KITCHENExposed brickwork adds depth and visual texture to Martin and Kelly’s top floor living space and a blue Smeg fridge, designed by architect Renzo Piano, adds a splash of colour to the room. Elegant high black gloss kitchen cabinetry from Ikea and a matching black dining tab...

feels quite special. It is set on a large southeast London suburban estate, backed with mature woodland, and the setting is stunning. All the houses on the estate were designed in the Sixties, but built in 1970, and Lucy’s home is quite simply a hymn

The north London home of author Grace Saunders and her jeweller husband Michael is filled with a sense of modern romance. French armoires, old Venetian mirrors, hand-painted Rajasthani cabinets; every item tells a story that recalls an adventure

, handkerchiefs and cushions, with playful prints and muted colours that hark back to a more simple bygone age. Stepping into their hall, you’re greeted by wood-panelled walls and wooden floors. It feels homely and intimate, especially when Satchel, the family

There are town houses, manor houses, converted barns and an old mill that are packed with character as well as facilities including croquet lawns, indoor pools and Nintendo Wiis. There’s also the option of a chef and babysitting. For example, Woodlands House in Herefordshire is a...

Our family of five has been skiing as a unit for five years now. Every Easter holiday, we set off for a week on the slopes, each time we’re all a tad wiser about managing our expectations. We have tried lots of ways to make the holiday work for everyone: group ski lessons, indivi...

With 4,300 self-catering properties in Europe alone, Pure Holiday Homes has something to suit all tastes. For the ultimate warm-weather retreat, stay in the eight-bedroom renovated farmhouse near the town of Ronda in southern Spain, a favourite town

in Barcelona with her partner Christophe and their five-year-old daughter Lily. They are also the talented duo behind e-boutique and lifestyle brand, Bodie and Fou. Karine runs the online business from a warehouse near her home, while Elodie takes care of what

With its fresh, invigorating air and vast open spaces, the French countryside is the ideal place to welcome in the joys of spring with the family. Holiday France Direct has launched a new brochure of holiday homes for 2010, including mountainside

With cattle drives, a Junior Wrangler programme and Chuckwagon dinners, a holiday at the Paws Up Ranch Resort in Montana is just the place for any wannabe cowboys and gals. Happily, you won’t have to rough it too much as accommodation is in glamping tents or Little House On The P...