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Ask the decorating experts

Q:

Where can I find one of those old-fashioned kitchen towels on a roller? Are they still made?

A:

Yes, have a look at the website of Period Features . They have a simple utilitarian roller towel holder in oak which can be screwed on to the wall. They also supply the cotton/linen mix towels that fit on to it; they are made in one of the last few remaining towel mills in the UK.

Q:

I’d like a colourful glass splashback behind my cooker. Who can I contact?

A:

SpecialistGlasswork.com specialises in bespoke glasswork and is best known for producing glass worktops and splashbacks for kitchens and bathrooms. Template-cut glass worktops are hygienic and hard-wearing and can be produced in any shape. By reverse painting the glass, any colour can also be achieved, using paint ranges such as Dulux, Farrow & Ball and Fired Earth.

Q:

I am looking for cooler/chiller drawers that would be suitable for storing vegetables.

A:

Fisher & Paykel is a specialist in refrigerated drawers. Fisher & Paykel’s  CoolDrawer allows you to set the temperature to freezer, chill, fridge, pantry or wine so that everything from fresh food to wine can be stored at the correct temperature.

Q:

Do you know of any industrial kitchen companies who would be able to work on a domestic job? We are especially interested in stainless steel worktops.

A:

I suggest you try one of the country’s specialists in stainless steel fabrication. GEC Anderson has been manufacturing stainless steel worktops with integrated sinks, plus units, for over 45 years. They work on both commercial and residential commissions, all over the country.

Q:

I am trying to find a wet room system that will cater for a very strange shaped shower area. All the systems that I have been told about have a set ‘hidden tray size’. Any ideas?

A:

  European Heritage, supplies wet room products (trays, drains, membranes, waterproofing materials). You could also try The Big Bathroom Shop. They are an online only business trading from a huge warehouse, with 12 bathroom experts on hand to help with your enquiry.

Q:

Where can I find Portuguese woven cotton bath mats in white or beige?

A:

Have a look at the ‘Braga’ bathmats in white or clay with a geometric floral motif from Balineum, or the ‘Oporto’ mats with a diamond or spot border and the larger ‘Salamanca’ mat from Cologne & Cotton, who have several shops in London.

Q:

I am looking to purchase bath taps in chrome which can be side-mounted into an old roll-top bath. I would prefer taps with a shower attachment if possible.

A:

Manufacturers of the type of bath taps you are after include Barber Wilsons & Co or Bristan and Lefroy Brooks. Their ranges are available through good bathroom showrooms including Aston Matthews or Edwins or C.P. Hart. Another company you could try is Catchpole & Rye. Make sure you order a brochure from each of these companies to compare the look and price and study the technical specifications to determine if you could use each particular tap set on your bath. Most of these companies could also provide ‘legs’ for the tap set, so that the taps would be suspended from the floor, rather than fixed to your bath. If there are already holes in the bath you should speak to your plumber before ordering to be sure you could use the tap set with your particular bath.

Q:

A client has requested a thunderbox WC. Not just the seat but to stretch from side to side of the loo. Where could I find one, or who could make one for me?

A:

Tosca & Willoughby are specialists in all types of loo seats in a wide variety of styles and finishes. Catchpole & Rye have one of the largest collections of old sanitaryware in the UK. They also manufacture reproductions of antique items in short supply. Products include Edwardian glass shower canopy baths, throne-like loos and Victorian cast-iron washstands. Also fully restored turn of the century French ‘Porcher’ bathrooms and French and British period tubs. They could provide your thunderbox WC.

Q:

I am looking for a chest with a padded fabric-covered top that can be used as a filing cabinet. It would be a piece of furniture that wouldn’t look like a filing cabinet and could sit in a living room. Thank you for your help !

A:

There’s a company called Nomad Ideas which manufactures a ‘storage ottoman’ designed to hold foolscape files. Perfect for the home or the home office, the storage ottoman hides all that paper and is very comfortable to sit on too! Nomad Ideas are specialists in kelim-covered furniture but can supply this in the fabric of your choice.

Q:

I am trying to source leather tub chairs, preferably with wooden feet.

A:

There are several versions of a leather tub chair: for traditional ones look at Leather Chairs of Bath ; there’s also a Victorian button-backed tub chair from Darlings of Chelsea.

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