on Ideal Home.