The kitchen is the beating heart of any home – so there’s nothing better than gathering around a large table or kitchen island and cooking up a feast on an Aga. The Print House in Hoxton softens the industrial interiors of its kitchen with timber finishes and pistachio-coloured cabinetry. This exceptional space, which is spread across five floors, also has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and wood panelling, several roll top baths, as well as a cinema and artist studio to help while away the long winter hours. 

Natural light is at a premium in the winter months so make the most of your windows by placing your sofa nearby, or creating window seating, much like the owners of this inviting Grade II-listed home in Camden have done. Here they have made the most of the open plan, allowing plenty of light to flow through but there are cosy nooks aplenty and a wood burner too.

Dark wood panelling might seem like an archaic choice but it brings warmth to this 1930s home near Oxford. Timber is a tactile, mellow material that keeps interiors cool in summer and cosy in winter. There are other wood finishes to take inspiration from here – the sweeping oak staircase with exceptional joinery detailing and oak-strip sprung floors are second to none.

A diminutive Victorian-era flat can still make for a comfortable home, especially if there is a happy marriage between quirky details that keep things interesting and smart adaptations for modern living. The one-bed apartment at Gibson Gardens in Stoke Newington features bespoke cabinetry to alleviate clutter, playful white and blue ceramic tiles in the kitchen and an enamel sink in the bathroom – details that add style and vitality.

A log-burning fireplace and its corresponding accessories is an attractive feature at any time of the year, but really comes into its own when it’s time to light the fire. This smart apartment in south London, which underwent a recent refurbishment, makes its grey-hued chimney flue, log burner and inbuilt shelves for storing logs a standout feature – perfect for chilly evenings ahead.

Seaside homes aren’t just for summer – there’s nothing better than hunkering down in front of a log fire after a long, blustery walk along the beach, especially if it’s the undulating dunes of Camber Sands in East Sussex. The Beach House keeps things coastal on the inside – the crafty interiors use plenty of reclaimed materials: there’s exposed painted brickwork, timber-clad white and grey walls and painted floorboards so the space feels light all year round.

Take a lesson in how to subdivide open-plan spaces at this generously sized penthouse apartment in a former warehouse in Clerkenwell. The expansive home, which also has an artist studio, has been smartly partitioned with the help of sofas, in-built cabinetry and standalone armoires, which help to mark out different functions and create cosy nooks but retain the sense of sweeping interiors.

Colour has a direct effect on our mood and sense of wellbeing – so when considering paint options for your home it’s important to get the tones and shades right. This grand, Grade II-listed house in Hackney doesn’t shy away from bold choices – there are vibrant, regal purples, soft pinks and soothing sky blues throughout, with dashes of lively wallpaper to brighten up the place.

Original features in a 17th-century home are best left perfectly imperfect, as can be seen in this farmhouse near Cambridge. Here wonky oak beams, white-washed stone walls and parquet flooring pay homage to the home’s past – a sensitive restoration has brought it up to date without shedding any of its delightful, rustic charm.