THE JOURNAL

Notes on
living well.

Practical thinking on planning a home, materials, kitchens, colour and light.

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Latest guides.

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Small bathroom design ideas that feel bigger

Small bathroom ideas that work: space standards, wall-hung fittings, curbless showers, recessed storage, large tiles, mirrors and the mistakes to avoid.

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Kitchen island dimensions and clearances

Kitchen island sizes that work: minimum dimensions, aisle widths of 107–122 cm, seating space per stool, overhang depth and the room size you need.

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How to arrange living room furniture

Where to put the sofa, how far the coffee table should be, how wide walkways need to be, and layouts for narrow, square and open-plan living rooms.

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How much does interior design cost?

How interior designers charge (hourly, flat fee, percentage, mark-up), typical fee ranges by project, hidden costs and how to get design help on a budget.

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Interior design trends for 2027

The 2027 colours of the year, from Sherwin-Williams Celery to WGSN Luminous Blue, plus the materials, layouts and ideas shaping homes next year.

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Japandi interior design: a complete guide

What Japandi is, the palette and materials behind it, how to apply it room by room, and the mistakes that make it feel cold instead of calm.

Living room with a stone and walnut feature wall, a deep corner sofa and sliding doors to a terrace

How to layer light in a living room

A practical guide to lighting a living room: ambient, task and accent layers, colour temperature and dimming — for a space that feels good at every hour.

White kitchen with a marble island, timber-clad base, hexagonal tile splashback and timber bar stools

Planning a kitchen that works every day

How to plan a functional kitchen: work zones, island sizing, storage, lighting and materials — starting with how you actually cook.

Bright living room with a tan leather sofa, white armchairs, large plants and a gallery wall

Natural materials for a calm home

Why timber, stone, wool and linen create calm interiors, how to combine them, and how to choose natural materials that age well in a home.

Bright living room with a tan leather sofa, white armchairs, large plants and a gallery wall

How to choose a colour palette for your home

A step-by-step method for choosing a home colour palette: start from light and materials, limit the colours, test samples and repeat them in every room.

Dining area with a black table and grey chairs beside a concrete-look wall, a steel staircase and glazed sliding doors

How to start an interior design project

A practical guide to starting an interior design project: clarifying how you live, setting a budget, gathering references and choosing the right kind of help.

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