EMBRACE THE ELEMENTS

Pampered as we are by perfect plumbing, heating, technology, even air conditioning, it’s easy to become oblivious to the luxuries that surround us daily – namely the elements. Taking notice of earthy delights such as April showers, frosty lawns and dramatic thunderstorms is a wonderful way to gladden the heart. The best way to reconnect with the outside world is to put in some skylights, so you can hear the rain pounding and feel all the more cosy for being inside. Sliding Roofs (www.slidingroofs.com) specialises in fabulous, flat-glass roofs that open to the elements. For a more instant solution, install a window seat to create the perfect spot in which to sit and listen to the birds and enjoy the scents of summer.

HAVE SUNDAY LUNCH

With the decline of the Western world being blamed on the disappearance of Sunday lunch, it’s time to reinstate this weekly ritual. The key is to keep it simple – it’s less about fuss and more about good company. So do away with ceremony and gather family and friends around your table to bond, bicker, eat, drink and be merry.

For large spaces, a rustic, refectory-style wooden table – preferably one that extends – works well (see New Heights’s Otto table, £1,095, www.new-heights.co.uk), while small kitchens can accommodate a folding table, such as the oak-veneered Stow table with solid oak legs by Matthew Hilton, £199, from Habitat (www.habitat.net).

LIGHT A FIRE

We’ve had holes in walls, piles of pebbles and bronze firebowls, but nothing warms and revives jaded spirits like a crackling fire in a simple grate. If you can gather kindling and split logs, all the better, but in cities with smokeless zones, including London, remember that only smokeless fuel is allowed. Alternatively, try a flame-effect gas fire. Choose an unfussy style with no obvious gas source and avoid Seventies-style plastic logs at all costs. CVO Firevault (www.cvo.co.uk) has some good examples and Blomus (www.blomus.com) has great modern fireplace tools to keep the look contemporary.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

As our mothers always told us, first impressions count – which is why it’s so important to get the entrance hall looking right. For those of us not blessed with a dramatic, sweeping staircase capable of making a statement in its own right, this often means getting the most out of a cramped space. Keep colours bright and furniture simple, and bestow a dreary staircase with drama by painting a bright runner down its middle. Either strip, paint or French polish the wood to get it into tip-top condition and then prime and paint two or three coats of a colourful stripe from top to bottom in a shade that complements the surrounding decor.Floor paints resistant to pedestrian traffic can be found within the Dulux range (www.dulux.co.uk).

BATHE IN STYLE

Flashy, floor-to-ceiling marble an over-the-top, status-symbol plumbing may have their place, but nothing dates faster than a designer loo. Instead, go for white, tiled walls, dark-wood floors and classic, freestanding bathroom furniture. The clean, functional look of a simple bathroom is determined by its fixtures and fittings – ceramic sinks, enamelled, stainless-steel baths and vintage chrome or Victorian brass taps are timeless classics that can be found in architectural salvage yards such as Lassco (www.lassco.co.uk). For faithful reproductions, try Bathing Beauties (www.bathingbeauties.co.uk), while inexpensive white tiles are available at World’s End Tiles (www.worldsendtiles.co.uk). Note that old taps will need new washers and might not have such strong flow as modern ones. If your bathroom faces north, use white with a touch of yellow to warm it up; if it’s south-facing, use a cooler silvery white.

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