Most living rooms today have to work harder than ever before. They need to be somewhere to relax, entertain friends, watch television, work occasionally and spend time as a family.

The good news is that creating a living room that does it all is rarely about having more space. It's about using the space you already have more thoughtfully.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through zoning.

By creating different areas for different activities, you can make a room feel calmer, more organised and much easier to live in without adding a single extra square metre.

Cinque Terre had been on my wish list for a long time and finally, with the children grown up, my husband Mike and I escaped for four nights to explore this beautiful stretch of the Italian coastline together.

As an interior designer, I am always inspired by colour, architecture and the way places make us feel. Cinque Terre offered all three in abundance.

Thinking of buying garden furniture this summer? Before you hit "add to basket", there's something worth considering first.

Every year, as soon as the sun appears for more than two consecutive days, we all convince ourselves that this is the summer we'll spend every evening in the garden.

Cue the search for the perfect outdoor sofa or sunlounger!