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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4 genius things you can do with home security in 2024 that'll give you extra peace of mind
From clever features to smart buys that can make your system smarter, here are some of the things exciting us in home security tech right now
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Balcony ideas – 13 thoughtful design touches that will make your apartment's outdoor space rival any backyard
These chic and stylish balcony ideas will help you make the most of a small city balcony, and turn it into a space you'll enjoy spending time in.
By Hugh Metcalf Last updated
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'It's 50/50 human and robot' – behind the inspiring furniture trend where time-old techniques meet cutting-edge technology
The interior trend for softly sculpted marble furniture might be a labor of love – but clever technology is making it less labor intensive
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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We're calling it – the "open" bathroom trend might divide the crowd, but its pros far outweigh its drawbacks
This hotel-inspired ensuite bathroom trend looks amazing, but it's not going to prove popular with everyone
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Why does my home's color scheme feel flat? This is exactly what your lackluster palette is missing
To create more sophisticated color schemes for your home, the key lies in bringing nuance through accent colors, says Dagny Thurmann-Moe
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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10 bathrooms with built-in bathtubs that prove they're a minimalist alternative to freestanding styles
Once cast out of the bathroom for hotel-inspired freestanding tubs, built-in baths are having a resurgence with some of the world's most creative interior designers
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This 'poison color' trick is the secret to elevated decorating schemes - I'll never look at a room's palette in the same way
This color theory goes to prove that there can be nuance in choosing a contrast hue for your scheme
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Outdoor kitchen ideas - 31 designs that will elevate your alfresco cooking
Here are some of the best, cleverest and most stylish outdoor kitchen ideas to inspire your own design
By Hugh Metcalf Last updated
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The biggest outdoor kitchen layout mistakes you can make – and the 5 rules designers always swear by
Avoid design regret by heeding the advice of these outdoor kitchen designers and navigate these common pitfalls
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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These digital 'personal trainers' ensure home workouts never feel like a cop out – and some even work with your existing TV
Embracing clever gadgets can make your home exercise routine more focused and effective. Here are some of the best you can buy
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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A stroke of genius! This designer made a luxe bathroom work on a budget with one slab of marble used five ways
With the budget for this project renovation only stretching to one marble slab, designer Emily Brown got creative with its application
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Is this the end of the home office? Designers say fewer people want them – here's why I stopped using mine
With a shifting work-from-home culture becoming the new normal, it might be time to re-imagine the concept of home offices, says our deputy editor
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This new IKEA collection is a budget-friendly take on one of my favorite luxe interior trends right now
IKEA has teamed up with designer Sabine Marcelis for a collection that draws inspiration from her iconic $2,000 doughnut chair
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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Should I cut back plants after a freeze? The gardening rule for the winter months that might surprise you
While freezing temperatures may leave you garden plants looking a mess, there's something you need to know before heading out with the shears
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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5 genius things refrigerators can do that'll convince you it's time for an upgrade
If it's been a while since you last bought a refrigerator, here are just a few of the best features to look out for, from better food preservation to longer-lasting ice cubes
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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'It's a place to stay still and slow down' - how this Connecticut home took its cue from the 'slow living' trend
From a starting point of creating a home that was an antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city, the design of this project look to nature for inspiration
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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This 'secret' storage hack is the best way to disguise your home's most dated feature
This clever storage idea turned a living room's awkward leftover niche into a magical feature for this family home
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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'It's the only thing that made sense' – this Brooklyn loft's clever TV display isn't just for looks, it's key to the home's layout
When dealing with a sprawling apartment with an open concept, designer Crystal Sinclair had to pay attention to the details to make this unusual layout work
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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10 budget bathroom updates that will refresh your space for 2024 that cost under $50 each
Looking for budget bathroom updates to turn a tired space into your home's retreat? Here's 15 ideas that are easy and affordable
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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11 micro apartments with genius ideas to steal if you live in any kind of small home
The secret to small space living might just be found in these pioneering micro apartments that put tiny floorplans to good use
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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I'm banking on this little-known Alexa hack to nail my New Year's resolution – here's why
Try out this simple skill that will help your Alexa take you to task and help keep you focused and productive in 2023
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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The architects behind this cool micro loft used a clever trick to bring structure to studio apartment living
Angled furniture is the design idea you need to consider for small homes
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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These were my 10 favorite kitchens of 2022 – and the lessons they taught me about kitchen design
If you're planning a kitchen project for next year, tour these design-forward, inspiring kitchens that we loved in 2022
By Hugh Metcalf Published
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I finished my kitchen renovation last year – these are the things I love, and the things I wish I'd thought more about
2022 was the year I finally completed the reno on my small kitchen. When it comes to the fine details, these are the things I'm glad I did, and the areas I definitely overlooked
By Hugh Metcalf Published