0:00:02 > 0:00:04I'm constantly taken aback by the huge variety
0:00:04 > 0:00:05of property styles in Britain,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07from characterful, timber-framed cottages
0:00:07 > 0:00:10to grand townhouses.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12But sometimes, what's on the inside
0:00:12 > 0:00:15doesn't live up to what's on the outside.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Over three series, we've seen some of the most enthusiastic
0:00:18 > 0:00:21amateur interior designers in the country
0:00:21 > 0:00:22show us how to do it...
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- SHE GASPS - Fantastic.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28- They asked for impact. - And you have it here.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30- HE LAUGHS - Yes!- Wow.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32..sometimes, how not to do it.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I could cry. Seriously.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38MAN LAUGHS
0:00:38 > 0:00:41That is a crime against design.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43In this special programme,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47we're showing you the ultimate rules of design room by room,
0:00:47 > 0:00:48from colours in the living room...
0:00:48 > 0:00:51It is definitely going to divide opinion.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..creating mood in the bedroom...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Any imperfections will show up.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58..to updating the whole kitchen.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00We're sanding them down now
0:01:00 > 0:01:02so that the paint fixes to the doors.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04As well as tips from our designers,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08we'll bring you the techniques used by our judges Sophie Robinson...
0:01:08 > 0:01:11There are the classic design rules, which should always be followed,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14and then there's some nifty tricks on how to create the look for less.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16- ..and Daniel Hopwood.- Sometimes,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20the simplest ideas make the biggest difference in a design scheme.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Plus, design secrets from industry giants Oliver Heath,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Orla Kiely and Kelly Hoppen.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28So, these are The Great Interior Design Challenge
0:01:28 > 0:01:30trade secrets.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41What our homes look like and how we live in them
0:01:41 > 0:01:44has long reflected the wider world.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Through our rooms, we can see all of life played out.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Class, gender, technology, politics, family values -
0:01:51 > 0:01:52they're all in there.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57We've broken the home down into five key rooms,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and we'll take you through, step by step,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02how to make the most of each of them,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05starting with the one we use most, the living room.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Back in the day, a large house would have had several living rooms,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11each with their own specific purpose.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13The Elizabethans had their long galleries
0:02:13 > 0:02:16where they would entertain and take a little gentle exercise.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19And by the 18th and 19th centuries, we had parlours and morning rooms
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and smoking rooms and billiard rooms and playrooms.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25These days, though, it's almost gone round full circle.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27We all entertain, watch TV
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and relax in one big space all over again.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34With so many demands,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37the living room is not an easy room to get right.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38So, when our amateurs have pulled it off,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41the judges have been seriously impressed.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Like the eco home in South London,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45where a cavernous, open-plan living room
0:02:45 > 0:02:48was made more intimate with colour and fabric...
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- Wow!- Ooh!
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- I mean, this is it, isn't it?- Very nice.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54These are the textiles pulling together all the colours,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and it feels very organic and free flow,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and it's hugely creative.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03..or the Edinburgh tenement which was cluttered and drab,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06but got a modern take on Victoriana.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10- It's lovely. - It's breathtaking, isn't it?- Oh!
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Fringing and embellishment. This is the story here, isn't it?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It's all the way around the room.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19There have, of course, been occasions when our designers
0:03:19 > 0:03:20haven't quite hit the mark
0:03:20 > 0:03:21in the living room.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22In a Cotswolds cottage,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24this checked scheme
0:03:24 > 0:03:25lacked enough variety.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27He did definitely get a good deal
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- on that bolt of checked fabric, didn't he?- He did indeed.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- It is everywhere.- Everywhere. - And it looks rather bland.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Or the otherwise successful
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Edwardian front room,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37where one focal point
0:03:37 > 0:03:38just didn't fit in.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40If I stand like that
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and look at me like that, it looks like I've got a halo.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Yeah, that's not a good image for me right now.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47There are some key elements to consider
0:03:47 > 0:03:49when planning your living room redesign,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51starting with the colour
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and going right through to what to do with the television.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57We've gathered the best ideas from our designers,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01and got the secret do's and don'ts from the professionals.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04The first priority for the living room is colour.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Colour schemes work rather well when you use the rule of three.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12The first colour makes up around 60% of your scheme.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15That could be something like the walls and the floors, for example.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Then, your secondary colour is around 30%.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Think, maybe, the sofa and the curtains.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23And then, finally, the last 10% is your accent colour.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25This could be used on scatter cushions,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27artwork and lampshades.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30This way, you'll find there's a nice, harmonious balance of colour.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Now, of course, I always say rules are for breaking,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35and of course you can use more than three colours,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38but the key is to use them in different proportion,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40otherwise they're all just fighting for attention.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Colour has helped our braver designers make a huge impact.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47This medieval terrace
0:04:47 > 0:04:49went from contemporary and neutral
0:04:49 > 0:04:52to opulent and atmospheric.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I think it's really cool. I rather like it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57I think it's daring and it's quite fun.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Or this Edwardian living room,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03where the zesty lime walls were
0:05:03 > 0:05:06toned down with darker accessories.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Oh, this is really super.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The first thing that's hitting me is I just love this colour scheme.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Little touches like the fabrics and the accessories
0:05:13 > 0:05:15do make it feel very unique.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19If you're someone who tends to go for a neutral scheme,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22then you'll need to add some energy to it,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and the way to do that is by using an accent colour.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Now, to find the right colour,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30look at the colours you might wear in your nail varnish,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32your jewellery or even a scarf,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35but whatever you do, make sure it's bold.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38In a converted school,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42a bland room was uplifted using accent colours in blocks.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I think the reason why all these different blocks of colour
0:05:45 > 0:05:47are working together is because they've been continued
0:05:47 > 0:05:50throughout the room. So, you've got the grey wall,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52but you've got a grey light over here
0:05:52 > 0:05:53and a grey armchair over there,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56so it isn't just blocks of colour alone.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57But it's not just that -
0:05:57 > 0:06:02it's the way he's uplifted that deep purple with that clever blue.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04You can see it sitting down there.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05But beware.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08In Welwyn Garden City, a fresh and natural colour scheme
0:06:08 > 0:06:11was all but ruined by a brighter tone.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It's an interesting idea, isn't it,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15to use this very vibrant blue as a highlight?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I mean, check it out on this chair.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18I mean, it kind of looks bonkers.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Guest judge Kelly Hoppen has a signature colour scheme
0:06:25 > 0:06:28which marks out her design ethos.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32When you neutralise a colour in a room, it gives you the...
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It's like a stage. You can then create your life on it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40So, my design, and using taupe and neutral colours
0:06:40 > 0:06:42allows the people that I design for
0:06:42 > 0:06:45to really be the character in the room.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Fellow guest judge Orla Kiely agrees you should keep tones simple.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52I think it's a good idea, when using colour in the home,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54to stick to one family.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56It's how it layers and builds.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00But the idea of going from a dark tone through to a light
0:07:00 > 0:07:03so that it pops is really important.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07When you know what your colour scheme is,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10you next need to consider the key pieces of living room furniture.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Often, we want our living rooms to feel bigger than they are,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18but there are some clever visual tricks that can be played
0:07:18 > 0:07:19before you start knocking down walls.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22It's a feeling of light and space that will help your living room
0:07:22 > 0:07:26feel more open and airy, so you want to avoid choking it up
0:07:26 > 0:07:28with lots of solid and bulky bits of furniture.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Instead, go for items that you can actually look through.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34So, open shelving in favour of cupboards,
0:07:34 > 0:07:35sofas that are raised up on legs,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and a glass coffee table that allows the eye to travel
0:07:38 > 0:07:41all the way to the floor will really do the trick.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Designing in a calendar house,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Martin came up with the idea of cutting a table in half
0:07:46 > 0:07:49and using mirrors to create a sense of space.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51It's exactly as I had envisaged it.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53It's created that illusion of a whole table,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55and I really, really like that.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57And I think, once they're dressed,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59they're just going to look absolutely stunning.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02This idea is genius. You know, a bit of a junk shop table,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05sawn it in half, and yet, you get the full appreciation
0:08:05 > 0:08:07of the whole thing cos it reflects all the way through.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Of course, the key piece in any living or sitting room
0:08:12 > 0:08:14is something to sit on,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16and our designers have often got creative
0:08:16 > 0:08:18updating a sofa or armchair.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Lily made a clever, detachable cover from old curtains.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The idea is to velcro this on the back of the sofa,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28so that they can just whisk it off and wash it.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Holly had an ingenious way of making buttons
0:08:32 > 0:08:34for an elegant footstool.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36I've got a two-pence piece,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39and then I'm just going to stitch around the edges.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43This is just a way to make it look a lot more expensive.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48The most outlandish idea, though, came from Fiona.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50For her gentleman's club scheme,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53she attempted to revitalise a battered old armchair
0:08:53 > 0:08:55by painting the fabric.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Any minute now, it's going to be burgundy.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00Look at that.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Fiona used watered-down chalk paint,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05which she worked into the weave of the fabric.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06The chair's a massive experiment.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I don't know how the chair's going to work out.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10It's quite stressful for me.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15She created purple plaid side panels attached with metal tacking strips,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17which stretched the fabric into place.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I'm really pleased with that.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Final touch - some wax to stop the paint from cracking.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27The wax has made it all nice and supple.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29You know, it feels like leather, it sounds like leather.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33In fact, if I didn't know, I would say this was a leather chair.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Mwah!
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Gentleman's club armchair.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42But was the finish good enough to impress the judges?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44This chair is amazing.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48It looks like dark, aubergine leather.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49What a great finish she's got on it.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I rather fancy having a whisky and soda and listening to Mahler.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Getting a cosy feel in the living room is crucial,
0:09:58 > 0:09:59and key to that
0:09:59 > 0:10:01are all the soft furnishings.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Some people start with the floor,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05some people start with the wall.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07I tend to look at fabrics first
0:10:07 > 0:10:10and kind of get the feel of the softness of a room.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13When you're designing, you need to ask questions,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17and they can seem like incredibly stupid questions,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19but are there fabrics you don't like the feel of?
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Are there textures that you love?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23What is the type of feeling
0:10:23 > 0:10:25that you want to have when you sit on a sofa?
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Once you've got all that information,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30then you can go away and find fabrics that you love
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and you start playing with fabrics,
0:10:32 > 0:10:34putting them together to see what works.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Our designers have had some unconventional ideas
0:10:37 > 0:10:39for unique soft furnishings.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Frankie made cushions from old suits...
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I think, in the winter time,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48you could actually just use your pockets.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49I do like the cushions.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53I like the idea of the suiting with pockets and...
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Yeah, that's cute.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58..while Christine used natural dyes for her fabrics.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Turmeric can turn quite mustardy quite easily,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02so I want it to be nice and fresh.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06So I'm going to take that out and wash it off, and that should be it.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Oh, and these look lovely. I think that looks great.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11I'd like to have seen it higher up the curtain
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- cos it's a bit lost, isn't it? - Yeah, you won't see it down there.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16But at least your curtain won't get dirty.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22The shape of the modern-day living room
0:11:22 > 0:11:25depended on the invention of one crucial piece of technology -
0:11:25 > 0:11:26the chimney.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Once upon a time, we all ate, slept and entertained
0:11:28 > 0:11:31in one gigantic hall huddled around a central fire.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33The invention of the chimney, though,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35allowed us to divide up that one big space
0:11:35 > 0:11:38into several separate, intimate rooms,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40which could then be individually heated.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Of course, today, the chimney breast is an important design feature,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47acting as a focal point for the room.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Every living room needs a focal point,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55but all too often, it's towards the TV,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57which is such a waste of family life.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I'd urge you to get creative.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Think about using a piece of artwork,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03timber wall panels or a wood-burning stove.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06In our own living room, we've angled the table
0:12:06 > 0:12:09so that everybody has a view towards this picture window
0:12:09 > 0:12:10and the garden beyond.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16Our designers have used some visual trickery to create focal points.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Lucy used silver leaf to give the impression of a chimney breast
0:12:19 > 0:12:21on a flat wall.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Glued the wall with PVA.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28What I'm trying to do is butt them up next to each other
0:12:28 > 0:12:30so there's not too many gaps.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34For me, the use of the silver on the chimney breast
0:12:34 > 0:12:36is absolutely brilliant.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43Luke drew attention to this chimney breast with a sunburst mural.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46I wasn't sure about the purple when I was first painting it,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49but now I actually think it does look really good.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55However, there's one more modern focal point
0:12:55 > 0:12:58that can pose a design problem - the dreaded television.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04The big no-no for me is to have a TV on a white or a pale wall.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06It will just stand out and look like an eyesore.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08The priority is to try and conceal it.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10For example, in one room,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13I painted a number of shades of grey rectangles,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15which helped camouflage it.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Some of our designers have had a similar idea...
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Modern TVs loom and dominate a space,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26but by painting the entire dark wall, it's gone.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29..while others have purposely drawn attention to it.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- I sort of don't mind that TV. - I know! Neither do I.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34I can't believe it. Are we allowed to like it?
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I think, in the context of the other frames...
0:13:37 > 0:13:39You know, if it was just on its own, it would look a bit naff,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42but because she's got the gold frames on either alcove as well,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44as a collection, they work.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48So, after deciding on colour, furniture,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50soft furnishings and focal points,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53there's still one thing to consider -
0:13:53 > 0:13:54accessories.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59I think you should fill a house with objects that you love
0:13:59 > 0:14:00that you've gathered over the years.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02It's all about being personal.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05It also brings a very individual personality
0:14:05 > 0:14:08that nobody can really replicate. You know, it's yours.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11We've seen some ingenious accessories across the series.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Jordan made a lamp from action figures.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Lots of charity shop toys.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- Glue them all together, spray can...- Spray.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20..and you've got a real designer piece.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21I'm very impressed.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Michael turned wire bins into decorative urns.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27These are really cheap. They were about £1.20.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31I've bent this one so it's much more of a kind of urn shape.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I'm on Blue Peter next week doing something very similar.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36HE CHUCKLES
0:14:36 > 0:14:38And Rachel had a simple technique
0:14:38 > 0:14:41for making photos look like paintings.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44These are just some tourist board pictures
0:14:44 > 0:14:47I've printed from the internet of this area,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50and I'm just going to give them a wash of white emulsion
0:14:50 > 0:14:51just to make them a bit softer.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54It just makes them look more paintery than a photograph.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Working in a 1960s home, Fiona came up with a groovy trick
0:15:00 > 0:15:03for making a fruit bowl out of an old record.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05She heated it in the oven for just a few seconds,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08taking care when handling the hot plastic.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11I'm just going to pop it in this bowl,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13which is the kind of size that I want,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15and it'll just magically form into a shape.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Ta-dah! Delighted with it.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21The small things can make a big difference in the living room.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27An ethos that can be applied
0:15:27 > 0:15:30when tackling a more daunting transformation.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33There's one room that's the heart of every home
0:15:33 > 0:15:37that literally nourishes its inhabitants - the kitchen.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38In Georgian and Victorian times,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40we banished it to servants' quarters,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44and right up until the 1960s, it was a purely functional space
0:15:44 > 0:15:46grouped around the work triangle between the fridge,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48the sink and the cooker.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52But these days, the kitchen's about more than just preparing food -
0:15:52 > 0:15:55it's the social hub of the whole home.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I think a lot of people are absolutely terrified
0:15:59 > 0:16:00about redesigning their kitchen.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02First of all because it costs a lot,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05but secondly, it's a complicated design to get right,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and what happens is people kind of put up with what they've got
0:16:08 > 0:16:09while it's crumbling around them.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13But, you know, it doesn't have to be a case of all or nothing.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16You can update an existing kitchen really successfully.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20I've had clients who will easily spend £100,000
0:16:20 > 0:16:22on a top-of-the-range kitchen, so I have to admit,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26I've been amazed by what these designers have managed to do
0:16:26 > 0:16:27with such a small budget.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Our designers know the trick to transforming a kitchen for £1,000
0:16:33 > 0:16:34is to work with what you've got.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Like the Victorian half house
0:16:36 > 0:16:38that had great units and furniture,
0:16:38 > 0:16:39but needed new colour scheme
0:16:39 > 0:16:40and flooring.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44What she's gone and done is played with some interesting colours
0:16:44 > 0:16:45and then added a paler floor,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47which has bounced the light into the room.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49She's put this border on the ceiling,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52which links everything together very well.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Or the calendar house kitchen
0:16:53 > 0:16:55that was cluttered and busy,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58but became orderly and unified.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I'm loving the blues that she's chosen.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03What I do love is this stormy blue on the ceiling.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06People are afraid of painting ceilings in dark colours,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08but, actually, what it's done -
0:17:08 > 0:17:10it's making this room feel even taller.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12The design rules for a kitchen
0:17:12 > 0:17:15focus around the most dominant surfaces in the room,
0:17:15 > 0:17:17from cabinet doors to worktop,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21as well as the all-important accessories that end up on display.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24We've got all the tricks to add some style to a kitchen
0:17:24 > 0:17:27without doing a total refit, starting with the units.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31You might think a bespoke kitchen is out of your price range,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34but you can buy off-the-peg carcasses
0:17:34 > 0:17:36and get a joiner to make the door fronts,
0:17:36 > 0:17:37or source your own.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Antique shutters, reclaimed wood can look really beautiful.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43This way, you can be ultimately creative
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and have complete control over the look of your kitchen.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52If you fancy a really crisp, modern look for your kitchen doors,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55think about going down to a car body workshop
0:17:55 > 0:17:58where you can have them sprayed for less money than you think.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03It can cost just £10 per door for a high gloss finish,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05but in the Victorian half houses,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09Sarah had to add a country feel to very plain kitchen doors.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14Cupboards, we're going to turn those into Shaker-style cupboards...
0:18:14 > 0:18:17- Oh, right.- ..make it more of a country kitchen...- Yes.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21..and paint those to bring a bit more colour into the room.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Sarah got the look by gluing an MDF frame onto door fronts,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27giving the whole thing a paint job.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29They're perfect.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Hoorah!
0:18:31 > 0:18:34She added to the country feel by making fire-retardant curtains
0:18:34 > 0:18:37to hang in front of the base units.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39I've got little brass rings that I'll sew to the tops of them,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and they should slide along,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43so she can slide them backwards and forwards over the cupboards
0:18:43 > 0:18:46or away from the cupboards, depending on what she needs to hide.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48SHE LAUGHS
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Now, Sarah's transformation
0:18:51 > 0:18:53was one of the best I've seen.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- What a before and after.- Exactly.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57And one of the reasons why it was so successful
0:18:57 > 0:19:02is she went for a Shaker-style door, which is just a simple two-panel,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and that's the sort of thing which will never go out of date.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Sarah chose to replace her doors,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10but there are ways to update your existing kitchen.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13There are peel-back veneers, wood cladding, metal inserts.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16I've even seen vinyl wallpaper being put into the panels,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18and it's very effective.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Of course, the simplest way of updating kitchen units
0:19:21 > 0:19:22is to paint them.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Working in a 1960s Span house,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Julia had a technique for painting high gloss cabinets.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29We're sanding them down now,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32so that the paint fixes to the doors,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34and then hopefully get the first coat on tonight.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37So, yeah, we're cooking with gas, but it's all good.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39I'm very impressed with how she's preparing it.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41She's getting a really nice key on there.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43She's filled the holes left behind by the handles
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- to a very high standard. - It's a bit scary, isn't it?
0:19:46 > 0:19:47It's like re-spraying a Rolls-Royce -
0:19:47 > 0:19:49you can't get it wrong.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Once sanded, Julia applied a primer and a few top coats
0:19:52 > 0:19:53to banish the black,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55but did the judges think
0:19:55 > 0:19:56she pulled off a quality finish
0:19:56 > 0:19:57in the end?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Blimey! - SHE LAUGHS
0:20:01 > 0:20:02It's a real transformation, isn't it?
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I'm looking at his five cupboards.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I mean, they were black, Darth Vader gloss before,
0:20:08 > 0:20:09and I can't see a drip anywhere.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12I think this is a very, very professional finish,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14and, actually, I'm extremely impressed.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16In a Yorkshire farmhouse,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Anne gave some dated orange pine cupboards a whitewash effect
0:20:20 > 0:20:22using watered-down emulsion.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26I'm doing it once and then I'm going to do it all again.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29You know, obviously, painted wood can chip,
0:20:29 > 0:20:34so it's important we make it as sturdy as we can.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39I think the treatment
0:20:39 > 0:20:42of these doors is an absolute triumph.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45By cleverly washing them, we've still got that lovely grain.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48And she did that herself, and I think to a very high standard.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52It wasn't so long ago that a kitchen didn't have fitted cabinets at all.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55The fitted kitchen was invented in 1926
0:20:55 > 0:20:57as a laboursaving device
0:20:57 > 0:21:00to free women from being slaves to the stove.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03And over the decades that followed, with the rise of convenience foods
0:21:03 > 0:21:05and kitchen gadgets in the '50s and '60s,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09we spent as little time as possible in this room.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Only when Britain became a foodie nation in the '80s and '90s
0:21:12 > 0:21:15did we learn to embrace it as a place for entertaining
0:21:15 > 0:21:19and showing off just how stylish and well-fed we were.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20At around the same time,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23we began hiding appliances and white goods,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26something our designers have done with quirky techniques.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Like Jane in her eco house.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32A few months ago, on one of the internet sites,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I saw a wallpapered fridge.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37And I was talking to my husband and I said,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39"Wow. How smart does that look?"
0:21:39 > 0:21:42We wouldn't paint our fridge cos it doesn't need painting,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45but there must be so many people out there who've got ugly fridges
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and they don't know what to do with them.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Yeah, I'm really pleased with it.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55After the units, the next logical step
0:21:55 > 0:21:57is to plan what goes on top of them - the worktop.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00A word on worktops.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03There are three ways to go - top, middle and bottom.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Invest in the best and you're looking at real stone,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09stainless steel or a bespoke material like Corian.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10At the lower end of the market,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12you have your faux-finish laminate worktops,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16and the good news is these come in masses of designs and finishes
0:22:16 > 0:22:18and are far better than they used to be.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21My tip is to go for a straight edge rather than rolled,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24and a really fat lip will help that worktop
0:22:24 > 0:22:26look far more expensive and designer.
0:22:28 > 0:22:29Kimberly had a clever way
0:22:29 > 0:22:33of giving an inexpensive laminate work surface more style.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37The builder's done a fantastic job of cutting these all to size,
0:22:37 > 0:22:42and using the excess worktop to create a fold-down,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46which is a really, really modern touch in a kitchen at the moment.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Kimberly came up with a really neat little design detail
0:22:51 > 0:22:54with her worktop by continuing it all the way to the floor,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and it's a trick that a lot of high-end kitchen designers use,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01and thereby made her very dated kitchen look rather up-to-date.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08One of my bugbears in kitchens are white, shiny surfaces
0:23:08 > 0:23:10because they only ever seem to get dirty.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13So, I always specify matte, textured surfaces,
0:23:13 > 0:23:17be it wood, stone or this - crushed, recycled glass.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18It's much more stress-free
0:23:18 > 0:23:22because it does so well to conceal the marks of family living.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27If tackling units and worktops is a step too far,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29then creating a look with accessories
0:23:29 > 0:23:31could be just as impactful.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Give your kitchen some personality.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Hang a striking piece of artwork, hang a dazzling chandelier -
0:23:38 > 0:23:40even mix up the style of handles.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Just a little bit of the unexpected can go a long way
0:23:44 > 0:23:48to add some character to what is otherwise a very functional room.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Working in a B&B kitchen,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Talie wanted to add personality with her lighting.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00I'm actually going to make you a light fitting out of whisks.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Oh, wow. It looks fantastic. - Yeah?- Thank you very much.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- Good.- You've done a great job.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I'm just wiring up the lights,
0:24:08 > 0:24:13and a certified electrician will check that my wiring is OK.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17This absolutely has to have an earth because it's in a metal casement.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19And then...
0:24:22 > 0:24:23Then we have...
0:24:24 > 0:24:26..one light fitting.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Talie's whisk pendants were hung from a block of reclaimed wood
0:24:30 > 0:24:32suspended from the ceiling.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I love it. I'm so excited.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Yay! Fantastic.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41The quirky touches didn't stop there.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Talie also made her planters from cheese graters
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and used utensils to hang utensils.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50I was really impressed with how
0:24:50 > 0:24:51Talie managed to get a little bit
0:24:51 > 0:24:52of humour in her kitchen design.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54She used everyday kitchen utensils
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- in an unexpected way. - Yeah, weren't they fun?
0:24:57 > 0:25:01But if you're going to add a bit of verve into a kitchen,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03you've got to have the scale right,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07and those whisks were just a little bit too small in that big space.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Making decorative kitchen accessories from practical items
0:25:12 > 0:25:15is a recurring theme for our designers,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17like Anne's plate transfers.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19You wouldn't put them in the dishwasher
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and have your tea off them, but they're...it's decorative.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23I just thought it would be a nice idea,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26seeing as I'm doing a kitchen.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Even marmalade has become a light fitting,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31backlit and, thankfully, in jars.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Look behind you, Dan. She's created a really nice display here,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and I actually really love these marmalade jars.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40So, giving an old kitchen a new lease of life
0:25:40 > 0:25:42may not be as complicated as you think.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45But in other rooms, you really can start from scratch
0:25:45 > 0:25:47to get the mood right.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Through here is perhaps the most formal space
0:25:50 > 0:25:52in the entire home these days.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54That is, if we have one at all.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59The dining room has come a long way from its medieval origins
0:25:59 > 0:26:02when it was a great hall filled with gigantic trestle tables,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03seating dozens at a time.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06These days, it's much smaller and more intimate in scale,
0:26:06 > 0:26:07but the basic elements remain -
0:26:07 > 0:26:09a central table for food
0:26:09 > 0:26:11and seats around it for conversation.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14We've just lost the gigantic pig's head in the middle
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and the flaming torches on the walls.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20The biggest change to dining rooms since medieval times
0:26:20 > 0:26:23is how they have often become parts of other rooms -
0:26:23 > 0:26:25an added complication when designing them.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27But this hasn't fazed our designers,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29like in the Scottish castle where the dining area
0:26:29 > 0:26:31was little more than a table
0:26:31 > 0:26:33in the corner of a room,
0:26:33 > 0:26:34but became an eye-catching,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36stylish set-up.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38She thinks about absolutely everything,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40including setting the table.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Yeah, this is a nice setting, isn't it?
0:26:42 > 0:26:44We've got slate and pewter and cut glass.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46And she's painted all the furniture.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48In a Victorian London townhouse,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50the open-plan diner went from
0:26:50 > 0:26:53pretty plain to impactful,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55with bold, off-black walls.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59She's come in with this really dark pot of paint.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01But what's great about painting a room dark
0:27:01 > 0:27:04is if you've got a lot of disparate things -
0:27:04 > 0:27:07you know, just a collection of stuff that everybody has -
0:27:07 > 0:27:10the dark sets it off really nice and just pulls everything together,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12as it has done in this room.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15There has been some room for improvement, though,
0:27:15 > 0:27:16like the Arts and Crafts house
0:27:16 > 0:27:18with a bohemian scheme
0:27:18 > 0:27:19that was more confused
0:27:19 > 0:27:20than eclectic.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25- What is that? What is that?! - Do you not like that mirror?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27It's just nothing's going.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32So, this is our step-by-step guide on what to look out for
0:27:32 > 0:27:35when updating a dining room, from colour and functionality
0:27:35 > 0:27:38right down to the table and chairs themselves.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39First things first,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41the all-important colour and patterns.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44I love designing a dining room
0:27:44 > 0:27:46cos you can just go that little bit wilder
0:27:46 > 0:27:48because it's such a social space
0:27:48 > 0:27:50and you can really make it bold and exciting -
0:27:50 > 0:27:53certainly a lot more than you can do with the rest of the house.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Yeah, I think, because it is an energetic space,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57you can really ramp up the colour,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00which is one reason why red's so popular.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03It really creates drama and a nice, intimate atmosphere.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Across the series, our designers have often taken
0:28:05 > 0:28:06the opportunity
0:28:06 > 0:28:08to let loose a little,
0:28:08 > 0:28:09like the stately home apartment that
0:28:09 > 0:28:12got a more atmospheric red scheme.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14This room is so big, so grand,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16it's got a huge window letting in loads of light.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19You don't need to be afraid of colour in a room like this -
0:28:19 > 0:28:21you can take it everywhere.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22Or the Victorian house
0:28:22 > 0:28:24that was given a bold look
0:28:24 > 0:28:25with panels of wallpaper.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28I love the fact she's really pushed
0:28:28 > 0:28:31her budget to go out and buy this quite expensive designer wallpaper,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33and I think it's money well spent.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36She's offset it with this very pale sage,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39which, in my opinion, just calms the whole thing down a bit -
0:28:39 > 0:28:41there's an element of balance there.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Wallpaper is a popular choice for dining rooms,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47but picking the right one will change the crucial mood.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Metallic wallpapers work particularly well.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52They look dazzling by day, but then, at night,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54where you've got low lighting,
0:28:54 > 0:28:56they create a very indulgent atmosphere.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58If you are going to go for patterned wallpaper,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01I would urge you to put it all the way around the room.
0:29:01 > 0:29:02That way, it feels really dramatic.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05In her Victorian dining room,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Sarah wanted to create impact with wallpaper
0:29:08 > 0:29:10while also drawing on historic references.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14I think that most of the houses in this road were built around 1890,
0:29:14 > 0:29:18and I found some wallpaper that was first produced in 1890
0:29:18 > 0:29:19and found in a house in London.
0:29:19 > 0:29:24- It's a fantastic design with some bamboo and parrots.- Oh, lovely.
0:29:24 > 0:29:25I'd like to do the whole room.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27I don't want to hold back and just do one wall.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- I think it would be lovely to create an elegant room with it.- Yeah.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34And if the wallpaper wasn't bold enough...
0:29:34 > 0:29:36That is the difference between this room
0:29:36 > 0:29:38being a dull, boring, hotel suite
0:29:38 > 0:29:41into a fantastic dining room.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45And that is a brilliant colour. That is going to just sing.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Sarah used the yellow on her chandelier
0:29:49 > 0:29:51and her modern fireplace surround.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54This is the biggest chunk of yellow that's going in there.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57It's a fine line between doing something that is interesting
0:29:57 > 0:30:01and adding colour to the room, and looking like you're desperate.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03So, did the judges think she'd stuck
0:30:03 > 0:30:05on the right side of that line?
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- Ooh.- Oh, wow!- It's gorgeous.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11She's picked this very strong wallpaper,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13which links in with the paint colour,
0:30:13 > 0:30:15which is then carried in over the ceiling,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18and then she's got the punchy yellow from the parrots.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21It's brought the whole room together and made it feel very cohesive.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27If a dining area isn't a room in its own right,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29then crucial to consider
0:30:29 > 0:30:30is how you zone it.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32In any open-plan space,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35you're going to need to demarcate the dining area.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37There are lots of ways you could do this -
0:30:37 > 0:30:39a bold block of colour on one wall,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42a nice, striking pendant light hung nice and low,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45or something as effective as a bright, bold rug
0:30:45 > 0:30:47positioned underneath the table.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50In his converted-school, open-plan reception room,
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Luke used an oversized fabric canvas to zone the dining area.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58You can't just get a huge one piece of material
0:30:58 > 0:31:01for the whole canvas, so it'll have to be in two bits.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04It's critical that he gets the tension even all the way round.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06What he needs to do is visualise the Union flag,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and begin by stretching the fabric vertically
0:31:09 > 0:31:12and then horizontally and then opposite diagonals.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15That way, he'll get a really nice, even tension all the way round.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19I don't want to completely get rid of all the creases,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22so even though I'm going over it, there's still some coming through,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24and I think it's quite nice cos it gives it a bit of depth
0:31:24 > 0:31:27and just gives it a little bit more character.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Including the frame, Luke's canvas wall
0:31:31 > 0:31:33cost him just a little over £50.
0:31:33 > 0:31:34A clever idea,
0:31:34 > 0:31:36but did the judges think
0:31:36 > 0:31:37it gave a more expensive feel?
0:31:38 > 0:31:40That blue canvas,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43I personally think that is one of the cleverest ideas I've seen.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46I think, cos we've got this very sculptural light fitting
0:31:46 > 0:31:48set in front of it, it makes it look really interesting.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Actually, that's why the light looks so good -
0:31:50 > 0:31:52it's set off by the blue colour.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Whether your dining area is tucked in a corner
0:31:54 > 0:31:56or a grand room in its own right,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59there's one piece of furniture it's sure to have -
0:31:59 > 0:32:01a dining set.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05The most important thing in a dining room is obviously the table.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Not only can you make the room fantastic,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11you can also play around with how you lay your table
0:32:11 > 0:32:13cos, ultimately, the dining room is a space
0:32:13 > 0:32:17that you can recreate themes and fantasies all the time.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24I do like a round or even an oval dining table
0:32:24 > 0:32:25because they're much more sociable -
0:32:25 > 0:32:27everybody gets to talk to each other.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30But you don't have to replace your own dining table.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34Just get a larger piece cut out of MDF in the right shape,
0:32:34 > 0:32:35paint it and put it on top.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Some of our designers have given old tables a new lease of life.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Susan used a simple paint technique to give a chequered effect...
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Trying to block this table off in blocks,
0:32:47 > 0:32:48rather like a chessboard,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50just to make it a bit more interesting.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55Just by using the brushstrokes, you know, in different directions.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58..while others designed a bespoke table
0:32:58 > 0:33:00entirely from scratch.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03I bet you're dying to have a touch of that dining table, aren't you?
0:33:03 > 0:33:05This is gorgeous, isn't it? What a triumph.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07This was, I think, a tenner for the wood,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10and then she's had the legs made by a local blacksmith.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12£60 for the set of four.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16And to have your legs handmade by somebody - by a blacksmith -
0:33:16 > 0:33:18you know, that makes it something quite special.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25Whatever the table is made from, it needs to be enduring.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Aged and natural materials have a wonderful patina.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29They've been round the block,
0:33:29 > 0:33:31so they're much more able to deal with
0:33:31 > 0:33:34the stresses and strains of family life.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38This table originally had a cheap, yellow pine surface like that,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41but what I did was to scorch it with a blowtorch,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44rubbed it down with a wire brush, put some beeswax on it,
0:33:44 > 0:33:47and you get this wonderful, warm texture and grain
0:33:47 > 0:33:49that not even my children can destroy.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55I think one of the best dining tables we've ever seen, though,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57was Martin's in the final. Do you remember?
0:33:57 > 0:33:59It was made up of parquet,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02and it just had the right edge for that room.
0:34:03 > 0:34:08In a calendar house, Martin used £75 reclaimed parquet floor tiles
0:34:08 > 0:34:11for his tabletop, but things didn't start well.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15So, I ordered the parquet floor, and the finish of it,
0:34:15 > 0:34:17as it was advertised, was immaculate.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Unfortunately, what's arrived isn't quite in the same condition.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23It's going to take a fair few hours to get them done,
0:34:23 > 0:34:24but it'll be worth it.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27I think it'll be...yeah, a labour of love.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32It's got some real character to it, hasn't it?
0:34:32 > 0:34:35The tiles were then glued to an existing table,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37edged with timber, and sanded down.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41I think, for a family, it's great
0:34:41 > 0:34:43because it looks like an old scrub kitchen table
0:34:43 > 0:34:45that's had a few knocks already.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Maybe a bit difficult to wipe down when the kids are here
0:34:47 > 0:34:50with all the crumbs going in the cracks.
0:34:50 > 0:34:51Martin's table was a hit
0:34:51 > 0:34:54in the casual surrounds of the kitchen/diner,
0:34:54 > 0:34:59but such informality would have been frowned upon 150 years ago.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01The Victorians would not have countenanced a table
0:35:01 > 0:35:04without a tablecloth right the way down to the floor.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06A bare table leg, like these,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09would have been as scandalous as a lady revealing their ankle.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12A bare tabletop would have given them a fit of the vapours.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Formality is less important these days than creating atmosphere,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21and key to getting this right
0:35:21 > 0:35:23- is mood lighting.- I think,
0:35:23 > 0:35:26because a dining room is used a lot more at night-time,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28you can be a little bit more dramatic.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31The most crucial part of it is lighting,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33and for me, having low-level lighting
0:35:33 > 0:35:35is so integral to a dining table
0:35:35 > 0:35:37cos when you're looking across at people,
0:35:37 > 0:35:39you've kind of got that low-level lighting,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41and it makes it so much more intimate.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46What's crucial is to create an atmosphere around a dining table
0:35:46 > 0:35:48so that when you have people round for dinner,
0:35:48 > 0:35:50the rest of the room recedes.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Candelabras are a great centrepiece in a dining room.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56But warning - you don't want to place it
0:35:56 > 0:35:58so that your guests have to look around it
0:35:58 > 0:36:00in order to talk to each other.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05For her Georgian townhouse, Sarah wanted an industrial feel,
0:36:05 > 0:36:07so went shopping down an industrial estate.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Basically, I've got some copper piping,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13and what I would like to do is feed some wires through
0:36:13 > 0:36:16and have three bulbs on each side.
0:36:16 > 0:36:17I'm sure this'll work.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20How hard can it be to make a bespoke industrial light
0:36:20 > 0:36:21on a tight budget?
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Copper piping costs around £3 a metre,
0:36:24 > 0:36:27but she also had to fork out 70 for an electrician to put it together.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30The builders put some holes in here for the flex,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32but I think what would be really handy
0:36:32 > 0:36:35is to try and feed just one line of wire all the way round.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38- OK.- Does that sound like you might be able to do that tonight?
0:36:38 > 0:36:39Yeah, I'll take it home.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Sarah was pretty pleased with the result.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43Nice work, boys.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45But were the judges as impressed?
0:36:45 > 0:36:48You know, for design details, it totally is top marks, isn't it?
0:36:48 > 0:36:50I'm just seeing all her quirky little ideas,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54like this lighting that she came up with on a shoestring.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55Absolutely brilliant.
0:37:02 > 0:37:03It's really important that your light
0:37:03 > 0:37:05works in scale with your dining table.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09But if in doubt, I always say, "The bigger, the better."
0:37:09 > 0:37:11If you've got a small, round table,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13then one central pendant is going to be the way to go,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15but if you've got a longer dining table,
0:37:15 > 0:37:18you can start creating a row of lights.
0:37:18 > 0:37:19Odd numbers always work best,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21so think about three or five pendants
0:37:21 > 0:37:23all situated in a row.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27I created a double height affect above the dining table
0:37:27 > 0:37:30by fitting, above it, a panel made of MDF
0:37:30 > 0:37:35with a mirrored laminate glued to it and some LED backlighting.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38The result is very effective, but also quite affordable.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41So, for the perfect dining room,
0:37:41 > 0:37:46creating impact and atmosphere will make a big impression on guests.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48But upstairs, things could be a little more personal,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50these days at least.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Nowhere are social changes more obvious
0:37:52 > 0:37:55than in where and how we sleep.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58The idea of privacy in the bedroom
0:37:58 > 0:38:00has only been around for about 100 years.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Before then, we'd have shared the room,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05and even the bed, with family members,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07friends and even strangers.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Then, it was just a functional space,
0:38:09 > 0:38:10a place in which to rest
0:38:10 > 0:38:14rather than the retreat from the world that it's become these days.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19The bedroom can be a surprisingly tricky room to get right,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21but some of our designers have blown us away.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Like a small, medieval bedroom
0:38:25 > 0:38:26that went from cluttered and dark...
0:38:28 > 0:38:30..to bright and inviting.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32First impressions in a bedroom,
0:38:32 > 0:38:33I always think, are so important.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36And hooray, a well-dressed bed.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40And a modern attic room that went from characterless and bland...
0:38:41 > 0:38:44- ..to sleek and minimal. - Wow! And the angles
0:38:44 > 0:38:46are not just there for decoration -
0:38:46 > 0:38:49they're cleverly zoning this space.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51It's easy to get the details wrong, though,
0:38:51 > 0:38:53like the thatched cottage
0:38:53 > 0:38:54country scheme
0:38:54 > 0:38:56with an incongruous cardboard light.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Is that a light fitting or is it just a cardboard box
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- hanging from the ceiling? - You don't love that?- No.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04Well, not in this room, I think.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07REALLY not in this room, but, really, not anywhere.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- Look at it.- OK. - SHE LAUGHS
0:39:09 > 0:39:12To make sure you get your most personal room right,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14we've got the ultimate guide,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17from the best colours to use through to bedding and cushions.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20And, again, the first thing to get right is the colour.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23The power of colour can be really utilised
0:39:23 > 0:39:25when it comes to decorating the bedroom
0:39:25 > 0:39:27because it can help you create the right mood.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Now, most people want that to be something that's calm and relaxing,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33and I think skin-toned colours do that really well.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38So, think of soft nudes, taupes, pale minks - that kind of thing.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40For an Edwardian bedroom,
0:39:40 > 0:39:41the dark-wood wardrobes
0:39:41 > 0:39:43were ditched for soft shades.
0:39:43 > 0:39:44Alison wanted something
0:39:44 > 0:39:47that felt soft and tranquil and calming,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50- and this colour scheme definitely achieves that, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53In a 1930s modernist building,
0:39:53 > 0:39:54one stark bedroom was softened
0:39:54 > 0:39:58with linen and taupe fabrics as a neutral backdrop.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00I just think, you know, my first impressions are,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02"What lovely, clean lines."
0:40:02 > 0:40:04You know, it's very sort of pared back
0:40:04 > 0:40:06and very minimally styled.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08And the fabrics are just little hints of them -
0:40:08 > 0:40:10they're not too much of them.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15What you wouldn't want to do is use something like a strong yellow -
0:40:15 > 0:40:18that's far too energising and uplifting.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19But somehow,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22that yellow just keeps creeping in.
0:40:22 > 0:40:23It's a big interior design rule -
0:40:23 > 0:40:25never have yellow in the bedroom
0:40:25 > 0:40:27because it makes you look sallow.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31It's not just your walls that can carry colour, though.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34I think it's really interesting to consider your ceiling
0:40:34 > 0:40:35for a print or for colour.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38It's a space we never really think about.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41They tend to be white, but, actually, it could be really fun.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48Second to colour, the next thing to consider is the bed itself -
0:40:48 > 0:40:49what style it is
0:40:49 > 0:40:50and where to put it.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53It sounds really obvious,
0:40:53 > 0:40:56but the bed is the focal point of the bedroom.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57The style of the bed,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01the bedding and the headboard sets the tone of the room.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Get that right and the rest of the room will follow.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06So, framing your bed is key.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07Symmetry is important.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10You need a light and a bedside table on either side,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12but they don't have to be matching.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15A little bit of variety will add some personality.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19A simple way of framing a bed is by laying a rug underneath
0:41:19 > 0:41:22which is about two feet wider than the bed itself.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25As we spend so much time in bed,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28it's vital to consider not just what the bed looks like,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31but what you're looking at when you're in it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33One of the mistakes I see over and over again
0:41:33 > 0:41:36is people just focus on where the bed is positioned.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38But think about it. When you're lying in bed,
0:41:38 > 0:41:40you also want to have an enticing view to look at.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44That might be a window, but failing that,
0:41:44 > 0:41:47a collection of pictures can really do the job.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48Neglecting this space
0:41:48 > 0:41:51is something our designers can be a little prone to.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55They've put the pictures over the bed head so you'll never see them.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57When you sit in bed, you're looking at a blank white wall.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58That's about it.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03If you look behind me, it's all really quite plain.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06And he hasn't brought any of the colour up onto the walls,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08and that would have been the place to do it.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10He hasn't really thought about that at all.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12It looks like the Bismarck, doesn't it?
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Lighting is next on the priority list in the bedroom.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Lighting in bedrooms can, in fact, be quite tricky
0:42:20 > 0:42:24because it serves multi functions - cosy and romantic at night,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26but bright enough to get dressed in the morning.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30Eye-level lighting is much more flattering than overhead,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33so make sure you've got a good mix of both in the bedroom.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36My general rule is to have four lights.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Now, that sounds quite a lot, but it helps create an atmosphere.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43Our designers have created lights from all sorts of different objects.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Neil made his from a roll of wire.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50I wonder if it could look vaguely atomic.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53- HE HUMS - I do like those.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Kelly used empty jam jars.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01The jam jar chandelier is going to be five different jam jars.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03They're all the same size,
0:43:03 > 0:43:06but they're going to be mounted at different-length wires.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11Working in a thatched cottage, Rob went lighting crazy,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14making one bedside lamp out of a stack of books...
0:43:15 > 0:43:19Right, OK. Great. There you have it.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22And the bulb obviously just going to sit into the top of there.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25..another out of a vintage vase...
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Got this from a local charity shop.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30OK, so, when that's nice and tight,
0:43:30 > 0:43:33that should just sit round about there like that.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36..and a bamboo fruit bowl as a lampshade.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38But did the judges like the effect
0:43:38 > 0:43:41in his bohemian scheme?
0:43:41 > 0:43:45These lights look very intriguing. All rather clever and quite quirky.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48Clever, quirky and what makes it interesting is nothing's matching -
0:43:48 > 0:43:50they're all different from each other.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53You don't need to have matching bedside lights -
0:43:53 > 0:43:55it's just a bit too twee.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58Storage is one area not to neglect
0:43:58 > 0:44:01if there's any chance of creating a calm
0:44:01 > 0:44:03and relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom.
0:44:04 > 0:44:05It makes common sense
0:44:05 > 0:44:07that the less clutter that you have in your bedroom
0:44:07 > 0:44:09will mean it's much more calming
0:44:09 > 0:44:12and give you a chance of having a better night's sleep.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16I suggest that you dedicate at least 10% to 20% of the room to storage.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20Anything less runs the danger of having piles of clothes,
0:44:20 > 0:44:22shoes and other paraphernalia.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24Now, I have very few full-length dresses,
0:44:24 > 0:44:26so what I've done is have two rails,
0:44:26 > 0:44:28and that way, I can get twice as many clothes
0:44:28 > 0:44:29in the same amount of space.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34Considering there's a lot of furniture required in a bedroom,
0:44:34 > 0:44:37it's a good idea to conceal as much of it as you can.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40For example, keeping the wardrobes flush,
0:44:40 > 0:44:44the same colour as the wall, and not having any handles.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46I've got a little example here.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51Under-bed storage can be a bit of a nightmare.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54Lots of clumsy drawers that actually aren't very easy to use.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56I think you're better off putting your storage elsewhere
0:44:56 > 0:44:59and choosing a bedstead where you can actually see under the bed.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03That way, the room will feel airier and even appear bigger.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06After the larger issues of colour scheme,
0:45:06 > 0:45:07bed and storage are resolved,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10finer details can be considered, like the headboard.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13When choosing a headboard for your bedroom,
0:45:13 > 0:45:17there's a real opportunity to create impact and be really creative.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19I've seen anything used from scaffold planks...
0:45:19 > 0:45:22Even an antique mirror can look really effective.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25But my biggest piece of advice is to go large.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27Nothing looks more luxurious
0:45:27 > 0:45:30than an oversized, upholstered headboard.
0:45:31 > 0:45:36This is my take on a romantic, reclaimed-timber, four-poster bed.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38That's it. Simple.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43In some 1930s apartments in Ealing,
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Jack's homeowners had attempted a headboard
0:45:45 > 0:45:47using a reclaimed door,
0:45:47 > 0:45:50but he felt the scale wasn't quite right.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52One thing I'm really excited to do
0:45:52 > 0:45:56- is take the existing door you've got...- Yeah.- Headboard.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58- The headboard. Apologies. - THEY LAUGH
0:45:58 > 0:46:01..add in a second door and create a much larger headboard.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03Something that's much more grand. Take it back to the wood.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08First, Jack stripped back the paint on the existing door.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10Luckily, with the look I'm going for,
0:46:10 > 0:46:12it doesn't have to be perfect.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Next, he wanted to make a new door he'd bought for around £40
0:46:15 > 0:46:17look as old as the original.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19- Not an easy task.- Oh, yeah.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21And his technique was somewhat maverick.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25- JACK LAUGHS - It's actually fine
0:46:25 > 0:46:27because it'll just fit back in.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29- It will. - HE LAUGHS
0:46:30 > 0:46:33Completing the ageing effect a bit more gingerly,
0:46:33 > 0:46:36Jack then attached the two doors using strips of MDF
0:46:36 > 0:46:38before staining the whole thing.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42It doesn't have to be perfect. I don't want it to be even.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48Final touch - some garden brackets he bought for £15
0:46:48 > 0:46:50to hang lights from.
0:46:50 > 0:46:51All that remained was to see
0:46:51 > 0:46:55if Jack had pulled off his grand scale headboard.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58For me, the success of that brilliant headboard that he designed
0:46:58 > 0:47:00positioned just in the right place
0:47:00 > 0:47:02so it really hit you as you walked into the room.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04It's the scale of it that made it so effective.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06He went really, really extra large.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08And it was his attention to detail.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10He aged those panels
0:47:10 > 0:47:13and gave them a patina so successfully
0:47:13 > 0:47:15that they looked authentic.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18Almost an extension of the headboard,
0:47:18 > 0:47:20bedside tables are next on our list.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24A bedside table is a practical piece of furniture
0:47:24 > 0:47:26that should be big enough to hold a table lamp,
0:47:26 > 0:47:28glass of water and a book.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30But it's also an opportunity
0:47:30 > 0:47:32to create a really nice and pleasing display.
0:47:32 > 0:47:34So, style up your bedside tables
0:47:34 > 0:47:36to really frame the bed for maximum impact.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39Why not go for something a little bit quirky?
0:47:39 > 0:47:42Rather than going for something that's shop-bought,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45use an old suitcase or a stepladder or even a chair.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48Our designers have seen potential bedside tables
0:47:48 > 0:47:53in all kinds of places - a tea tray cut in half,
0:47:53 > 0:47:57a milk crate, and even a lobster pot wrapped with rope
0:47:57 > 0:47:59have all been repurposed.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01Working in a brutalist high-rise,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04Kimberly hoped to make her own industrial table tops,
0:48:04 > 0:48:06but using a quick-drying concrete
0:48:06 > 0:48:09meant she had only one chance to get it right.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12- You've got about 15 minutes to work this, haven't you?- If that, yeah.
0:48:12 > 0:48:13I think we just...
0:48:15 > 0:48:17- Oh, cool.- Hopefully, it should fill...
0:48:17 > 0:48:19Once dry, it was the moment of truth.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22I'm really nervous about these concrete tops.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24I really, really want them to work.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28Ta-dah!
0:48:28 > 0:48:30I'm really pleased, and I love the bubbles.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33They add to the texture and the roughness of them.
0:48:35 > 0:48:40Those wonderful concrete bedside tables are bang on-trend.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42What's more, it was really relevant
0:48:42 > 0:48:44to that building that she was designing within.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47It's not easy stuff to work with. I think she did very well, actually.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52Last but not least, there's the bed dressing.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54It's easy to change,
0:48:54 > 0:48:57and so a simple way of keeping your design scheme varied.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00The bed is a big expanse of fabric,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03so whatever you choose for your bed cover,
0:49:03 > 0:49:04you have to choose well,
0:49:04 > 0:49:08and I always tend to go for neutrals and then add colours on
0:49:08 > 0:49:10by putting runners and bands.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12But if you want something incredibly grand,
0:49:12 > 0:49:14you would have a bed cover that goes down onto the floor
0:49:14 > 0:49:16and it will make the bed look much bigger.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Decent bedding has long been a prized family possession.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25We've been using feathers in our bedding for centuries.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28In Victorian times, servants were often allowed
0:49:28 > 0:49:31to keep the feathers that they plucked from poultry
0:49:31 > 0:49:32as a kind of bonus.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35Save up enough of those feathers and you could make yourself a mattress.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38We British, though, didn't really embrace feathers on top of us,
0:49:38 > 0:49:41ie the duvet, till about 50 years ago.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43I remember sleeping round at my gran's
0:49:43 > 0:49:47pinned down under starchy sheets and scratchy blankets.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50Now we've embraced the duvet, it's made life much more comfortable.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53If only we could get to it past all these cushions
0:49:53 > 0:49:55we insist on putting on top.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00Cushions are a great way to make a bedroom
0:50:00 > 0:50:02feel more interesting and more inviting,
0:50:02 > 0:50:05and one temptation is to pile them high.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07However, when it comes to getting into bed at night,
0:50:07 > 0:50:09all those cushions on the floor, I grant you,
0:50:09 > 0:50:13can feel really irritating, which is why, a lot of the time,
0:50:13 > 0:50:16we'd just go for two signature cushions in front of each pillow.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19Looks a bit mean, so I think you've got to go really big -
0:50:19 > 0:50:2260cm square in a really strong fabric.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25And what's more, they're great for sitting up in bed,
0:50:25 > 0:50:27reading a book or drinking a cup of tea.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30For an Edwardian home in North London,
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Sarah took bed dressing up a notch,
0:50:32 > 0:50:35using a special paint roller to stencil her own linen.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38This is our wall colour. It's a lead colour.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40What I want to do is just thin it down
0:50:40 > 0:50:44till it's single cream consistency, and then I'm going to use it
0:50:44 > 0:50:47to put the pattern onto the linen that I've dyed.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54Not perfect, but we're after a kind of washed out, slightly faded look,
0:50:54 > 0:50:56and I think we're going to get there with that.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05So, if the bedroom is all about indulgence, calmness and mood,
0:51:05 > 0:51:09the last room we're looking at is far more humorous and energetic.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11Perhaps the most recent addition to the average home
0:51:11 > 0:51:14is a designated space just for the little ones.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16Having an entire room just for the children
0:51:16 > 0:51:18was a luxury that few people could afford
0:51:18 > 0:51:20right up until the 19th century,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23and it's only really been in the last 30 or 40 years
0:51:23 > 0:51:25that we've been able to have a room for each child,
0:51:25 > 0:51:27just like I did when I was growing up.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29I didn't know how lucky I was.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34Our designers have felt pretty lucky when working for younger clients,
0:51:34 > 0:51:36giving them a chance to relive their youth.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39I'm just imagining I'm a nine-year-old girl.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41I'm just trying to get an idea of how it might look
0:51:41 > 0:51:43by putting myself at that level,
0:51:43 > 0:51:48which is a bit hard when I'm not the same height as a seven-year-old.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50Probably somewhere round about there.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52If I can be something close.
0:51:52 > 0:51:53Kelly!
0:51:55 > 0:51:58Oh, wow. It's going to be amazing.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06It may be fun, but designing for a growing child
0:52:06 > 0:52:09whose tastes are constantly changing can be challenging.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Many of our designers, though, have impressed.
0:52:12 > 0:52:13Like in the Georgian townhouse
0:52:13 > 0:52:16where a plain and simple nine-year-old's bedroom
0:52:16 > 0:52:19became cool yet timeless.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Oh! So funky, isn't it?
0:52:21 > 0:52:23What I particularly love about it
0:52:23 > 0:52:26is the way the green goes over that old Georgian mouldings
0:52:26 > 0:52:28and the sash window with the window film
0:52:28 > 0:52:30and just makes this space look so modern.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32Or the thatched cottage bedroom
0:52:32 > 0:52:34where a teenage den
0:52:34 > 0:52:35went from boyish and bland
0:52:35 > 0:52:38to a futuristic fantasy.
0:52:38 > 0:52:39This room's got great impact,
0:52:39 > 0:52:41hasn't it?
0:52:41 > 0:52:45We've got this magical, backlit bed, which looks like it's floating.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48But some mistakes have been made, like the oast house bedroom,
0:52:48 > 0:52:52where dinosaur handles weren't safe for a four-year-old boy.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55Little tots with spiky beaks and tails at eye level...
0:52:55 > 0:52:57That is...that's not a good idea.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02Safety is paramount in a child's bedroom,
0:53:02 > 0:53:04but it is a room where design rules can be broken.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07We've gathered together some of the more outlandish ideas
0:53:07 > 0:53:10to give you inspiration, starting with picking a theme.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15It's a great idea to really tap in to whatever your kid's into,
0:53:15 > 0:53:19be it boats, dinosaurs, fairies or princesses.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23But allow them to unleash their own creativity on this one.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25You can be the style police in the other rooms in the house.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30Across the series, we've seen all sorts of themes,
0:53:30 > 0:53:31from a self-built home
0:53:31 > 0:53:33that became a magical woodland...
0:53:33 > 0:53:35I think this looks super.
0:53:35 > 0:53:36Really fun treehouse feel.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40This is the tree trunk, isn't it, with the branches coming out?
0:53:40 > 0:53:41..to the oast house room
0:53:41 > 0:53:43with a sporty football theme.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45I'm just thinking,
0:53:45 > 0:53:47"Would I have loved this when I was a little boy?"
0:53:47 > 0:53:51- And my answer is yes. - SHE LAUGHS
0:53:51 > 0:53:53In a timber-framed house in East Sussex,
0:53:53 > 0:53:57Rob's Batman-themed room went down particularly well.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59Look at that Batmobile!
0:53:59 > 0:54:01I want my bed to be like that.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06- Your bed is going to be like that. - Yeah! Awesome!
0:54:06 > 0:54:09The centrepiece to Rob's room was a Batbed,
0:54:09 > 0:54:12made by cladding a shop-bought frame with MDF.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16- How's the back looking with the fins?- Smashing.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Yes! Bring it in. All right.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22Rob also created a bespoke light from an old tin...
0:54:22 > 0:54:24So, I just need to clean it up.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26If I can just trim this up and make it nice and smooth
0:54:26 > 0:54:29then we shouldn't have any issues with, you know, scratching
0:54:29 > 0:54:31and cutting and things like that.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34..complete with a cut-out bat to cast a shadow.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37That looks pretty good. Yeah, I'm quite happy with that.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40He even created hidden superhero storage
0:54:40 > 0:54:41behind a picture frame.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Move it in like that and then it will release,
0:54:44 > 0:54:47and you can open the picture frame and get to what's behind it.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49All superheroes have their own little secret compartments,
0:54:49 > 0:54:51and I think he should have one as well.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56He went all out to impressive his seven-year-old client.
0:54:56 > 0:54:58Wowzers!
0:54:58 > 0:55:03- It's the most coolest bed I've ever seen in my life.- There you go.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07- Double thumbs up for Rob.- Oh, yeah! - HE LAUGHS
0:55:07 > 0:55:10But were the judges as easy to please?
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Oh, what a little den, eh?
0:55:12 > 0:55:14- It's a Batcave and it's just what they asked for.- Yeah.
0:55:14 > 0:55:18- And that's a secret cupboard where grown-ups can't get in.- Oh, yeah.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22- And voila. Keep all your secret bits and bobs in there.- Perfect.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27A fun-packed scheme may be a priority for our kids today,
0:55:27 > 0:55:30but it's definitely not always been like that.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32The Victorians liked hygiene.
0:55:32 > 0:55:35Metal bed frames were easy to clean. Carpets were a no-no.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Much better to have a rug that you could beat every week.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40And you could have any colour, so long as it was white
0:55:40 > 0:55:44for a bright and airy room - crucial for a child's development.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Back in the day, children from the very wealthiest families
0:55:47 > 0:55:50had not just one bedroom, but two bedrooms, or nurseries -
0:55:50 > 0:55:53a day nursery where they studied and played,
0:55:53 > 0:55:56and then a night nursery, where they slept.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59These were often positioned right at the top of the house
0:55:59 > 0:56:02because they said that's where the air circulated better,
0:56:02 > 0:56:03but we know the real reason -
0:56:03 > 0:56:05it was as far away from the parents as possible.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08It's not like that any more, though,
0:56:08 > 0:56:11and these days, kids' bedrooms are all about fun.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14And key to that are the accessories.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18Gimmicks are go in a kid's room, and it should be fun.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21Designing a kid's room is all about having fun with the design,
0:56:21 > 0:56:25from the soft furnishings to the lighting to the drawer handles.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28Even the bed itself is an opportunity
0:56:28 > 0:56:30to be really creative and original.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33We've seen a lot of inventive gimmicks,
0:56:33 > 0:56:36including Holly's selfie photo area.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39I'm going to have a picture frame hanging down from the ceiling,
0:56:39 > 0:56:41and it's going to be kind of like a selfie booth.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44That's where the chalkboard speech bubble is going -
0:56:44 > 0:56:47on the wall behind, so that she can change the captions.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50That's part of the selfie area.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52- Oh, you look so gorgeous. - SHE LAUGHS
0:56:52 > 0:56:55But Daniel fell for a built-in, toy-car racing ramp.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57I'd love one of these. Have you seen it?
0:57:01 > 0:57:03Working for a four-year-old client,
0:57:03 > 0:57:06Kelly wanted to have some fun with her lighting.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09- Because this fabulous blue made me think of the sky...- Yeah.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12..I thought, "Oh, what about a cloud light?"
0:57:12 > 0:57:14So, it will be based on a paper lampshade,
0:57:14 > 0:57:16but then I'll build up onto that...
0:57:16 > 0:57:19- OK.- ..so it's like a big, fluffy cloud.- OK, yeah.
0:57:19 > 0:57:21So, I'm just using a normal paper lantern,
0:57:21 > 0:57:25and now what I'm doing is sticking this quilt batting onto it
0:57:25 > 0:57:26to get the basic shape.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29Then I'm going to stick this fluffy cloud stuff afterwards.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32But I'm not covering up the bottom of the lampshade.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35There's holes for ventilation, so I'm not covering those up.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37By using a paper lampshade,
0:57:37 > 0:57:40Kelly could create her whole light for less than £30.
0:57:42 > 0:57:44- Oh, wow.- Ta-dah!
0:57:44 > 0:57:46- That looks good. - It's definitely a cloud, isn't it?
0:57:46 > 0:57:48This is an ingenious idea,
0:57:48 > 0:57:51and it also softens down a pendant light,
0:57:51 > 0:57:53which are usually really depressing.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57Yeah, and I know it's on a dimmer, so I bet it's really effective.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03The ideas our designers have come up with over the years
0:58:03 > 0:58:06show that if you let your imagination run wild
0:58:06 > 0:58:08and follow some simple design rules,
0:58:08 > 0:58:13it doesn't have to be expensive to redesign your whole home.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15It just goes to show that there's no better canvas
0:58:15 > 0:58:18on which to express who we are or who we'd like to be.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20Styles and trends come and go,
0:58:20 > 0:58:23but when it comes to the British love affair with interior design,
0:58:23 > 0:58:26it's safe to say we're going steady.