Hugh Metcalf
Hugh is Livingetc.com’s editor. With 8 years in the interiors industry under his belt, he has the nose for what people want to know about re-decorating their homes. He prides himself as an expert trend forecaster, visiting design fairs, showrooms and keeping an eye out for emerging designers to hone his eye. He joined Livingetc back in 2022 as a content editor, as a long-time reader of the print magazine, before becoming its online editor. His love for luxury design, and talking to designers with something to say in how they decorate homes for his clients has led to bringing conversations like why human-centric lighting is so important, to how AI and the metaverse are influencing interiors, to the pages of the magazine and website.
Hugh is a kitchen and bathrooms expert, having spent time as the deputy editor of a (now-defunct) kitchen and bathrooms magazine in the UK, as well as project managing a handful of redesign projects himself. He once gathered all the biggest names in kitchen design in a private member’s club for a symposium on what it means to be a kitchen designer today.
Having written for “hands-on” design brands such as Homebuilding & Renovating and Grand Designs magazine, Hugh’s knowledge of what it takes to create a home goes beyond the surface, too. He can tell you what it takes to make a home energy efficient starting from the build, can explain to you how an “air source heat pump” works, and understands the tricks architects use to perfect the layout of new homes. With a fondness for covering spectacular architectural small-builds around the globe, he was once filmed as an expert for a documentary on the rise of the “Tiny House” that aired on Korean television.
He’s also written for Good Homes magazine, Your Home magazine, and has a perhaps surprising knowledge of how to knit, sew and more, having started his career working for craft publications.
Though not a trained interior designer, Hugh has cut his design teeth by managing several major interior design projects to date, each for private clients. These vary from project managing the extension and complete remodel of a two-story London garden flat, to the (largely) remote design of a Swiss chalet. He’s a keen photographer and stylist in his spare time, too — as at home styling an over-the-top Christmas shoot for Your Home magazine’s cover, as photographing a furniture collection for a modern home decor brand.
He's also a keen DIYer — he's done everything from laying his own patio and building an integrated cooker hood from scratch to undertaking creative IKEA hacks that help him achieve the luxurious look he loves in design for his own home, when his budget doesn't always stretch that far.
Latest articles by Hugh Metcalf
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'Why did I never think of that?' This 5-second viral skirt trick will instantly make your Christmas tree look better this year
This super-simple idea will flip how you put up your Christmas tree on its head, and all it requires is a slight change of perspective
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Oprah's favorite coffee maker is the perfect pick for "persnickety coffee drinkers" - and on sale for Cyber Monday
Save on this coffee maker, recommended by Oprah Winfrey herself, this Cyber Monday with the latest deals
By Hugh Metcalf Last updated
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This 'room humidifier' Kim Kardashian loves is all I want for Christmas - and it's on sale for Cyber Monday
This humidifier might just help me sleep better and feel healthier - plus, it's the best looking one I've ever seen
By Hugh Metcalf Last updated
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IKEA's new "paper" Christmas tree is the best spot for your favorite ornaments - and it costs less than $15
The perfect accessory for making a small space like an entryway feel more Christmassy, while also embracing festive decor that feels modern and cool
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Victoria Beckham "washes" this part of her home's decor in her bathtub – here's why, according to experts
The former Spice Girl shared some of her home rituals, and it got us to wondering whether we should be doing the same
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This viral 'sofa to bunk bed' is a genius buy for a guest bedroom when you're always stuck for space over the holidays
Searches for this take on a sofa bed have sky-rocketed in the lead up to the holidays, and it's so genius that we're not surprised
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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'It's beautiful and romantic' - Halle Berry's landscaping is a masterclass in using this on-trend planting style
Halle's textural garden path has been brilliantly specified with plants that not only look good, but are practical for this spot, too
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Sofia Vergara's coffee table decor is a genius way to bring nature indoors - and needs much less maintenance than plants
The actress and America's Got Talent judge's coffee table display is a perfect way to 'green up' your space, even if you don't have the best track record with houseplants
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Before and after: Ashley Tisdale's Halloween decor is so well done (and can be copied for under $10)
It's the spooky season, and singer and actress Ashley Tisdale is embracing it in her effortlessly stylish self-designed home with this simple but effective idea
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Gwyneth Paltrow uses the craziest thing to prop open her doors – 'it works perfectly,' she says
Plus, what to use to prop open your doors aesthetically if you're not an Academy Award-winning actress
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This "invisible" doorstop is going viral – it's so much more minimalist and it costs less than $30 on Amazon
If you're remodeling your house, this might not be the thing your guests notice first, but it may well be the best $30 you spend
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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We're calling it - David Beckham's 'spotless' kitchen features the trend that's going to be biggest in 2024
We've been watching Netflix's new documentary 'Beckham', and there's a big reason David would love his kitchen backsplash material
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Ombre walls are having a moment – these 5 rooms have the best, most elevated versions of them
This bold decorating trend is making a comeback - but designers are taking a different approach to gradient walls this time around
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Though inspired by the lairs of Bond villains, this architect's home is a surprisingly welcoming retreat
Architect and designer Timothy Godbold may have had some unusual inspiration for this Hamptons home, but that doesn't stop it feeling like a cozy refuge from the outside world
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This type of wall paint will make your room brighter and colors more vibrant – and you've probably never heard of it
This specialist wall paint promises truer colors thanks to one major change in how it's made – but is it worth the hype?
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This designer chose two "supersized" couches over a sectional for one reason only – and it makes so much sense
This welcoming open plan living room is at the heart of a modern home on Seattle's waterfront
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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5 things you need to know about Corian countertops (from someone who has them in their own kitchen)
Considering Corian for your kitchen countertops? Here's what you should know about them before you buy
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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'It's a $20 solution to a $500 problem' – this viral hack will turn your basic stick vacuum into a high-tech dupe
If you've had your eyes on a "laser" vacuum, this simple hack can recreate the idea for less
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Dorit Kemsley's hallway is the perfect example of why you shouldn't neglect "in-between spaces", say designers
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star showed off her statement wallpapered hallway recently - here's why designers love the idea
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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5 ways interior designers use "curved" tiles to design clever spaces – they work so well in small rooms
Curve-edged tiles aren't just a design gimmick, they can also help you design a small space better
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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What is my interior style? This quiz might be the easiest way I've discovered to find out
Choose the rooms that speak most to you and this interior design consultant will help put your style into words
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This "trend-defying" kitchen color could make your home sell for thousands of dollars more, say experts
Moody kitchen schemes are on the rise, but property experts say this one color could help you sell your home for a lot more
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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I'm a minimalist – these are the 12 inexpensive wall decor ideas I've got my eye on for my living room
Neutral, abstract and perfect for a minimalist home, this are the best buys you'll find for decorating your walls without breaking the bank
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Graham & Brown's Color of the Year might be one of our favorites for 2024 – try it for a 'restful' bedroom
Another day, another Color of the Year – but Graham & Brown's is the perfect calming paint shade for a relaxing yet happy home
By Hugh Metcalf Last updated