Home 09 - An ECHO Supplement

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An ECHO Supplement

In association with

Home

The do-it-all guide to helping you improve your house and garden

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

Contents index Pages 4-5: Craig Phillips talks about his love for DIY Pages 6-7: How you can fit laminate and put up your own shelves Pages 8-9:Style and fit your own kitchen Pages 10-11 How to create your dream bathroom

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We want to help you create a perfect home

ASKERS the home store is delighted to be sponsor of ECHO Home 09. At Taskers our sole aim is to help you make your home more beautiful, we work constantly to bring new exciting and innovative products to our customers.

If you haven’t visited us for a while you will see an amazing difference in our stores and our product ranges.

Forget about the old fashioned DIY image and experience our complete home store concept, with fashionable, design led offerings in all departments.

Now is the time to get your home ready for Christmas. We have got amazing new ranges: ● New season wall coverings ● Exciting new Autumn rugs and flooring

● Brand new kitchen department your home decor: ● Design led bedding, cushions, and ● Silent white throws ● Classic copper and gold ● Beautiful new ranges of ● Traditional burgundy and window poles wine ● Seasonal tableware ● New classic duck egg ● New candle shop blue, ivory and sage ● Dazzling lighting ● Dazzling silver, black, and ● Vases, floristry, and iridescent. finishing touches.

And if you need a break All this as well as the from shopping, you can products you would expect relax in our brand new to find in our massive DIY Aintree Coffee Shop. departments, and We have over 200 sales everything at Taskers’ value staff just waiting to help you make your home more for money prices. beautiful this Autumn.

Your home won’t be We really look forward to complete however without visiting our Christmas WELCOME: John seeing you soon.

(Coffee Shop & Fabrics department, which this year Tasker Department – Aintree only) is co-ordinated beautifully JOHN TASKER into colour themes to match

Pages 12-13: Create a cosy living room Pages 14-15: Keeping it simple with neutral colours Pages 16-17: You can have a very colourful Christmas Pages 18-19: Transform your master bedroom Pages 20-21: Turning a house into a real home Pages 22-23: The do-it-all guide to decorating Pages 24-25: Give your garden some colour this Autumn Pages 26-27: How to lay decking Pages 28-29: Making your house greener Pages 30-31: How to improve the value of your home LIVERPOOL ECHO EDITOR: Alastair Machray HOME 09 EDITOR: Andrew Greenhalgh DESIGNER: Richard Irvine

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HOME 09

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HOME 09 in association with.....

SPARKLE: Mini jewelled lamp, £9.99, Tu Home at Sainsbury's.

PLUM LOOK: Next plum waterlily cushion, £12, plum taffeta twist cushion, £12, plum waterlily bed set, from £45 and plum taffeta throw, from £50

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HILL winds and storms may be nature's signs that winter's arrived but in our homes the first sign is the return of the rich, berry shades to the decor palette.

It's not really surprising that a 'home harvest' of sumptuous purples, plums, aubergines and berry reds is a perennial favourite because the colours give an instant injection of warmth, glamour and luxury.

And this season there are several ways of using this strawberry-through-to-blackberry palette.

You can plump for decadence with deep, dark purple teamed with black and shimmering silver and glass accessories, or mix fruity shades with crisp pistachio greens, teals and cool neutrals.

Alternatively, simply flirt with lilacs and pinks for a feminine feel which is particularly effective in a bedroom.

"Every home is unique but every so often a trend emerges that people simply cannot resist dabbling with.

This season that trend is purple," says Dave Alves, managing director for HomeSense.

"Part of purple's appeal is its adaptability - it can inject an air of playfulness through a bright berry shade, or be used in an understated way as a peaceful lilac or relaxing aubergine."

Create a winning winter recipe for cosy rooms by following the interior experts' advice on picking plums and the best berry-beautiful homeware. ● BERRY BEAUTIFUL ROOMS House Beautiful Style Editor, Charlotte Boyd says: "Using purple in a decorating scheme doesn't have to mean creating a dark, gothic style look, quite the opposite in fact.

"In its richer tones, such as aubergine and grape, it is a wonderfully warm and nurturing colour perfect for creating a cosy living room."

She suggests choosing tactile velvets in those deep

hues to upholster a sofa or to give a new look to an old armchair, sourced from companies such as Linwood, which has a great selection of both patterned and plain velvets.

Laura Ashley, who also offer a re-upholstery service, has embraced the shades from rich pinks to mauve.

Graham & Brown's new Essence range of papers can make a statement without overwhelming a room. Patterns are inspired by natural shapes, such as flowers and leaves, and one features a gorgeous damson and gold combination.

Papers cost £30 a roll.

Designer Jeff Banks features a glorious purple in his

ORIENTAL LOOK: 2 Seater in Alaska Leather Dark Brown, £1599, Love seat in Kerala Velvet Fuchsia, £949, from Marks & Spencer.

new Ports of Call paint collection for Focus. Check out Strut, a regal purple shade, £19.99 for 2.5 litres from nationwide branches of Focus. ● PLUM LINES "Purple shades are hugely popular in furniture at present partly because in difficult economic times people opt for colours which never go out of fashion and are practical to live with," says Ian

Bisatt, design director at Multiyork.

He says a sofa, or single chair, upholstered in a bold purple print design will enliven a neutral-coloured living area and provide an eye-catching block of colour.

Most of the high street stores have caught the passion for berry shades. Marks & Spencer has opted for Kerala velvet upholstery in deep fuschia pink on a striking Love Seat, £949 and stool, £349.

While connoisseurs of style know they'll never be disappointed at Heal's which is always bang-on-trend with its superb designer homeware. A streamlined Antoinette sofa, which can be upholstered in regal purple velvet, has a hefty price tag

Give your house a touch of decadence

£1,795 but is a stunner.

CHIC BUY: British Home Stores grand-looking Roxy three-seater sofa, in plum, £999. ● PURPLE PASSION Purple is perfect for bedrooms as it's more grown up than pink, and not as cold as blue.

Charlotte Boyd recommends lighter shades of purple such as violet and amethyst as perfect colours for a pretty bedroom.

"These shades are going to be a key trend for Spring 2010. Choose a delicate floral or damask wallpaper and combine with fresh white bed linen and French antique style painted furniture," she suggests.

Ranges such as Villa Nova's Foxley collection of papers and fabrics could suit this look as they're available in a very soft mauve.

Her tip: "If you want to add an accent colour try soft catkin green, it will freshen up the whole scheme and give it a more contemporary feel."

If you prefer strong, deep shades, Dave Alves, from HomeSense, advises that playing with textures can ensure the shade doesn't overwhelm a room which should be restful rather than dramatic.

"Raw silk cushions scattered on a bed or on a bedside chair can conjure a luxurious feel and purple velvet always looks indulgent. Soft cashmere throws in pale violet could be a good choice for the less colour-confident and be an easy way to step into the world of purple."

Next has a stunning black and purple Waterlily bedset, from £45, with a co-ordinating Plum Taffeta throw from £50, and complementing cushions from £12.

Equally striking is Julian Macdonald's Adriana purple bedding set, embellished with jewels, starting from £45 at Debenhams. ● BARGAIN BERRY BUYS Fionnuala Johnston, Design Coordinator at B&Q says: "Purple is a good colour to use as it works so well with many other colours.

Tonally it is great with reds and browns.

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HOME 09 in association with.....

TOOLED UP: Craig Phillips means business

Everyone’s favourite Big Brother winner on why DIY is worth the effort H

EARD of Craig Phillips?

Of course you have.

Since winning the inaugural Big Brother in 2000, when it was a genuinely fascinating social experiment peopled by normal, likeable types - as opposed to fame-hungry wannabes out to make their fame and fortune - Craig has carved himself a niche in the public consciousness unrivalled by any other BB winner.

He has used his fame to develop what he already was - a self-made building entrepreneur. He has become a kind of DIY consultant for the nation at large, appearing on programmes such as 60 Minute Makeover, Trading Up and Builders Sweat & Tears to name but three.

Who better, then, to talk to when it comes to putting together a guide to home improvement and DIY in the home? Craig, naturally, was only too glad to help.

Recent years have seen the UK public set about improving their own homes with a vigour put down by many to the credit crunch. We all want to live in nice homes, but don’t all have the finances to bring in builders and architects galore to design them for us.

Craig agrees, but is keen to point

Craig Phillips talks to Andrew Greenhalgh about his new DIY training courses for women

out the advantages of buying into the DIY dream and having a bash yourself.

He says: “I think people have been forced to improve, to learn how to do it themselves, because of the credit crunch.

“But once you start doing a small bit of DIY it becomes addictive and people generally do go on to do more.

“And if you’ve done something yourself, when it’s finished, it’s also really satisfying.”

There is also something of a myth that has built up around DIY in the home that if you really can’t make a good job of something, then don’t bother. It’s the sort of theory that sounds suspiciously like it was put about by workmen terrified that the DIY boom is about to put them out of business.

Craig, typically, is ready to send that school of thought to the back of the class.

“There is no reason,” he says, “why people can’t have a go at

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Craig Phillips’ top tips 1. KNOW YOUR LIMITS Craig wisely steers clear of offering a ‘one size fits all’ package of advice to would be home improvers.He says: “First of all, recognise what you can and can’t do.

“People start to make a mess of things when they take on too much and then it is off-putting anD you end up not wanting to do any more. It defeats the object.

“If you do a little bit of research into what it is that you want to do, taking it step by step, that is the best way. People will then find that it becomes addictive and you’re doing more than you thought.”

2. MAKE IT A SOCIAL OCCASION “Each individual will be different and be able to do different things, so I would say get a friend in to help you. It makes life a little bit easier and a bit more fun.

“Another thing that people are doing is having painting parties.

“If you’ve got a room to decorate, invite some friends round, have a bottle of wine and paint it together. Make it a social occasion - it can be great fun.”

3. AVOID STRUCTURAL WORK Asked what the worst DIY disaster he has ever seen is, Craig immediately remembers one house in which the owners had decided to take a wall down in an old house. There were obvious repercussions as far as supporting the house went.

He adds: “If you’re looking at making major structural changes, get some professional advice first.

“Even in modern houses, taking walls out is not as straightforward as people think.”

things themselves.

“If you’re painting a wall or laying some tiles, the staff at the suppliers where you buy your paint or your tiles should be able to give you a little bit of advice.

“If you get a little bit of guidance, that is really important.”

The 38-year-old – he was born in Liverpool in 1971 before moving with his family to Shropshire in the late 1980s – is, in fact, so determined to help people improve their DIY skills he has helped set up a company aimed to doing just that.

Aimed primarily at women – although the next set of sessions, he says, are intended for men too – ‘Chix and Mortar’ offers weekend training courses to make even the most DIY-illiterates feel comfortable

with practical tasks around the number of women willing to have a home. go at DIY around the home, Craig Instructors and venues are acknowledging the truism that more individually selected men seem determined to guarantee a to pick up a paintbrush relaxed, or chisel than the non-pressurised fairer sex. environment with He says: “It is overalls and course mainly men that do it, notes provided, the I don’t know why weekends covering a really! range of subjects from “We did some tiling floors and walls research on why to painting, women didn’t do DIY wallpapering and and they needed a little decorating. You can bit more guidance with even learn basic the correct things to buy and the tools to use plumbing and GET STUCK IN: Craig carpentry.

Phillips has set up a DIY – it is a confidence Perhaps the courses training academy aimed thing really.”

It is not just ‘Chix will help increase the

at women

and Mortar’ that Craig is ploughing his energies into in a bid to make the UK more practical.

His independent construction training academy, the largest in the North West, has just begin its fifth year, educating 152 students in the first intake alone.

The 25,000 - now expanded to 100,000 sq ft - facility was designed and built by Craig and his team to simulate a real construction site with 88 solid individual rooms for various types of wet trades, 48 carpentry bench workstations and a 9,000 sq ft open plan workshop for brickwork - large enough to build several entire houses. Along with the practical workshop areas the academy also consists of three large fully equipped I.T classrooms,

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The home store

various staff offices, administration and reception areas.

But the academy is aimed at those who picked up a brush and emulsioned the hall at roughly the same age as they ditched the potty.

Craig is still the patron saint of the likes of us who are daunted by the prospect of putting up a bookshelf in the back bedroom.

“Give it a try. Most people are really surprised that once they have done it themselves, how good they can be – and how good a job they have made of it!”

Sounds like good advice to us. ● Craig Phillips 'chix and mortar' course dates: Both in London on February 6/7 (for women) and February 13/14 (for couples). Courses are £199 pp. Go to http://chixandmortar.com/

As Seen On TV

Includes 3 patented cutting blades for cutting fine laminate flooring, MDF & ceramic tiles

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HOME 09 in association with.....

How to hang pictures properly

Put your foot to the floor

Rugs and flooring from Taskers -----Wire Picture Name:zzeftr151009flooring8.jpg NOT TRINITY MIRROR OWNED

Adorning your walls with a special artwork, family portrait or feature mirror can finish a room’s décor and make the space truly personal.

Although you want to make sure the item stays in place and hangs straight, don’t feel daunted by the task, as these easy steps from B&Q will help you get the job done in no time.

Tools:Pipe and cable detector, step ladder (if necessary), pencil/Masking Tape Hammer Drill Masonry bits Hammer Screwdriver Spirit Level Safety Goggles (if necessary) Materials: Picture Wall Plugs Screws Picture Wire (if necessary) Plasterboard fixing (if necessary) Hooks Various Nails Step by step Guide 1. Make sure you have the correct fixing depending on whether you have a plasterboard wall or a brick wall.

2. Check for hidden pipes or cables with a metal/electric detector.

3. Hold the picture in place where you want it to hang on the wall and draw a line along the top of the frame marking where it will hang.

4. Measure the distance between the top of the frame and the hanging point on the frame (on the back of the picture) and then use this measurement to mark on the wall where the picture will hang.

5. Mark on the drill with the masking tape the length of the wall plug and then drill into the wall with the masonry drill bit (where just marked with the pencil).

6. Insert the wall plug, using a hammer is necessary and then screw in the hook screw into the wall plug.

7. Sit the picture on the wall making sure it is hanging properly and use the spirit level to ensure the picture it is level.

There are many different types of screws and picture hooks available to ensure you are using the correct one to hold the weight of your picture or mirror.

LOCKING laminate flooring locks together with no need for glue or nails. The flooring is laid ‘floating’, with no fixings attaching it to the floor below. This allows it to expand and contract without buckling.

Preparing the existing floor Laminate flooring can be laid on any smooth, flat surface as long as it is dry, firm and level. Make sure floorboards are firmly screwed down and flatten all nails with a hammer. A newly concreted floor must be completely dry. Level an old, uneven concrete floor with self-levelling compound. (For more detail, see You Can Do It – the complete B&Q step-by-step book of home improvement Which underlay?

All sub-floors need to be fitted with an underlay before laminate flooring can be laid. Concrete, asphalt, vinyl-, quarry- or similar tiled sub-floors should be covered first with a plastic-film moisture barrier (a damp-proof membrane), in addition to any damp-proof course that may be present in the sub-floor. Never use carpet underlay under laminate flooring.

Poly foam underlay This is the thinnest of the underlays used beneath laminate flooring, and is suitable for any firm, dry and level sub-floor, such as a wooden floor.

Prepare the floor and if necessary lay a damp-proof membrane. Lay the poly foam underlay over the entire floor area. Trim to fit with

Your DIY guide to laminate scissors or a knife, cutting a 10mm gap around pipes. Lay lengths side by side and secure them with masking tape.

Combined underlay and damp-proof membrane The obvious advantage of combined underlay is that whatever your sub-floor, you only have to fit one layer rather than two. It is thicker than poly foam underlay so will absorb very slight irregularities in the floor, and it provides good sound insulation. Tape the joints to keep the product damp proof.

Wood fibre boards This is the thickest of the underlays and the one you will need to use if you have a slightly uneven sub-floor.

It gives good heat and sound insulation. Prepare the floor and if necessary lay a damp-proof membrane. Acclimatise the boards in the room for 24 hours. Stagger the joints and leave a 10mm expansion gap around the edge of the room and 5mm between the boards.

Locking laminate flooring LOC flooring boards have long and short tongues on the sides and the ends that lock together. It’s easy to unlock the floor again if you want to

move it. Condition the boards before fitting: lay them horizontally in their packing in the room where they are to be used for at least 48 hours.

Fitting locking laminate aminate flooring expands and contracts naturally, so you need to leave a gap of 10mm between the boards and the skirting-board when fitting it, using fitting wedges or expansion spacers.

1 Lay boards lengthways towards the light source. Lay the first board in a left-hand corner over the underlay, the end with the short tongue against the wall. Fit wedges at intervals between the board and the skirting, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the board is square with the wall.

2 Lay the next board end-on, placing the short tongue of the second board into the long tongue of the first board at a 30° angle.

Lower the board and lock it into place. Lay more boards in the sameway until you reach the end of the row, where you will probably have to cut a board to make it fit.

3 To measure the last board, turn it 180° and lay it next to the previous one. Draw a line across the last board level with the end of the

previous one. Cut and position it to complete the first row. The joints should be staggered: if the off-cut is between 300mm and 900mm it can be used to start the next row; otherwise, halve a board.

4 To start the next row, angle the cut board against the board in the previous row, cut end next to the wedge. Press forward and fold down at the same time to lock its long side.

5 Place the short end of the next board at an angle against the previous board and fold down, making sure the board is on the locking strip in the previous row.

Angle the boards by 30° and push them against the row in front.

When the boards are tightly together, push them down.

6 For the last row, place a board at a time over the previous row. Place a third board on top with the tongue touching the skirting and use the edge to mark the cutting line on the board beneath. Cut the board and ease it into position, remove wedges.

Flooring trim Once the flooring is laid, you can remove the fitting wedges and cover the gap around the edge of the room with laminate flooring trim,

chosen to match your floor. The trim should be fixed to the skirting – not the floor – with adhesive.

1 Measure and cut lengths of laminate flooring trim. For a neat and professional finish, use trim cutters that cut the trim in a straight line or at angle to fit into a corner.

2 Apply trim adhesive to the back of a length of flooring trim (not the base) so that it will stick to the skirting-board rather than the floor.

3 Press the trim in place and if necessary secure them with some heavy weights, such as books, while the adhesive dries.

Safety first Laying flooring is very hard on the knees, and can lead to painful injuries if you accidentally kneel on sharp objects. Let a pair of knee pads take some of the strain.

Fitting As well as the flooring, you need fitting wedges or expansion spacers to insert all the way around the edge of the floor (and remove when it is laid). These ensure that a 10mm gap is left for the floor to expand and contract without buckling.

Cutting Cut flooring trim with a pair of trim cutters that cut quickly and easily.

STYLISH: Rustic oak flooring available from Taskers

ON SHOW: All the different rugs and flooring styles shown above are available from Taskers

CARPET tiles are loose-laid so that they can be taken up and re-laid in a different part of the room to spread wear, for individual spot cleaning, or to completely replace a damaged tile.

Before you start Strip off previous floor coverings and make sure that the surface is firm, clean, dry, flat and smooth.

Make sure the surface is free of paint, oil, grease, bituminous compounds and any solvent-based materials.

Sweep or vacuum the sub-floor, removing all dust and smoothing out any lumps or depressions.

Cover uneven timber floors with resin-bonded plywood or floor-covering grade hardboard panels.

Hardboard panels should be dampened 24 hours before installation to prevent subsequent expansion. Ensure boards are securely fixed.

Make sure there are no proud nail heads.

Do not lay carpet tiles on solid floors that do not incorporate a damp-proof membrane.

When you are calculating the area of your room, remember to measure any alcove or bay separately and add it to the total.

Pile direction Carpet tiles have a natural pile lay, and this is indicated by directional arrows on the reverse of each tile. This natural pile lay can lead to very slight shade variations, particularly from one production batch to another. In order to avoid shading problems, tiles should be laid with the directional arrows pointing in alternate directions, like a chequerboard.

Laying the tiles To achieve a symmetrical design with no unsightly narrow gaps at the skirting, find the centre of the room (for details on how to do this, see you can do it – the complete B&Q step-by-step book of home improvement and work from there towards each wall.

1 Starting at the centre of the room, lay a row of tiles from the centre line to one of the walls.

2 When you reach the wall, check to see if you are left with a narrow gap (as above). This should be avoided – a thin strip of carpet tile at the skirting will look ugly.

3 To avoid such a narrow gap, move the starting line back the width of half a tile. Repeat the laying from the start line in the

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7

The guide to laying carpet tiles

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HE DECISION about what kind of flooring you want should be the first one you make when you’re fitting out each room.Wooden flooring is stylish, easy to clean and won’t dictate the colour scheme of your entire room – but after a long hiatus, made to measure carpet has enjoyed a revival in recent years and is indisputably top dog when it comes to making your living room a warm and cosy place to be.

In recent years, natural shades have been the most popular hues for carpets and the trend looks set to continue into 2009/10, with creams, beiges, chocolates, browns and sandy shades dominating the latest carpet styles.

Such classic, neutral colours create a clean, contemporary feel that suits most homes and helps make rooms appear more spacious.

A natural coloured carpet also provides the perfect neutral base to experiment with colour in other aspects of your décor, like brightly coloured walls or accessories.

A word to the wise, though: pale colours may look fantastic and are brilliant if everyone is prepared to leave their shoes at the door every time. But do be aware that one spilt bottle of red can turn that stunning floor into something you’ll dread looking at forever.

There is, of course, a halfway house.

Accessorising a cool wooden floor with an enormous rug can add a slice of cosiness, and while you may never pick a full carpet in a dazzlingly bright colour, it will brighten up your room no end on a rug.

In areas like hallways, stairs and lounges, which are subject to a lot of wear and tear, opt for high-density pile carpets designed especially for heavy domestic use.

Whilst in lower footfall areas, like bedrooms, carpets with a soft, deep pile provide a more luxurious feel.

In the current climate, homeowners want flooring that will stand the test of time– both in terms of quality and style, so it’s not surprising that tiled flooring, which is renowned for being hard-wearing, is becoming increasingly popular.

Interestingly, many of us are also now choosing to use tiles in rooms other than the usual kitchens and bathrooms.

Ceramic, marble and natural-coloured tiles all look set to be popular in 2009/10, whilst mosaic glass tiles provide a fashionable alternative for those keen to create striking decorative features in kitchens, bathrooms and en-suites.

As we all become more environmentally aware, flooring made with tropical wood like Brazilian rose wood and mangrove is emerging as a sustainable alternative to endangered timber species. Packed with sumptuously rich colours and beautiful patterns, tropical wood flooring is sure to prove popular with homeowners keen to boost both their green and style credentials.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more contemporary flooring to complement an edgy décor scheme, then consider the latest clean resin flooring. A highly durable material, resin flooring is a stylish choice and is often available in matt, gloss and even shimmering finishes.

Whatever type of flooring you choose, it’s always wise to invest in the best quality that you can afford to ensure it stands the test of time.

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£25.30 2.13 sq mt pack

£11.99 per sq mt

*When you purchase over 5 packs of Laminate flooring, terms & conditions apply, see in-store for details.

opposite direction and then towards the other two walls.

Adjust the start line as necessary, until there is a reasonable gap of about half a tile all round the room.

4 Lay the tiles with the edges butted up tightly and squarely to the neighbouring tiles, making sure you do not trap any carpet pile between each join. Secure every fifth row of tiles with a strip of double-sided carpet tape to prevent any movement. Position all the whole tiles before filling in the gaps at the edges and tackling areas where there are fittings.

Cutting tiles Carpet tiles will need to be cut to fit at the skirting, doorways and around obstacles. To cut around curves or pipes, make a simple paper template to use as a guide.

1 Lift the last uncut tile nearest the skirting. Replace it with the tile to be cut.

2 Place the last uncut tile on top of the tile to be cut, butting it up against the skirting-board. Using the top tile as a template, mark the cutting line with a pencil on the bottom tile.

3 Place a spare tile upside down under the tile to be cut to give a firm and safe surface and to protect the cutting blade. Using a sharp utility knife and a steel rule, cut the tile, carefully parting the carpet pile as you cut.

4 Replace the whole tile in its original position and fit the cut tile in place against the skirting. Repeat the cutting process all the way around the edge of the floor.

Secure the cut tiles with double-sided carpet tape.

Design ideas Carpet tiles can be laid using a single colour or you can make your own individual carpet designs by mixing colours, laying tiles in a chequerboard pattern, introducing borders, or adding a contrasting colour in a random design.

For a simple bold design, use carpet tiles in two colours, one dark and one light, and lay the colours alternately to create a chequerboard effect.

Create your own stylish carpet pattern by adding single tiles in a contrasting colour to the main colour in a completely random design.

Cutting Use a steel rule as a straight edge for cutting carpet tiles in a straight line.

Unbeatable Laminate Flooring Promotion The home store

www.taskersonline.com Wavertree Road:- 0151 708 6098 Long Lane . Aintree:- 0151 525 4844

8 HOME 09

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Cook up a storm in your dream kitchen A

LONGSIDE the bathroom, the kitchen is traditionally the room which gets handed the first facelift when people move in.So if you’re on the move, or you’re just bored and frustrated with your out of date units and are desperate to try something new, don’t despair.

There has never been a wider choice. First of all, it seems colour is in. Pinks, reds and

blues – paired with white wood or dark granite work surfaces – are enormously popular, but if you can’t cope with such bold style statements when you’re making that early morning cup of coffee, go for the warm look with deep browns to make your kitchen really glow.

Big brassy colours can easily be accessorised with kettles, toasters, coffee makers and the like in matching or

contrasting colours, and black and white – once synonymous with the 80s – is also back with a modern day twist.

And what about mixing your kitchen units to achieve a unique, slightly quirky style?

Not a look for the faint-hearted, make the most of this highly individual trend by keeping the same door fronts and sticking to just two main colours with a neutral worktop.

If you do fancy turning your kitchen into a brightly coloured or black and white delight, it’s advisable to stick with the modern, contemporary look – and the good news is, that style is tipped to remain one of the main trends for 2009.

Key styles include sleek granite worktops, dark wood units (great for hiding marks) and high gloss units which are an excellent choice for more compact kitchens.

All you need to fix a tap A TAP that continues to drip requires rewashering. You will have to remove the headgear mechanism to replace it.

However, when water is leaking from the tap spindle, just below the head, it is a sign that the gland packing has failed. If this is the case see replacing gland packing below.

1 Turn off the water supply.

2 For a traditional capstan-head pillar tap, first remove the cross head by releasing its retaining screw. Next, unscrew the bulbous shroud below the head to expose the tap mechanism.

On modern taps, the head and shroud are one-piece mouldings.

Simply pull off the push-fit types or remove the fixing screw hidden beneath the coloured hot or cold identification disc. Use a thin

blade to prise out the disc.

3 Just above the tap body is the headgear nut. Holding the tap firmly, unscrew the nut and lift the headgear assembly out of the tap body.

4 You will find the worn washer at the base of the assembly attached to the 'jumper'. With some taps, the washer fits over a stud in the centre of the jumper, and is simply prised off and replaced.

Other washers are held in place with a retaining nut.

Bath-tap washers are larger than those required for sink and basin taps replace a worn washer with a new one of the correct size.

5 Before you replace the headgear assembly, check the condition of the seat inside the tap body. The washer is compressed against the seat, and if the metal is pitted, a new tap washer may not prevent the tap leaking.

6 Buy a reseating tool to smooth the

seat. Fit the tool in the tap body and adjust the cutter until it begins to remove the pitted metal as you turn the handle.

Alternatively, fit a new plastic seat over the old one. These are supplied as a kit, complete with new jumper and washer.

The latest type of taps use ceramic discs in place of traditional rubber washers. These hard-wearing units last longer, but in the event of a leak, it is necessary to replace the whole disc cartridge.

Leaking taps - replacing gland packing

When water is leaking from the tap spindle, just below the head, it is a sign that the gland packing has failed.

On older taps, the rotating spindle is sealed with a waterproof packing that is compressed by a gland nut fitted to the

top of the headgear assembly. Modern taps use rubber O-rings to form the seal.

1 Turn off the water supply.

2 Remove the tap head and try tightening the gland nut. Take care not to overtighten the nut as this will prevent the spindle turning.

3 If the spindle continues to leak, unscrew the gland nut and pick out the old packing with a penknife. Replace it with plumber's fibre twine wound clockwise around the spindle. Grease the twine first with petroleum jelly.

Pack it down and retighten the gland nut.

4 For taps fitted with O-ring seals, remove the headgear assembly and pull the old seals from their grooves. Replace them with new rings of appropriate size.

Smear new O-rings with petroleum jelly to ensure they slide easily into place.

Courtesy of www.diy.com

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

SLEEK: The Taskers' Lucida kitchen is just one of the many styles

HOME 09

Top tips for tongue and groove panelling ONE method of fixing tongue-and-groove panelling is metal clips. They fit into the groove and leave a small tongue through which you bang a pin into one of the battens of wood you've fixed to the wall. For this method, you need to plane the tongue off the first board you're fixing and put that edge against the left-hand wall. The next board along will conceal the clips. ● Another option is secret nailing.

This involves driving panel pins through the tongue at an angle. To prevent the tongue from splitting, you need to pre-drill the holes for the pins. Bang the pins in using a pin hammer and then a fine pin punch for the final 5mm or so. The pins should sit just below the surface of the wood. ● To cut a piece of tongue and groove, score with a craft knife and metal ruler, before cutting with a hand saw - or a jigsaw with a fine blade. The cut should be at least a couple of centimetres in from the end of the board. If your design calls for angles, use a combination square for 45 degrees angles and a protractor and adjustable bevel for other ones. Smooth off all cut ends with fine sandpaper and wipe clean. ● Once you've finished fixing the tongue and groove, fill the pin holes with a little wood filler for a good finish. Once the filler's dry, sand and wipe clean. If you're planning to varnish the tongue and groove, use a wood filler that's the same or a very similar colour. ● If the tongue and groove is in your bathroom or kitchen, you need to paint or varnish it as soon as possible to prevent stains and water damage. Choosing a product suitable for exterior or kitchen and bathroom use is advisable for maximum protection.

MODERN: Both of these stylish kitchens are available from taskers

Alternatively, sophisticated country-chic kitchens are also a hugely popular trend for more period properties and instantly create a warm, homely atmosphere.

From rustic oaks, pines and exposed brick to sumptuous ivory units, vintage-style Belfast sinks and hand-painted units that create a bespoke look, it's a classic style that you can rely on to stand the test of time.

In addition, state-of-the-art energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly, sustainable materials are at the top of any clever kitchen shopper's list.

When it comes to putting it all together, long gone are the days when a kitchen designer was an expensive luxury enjoyed by the few.

Although bespoke, hand-built kitchens are readily out there, most high street stores employ experts to make sure it’s tailored exactly to your needs.

If you don't have the cash to invest in a new kitchen there's no need to miss out either.

Iconic, retro-style appliances, statement cooker hoods or bold and printed tiles are a fantastic way to bring your kitchen bang up to date.

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10 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

Fit your own bath

IF you are replacing an old bath, the simplest thing to do is to turn off the water supply and cut right through the existing supply pipes.

Carefully file off any burrs ready for reconnection. Always read the manufacturer’s assembly instructions, since different designs may be put together in slightly different ways.

Constructing the bath 1 With a helper, lay the bath upside down on a dust sheet. Place the two leg cradles over the bath and fit them into their plastic mounting brackets.

2 Fix the leg cradles to the bath by inserting and tightening the locking screws into the plastic mounting brackets.

3 Screw each leg cradle to the baseboard through the pre-drilled holes. Place the adjustable bath feet into the holes in the cradles and loosely fit the locking nuts. Roughly set each leg to the same height.

4 Screw the centre support foot bracket to the middle of the baseboard, and screw in the adjustable foot.

5 Screw the wall brackets to the timber frame on the sides of the bath. They should be about 150mm from each end. With a helper, turn the bath back over so it is standing on its feet.

6 Push the flexible overflow pipe into the back of the overflow hole, remembering to fit the rubber washer supplied. The other end attaches to the trap (see Step 8).

7 Insert the overflow outlet, check the washers are in place, and screw on the back nut.

8 Fit the waste trap to the bath’s waste outlet.

9 Run a bead of sanitary silicone sealant under the waste outlet fitting and screw it down, making sure any rubber washers are fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fitting the taps Check the diameter of the inlet pipes and join them to the taps with suitable flexible connectors.

This will make adjustment easier if there is any misalignment.

1 Insert the hot and cold taps through the holes. Put on the washers and plastic nuts using an adjustable spanner or basin wrench.

Don’t overtighten.

WHEN you have a large area to tile, it is best to begin in the centre and work outwards, applying all the whole tiles – known as field tiles – first.

Then you can fill in around the edges with cut tiles. Work on small areas at a time and pay particular attention to spacing and bedding the tiles properly. Your aim should be to achieve a perfectly flat tiled surface with a grid of uniform-thickness grouted joints.

Applying whole tiles 1 Beginning in the corner formed by the two wall battens, scoop up a quantity of adhesive with a trowel and press it on to the wall. Then spread it out with a notched spreader, working away from the vertical batten with horizontal strokes and holding the blade at an angle of about 45º. The ridges produced will ensure that there is an equal quantity of adhesive behind each tile, making it easier to set them all level. Work on no more than 1 sq m at a time, or the adhesive may begin to harden before all the

2 Fit a fibre washer to each tap connector, and screw on each tap.

3 Grip each tap firmly and tighten the connector with an adjustable spanner or pipe grips.

Fixing the bath in place Now you are ready to attach your bath to the wall and floor, and to fit bath panels to the sides and end. To cut the panels to fit around skirting or pipes.

1 Put the bath in position and use a spirit level to make final adjustments to the feet. Allow for the height of the bath side and end panels. Mark the positions for the wall fixing brackets and the feet fixing screws.

2 Lift the bath away. Remove the feet from the leg cradles. Check for hidden pipes or cables under the floor, then drill pilot holes and screw the feet down with 25mm screws. On a solid floor use a hammer drill and plug the holes.

3 Check for pipes or cables then drill the wall where you have marked the positions for the wall brackets. Get someone to help you lift the bath onto the feet.

Double-check that the height is correct then tighten the locking nuts to secure the feet to the legs.

Fix the wall brackets to a masonry wall with plugs and screws, or to plasterboard with hollow-wall fixings.

4 Stand a spirit level vertically against the side of the bath. Mark a pencil line against the inside of the spirit level on the floor. Do this in several positions along the side of the bath.

Use a straightedge to join up the lines. The manufacturer’s instructions will give you the thickness of the side panels. Use this to measure and mark the inside edge of the panel on the floor.

5 Cut four 150mm lengths of timber to make floor-fixing battens. Drill two pilot holes into each one and position them so that the outer edge of each is in line with the inner lines you have marked. Space them equally around the bath and fix them to the floor using 45mm screws.

6 Insert the top of the end panel behind the front flange of the bath and rest the bottom against the batten. Do the same with the side panel. Drill pilot holes through the panels and into the battens, and then screw them in place.

WWW.DIY.COM

Make a splash with your bathroom J

UST like the kitchen, the bathroom is not only one of those rooms that can really sell a house – it’s also a room you’ll struggle to cope with if it’s not just right.

Most homeowners do find, though, that transforming it from a dingy, damp grotspot to a fragrant hideaway where you can spend hours in the bath or shower turns into a labour of love.

It will be an expensive one, though, with plumbers, tilers, electricians, flooring installers, painters and cabinet installers involved, so it could not be more important to get it right.

Your first choice is a stylistic one – and the variety on the market today is truly mind-boggling. From super-modern, with square sinks and straight-lined rectangular baths, to reassuringly old-fashioned, there is a bathroom to suit us all.

What kind of bath do you want?

Free-standing models are increasingly popular. Old-fashioned yet brought bang up to date with a modern twist, they are certainly versatile – standing anywhere in the room and allowing you to create a truly individual space, but you may struggle if your room is a

small one.

If you’ve got lots of small children and want to bath them all together, take a look at the oversized baths on the market. They may dominate your room but practically they are a real boon and there’s no need to think you’ll be getting size at the expense of style.

There are some beautiful extra large baths out there.

Almost as important as choosing your bath is deciding where you want the taps. Many still go for at the end, but consider this: Pick a bath with the taps in the middle and that long, relaxing soak will no longer be thwarted by the drip-drip-dripping of the cold tap onto your big toe. Children, too, can lean back at each end without worry.

Your choice of bath will inevitably dictate the style of everything else in your room, but don’t kid yourself that all the hard work is done.

Sinks: If it’s modern, do you want it square? Or rectangular? Do you want a full pedestal, or a semi? Semi-peds are a brilliant idea in a small room, but consult your builder first – you need to be sure your wall is strong enough to hold the sink without the full ped.

You might think that the toilet would be a relatively easy choice. You’d be wrong. There are big toilets, small toilets, traditional toilets and modern toilets. What kind of seat do you want?

Wood or plastic?

If you’re having a shower – and it’s rare to find a bathroom without one – the choices are just as wide. Having it in the bath? What kind of shower screen do you want? Single glass door or foldable? The latter are extraordinarily helpful if you’re getting children in and out of the bath on a

How to lay tiles like a pro tiles are in place.

2 Set the first tile into the corner between the two battens, pressing its edges against them and the whole tile firmly against the wall. Add the tile above it and the one next to it, spacing them initially by eye and pushing them firmly into the adhesive.

3 Insert a tile spacer into the angles between the tiles and adjust the tile positions as necessary. Plastic tile spacers make it easy to obtain uniform joints. Push them in well so that they can be grouted over. (Alternatively, simply insert one leg of the spacer between two tiles and pull it out once the adhesive has set.)

4 Continue in this way, until you have tiled the area of adhesive. Apply more adhesive and tiles to the wall until you reach the point where you need to finish off with cut

tiles. As you work, wipe off splashes of adhesive with a damp sponge. If you allow it to dry, it will be very difficult to remove.

5 Take off the vertical batten by prising out its nails. You may find that you need to remove hardened adhesive that has spread from under the tiles. Do this with the edge of a scraper. Continue adding field tiles to the rest of the wall. After that, you can finish off with cut tiles.

Internal corners Corners between walls are rarely truly vertical, so resist the temptation to cut all the edge tiles to the same size – you will probably find that some do not fit. Instead, measure up for each tile separately.

1 One way of marking a tile for cutting is to

hold the tile exactly over the last whole tile in the row, then butt another against the wall, marking where it overlaps the one below with a felt-tip pen. Alternatively, take separate measurements at the top and bottom of the space to be filled.

2 After cutting, check the fit of the tile; you can make small adjustments with a tile file. If the adjoining wall is to be tiled, total accuracy is not crucial, since the edges will be hidden by the tiles on the adjoining wall; if only one wall will be tiled, make sure you allow room for a grouted joint at the corner.

3 Use the narrow end of the notched spreader to apply adhesive to the back of the cut tile, then press it into place so that it is level with the adjacent tile. Insert joint spacers as necessary.

4 When you have completed one wall, you can tile the next. Care is needed when cutting these edge tiles, to ensure a uniform grouted joint where they meet the tiles on the facing wall.

External corners At an external corner, you can achieve a neat finish by using plastic corner trim. This comes in various sizes and colours, and normally has a quadrant shape. It has the added advantage of protecting the edges of the tiles from knocks, which could cause chipping.

1 Complete one wall. Use a hacksaw to cut the corner trim to length, apply a narrow strip of tile adhesive to the return wall and press the trim into it. Align the trim with

the tiles of the first wall, using spacers to ensure there is a gap for grouting. Carefully apply more adhesive to the return wall with the notched spreader. Make sure that you apply it vertically, so that you are less likely to catch the teeth of the spreader in the corner trim’s flange and dislodge it.

2 Begin tiling the return wall, working away from the corner trim. As you set the tiles in place, remember to allow a narrow grouting gap between them and the trim, inserting spacers and adjusting the tiles as necessary so that the gap is uniform.

Obstructions The best way to deal with obstructions such as doors and windows is to work from the vertical centre of the most obvious feature.

For example, with a single window or door, begin setting out from its centre-line; if there are two windows, use the centre of the space between them; if a window or door is near one end of the wall, work from the centre of the space.

WWW.DIY.COM

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

Shower in real style

ELEGANT: Kensington suite bathroom from Taskers

Metro suite bathroom from Taskers

Connection suite bathroom from Taskers

regular basis. We haven’t even touched upon the number of electric and thermostatic options out there and the different shower heads you can choose.

If you’re lucky enough to have a room big enough to accommodate a shower cubicle as well as a bath, then your style options are, again, many and varied. From basic square model to ‘steam cabin’, complete with built in jets and integrated radio, it’s all a matter of how much space you have and how much you want to spend.

Even when you’ve picked your basic components, there is still a long way to go to complete your dream bathroom.

There are still the furnishings, fittings, tiles and flooring to look at, and it’s not as easy as it sounds. You may start to question ever wanting to have a new

HOME 09

bathroom after looking at your 26th set of taps and sitting on your 14th toilet – but it will be worth it.

Making sure you do sit on those toilet seats, in fact, is the key to making sure it is.

Finally, it is important to stress that although choosing your bathroom is something only you can do, fitting it should not be taken lightly. If you’re a Craig Phillips in the DIY stakes, great.

If not, plumbers will need to be consulted about waste pipes, electricians will need to OK those fancy new lights you’ve been eyeing up and builders will be needed to put the whole thing together.

Your bathroom is something you’re unlikely to do again for another 10 years at least – don’t mess it up.

Quebec Cabin shower room from Taskers

The waste pipes and trap enclosure with curved sliding doors; BEFORE choosing a shower there are lots of designs available, enclosure, you need to work out each installed in a slightly different how you are going to run the way, so do read the manufacturer’s drainage pipes, and check how much installation instructions. With any height you need under the tray for enclosure it is vital that the wall and the pipework. You may be able to tray are fully waterproof, and that cut a hole in the floor to install the the uprights of the frame are waste pipe. If so, you will also need vertical. to make an access hatch: either 1. Lie the two fixed side panels flat extend the hole for the waste trap and run a generous bead of sanitary beyond where the outside edge of silicone sealant into the curved the shower tray will be; or make a channels at the top and bottom. separate hatch nearby, within reach Then attach the head and sill rails of the trap. If your floor is solid, or with the screws provided; don’t you cannot achieve enough of a fall overtighten them. for drainage under a suspended 2. Slide the plastic guide tracks into floor, you could opt for an enclosure the head and sill rails. with a step up to the tray; or you 3. Use a junior hacksaw to shorten could raise the tray above floor level the plastic guide tracks if they are by installing it on a plinth. too long.

If you don’t have enough space 4. Push two door stops into the under the shower tray to fit a guide track in the head and sill rails. shallow P-trap, you Move them into the could fit a compact trap. middle but don’t fix This is specially designed them yet. to give the necessary 5. Stand the shower water seal while being enclosure upright and shallow enough to fit slide the curved sliding under most modern doors into the head shower trays. It has a and sill rails, making removable grid for easy quite sure that the cleaning. doors are the right way Fitting the shower around. Then insert tray another doorstop into Once the waste pipework both the head and sill is prepared, you are ready rails.

HEAT IT UP: to install the shower tray 6. Attach the wall Trinity Steam and connect its waste channels to each side of Cabinet shower outlet to the trap. Read the enclosure and stand cubicle from the manufacturer’s it on the tray. Check it installation instructions is vertical using a spirit Taskers too, since different level. From the inside of designs may be fitted in slightly the enclosure, use a chinagraph different ways. pencil to mark the position for the fixing holes through the pre-drilled 1. Hold the tray on its side and run a holes in the wall channels. bead of sanitary silicone sealant 7. Remove the enclosure and check around the waste hole. for hidden pipes and cables behind 2. Insert the waste outlet into the the fixing positions with an hole, so that it sits into the sealant. electronic detector. If all is clear then Make sure that you have fitted any drill fixing holes in the marked washers supplied, and screw on the positions. Push wallplugs into the locking nut using an adjustable spanner. holes, making sure they go in beyond Fit the trap to the waste outlet. the depth of the tile.

3. Mix the mortar and use a trowel to 8. Run a continuous bead of sanitary lay a thin bed on the floor where the silicone sealant down both wall tray will be positioned. Rest the tray in channels. Put the enclosure onto the place. base, and screw in the fixing screws.

4. Bed the tray down into the mortar Remove any excess sealant. Refer to and level it with a spirit level. If you the instructions to make final can’t get it exactly level you may need adjustments to the sliding doors. to take up the tray and adjust the 9. From the inside, drill through the mortar. Tidy the edges and remove holes in the wall channels and into any excess mortar with the trowel. the frame. Secure with the screws Open the floor hatch and connect the provided and cover the heads with trap to the waste pipe. screw caps. Drill through the plastic Fitting the shower enclosure track and inner head channel then The shower tray, mixer valve and all screw the doorstops in position. pipework and tiling should already 10. Seal the join between the tray be in place before you fit the shower and the tiled wall with a continuous enclosure. Shown here is a corner bead of sanitary silicone sealant.

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11

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12 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

HOME 09 in association with.....

WARMTH: Bring some winter-look artificial flowers into your home

Keeping it cosy in the living room PERFECT LIGHTING: This stylish lamp is from Next

Y

OUR living room is arguably the most important room in your home.It’s where you’ll slouch in front of the television after a hard day’s work, where you’ll chat with your mates before a big night out on the town, where you’ll curl up in front of daytime TV when you’re nursing a cold and a sore head.

It’s got to look good – and it’s got to feel comfortable – and this season’s colours are just right to combine style with comfort.

Deep reds and purples are key style statements, while chocolate browns and golds are also making an appearance. Remember not to go too dark if you only have a small room.

It may be best to keep your walls neutral and accessorise your home for the winter.

Whether you’ve gone for a cool wooden floor or a nice thick carpet, a rug can add a slice of cosiness. Cushions are also a must to create beautiful features in your room as well as adding a touch of comfort, while throws are also a great buy, especially if you’ve chosen a leather sofa.

And what about a feature wall? The fashion of papering the most prominent

wall in the room with textured paper with a large, strong pattern shows no sign of going away – and nor should it.

Your feature wall need not be the same colours as your flooring – but the two need to complement each other. Brown, greens and creams are enormously popular, but sticking with the warm winter colours of deep reds and purples will make a hug style statement that will make your room really stand out.

A note of caution, though: like all fashions, the feature wall’s time will eventually pass and you may be left with as obvious a reminder of the noughties as flock wallpaper was of the 70s – and just as unwelcome.

Getting the lighting right is also essential to create the perfect ambience. You want a warm and cosy feel to the room so opt for soft bulbs in lamps and a few candles to make a lovely glow.

Blinds are increasingly popular, but they don’t always stop those draughts getting through, so some thick fabric curtains are great to close over during the evening.

So, give your living space that cosy touch and you’ll soon be settling down in the warmth of your home.

STYLISH: Capture the warmth under your feet with a contemporary rug Picture: House Couturier

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

HOME 09

13

Fly the flag for British interiors

PURPLE PATCH: Create a stylish autumn look with deep reds and purples, from thick curtains to sumptuous rugs Picture: Marks and Spencer

NIGHTLIGHT: Add a cosy touch with a few candles around the room

Picture: Marks and Spencer

NOTHING is more in vogue this Autumn than Company which has the classic, Union Flag or a a British flag themed interior. more muted version by Vivienne Westood.

This trend has jumped off the catwalk into For versatility and instant 'wow' effect a our homes, with fashion designers such as Lulu Union Jack blanket throw which could also be Guinness using the Union Jack in their designs. used as a wall hanging or bedspread. It's Nostalgic and perfectly in tune with our £212.50 from Graham & Green. current love for retro-chic, the shops are filled Alternatively, dress a window with a bespoke with a patriotic array of items, from furniture Union Jack blind, £143.50 from emblazoned with the flag to eye-catching lamps Web-blinds.com. Choose your own flag design and cushions. and get them to make it up for you.

"Not since the days of Brit Pop in the early BUDGET BUY: Debenhams Union Jack Nineties have we seen the flag used as such a range includes a flag printed canvas, £45, and a huge style icon," says Claire Hornby, creative rug, £100. stylist at store group, Barker and Stonehouse.

Victoria Wright, spokesperson for "UK interiors have seen a very patriotic HomeSense, suggests integrating a few Union trend coming through recently and it will Jack print items into a definitely continue room. into next year."

"Group a Union Jack Claire's advice print cushion on a sofa is to simply mix with other cushions in red, white and block blues and reds blue pieces - you and perhaps a white don't need to fill cashmere throw," she your home with says. items embellished "Or create a feature with flags! corner with perhaps a "Make an retro dial telephone, impact by keeping Union Jack picture the walls and frames, all displayed on furnishings plain. a cabinet draped with a White walls, Union Jack flag." neutral flooring Luckily, there is an and then add a abundance of flag 'not to be ignored' cushions to choose patriotic from. statement.

Debenhams has a Choose a sofa or large cushion £50, small chair embellished £30 and tasteful Union with a flag or Jack mugs £4 each. perhaps make a HOME COMFORT: Graham & Green Next, John Lewis, and feature of a few Best of British homeware: Union Jack Graham & Green have well-chosen red, also picked up on the white and blue flag throw or wall hanging, in pure wool, style. £212.50; Jan Constantine Union Jack accessories," she But if a cushion's too cushions: Union Jack cushion on black says. predictable other details Further background £75; Je t'aime cushion £69; retro-style pieces multi heart cushion £72.60; Love cushion might appeal.

Aspen & Brown, an of glossy Perspex £65; Union Jack cushion on grey online company, has or metal, such as a background £69; Bulldog cushion £85. pretty offerings vivid red filing including a cabinet or fabric-covered Union Jack pinboard, £26.95, contemporary lacquered white drawers, would wooden flag bunting, £21.95, and a doorstop, enhance the effect. £16.95.

Traditionalists may shudder at the flag's new incarnation but the variety and quality of the BUDGET BUY: John Lewis Hampton homeware currently flying off the shelves shows Crest cushion, £29 has a stately home heirloom that the flag's iconic design can be successfully look with a gold crest on a Union Jack turned on its head and retain its cool status. background.

If you're confident that your enthusiasm for If the colour is too garish for your the look won't wane it's fine to paint walls in decor-taste, then opt for a more subtle red, white or blue! interpretation.

But a safer bet might be offsetting white For instance, a linen and velour cushion in walls with a contrasting wall of royal blue, greys and creams by De La Cuona echoes the suggests Claire Hornby. design and is £110 from Occa-Home.

"It's not a colour often used in decorating Or try a leather button-back Rebel Sofa but blue is coming through strongly this season Union Jack from £3,495, with the flag in cream, so it's dark shades can be used with brown and black imprinted on the back from confidence."

Andrew Martin.

For a less permanent celebration of the style BUDGET BUY: Linda Barker's Cool hang a Union Jack wall canvas, or a beautiful Britannia range has an easy-on-the-eye folksy hand made rug such as one from The Rug feel.

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14 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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R

HOME 09 in association with.....

Two interior designers show you how to turn your home into a perfect sanctuary

I

f there was an easy-to-make recipe for calm, there'd surely be no shortage of takers in our stressed times.

But that's exactly what interiors experts Mark and Sally Bailey have devised for our homes.

They believe that, if followed, the result will be as satisfying as any wholesome dish or soothing massage, but with a far more enduring effect. You'll have a peaceful sanctuary that relaxes and comforts you.

Just listening to these two eco-friendly goods specialists talking about the 'ingredients' they recommend is calming.

Sally advises a generous dollop of natural materials, such as wood and stone, recycled furniture and then a helping of "milky-soft, natural colours in your home - reminiscent of large mugs of hot chocolate - to add to the feeling of relaxation."

It sounds a yummy mix, and one they demonstrate with great effect in their rambling rectory house with its chalky white walls, stripped floorboards, embellished with collections of quirky, recycled items ranging from old dog kennels and wooden shoe lasts to discarded gems of design.

They've decanted their distinctive recipe for calm spaces for comfortable living into their book, Simple Home.

Sally explains: "We seem to be so busy all the time nowadays and so our homes really need to be havens of tranquillity and relaxation, where you have a chance to forget about the stresses of the day.

"If you choose to create an interior that embraces the idea of simplicity, you will infuse your home with a sense of calm without really having to think too much about it."

The Baileys' idea of decoration is far from the norm and doesn't rely on colour charts and fussy detail.

Rather, they urge that bare surfaces, chipped paintwork, and exposed brick should be celebrated rather than hidden, and collections of treasures should be displayed but changed regularly and edited to avoid clutter.

"Stone floors and fireplaces, bare, uncovered brickwork, old tiles, wooden floors, doors and beams are star materials - especially when set off by neutral colours," Mark

Learn to enjoy the simple life

SANCTUARY: Simple Home by Mark and Sally Bailey shows how you can create this look enthuses. "Scratches, flaky paint and raw edges are all hallmarks of authenticity and craftsmanship."

But this is far from a hard-edged minimalist approach, and here again the recipe comes into play as Sally explains; "Colours, materials, handicraft and recycling will all add up to a comfortable happy habitat.

As long as you throw them all into

the mix, your home won't end up off-puttingly austere."

Arranging the layout of the home is just as important, says Sally: "Place texture-rich sofas and chairs around the fireplace, making it the heart of your home rather than the television. Light a fire and snuggle up under a chunky hand-knitted blanket, or make a patchwork cover

from scraps of vintage fabric."

Sally and Mark, who have a shop and online company selling recycled and vintage items, have made a living and a lifestyle out of their philosophy.

And it is Sally who sums up their vision: "A simple home is about keeping things plain and useful. It's not supposed to be hard-edged, with

no cats, crumbs or kids allowed.

"Instead, it's about comfortable, relaxed living - allowing for flexibility and endless options, giving you the chance to curate your home like a personal museum."

Follow the Bailey's recipe and create your own tranquil stress-free home.

★★★★

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HOME 09

15

How to create that look

Top design tips ● Kitchens should be versatile, casual spaces for eating, so have the largest table possible. A wooden refectory one works well. Experiment with seating - for instance, garden benches or wrought iron outdoor chairs. ● If your home doesn't come with architectural gems such as a sculptural stone fire surround, a carved wooden one or a decoratively-tiled cast iron Victorian beauty, don't attempt to make up for it by installing replicas. Be true to your home, and don't force it into anything which looks unnatural. ● Think outside of the box when it comes to storage and display - wooden fruit crates, wicker fishermen's baskets, tin trunks can provide interesting storage options.

Old wooden measuring rules make amazing skinny shelves for a collection of postcards, pieces of floorboard or architrave can make beautiful patchwork frames for mirrors, paintings or tabletops. ● Rather than arranging books in alphabetical order, rearrange them into waves of colour.

Decant ingredients in distinctive jars or containers. ● Create a small oasis of calm within your home, sally suggests. "All it takes is a pile of soft unbleached cotton cushions in a cosy corner, or a favourite armchair placed in a daylight-infused room, with sheer curtains wafting in the breeze."

● Colour - Opt for soft, pale colours that quietly complement each other and envelop your surroundings with a sense of calm, such as milky white, tree-bark beige, creamy ivory and silvery greys.

"This look is not dictated by the whims of what's in fashion, colour charts or the rules and regulations of the colour wheel," says Sally.

"It's much more personal, with colour coming from the addition of one or two of your favourite things. Think of the colours and texture of handmade paper and you'll be well on the way to the perfect palette for your home." ● Materials - Choose beautiful grainy wooden floors, and the undulations of old, worn stone and tiles, and celebrate a home's construction by leaving floors and walls unpainted or remove layers of paint and plaster to reveal their inner beauty. ● Seek beauty in imperfection Old furniture, not necessarily antiques, which has been loved, looked after and stood the test of time. "Pieces that have a history, have been rescued, or crafted out of old wood have a natural honesty and integrity that makes them desirable rather than fashionable." ● Highlights - Avoid shout-aloud bright colours, and instead look to nature for inspiration for small splashes of colour. Feature a vase in the dazzling orange of autumn leaves, cushions in acidy lemon yellows of apples, or bunches of flowers in pinks or blues displayed in simple containers. ● Abide by the golden rule and make sure that absolutely everything in your home has a place in your heart, advises Sally.

Favourite things, however insignificant, should be well made and do their job without being ostentatious.

"Don't save your good taste for books and paintings," she says.

"Everyday items such as soft, fluffy piles of towels in the bathroom or the mug you drink your morning coffee from can bring you joy if they are well chosen.

"In this way, the simple act of opening a cupboard can make you smile, if it's stacked with sheets and blankets in your favourite colour combinations, or a shelf features your favourite drinking glasses or neat piles of monochrome plates and bowls." ● Choose home-made over mass-made whenever possible. "When thinking about craft and homemade objects, it's important to get as far away from memories of garish crocheted tea cosies at Sunday craft fairs as possible," says Sally firmly.

"Instead, buying pieces by makers or hand crafted objects should be viewed as a rebellion against mass production.

We've all had more than enough of seeing the same things over and over, in one home to the next, with the same short life span. Choosing something handmade by an artisan or a maker is a celebration of individuality, durability and simple beauty." ● Recycle and revive. Sally points out: "It's time to rescue, re-think, and reuse - visit flea markets, bazaars, antique fairs and reclamation yards.

16 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

Have you stylish

DIY: A tree dressed elegantly with seasonal colours GRAND SCALE: The Christmas Decorators have designed these huge hallways, from top

HELPING HAND: The Christmas Decorators can help to light up the outside of your home

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

urself a very h Christmas

HOME 09

STYLISH STUFF: Rooms decorated by The Christmas Decorators, above and below

I

T’S an annual ritual that virtually everyone takes part in, and most of us enjoy. But, if we’re honest, precious few of us have a clue whether the way we decorate our home for Christmas is bang up to date or years out of fashion.

Do we care? Well, given that our decorations dominate our hallways and living rooms for a good month of the year, we should. Especially as it’s a month when we’re likely to be inviting more people into our home than ever before.

Which is where The Christmas Decorators come in.

Decorators to the stars – Kevin Costner, Goldie Hawn and Mariah Carey are just three of its customers in the US – the UK branch just happens to have its headquarters in Wavertree, with most of the Premiership’s North West footballers also having signed up.

British MD Nick Bolton, then, seems like a good man to talk to for tips about how best to make your home stand out come December.

“The first thing you want to look at is colour,” he says, which might come as a surprise to those of us for whom Christmas means green, red, gold and silver.

“A lot of people think there is a trend out there each year, but the only thing that dictates what colour is in at Christmas is what colour paint has been most popular in B&Q that summer.

“This year, if you’ve been decorating your house, you will probably have gone for a pastel/grey/stone kind of colour.”

It makes sense that you would want to decorate your tree and living areas to complement your existing decor, and Nick reveals: “Christmas trees that would look great in those surroundings and would be in fashion this year would be those decorated in an antique gold colour.

“That goes particularly well with stone, beige and the kind of colours that have been popular this year.

“The way to make a tree look wonderful is to flood it with decorations – make it look full.

“That is what makes a tree look really special – especially if the decorations have sentimental value.”

The Christmas Decorators have also pioneered a wealth of innovations to make

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Seasonal elegance from these Taskers decorations decorating the tree easier – including an invention to solve the age old problem of multitudinous sets of lights with plugs for every one.

“We have made lights which you can plug into each other and all feed into the same plug,” he reveals.

“Because we decorate houses ourselves, we know first hand what the problems are and we go out to China each February, outline what we want, and a month or so later they have a blueprint for us. We can then sell the products in our shop in Wavertree.”

Although Christmas is traditionally seen as a time for families, Nick also has some tips for a funky Christmas if you’re a young couple or singleton.

“What is really nice now is to have lots of greenery, like topia trees or just nice plants – which are available from shops all over the city – and which you can then decorate.

“Trim is really important. You can decorate picture frames, mirrors, fireplaces... strings of lights or glass beads all look nice.”

Although The Christmas Company’s decorators are mainly employed by those for whom money is not an issue, Nick also has some tips if you’re doing Christmas on a budget.

“Don’t try to do a tree up sparsely,” he warns. “It will just look like you’ve done it sparsely.

“Don’t buy a tree if you’ve not got much

GOLDEN: A tree dressed by The Christmas Decorators money to spend. The tree will take up a lot of your budget, so instead use what money you do have wisely – spend it on decorations for around the house.

“If you are going to buy a tree, though, artificial ones are best and offer the best value for money.

“The best tree we have is a pre-lit one and if you can invest around £180, that will be guaranteed and will ensure the lights look great.” ● The Christmas Decorators are running three-hour courses on how to decorate your home for Christmas.

The sessions take place at the company's store, The Christmas Warehouse on Wellington Road in Allerton, every Tuesday and Thursday between now and the big day between 1pm and 4pm.

Call into the store for more details or ring 0151 734 4300. Alternatively, email sarah@thechristmasdecorators.com

COLOURFUL: Decorations available from Taskers, above and below

Christmas Lighting

LED reflector lights are brand new for 2009! LED’s use less energy than traditional lights, but have twice the sparkle and a long lifespan. LED’s have all the benefits of traditional lighting without the common problems! They are much more robust as they have no element, and offer much better value, reducing running costs by upto 50% 180 Warm White Reflector LED Lights, Use Indoor Or Outdoor

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100 LED Starlight Curtain, Use Indoor Only

£29.99

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17

18 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

I

T SHOULD be an oasis, a place to relax and spend blissful hours lounging in bed – but all too often, the master bedroom is a dumping ground for all those things you just can’t find a home for.

If you’ve got children, there are toys strewn all over the floor and piles of clothes in the corner waiting to be hung up and placed in drawers.

If you’re blissfully unburdened by the pitter-patter of tiny feet around the place, it’s likely that dirty socks and underwear are vying for floor space with the personal debris – books, DVDs, shoes - you haven’t quite got round to putting away yet.

It might be a bit of both.

Whatever your life situation, and unless you’re a remarkably organised design conscious tidy person (in which case good for you), it’s unlikely your bedroom is the tranquil haven it really should be.

What’s the solution?

Organisation and ruthlessness. You’re going to need to do some throwing away – so if you’re the type who struggles to part with anything then get a friend to help. You need to empty every storage space in the room of the clothes, shoes, even make-up that you no long need or haven’t worn for a while.

Use the 12-month rule – getting rid of anything apart from special outfits that hasn’t been worn in that time You’ll find that many people, inexplicably, neglect their bedroom when it comes to vacuuming and dusting. Don’t be one of them, and give it a top-to-toe workout. Don’t let your bed miss out on all the fun – turn your mattress over and give it a vacuum, too!

You may find that after your purge of unwanted old stuff, there’s space aplenty in your wardrobe,

How you can make room in your life for a clutter-free master bedroom drawers and old storage boxes – space that can now be used to ensure everything has a place in your bedroom.

You may, however, find that now’s the time to splash the cash a little.

Battered old drawers and wardrobes

which are close to giving up the ghost are both impractical and unattractive. Keep focused on the fact that you’re trying to create a room to relax in.

Use your space wisely. If you don’t

have built-in wardrobes in your room, then floor to ceiling wardrobes replicate both the look and the effectiveness, with their versatility and extra shelving space.

Plastic and cardboard storage boxes

Space: The final frontier

are widely (and cheaply) available and can make a huge difference – fill them with shoes or out of season clothing for more space.

Think about your bed, too. If you’ve not got drawers built in – and if you have then use them well then there’s a huge variety of under-bed storage available, from drawers which ape the design and size of the bed itself to vacuum-pack storage containers which are less attractive but do hold more.

Once you’ve cleared your room of all the unseemly debris, it’s time to add a bit of creative sparkle, and the deep reds and purples that are so popular this season work beautifully in the bedroom.

Tie your bedside tables, drawers and bed linen into one particular theme with throws, photo frames, vases and so on to give it that finishing touch, limiting yourself so as not to destroy the hard work that’s gone before – and your relaxing bedroom is complete!

PILE ‘EM HIGH: Homestyle storage boxes from Matalan come in handy to store all those accessories away, from hairbrushes to letters and magazines

The final chapter on book storage Even if you're not a swot or a book worm chances are you've got at least a few books lying around your home, or maybe feel they're simply cluttering up space.

If so you're missing an inexpensive interior trick because well displayed books can transform a home, no matter whether they're valuable leather bound first editions or just a motley collection of beach battered holiday reads.

Their decorative covers will provide essential colour and interest to a space, and the titles can reveal a lot about their owner.

It would be hard to find a more fervent enthusiast of displaying books than writer Leslie Geddes-Brown.

Her home boasts the equivalent

of a mini-library in the living room as well as shelves groaning with books in the kitchen, bathroom and lining the walls of the downstairs cloakroom.

"Although writers like to believe that books have a higher, sterner purpose," says Leslie with a smile, "in fact they do also furnish a room".

"Take an unadorned space, cover one wall with crowded bookshelves, add a chair and a table, also crowded with books, and you have a furnished room."

To prove her point, Leslie has sought homes around the world where books truly star and whose interiors she reveals in her new lavishly illustrated book, Books Do Furnish A Room.

Look around your home and see if

you can spy corners or crannies or larger spaces that can be enhanced by books.

Make tailor-made shelves distinctive by asking a carpenter or shelf supplier to tailor and vary their layout to suit your particular book collection.

For instance, reams of compact paperbacks need less height between each shelf, and then you could break up the uniformity by making a feature with a deeper shelf for large height books.

An open space under the stairs might be an ideal space for book shelves, or perhaps an empty fireplace filled with bright red books as an eye-catching substitute for flickering flames. But do make sure the chimney is sealed properly, and

there is an air vent so as to avoid damp.

"If a living room is very large, an oversized set of bookshelves will reduce the space and add warmth to the whole," says Leslie.

"Please yourself in how you display your books. But when the prevailing decor is casual, cottagey or comfortable, books can echo this by not being too rigorously organised.

"Of course in a formal room, whether Georgian or minimalist, the opposite principle applies. You could display your books from arranging them by size, grouping all those with the same colour covers, or by subject, or if you're orderly alphabetically."

Use a bookcase as a room divider, far preferable to a dividing wall in a

dark space. Choose one with open shelves if you want to allow more light through the room.

BUDGET BUY: Dwell's excellent, competitively priced storage units on lockable wheels make great room dividers. Large Mobile Storage Unit, £375, divided into 16 compartments in glossy white or £325 in oak finish.

Smaller homes and demands on space mean most of us don't want books spilling everywhere, but it's a shame to hide them in boxes especially when there are so many brilliant book shelves and units around.

For elegant informality, John Lewis' Pisa ladder-style walnut unit, £190, is a winner. It can come five shelves, or with two shelves with a desk, £161.

HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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19

Fill your child’s room full of fun

HIDDEN: Ensure your bedroom is a clutter-free haven with plenty of storage space

STOW IT AWAY: Create more storage space with high wardrobes and matching drawers Furniture Store

Picture: Next

Picture: Harveys the

Making your child’s bedroom underneath. somewhere they want to be has Bunk beds are the natural repercussions for the whole choice if you’ve got two sharing, house. in which case you may worry Make it a fun place where they about your chances of hitting will happily idle away hour after upon a theme that is acceptable hour and you cut down on the to both children. Don’t. A amount of toys cluttering up judicious choice of paint – pale your other rooms. blue or green, for example – Fortunately, there’s never been gives the requisite brightness a better time to make it look vital to a child’s room without good and feel good – and that instantly proclaiming “girl’s (or can only be good news for you, boy’s) room”. the parent.

Alphabet stickers to spell out Just like every each child’s name other room in your are also available to home, it’s good to emphasise that this settle on a theme is a room that and there is belongs to both of nothing more likely them. to make your child Wardrobes are whoop with delight the other at the sight of their component of the new room than BRIGHT: WIzard Girls room, aside from pictures all over the the bed, which can bedroom Available wall. make or break it. from B&Q With this in Since it will be mind, some bright closed and thus on spark cleverly invented display most of the time, self-adhesive wall stickers, consider your choice(s) wisely. available from online shops such Tasker’s, B&Q, Ikea, John Lewis as Jo Jo Maman Bebe and all make terrific, high quality Blooming Marvellous as well as children’s wardrobes in many and children’s shops in every town. varied colours and styles which They are available in themes turn getting dressed in the such as Space (rockets and morning into an adventure. shooting stars), Underwater Another key element in the (whales and other room is storage. assorted fish) and Whatever their Jungle (elephants protests, most and tigers children are gambolling across happiest playing in the wall), and are a tidy room where easy to apply. they can find Crucially, they everything quickly allow the walls of and easily, so make the room to be it easy for them MAGIC: Wizard Boys painted in a neutral bedroom - available with lots of storage colour, which will space. from B&Q sit happily with the Keep things next set of stickers bright and or occupant of the room. And accessible with plenty of different they come off as easily as they sections for Lego, cars, action have gone on – even after several figures and so on – making it easy years’ tenure. for them to find things and for Beds are next. While every both of you to tidy away. department and furniture store Accessories – the likes of rugs, in the land will happily sell you a light fittings, even light switch novelty child’s bed, there is very covers – are easily available to little that beats the thrill of work within your chosen theme. sleeping high up. Captain’s beds If you’re working to a very tight fulfil this requirement and are budget, a few well chosen bright also a space saver, with rugs will last years, adapt to the wardrobes, desks and storage room’s needs and be an investment in the long run. space conveniently located

25

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20 HOME 09

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HOME 09 in association with.....

Fire it up W

ITH winter just around the corner, it is time to think about getting your home comfortable and cosy, and what better way to create a warm welcome than with a fireplace?

As well as providing an attractive focal point to a room, a fireplace also serves a practical purpose, offering light and heat.

Choosing a fireplace can be daunting with such a huge selection of styles available. Do you want a cool, contemporary look? Or are you hoping for something a little more traditional? How about a real fire? Or are you happy creating the effect of a real fire without the hassle?

Don’t be overwhelmed by the choice on offer. Instead, do your homework, take your time and you will get the fireplace of your dreams.

Look at the size of your home and the size of room where you want the fireplace to be placed. You want a fireplace that produces the appropriate amount of heat to keep the room cosy but not overheat it.

The finish is important. While you might choose a stone fireplace that matches your architecture and decor, there are various types and colours to consider. Do you want marble, granite, limestone, or large, natural

Make your home cosy this winter with a new fireplace

stones?

Consider the architecture of your home and the decor of your room. If your house has a contemporary influence, then building a country style fireplace would not look right.

You want the fireplace to enhance the home’s natural structure and blend with your interior design. In other words, both the exterior and interior of the fireplace should enhance the home.

Think about accessories and which ones you would benefit from most. For instance, do you want a fireplace that has a remote control, full speed blower, and so on? You would think that everyone wants these things but not everyone does.

In addition to the fireplace design, you need to think about the mantle, the hearth, and the overall look of the fireplace.

The main thing is to take your time when selecting a fireplace. By looking around and considering all your options, you can save money and end up with an amazing heat source for your home. Remember that you want your fireplace to wow people when they walk into your home.

Put some light in your life

LIGHTEN UP: Jungle shade from Debenhams, £30

GETTING the lighting just right is crucial to creating the desired ambience in your home.

Whether you are looking for soft, romantic lighting or something a bit more functional, the possibilities are endless, so, before you get overwhelmed with the choices on offer, you need to have a think about what you want from your lighting.

First of all, each room in your home serves a different function, from chilling out in the living room to cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and the lighting needs to reflect these uses.

In the kitchen and bathroom, you generally need functional lighting which is bright enough for you to see what you are doing. Spotlights are often very useful particularly in the bathroom to help highlight

certain areas of the room.

If, like many busy families, you have a dining kitchen which is used for a variety of purposes, then you need your lighting to be a bit more flexible. Think about having spotlights to help illuminate the areas where you are cooking but at the same time, why not have softer lighting for the dining area to create a more relaxed and laid back eating area?

It is not just in the kitchen that lighting has to be flexible. Within each room there are often a number of different types of lighting required.

Take the living room for example. As well as chilling out and watching television and chatting with family and friends whilst relaxing on the sofa, the living room could also be used for

reading the papers or catching up on some homework, so, again, more than one type of lighting is needed here.

Why not invest in a stylish chandelier for the living room? As well as being practical, a chandelier helps to create a real focal point for the room. At the same time, you may want to add a standard lamp.

Areas such as halls, stairs and landing, require functional lighting simply so you can see where you are going, so anything goes here from contemporary spotlights inlaid into the ceiling to traditional drop lights .

In the bedroom, keep lighting soft and romantic to create the required vibe and, for added effect, add some dainty tea lights or fairy lights around the room to really finish it off to good effect.

THE LIGHT STUFF: Chandelier, £35 from Debenhams

★★★★

COMPACT: The EcoSmart Cube fireplace is a square-shaped fireplace that will complement a variety of interiors, £5,740. For further information visit www.ecosmartfire.com

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HOME 09

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Hot looks for your home this season

CONTEMPORARY: Radiators as art

TRADITIONAL: Check out this Haddonstone Louis XV-style chimney piece, £1,471, visit www.haddon stone.com

WE all know fires make beautiful focal points, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative with other heating devices in your home.

Do your radiators look old, tired and quite dated? Well nowadays there are plenty of other options apart from the standard rectangle, with spirals, tall, thin space-saving radiators and bathroom shelving. There are a whole host of other shapes and sizes so you’re sure to find the perfect one for each room in your home.

You can also get your heating appliances in a number of colours, whether it’s the polished stainless steel look, or something on the bright side such as greens and purples, there are plenty of choices available.

Even though many people use fires as a feature in their sitting room, central heating is usually used to warm up the house, so maybe we should be paying more attention to those forgotten boxes on the walls and use them to show off our creative side.

There are chic stylish radiators, unusual shapes, or Victorian style with great character, so why not take a look around and see what’s available to add a little charm to your walls.

TRADITIONAL: This creates charm in period properties

Stunning Decorative Giftware At Taskers we have the most inspirational choice of designer giftware you will find anywhere. All the very latest trends and colour ways are represented from leading brands such as Parlane, Sia, Stone The Crows, Ziganoff and many more.

Wavertree Road:- 0151 708 6098 Long Lane . Aintree:- 0151 525 4844

The home store

www.taskersonline.com

22 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

Tricks of the trade

BUYING paint in quantity can save you money, but only if you know how to store and decant it effectively.

Storing paint Paint will not keep indefinitely, as it deteriorates over time. Solvent-based paints have a longer storage life than water-based ones. You can store small quantities in an airtight jar. Choose a size that leaves as little air in the jar as possible, and always label the container with the code number, name and type of paint, and note the room it was used in.

When storing paint in the tin, reduce the risk of a skin forming by turning it upside-down for a few seconds (first making sure that it is tightly shut) to ‘seal’ the lid with paint, or cut a round of foil to the size of the lid and press it down on to the paint to eliminate air.

Using a paint kettle A large tin of paint may be more economical, but it is cumbersome to work with. Professionals always decant paint into smaller containers known as ‘kettles’. These are available in metal or plastic. It takes a lot of white spirit to clean oil-based paint from a container, so it is a good idea to use a throwaway lining of aluminium foil. Mould the foil into the kettle and if necessary use more than one layer to make sure it is fully leak-proof.

Paintbrushes There is a vast range of paintbrushes to choose from, ranging from cheap ones that you use once then throw away to professional-quality brushes that will improve with use, careful cleaning and correct storage. You can also now buy high-quality synthetic brushes that minimise bristle-loss and have individually tapered fibres for a finer finish; some synthetic brushes are not compatible with all solvent cleaners, however, so do check the manufacturer’s instructions when you buy them.

Wallpaper guides you can stick to Chysanthemum-Damson(monsoon) wallpaper from Taskers

Taking a break?

Stop brushes or rollers drying out by wrapping them in cling film. If you make the wrap as airtight as possible, they will remain soft overnight.

Cleaning and storing Brushes used with water-based paints are simply washed with water. Work a little soap into the bristles, rinse them clean and leave them to dry. Clean, dry brushes, rollers and pads can be stored wrapped in lint-free cloth, plastic bags, foil or brown paper. Brushes steeped in oil or solvent-based paint can be stored immersed in an appropriate cleaner or solvent. However, resting the bristles on the bottom of a jar for any length of time is certain to ruin them, so suspend the brush, or use a specially designed cleaning tub.

Using a paintbrush cleaning tub This is ideal for storing as well as cleaning brushes that have been used with oil and solvent-based paints. With the lid on tight, store brushes with a small amount of cleaning fluid in the bottom. The vapours circulate, keeping the brush clean and fresh.

1 Snap the brushes into position.

2 Add enough cleaning fluid to cover just the bristles, fasten the lid and rock the container backwards and forwards several times to clean the brush.

Dispose of the fluid as instructed, and replace with fresh fluid up to the mark.

Keep the lid on while the brush is in storage.

GEOMETRIC: Portobello wallpaper from Taskers

STRIKING: Marcel Wander wallpaper from Taskers

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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W

ALLS and corners are rarely straight, so don’t rely on them as a guide when you are hanging paper. Instead, mark a vertical guideline on the wall, using a plumb line or a spirit level, before you hang the first length.

Always read the instructions to see if there are any specific requirements for your paper. Check the markings you have made on the back when cutting the paper, to make sure that you hang the lengths in the correct order and the right way up.

Where to start Try to hang the first length of wallpaper on a wall that has neither door nor window, so you can hang a full length from the ceiling to the top of the skirting-board.

Choose a wall to the right of the window if you are right-handed, to the left if you are left-handed.

Work away from the window, so that the paper edges will not cast a shadow if they overlap slightly.

If your wallpaper has a large pattern, you should hang the first length over a fireplace or other focal point and then work away from it in both directions, so that the design is central and symmetrical.

Complete this area before papering the rest of the room.

Hanging the first length You should always take your time hanging paper, but be particularly careful with the first length – it’s very important to get that one straight.

1 To position the first length of wallpaper, draw a line from ceiling to skirting-board 480mm out from the corner, using a plumb line or a spirit level. This allows a 50mm overlap on to the window wall.

2 Position the first pasted length at the top of the wall with its righthand edge running down the vertical line. This is easier if you can keep the left hand edge of the paper off the wall. Make sure about 50mm of excess paper is left above the top of the wall for trimming. Hold the paper at both sides and don’t let the lower paper drop suddenly, as it may tear or stretch.

3 Once the right-hand edge is positioned, smooth the paper down with a paper-hanging brush. Work from the centre of the paper to the edges, making sure that

there are no bubbles. Check the edge stays on the pencil mark.

4 With the first length in place, crease the top and bottom of the paper against the ceiling and skirting-board junctions. Gently pull the paper away from the wall and cut along the creases with wallpaper scissors. Brush the trimmed edges back into place.

5 Butt the next length against the previous one, matching the pattern at eye level. When two or three pieces are in place, run the seam roller lightly down the joins. Don’t press down on heavily textured paper or you’ll flatten the pattern.

Hanging paste-the-wall paper There is one type of wallpaper – known as ‘paste-the-wall’ or ‘dry-hanging’ paper – that is hung ‘dry’ because the wall is pasted rather than the paper.

The paper features a special backing that does not expand when wet, which means you can hang it straight from the roll on to the pre-pasted wall.

Don’t paste the entire wall before starting to hang the paper. Just paste one section at a time.

This type of paper peels off easily, so there’s no need for steaming or soaking when you want to redecorate. Simply lift a corner at the bottom of the wall and pull steadily upwards.

1 This paper can come in a variety of widths, so measure your roll, allowing a 50mm overlap on to the next wall.

Use a plumb line or spirit level to draw a vertical line marking this width from the ceiling to the skirting-board. Using a pasting brush or a roller, apply a generous, even layer of strong wallpaper paste to the wall where the first length of paper will hang. Make sure that the pasted area is slightly wider than the width of the roll.

2 Apply the wallpaper directly from the roll (or, if you prefer, measure and cut lengths as for other wallpapers). Slide the paper into position, aligning the right hand edge with the vertical marked line. The left edge will wrap around the corner.

3 Smooth the paper with a brush or damp sponge, pushing any bubbles to the edges. Do not attempt to remove small blisters – they will disappear when the paper has fully dried out. Trim the top and bottom with sharp scissors or a metal rule and craft knife.

Top tips for painting

STYLISH: Grand Damask Chocolate wallpaper from Taskers

CLASSIC: Bella Trail Beige wallpaper from Taskers

Once you have prepared the satin or mid-sheen, which is walls and cleared the room, you basically half-way between matt can start painting. This is one of and silk, with a wipeable surface. the most pleasurable parts of One-coat emulsion decorating, but don’t rush into it This special emulsion paint is without thinking. Before you thicker and has superior covering start, run through some final power. Just one coat will cover checks: most surfaces. This paint usually Are you sure you have the right paint, and also enough of it? comes in satin, mid-sheen and matt finishes.

Do you have the right sort of cleaning fluid for your paint, and a Kitchen and bathroom good supply of it? emulsion Do you have the right tools This is specifically formulated for for the job? Most paints can be areas of high humidity. It has applied with either a brush or a moisture- and grease-resistant roller. properties, and gives Can you reach all a tougher, scrubbable the surfaces safely? surface. This You will certainly emulsion is available need a stepladder, in a mid- or soft and may have to sheen. hire or make a work platform.

Multi-surface Have you allowed acrylics yourself enough These new time? Take account generation paints can not only of the be applied to walls, drying time, but also ceilings, woodwork the period between and radiators, coats of paint (see meaning you only the chart below).

EASY DOES IT: need one paint for Are there Pick your paint the whole job. Like children and pets traditional emulsion around? Keep them carefully paints they are away from wet paint! water-based, quick-drying and low-odour, but their advanced Choosing your paints formula means they are tougher Large areas like walls and ceilings and washable. They are available should be painted with in matt finish for a solid, flat water-based paint. You can colour or satin for a subtle sheen. choose between traditional emulsion or the latest Undercoat and base coat multi-surface formulas, suitable Many modern paints are for wood, metal and even formulated to give good coverage radiators. on a properly prepared surface Emulsion without a separate undercoat: Emulsion is a water-based paint for walls and ceilings available in a check the manufacturer’s advice.

Often, however, an undercoat will large variety of colours, which ensure better results, especially if usually need two coats. It can be you are painting over a strong or applied directly on to walls that dark colour. Look out for have been previously painted, or specially formulated base coat on to paintable wall coverings which includes fine, flexible fillers such as lining paper and textured that will cover not just strong wallpaper. Emulsion paint colour but filled areas and hairline generally comes in two finishes – cracks. matt and silk. Matt has a flat, non-reflective appearance, which Paint in sequence is useful for disguising uneven Do you need to paint the ceiling? surfaces. Matt emulsion marks If so, paint it first, since you are easily and is not washable, but bound to get some on the walls. new 'wipeable' matt paints are Then paint the walls, and finally being introduced in many ranges. the woodwork. Start painting by Silk emulsion has a shiny, the window or light source, and reflective finish, and can be washed. It is useful for vulnerable paint in bands away from and in parallel to it. Take a break when areas such as halls, staircases and children's rooms. There is a third you reach the corner of a room, not in the middle of a wall. finish, often called soft sheen,

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24 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

All the leaves are How to add some real colour to the garden this autumn

A

UTUMN splendour is always the grand finale of the growing season, as leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and deep red, while berries provide further interest - and not just for the birds.

So, if you are now looking out on a bare garden with little colour, think about the ornamentals you could plant to add some pizzazz to the scene and contrast well with each other.

Autumn colour shows up best with a solid, dark background such as conifers and evergreen shrubs, so bear this in mind when planning.

Trees should be used carefully so that their effect is a highlight rather than just a small part of a busy planting scheme. Green is still the most important colour in the garden and should therefore be the most prevalent, so don't overdo it with bright-leafed plants or the effect will not be restful.

The ornamental cherry (Prunus sargentii) is a wonderful specimen whose young leaves are red, turning to dark green.

In early autumn they become brilliant orange-red and finally a deep red. The leaves don't drop at the first hint of frost, but last longer on the tree.

A smaller tree is the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica), which grows to eight metres and whose leaves turn to a patchwork of orange, bright red and purple-red in autumn, although it needs acid soil for good leaf colour.

Combine trees and shrubs of different hues.

The rich, deep reds and burgundies of Japanese maples such as Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' contrast beautifully with the yellowing leaves of silver birch, while Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) provide additional warmth with their bright orange, lantern-shaped fruits, ideally in a large shrub border in a woodland setting.

Plant perennials such as bearded irises at the front of the display for structural foliage from spring to autumn, and for flower colour earlier in the year.

If you don't have room to add more plants to your borders, select a Japanese maple in a pot for warm autumn colour. Choose a container at least 30cm in diameter and a compost comprising equal parts John Innes No 2 potting compost and a soil-less multipurpose compost. Add lots of drainage

A well designed garden, tailored to your own particular needs, will not only be beautiful and productive, but will give you and your family pleasure throughout the year.

You don't have to be a design wizard or even particularly artistic - to create a beautiful garden. The concepts of good design are simple to understand and straightforward to put into practice.

Whether developing a new garden from scratch, or reshaping an existing one, understanding and developing basic design

SULTRY: A Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) shows spectacular foliage in Autumn material in the base of the pot and top-dress the compost with gravel.

Ideal specimens for a pot include A palmatum dissectum 'Garnet', whose leaves open bright red and then deepen to a rich garnet colour. This deciduous acer is very slow growing - up to 1.8m in 10 years - and looks great alongside a pond or in an ornamental planter.

Acers should be grown in moist but well-drained soil. The foliage colour is best in dappled shade, although full sun can be tolerated.

Shrubs can also provide dazzling foliage tints and flowers. Look out for Euonymus alatus, the spindle bush, which is a world

away from the compact, variegated evergreen forms we use for shady gardens and winter hanging baskets. This one is deciduous, but produces spectacular autumn colour, producing a molten crimson display. It is medium-sized, fitting into most gardens.

Other good choices for autumn colour include Hebe 'Autumn Glory', which produces purple bottle-brush flowers which can last until Christmas, and the oak-leafed hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), whose leaves turn purple in autumn and hang on to the plant for ages.

If you have a wall which looks bare in the cooler months, train a colourful pyracantha

along it, such as P 'Orange Glow', which produces clusters of sizzling orange autumn berries and white spring flowers.

This evergreen shrub has a vigorous, dense and spiny habit and can also be planted as a barrier hedge. Train it like a cordon, and in years to come it will reward you (and the birds) with masses of colourful berries.

Other shrubs with colourful autumn fruits include Berberis x carminea 'Pirate King', Callicarpa bodinieri var giraldii 'Profusion' and Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Rothschildianus'.

Autumn in the garden can truly be the firework display before the more muted tones of winter set in.

BEST OF THE BUNCH - Cotinus Commonly known as the smoke bush because of its fluffy plumes of pale pink flowers which appear above the foliage in summer, producing a smoke-like haze, this deciduous shrub is a must for the autumn garden.

You need a fair amount of space as it can become the size of a small tree, so grow it as a stand-alone specimen or in a large shrub border in sun or light shade, in moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Good choices include C 'Flame', whose oval, light green leaves turn brilliant orange-red in autumn, and C coggygria 'Royal Purple', grown for its purple foliage, whose leaves turn orange and red in autumn before falling.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT - Broad beans Broad beans have been chosen by the National Trust as one of the top-three veg to grow in winter, as part of its Food Glorious Food campaign aimed at encouraging the next generation to grow their own.

Sowing at this time of the year means they won't be attacked by pests, while children love picking them and eating them straight from the pod - a great way to get them eating vegetables.

Only attempt autumn sowing if your plot is sheltered, free-draining and in a mild area - and choose a hardy variety. For all other locations it's better to sow under cloches in early spring. Early beans can be harvested from May onwards.

They aren't too fussy about soil requirements, but will do better if well-rotted organic matter is dug into the ground before planting.

As part of its campaign, the National Trust will mark the start of the winter growing season with a series of events including winter vegetable workshops and cookery demonstrations. See www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk for more details.

Design your own outside space skills will help you achive good results, and more importantly, develop a garden with exactly the layout that is best for you.

Changes in your garden's design need not be profound. Repositioning a tree, for example, erecting a screen, or changing one of your garden surfaces may be small adjustments, but each of them can have a

profound effect on the overall appearance.

Decide what you want out of your garden.

The first and most important step is to decide exactly what your garden means to you, and what you expect from it. You may want: Somewhere to sit. Examples might be a

terrace or patio.

Somewhere for children to play.

Sandpits, swings and climbing frames could all be incorporated into your garden's design, perhaps to be altered later, when they've grown up.

A source of food. More and more people want to grow fruit and vegetables.

In a small plot, a kitchen garden can be beautiful as well as productive.

A special plant collection. A plant enthusiast's garden should offer different habitats including hot dry spots and cool shady ones.

A showcase. Why not enter your local 'Best Front Garden' contest?

brown

HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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Dress your garden for a formal occasion While natural gardens and meadow plantings may have increased in popularity in the last few years, formal gardens still have a place in our fast-paced, chaotic world.

The desire to shape and square, to manipulate plants and space to attain order and create symmetry, is a subject explored by designer pals Diarmuid Gavin and Sir Terence Conran in their new book Planting, in which they share many of their secrets of planting with enthusiasts.

"Humans love order and repetition. There is symmetry to it," Gavin explains. "They like the illusion of reflection whether it is mirrors or still ponds.

"And they have an abiding desire to control outdoor space: to clean it and to level and decorate it with familiar lines and shapes."

While many formal gardens were designed to be viewed from a distance, to create grandeur by using geometric shapes, this vista cannot be easily transferred to suburban gardens because of their less even shapes and sizes.

Aspects of formal gardens in the UK have been copied by many amateur gardeners on much smaller scales, achieving formal style with ferns or grasses, or simply by using just one colour of flowers.

"You can create your own sense of drama and theatre within the boundaries of the plot by laying out grids using evergreen shrubs," says Gavin.

Some plants are particularly easy to manipulate and clip into shape year on year, including box, yew (Taxus baccata), privet (Ligustrum lucidum), juniper, holly and berberis.

"You can make little formal hedges that may be no more than 20cm high, or you can clip hornbeam or species of lime (tilia) into very unnatural but pillar or column-like structures," Gavin explains.

In smaller spaces, such as courtyards, many gardeners place some sort of ornament

in the centre of the space, such as an aquatic feature like a small fountain or bowl of still water, or an architectural plant.

Containers can also create a much more formal feel to a small garden.

"A parallel row of containers can be introduced to reinforce the geometry of a scheme, guiding the eye to a focal highlight or in the direction of a stunning vista,"

Gavin explains.

"Pots of beautifully-trimmed evergreen shrubs or those brimming with cascading flowers can illuminate paved courtyards, as well as being used to enhance formal entrances or walkways.

"Ornate pots and those of aged stone suit a formal garden, while traditional terracotta is classic in any garden setting. Keep the different styles as limited as possible - a single style has the greatest impact."

Plants synonymous with formal gardens, including box and privet, create structure, shape and form in pots, while topiary specimens can be made to look the same through clipping - pyramids, spheres and columns are favourites.

Tall, slim containers can be used to line and define a patio area planted with box ball topiary to provide evergreen colour, contemporary planting and architectural emphasis.

Square pots filled with plantings of the same colour (white is always a good option) and again used in repetition can bring structure to a softer, tree-filled garden.

"Large containers can become the main focal points in a formal setting. They are wonderful as structural features at the bottom of a garden and look superb if set on a raised terrace for a feeling of grandeur, defining the boundary and ownership of the land," says Gavin.

"Architectural plants best serve this purpose."

You can, however, add much colour to your formal garden through container plants.

"Pelargoniums, wallflowers and matched mixed planting can be used to inject a burst of colour. Big blowsy shrubs such as hydrangeas, roses and lilacs look wonderful in a formal garden," says Gavin. ● Planting by Diarmuid Gavin & Terence Conran, is published by Conran Octopus

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26 HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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How you can design your own decking FIRST decide on the best position.

Consider whether you prefer a sunny or shady site and think about which direction the prevailing wind comes from.

Decide on the most convenient way to access the deck. If you are building away from the house, is there a path or walkway? Don’t forget that you can extend and add to it at a later date, so keep it simple to start with. Imagine the view you will be obscuring as well as the deck you will be constructing. Check for manhole covers or drains as a trapdoor may be needed.

It’s a good idea to mark out the position with some wooden pegs so you can see exactly what space it will occupy.

Keep the size of the deck in proportion to the size of the surrounding house and garden. A very large deck might need planning permission so if in doubt check this with your local authority. The simplest way to lay the boards is at right angles to the inner joists.

Which deck board?

Softwood Classic decking style, warm colour tones and soft to touch. Softwood blends comfortably into the surrounding landscape.

the prepared area. Spread gravel over the membrane to a depth of about 40mm. This will prevent any unwanted vegetation from growing under the deck.

What if the ground is wet?

If you are working on a potentially wet site, then you should raise the deck off the ground using concrete pads.

1 Clear and prepare the site as in steps 1 & 2 above. Dig a series of small holes 150mm square by 150mm deep at 1.2m intervals around the outer edge of the deck.

2 Fill each hole with concrete leaving it to stand proud of the hole by about 60mm. Before the concrete is fully dry, use a spirit level resting on a straight edge to get each concrete pad level with the next.

3 When dry, cover the area with building membrane. Rest some stones on the membrane to keep it in place whilst you cut holes to allow the concrete pads to push through. Cover the membrane with about 40mm of gravel. Cut squares of building membrane to cover the top of each concrete pad.

These will fit under the decking sub frame, so keep them nearby until you are ready to put them in place.

Making the sub-frame 1 Cut the outer joists to the correct length, STYLISH: Decking is a simple but highly effective way of adding remembering to allow for the timber overlap at the another dimension to your Hardwood corners. Arrange them in garden For a quality finish, position on the ground. hardwood is hard to beat.

Cut the inner joists to Extremely durable, easy to maintain and length. Decide which direction you want the weather resistant. decking boards to run, then lay the inner joists in place inside the frame, running in the opposite Composite direction.

Made from recycled timber and PVC, tough, 2 To comply with building regulations the gap durable and almost maintenance free. Special between inner joists must be no greater than screws and fixing clips make them easy to lay.

400mm. Lay a tape measure along the length of the outside edge of the frame and mark with a Thermodeck pencil at 400mm intervals. Do the same on the Heat treated Scandinavian softwood sourced opposite side of the frame and adjust the from sustainable forests. An environmentally position of the inner joists so they line up with friendly process produces a the marks. tough, water resistant finish 3 Check the frame is square which will last for at least by measuring across the 15 years. diagonal and make sure the timbers are level. Secure Grassedeck each corner of the frame A deck in sympathy with its using two countersunk green surroundings, soft coach screws. Then fix the enough for sunbathing and inner joists using two tough enough for children countersunk coach screws to play. A funky new look through the outer frame but practical too. and into the end of the inner joist.

EASY DOES IT: You can do Prepare the site 4 A very long or wide deck your own decking.

1 Using a tape measure, should have noggins fitted mark out the dimensions of the deck. Tap wooden pegs into the ground and between the inner joists. These are pieces of in-fill timber which fit between the cross joists stretch string between them to give you a line to provide extra strength. to work to. Measure across the diagonals to make certain the corners are square.

2 If you are working on a lawn remove the turf making sure you cut a neat edge along the outside of the string line. If it’s a rough site, remove stones and debris and firm the ground.

Be careful you don’t disturb any underground pipes or cables. Roughly level the area and then use a length of wood as a straight edge, with a spirit level resting on it, to level the area accurately.

3 Cut a piece of building membrane a little larger than the size of the deck and lay it over

Extending joists If your deck is longer than the standard 2.4m timber length, then you will need to extend the length of the joists.

For an outer joist, cut a piece of joist timber about 600mm long, use an off-cut if possible. Fix it across the join on the inside of the frame using eight evenly spaced bolts. Where the inner joists need to be extended, use two 600mm off-cuts fixed across the join on both sides. Use four evenly spaced bolts for a secure join. www.DIY.com

Secure your outside space A

S the nights start to draw in, it's time to put away your patio furniture and other garden valuables - or at least make sure they're secure during the autumn and winter months.

Insurers are advising people to make sure their garden sheds are locked, and encouraging them to install solid gates and outdoor security lights.

"Gardens are often perceived as the home's largest 'room' - and easy targets for would-be thieves that can sometimes be overlooked when taking out home and contents insurance," says Margaret Slater, marketing manager at Congregational & General.

"We want to highlight the importance of checking cover, as many policies limit cover for contents in the open or contained in out-buildings.

"For example, some objects like the latest 'must have' expensive tropical plants, or even Yorkshire stone paving, can be enticing to unwanted visitors - and may not be included in some policies."

Bill Seddon, managing director of garden security firm Gardien, says that despite a steady increase in garden theft in the last few years, people are learning very slowly about the importance of securing their items and reading the small print on their insurance policies.

"It's not just the number of

Seddon's website, garden thefts, but the variety of www.gardien.co.uk, sells devices thefts that are on the increase, such as rootball anchors, which from basics like paving stones to claim to protect plants against high-end garden antiques, being stolen, as well as expensive shrubs and trees," he heavy-duty says. shed locks, "Now's the furniture time people anchors, are buying metal sheds expensive plants to and security plant in lights. their It also has a garden, and customised they are the spreadsheet easiest where you things to can make an lift." inventory of Sheds are SAFE AND SOUND: A locked garden the items you regularly have and shed is a great storage space being raided their value to for their find out how contents, which can be lucrative much your garden contents are for thieves if you're storing bikes actually worth. worth £1,000-plus.

Most people find that they are "People are putting them in vastly underinsured, says sheds which don't have proper Seddon. locks on, and are then surprised "You may have to insure when things go missing," says individual items. Discuss it with Seddon. "People housing your insurance company. It may expensive bikes should be asking mean a small increase in your the question: 'Am I happy premium, but it's worth it." housing a £1,000 bike in a £200 Make sure you check your shed?'" insurance policy and read the No item is too big for thieves to small print. snatch, he warns. Sit-on Different policies have different exclusions and limits lawnmowers, large-scale garden some insurers include garden furniture, huge barbecues and cover as standard, others offer it hefty garden ornaments have all as an additional extra. Exclusions been stolen. Thieves have even might include plants in pots, been known to roll up newly-turfed lawns and take them which could mean your prize Japanese maple. away to be sold on.

HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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27

Tips to help turn you into a top fencer

FENCING is the most popular way of marking a boundary. It is fairly easy to erect and cheaper than building a wall, though don’t overlook the cost and effort of maintenance over the years – you will have to treat the timber regularly to protect it from insects and weathering.

PLANNING YOUR FENCE Before putting up a fence discuss the plans with your neighbours.

You need to check the exact line of the boundary and make sure the posts are positioned on your side. Before you take down an old fence first make sure it's yours. If it belongs to a neighbour and they won't allow you to take it down, you can erect another alongside provided it is on your side of the boundary. There is an unwritten rule that a good neighbour puts up a fence with the post and rails facing their own property, but this is not a legal obligation.

Unless the boundary line meets a highway, you generally do not need planning permission for a fence less than 2m high.

WHAT TYPE OF FENCE? LAP PANEL: Easy to put up, offering good screening and value for money, a lap panel fence is a popular choice.

Ready-made panels are fitted between posts cemented or set into the ground. The panels usually come in standard 1.83m widths but can be cut down.

They are available in heights of 0.9m–1.83m. Like all timber fences, a lap panel fence will need periodic treatment with wood preservative.

HIDE IT: Stash your lawnmower somewhere safe this winter Here are some measures you what's inside, and invest in can take to reduce the risk of motion-sensitive security lights. your garden items being stolen: ● If you have a gate to your ● Plant some prickly hedges garden, fix a good lock and keep such as pyracantha, holly or it locked - making it as hard as hawthorn to deter thieves and possible for intruders to enter. add sturdy trellis to ● Encourage your fence panels to make neighbours to check fences more difficult around your property to climb over. and keep an ear out for ● Install a low-cost any unusual or gravel driveway or unexpected noise from path so that you can your home or garden hear visitors when you are away. approaching, take "Take a walk around pictures of valuable your garden and think items in case they are like a thief," says stolen, and write your Seddon. "Look at what's postcode on items SAFETY EXPERT: valuable, what's lying such as barbecues around, and don't fall Bill Seddon with an ultra-violet into the trap of pen so they can be thinking it's too heavy tracked. to steal. Thieves walk away with ● Get a decent lock for your tons of equipment. List what garage or shed, buy some cheap you've got and what it would cost blinds so opportunists can't see to replace."

COMBINATION TRELLIS AND LAP PANEL Add a trellis to the top of your panel fence to give increased height where you need it. The trellis is ideal for training climbing plants, creating a less stark effect than a solid fence, and offering more natural shade and privacy.

DEFENCE BARRIER: A rockery can trip potential garden thieves up

CLOSEBOARD A closeboard fence consists of vertical featheredge boards (tapered on one side) which are nailed onto horizontal arris rails secured to the posts. It offers excellent screening and security – the vertical boards make a sturdy fence, good for keeping out intruders.

Garden plants are starting ● to die back, so it's a good time to erect, replace or repair

garden fences. If you want to make any changes, such as increasing the height of the fence, first check with your local council that you don't need planning permission.

●

You should also consider who's responsible for the boundary you're fencing, because it won't necessarily be you. If you're pulling down an old fence, you need to check that you own it first, or get permission from the neighbour who does. Speak to your neighbours well in advance - they may be prepared to help you do the fencing or pay for some of it.

Choose between fence ● panels, available in various sizes, and close-board fencing,

where you build up the fence one (vertical) plank of wood at a time. With the latter, you can place the fence posts any distance apart because it's a bespoke type of fence. Around 2.4 metres is ideal in a sheltered spot, or 1.8m in an exposed spot or if the fence will be higher than 1.4m.

●

Like all wooden products, fencing should be sourced from responsibly-managed forests - look out for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo. It should also be treated with preservative to prolong its life - if it's not, you'll have to do it yourself, not forgetting any ends that result from cutting the fencing and posts to size.

To protect a fence post ● against the elements, place it in a bucket of wood

preservative for an hour or so if it'll be below ground level or, if not, for at least five minutes.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying the preservative, especially the safety advice. You may also want to stain the fence when you're done - garden wood stains now come in all sorts of colours, so don't think your fence has to be boring brown. www.diy.com

Illuminating Ideas Proving that functional can also be beautiful these 4 pack inset flush deck lights are walkover tough, available in ice blue or white & come complete with cable and transformer. Add elegance and ambiance to your garden this Autumn. £39.99

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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HOME 09 in association with.....

And let there Jade Wright discovers why solar panels are the must-have feature for any home-owner

FIRE IT UP: David Hunt from Eco Environments

F

ORGET fancy kitchens and ensuite bathrooms, it seems the solar panel is the new must-have addition to the most desirable homes.

According to research released by the Energy Saving Trust advice centre in Wallasey, home owners in Merseyside are happy to pay more for a green home with a renewable energy source than anything else.

And it seems they are more interested than ever about installing a renewable energy source – such as wind, solar or hydropower – to their property. Of those surveyed, 46 percent said they would like to know if their home is suitable for renewable energy.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, says: “It seems people from the North West are willing to pay more for a home with a renewable energy source so investing in a solar panel or a wind turbine could add to the resale value of a property and could be as attractive to househunters as a new kitchen or solid wood floors.

“Forty-four per cent of carbon emissions are from the home, and with depleting fossil fuels, government are looking at ways to incentivise householders to install domestic renewable energy.

“Next year will see the introduction of feed-in tariffs – where householders will receive a set payment for the electricity generated and exported.”

This means that from next April, householders who generate their own energy will be able to sell excess supplies back to the National Grid.

And those who install alternative energy systems before then can also reap the rewards of government grants to help meet the costs, meaning that alternative energy is more affordable than ever.

“The legislation comes into effect from April 2010, at which point the current system of government grants will be withdrawn,” says David Hunt, director of Formby-based Eco Environments, who fit alternative energy systems.

He adds: “If you install before next March you will get both the grants plus the new tariffs in April.

“The new tariff will pay for all energy generated by your system, irrespective of if you use it yourself or sell it back to the grid.”

Therefore homeowners are paid irrespective of any saving they make by buying less electricity from a supplier – and any income they earn from selling surplus power to an electricity supplier.

So why aren’t we all doing it?

Well, there is a fairly hefty initial outlay.

“The cost of a domestic system, depending on what you want to generate, or the size of your roof, is typically between £10,000 and £15,000,” says David.

But, under the low carbon buildings programme awards, managed by the Energy Saving Trust, grants of up to £2,500 are paid for solar installation as long as you use an MCS (Microgeneration Certification

Scheme) accredited product and installer.

Polar Photovolataic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity and – contrary to popular belief – work even in our dismal summer. “The panels work on daylight, so while they produce more the sunnier it is, as long as it’s daylight they’ll work,” says David.

“The systems are fully automated and require no input – you use what you generate and automatically export any surplus.

“If you are using more than you generate you ‘import’ the amount you need.

Typically a domestic home will export 40% of what you generate.”

David is currently planning a system for a customer in Crosby for £11,500.

“Through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme we will be able to obtain a £2,500 grant for him, reducing his capital costs to £9,000,” says David. “His system is predicted to generate 1865 kwh’s (or units) per year.”

At a rough guess, the customer will be paid £680.73 a year for generating the electricity, he’ll save £111.90 by not having to buy that amount of electricity, (as he has generated it himself), and he’ll be paid £37.30 for his exported electricity.

Altogether, he’ll save a rough estimate of £829.93 a year. But it would take more than 10 years for him to recoup his initial investment.

“This figure will increase each year as electricity prices increase, as may the amount he’s paid for his exported electricity,” explains David.

“The panels are guaranteed for 25 years.

Plus the main tariff for income is fixed for 25 years though, it will not go down. So during the 25 years, if electricity prices do not change the payback will be £20,748.25.

But we all know what is happening to electricity prices. The government works on a basis of 10% increase annually, but this is, we think, conservative.”

So, over 25 years, the investment will more than double.

“It also adds value to your home, the Nationwide suggest as much as 10%,” says David.

And, in the Crosby example, the panels will offset over 1 tonne of CO² that would otherwise have been used.

David started the company after becoming disillusioned with the rat race.

“For 12 years I was a head-hunter, recruiting for senior level roles, nationally and internationally,” he says. “I took an

★★★★

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HOME 09

be light HEAT IT UP: It’s amazing what you can save by just insulating the loft

Simple ways to save cash and the earth

POWER: A house with Eco Environments solar panels 18-month sabbatical working as a corporate fundraiser for Barnardo’s looking at many Liverpool businesses.

“I’ve always had a passion for environmental issues and I’m currently studying part-time for an Open University degree in environmental science. It was from that the idea for Eco Environments was born.”

The company is currently working to help homeowners get grants before the current scheme runs out in March. But there are also other sources of funding.

“For schools, charities, faith and community groups we can get 50% grant funding,” he explains. “For businesses we can help and advise on a variety of grants available from the NWDA and other sources.”

And since the government announcement about buying back surplus power, enquiries and bookings have gone through the roof.

“There is certainly a lot more awareness of about renewable energy, but generally people are not well informed.” ● For more information, contact the Merseyside-based Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 or visit the website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. Contact Eco Environments Ltd on 0151 922 5936 or www.eco-environments.co.uk.

CELEB SUPPORTER: Cate Blanchett lives off the grid and receives all her electrical power from the solar panels installed in her Australian home

WITH winter just around the corner, sensible householders are turning to home improvements.

By doing some simple DIY, we can save ourselves a fortune on our power bills – and save the planet at the same time.

The average home in the North West emits 6.1 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Making energy saving home improvements is one of the simplest ways for householders in the region to save money and reduce their impact on the environment.

But, new research from the Energy Saving Trust reveals just over half of the North West (51%) are not confident enough to use basic practical skills which will enable them to improve their home.

Yet over half of this group in the region (around 1.6million people) say that in the current economic climate they would prefer to improve their current property, rather than move house.

Stephen Lang, Manager of the Energy Saving Trust advice centre for Merseyside and Cheshire, says: “Everyone’s purse strings are tighter nowadays. This is the perfect time to take-stock and check which DIY jobs will save you cash on the household bills. But our research shows many of us are shying away from easy cash savings by ignoring simple, energy saving tasks which need to be done around the home.

“This is a real shame.

This weekend we urge householders to do a free Home Energy Check at the Energy Saving Trust’s website: www.energysavingtrust. org.uk/check to find out which simple things – from draught-proofing to bleeding the radiators – they could do.

“I am sure they’ll be surprised about the savings they’re missing out on.”

Simple measures, such as fitting draught excluders, insulating the loft and regulating the central heating system with a programmer and thermostatically-controlled radiator valves will pay for themselves within a year or two.

If you‘re willing to spend more and your house has cavity walls (most houses built after 1930 do), cavity wall insulation is a possibility.

It costs from £500 to have a three-bedroomed semi-detached house cavity filled but with annual savings of around 70% on heating bills, expect to recoup your initial outlay in five years.

For more information about making energy saving home improvements yourself, to save money and carbon dioxide at home, contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 or visit the website at www.energysavingtrust. org.uk.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

★★★★

HOME 09 in association with.....

Keep it simple to sell your house COST IT OUT: A loft conversion could give you the extra space you need and will it add value

THINK CAREFULLY: A conservatory is a great way of creating another room and bringing the outside in

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S

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ALL WHITE: A classic look will do wonders for your home when it comes to selling

FINE LINES: Style doesn’t have to cost a fortune

SIMPLE STYLE: A conservatory is a great feature but keep it free of clutter

LIGHT AND BRIGHT: Remove pictures from the walls

UE Dermott is something of an expert when it comes to transforming houses for sale. Some sage advice from her and a cash injection of £500 helped one lady sell a house that had been on the market for two years (more of which later). At her office, Karl Tatler estate agents in Greasby, Wirral, they have hit their selling targets every month this year – even surpassing them in June, July, August and September.

Sue, it’s fair to say, is a lady who knows what she is talking about and after five minutes in her company you realise that, like all blanket generalisations, all the horrible jokes and comments about estate agents are patently unfair.

So if you’re doing up your house expressly in order to sell it in the near future, it’s worth listening to her advice. Even if you’re not, you don’t want to spend a fortune, weeks on end or both decorating your home only to find that the only one who likes it is you and your chances of ever selling it on are practically nil.

Many people, it seems, make the mistake of thinking that doing up their home is a matter of putting in a new kitchen, creating a beautiful bathroom and sprucing up the living rooms. They may be right – but there are other essential areas to consider too.

“First of all they have got to look at the bathroom and kitchen, because they are the most used in the house.

“But once someone is through the doorway we are halfway to a sale,” says Sue. So if the paintwork on your wall has seen better days, your patio has cracked glass or your front yard or garden is overgrown with weeds, then sort them out.

Next step? The hallway. This is one key

area, according to Sue, which many sellers overlook when they are bidding to transform their home. It is, let’s not forget, the sight which greets the potential buyer when he or she first steps over the threshold. It must be right.

And the rules which Sue applies to the hallway are simple and straightforward: Decorate wisely, brightly, and sparsely.

“If the hall is shabby then there is no hope.

The hallway is the first place people see so your first priority is to build up from there.

A nice big plant or a tasteful lamp are good ideas.”

The lady whose home sold under Sue’s guidance after two years on the market, it seems, did so partly as a result of following her advice on the hallway front.

“She had a downstairs toilet which was the first thing you saw when you came in and it was really cluttered,” says Sue. “She de-cluttered that, which made a huge

TOP TIPS TO TURN A PROFIT

De-clutter “That goes for every room in the house. Go round the house and take out everything you can. Make the rooms as minimalist as possible, and if they are dark, paint them.”

Remember your kitchen and bathroom “If your kitchen and bathroom

difference, got the stairs carpet cleaned where there was a stain and got a plumber in to fix the wash basin. It sold the next weekend.”

When it comes to colour, whites and magnolias open up a room and make it look bigger.

“I would avoid very dark colours like reds because they tend to make rooms look a lot smaller.

“In bathrooms, a lot of people go for blue and I don’t understand why because it is a very cold colour and can also make a room look smaller. Paler colours can be much more relaxing.”

De-cluttering is not just a preserve of the hallway. “The most important thing is to de-clutter,” adds Sue. “It is all about presentation and it is just common sense really. Put away any personal photographs, anything and everything you can – it will all have to go in boxes anyway if

need some attention then do it.

A lot of old double glazed windows are blown out now, and if you need to spend out then do so. £500 spent might help you get an extra £2000 from a buyer in which case you are £1500 better off.”

Ask some friends to help “Sometimes you don’t notice

things after a while, you just get used to them so ask some friends to help you look at the house.

“Stand outside and look at it and try to see it as a potential buyer would – or ask a good estate agent. We don’t want to have your house decorating our offices – we want it sold.”

HOME 09

TIDY: Keep all personal belongings stashed carefully away

EASY ELEGANCE: The hall needs to be clean and very light you are moving.

“If you have children it can be difficult but ask them to join in, to help mummy and daddy keep their rooms tidy for a few weeks.

Moving house should be fun!”

More and more of us are extending our houses on the side or via loft extensions to avoid the trauma and stress of moving. All well and good, says Sue – but be careful.

“Extend for your own personal reasons,” she says. “It does help the saleability of the house as long as it has been done tastefully.

A lot of people, unfortunately, don’t do that and although they can look at things in hindsight, it’s too late then.

“I would also say to go with an extension on the side as opposed to a loft conversion.

“A loft conversion with a dorma can be very intrusive on your neighbours, and what about your view? Think about skylights instead if a dorma will give you a view of tower blocks.”

Building on the side of the house to add an extra room is increasingly popular but often forces the owner to sacrifice their garage.

While once this would have been seen as suicide in terms of selling, that’s no longer the case, says Sue. “When you talk to people who say they need a garage and ask them if they put their car in it, they almost always say no,” she says.

“They need a garden store - somewhere they can lock up their bikes. A garage is not the be all and end all and is not essential anymore.”

Finally, says Sue, if you stick to one general rule when it comes to improving your home, it is this: “Don’t make it a chore – and never look at doing up your house as losing money. It never is.”

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HOME 09

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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