When I was a kid, playing outside was the norm. We would exit the house just after breakfast, and only return inside for snacks or toilet breaks. These days, there is so much competition for our children’s time, particularly from all things electronic, we have to get clever if we want to shift their focus…

Did you know that Hamburg was full of canals? I certainly didn’t but a wander round the impressive red brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt put me right. Once home to many of the city’s merchants, these towering and often ornate canal-side buildings now house Tehran’s carpet industry, which relocated in its entirety during the Iran/Iraq…

Now that the days are longer and the weather is warming up there is more chance of catching a bit of sun at the end of a working day. Whether it’s dining or just relaxing, there is an amazing array of great outdoor furnishings out there to choose from. Here are my top tips: LG…

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, so why not give yours a bit of a lift with some fun and colourful accent pieces. Look for bright handmade pottery, quirky animal pieces and usual shapes. If a neon yellow teapot, a novelty knife rack or a zebra-striped cereal bowl helps you start…

Designing kitchens for the life you lead If you’re looking for a new kitchen that combines high quality, superb style and practicality, head to John Willox Kitchen Design in the heart of Ellon. You’ll find a welcoming showroom displaying a chic and ultra-modern range of contemporary and classic kitchen styles. Choose from the German Rot…