Less spa, more spartan  Back in 2001, when the property boom looked as if it would go on for ever, our interiors reflected the market's confidence, with flash kitchens and bathroom furnishings inspired by boutique spas. Decor was designed to preserve the resale value, and taupe was king. In our living rooms, sofas morphed from I- to L- and even U-shaped, and plasma-screen televisions came to dominate the walls.  Recently, a more austere aesthetic has emerged: show-offy restaurant-style kitchens have been replaced by cosy rooms for family meals, with freestanding furniture in painted and natural wood. and bathrooms have moved on from the luxury property developer's vision of wet rooms, rain showers and bookmatched marble. Sometime in 2007, we stopped caring what the smart spas in Bali were doing. Perfectly in tune with the times in 2005, Philippe Starck's Bonze stool (pictured top left) now looks like the relic of a bygone age.  The glitz has gone, but colour and pattern have transformed our homes. We have become so fearless in our use of bright wallpapers, multicoloured rugs and printed cushions, the only shock now is plain, natural materials.  Katrina Burroughs  The green machine  Time was, converting the loft and filling in the side return were seen as the ultimate home improvements, with an architect-designed minimalist glass ex