The Blog

New products and services, interesting shops, ideas for your garden, our pick from design fairs, and other things we like…
Choosing a dining table
Kate Dyson of The Dining Room Shop in London shares with us the advice she gives to her private customers – and to a lot of decorators too if they are a bit unsure! What style should you choose? Something...
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The Art of Passementerie
By Wendy Cushing, expert in historical trimmings. The exquisite skills of passementerie are largely unsung. It’s time to change that, because trimmings are more than the icing on the cake. Just as the detail and style of beautiful handbags, shoes...
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Autumn garden tips
Autumn’s here and the leaves are falling. What can you do to keep your garden in tip-top condition for next year? Garden Designer and Landscaper James Firth, of London-based Firth Gardens, gives us five tips… 1 Tidy up and clean...
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How to choose the perfect desk lamp
Lighting and home furnishings company Jim Lawrence gives us guidance on choosing the perfect desk lamp… When you think the average person spends 5 hours a day sitting at a desk, you can see how important choosing the right desk...
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Choosing the right bed
Brent Cooper, bed expert at Marshall & Stewart – purveyors of luxury, handcrafted British beds – gives us his tips on choosing the right bed… There is a growing recognition that sleep health is just as vital to our well-being...
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Shutters
History Windows have been covered with shutters for centuries. (Image: The Hoarde) Small medieval windows were secured with simple internal wooden shutters. By the end of the 17th century window glass quality was improved, sash windows came into existence and tiered...
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Outdoor Surfaces
Your choice of outdoor flooring, for a front or rear garden, roof deck or drive, will depend on the style of your property, budget and practicality. Consider using a variety of the materials mentioned below in different patterns or as...
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Designing a Kitchen
Decide how a kitchen is to be used and plan accordingly: as a laundry room, to watch TV, or as an area for children to do homework? Will you need more than one oven, a dishwasher, coffee machine, a warming...
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Bathrooms Part 2
Walls & Floors The glazed surface of ceramic tiles adds sheen to a bathroom or shower wall and is easy to clean. (Image: Habibi) Tongue-and-groove panelling is an effective and elegant look in a traditional country style bathroom. The top of...
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Beds & Mattresses
We spend about 30,000 hours in a bed in its 10 year lifespan, so make every effort to buy a bed which is ideal for you. Buying a mattress The Sleep Council publishes a series of leaflets on beds: The...
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