Central St Martins gives King's Cross the edge
Central St Martins' new campus is fizzing and the first of 2,000 homes are launched, as 67 acres of King's Cross becomes London's hottest district.
Property insider: Kingston upon Thames
There is something of a buy-to-let boom quietly rumbling away in Kingston upon Thames, the family favourite south-west London suburb. We get the property lowdown.
Spotlight on Stoke Newington
Young professionals and families are attracted to "Stokey" by the mainly Victorian housing stock and the neighbourhood's arty and bohemian vibe.
Spotlight on Harpenden
Close to woods and parkland, with good links to London, this small town has a lot to offer those looking to start a new life out of the city.
Design trends: loving red
We've found five red-hot gifts and gadgets to let your Valentine know that home is where the heart is.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Streatham Hill
On leafy Downton Avenue in SW2, plenty of family space can be yours for £550,000 at this Edwardian home. There are four bedrooms and a convertible loft space, and the open-plan kitchen/breakfast room has French windows to a good-size garden.
Swap of the week: Dalwood, Devon
Cosy up by woodburning stoves or cook a feast in the vaulted kitchen/breakfast room of this 18th-century thatch for £525,000. Three bedrooms overlook cottage gardens and a timber studio makes a perfect home office.
Life-changer: St Erth Praze, Cornwall
Tregenhorne Farm (£550,000) has four acres of paddocks, stables and valley views, minutes from Cornwall's north coast. You can run your own equestrian business from the garden office and the four-bedroom home has a country kitchen with an Aga.
Spotlight on Harpenden
Close to woods and parkland, with good links to London, this small town has a lot to offer those looking to start a new life out of the city.
Property search
Previous articles in Decorating & DIY
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Get the most from your boiler
As homeowners switch on the boiler for the first time in months, breakdowns face many. Here are some top tips on why it’s high time to call in a Gas Safe registered expert.Published October 2011
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How to insulate your home and save on your energy bills
Working out what insulation projects to tackle can be difficult and often needs to be decided on a house-by-house basis, making it difficult for homeowners to know where to begin. Here are the top alternatives to consider.Published August 2011
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Window dressings: curtains and blinds
Choosing and designing the most suitable window treatment for your home.Published August 2011
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Making the most of your DIY weekend
It is the little things that make the biggest difference. Weekend DIY projects are perfect for finishing jobs that have been long avoided and there are plenty of advice centres to guide you through.Published April 2011
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Quick update: paint your tiles
Tiles are tedious to replace, but if you are lumbered with an ugly or out-dated look, there is another option. You can change tile colours fairly easily, disguise a pattern you hate, or add a border for a quick update, using tough tile paints.Published September 2010
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Which chairs will give a modern feel?
My country kitchen needs a contemporary edge and I’d like to buy new chairs in blue to use with the old dining table, as the colour would tie in with collections of vintage plates on the walls.Published August 2010
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Who can create an ornamental railing?
Do you know of a specialist blacksmith who might be able to make a 5m-long ornamental iron railing to run alongside the path to our front door?Published August 2010
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Where can I find matching lights?
Can you suggest light fittings for a living room that fit flush to the ceiling and have matching wall lights?Published August 2010
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Which furniture will fit through a tight space?
We are looking for chairs that turn into beds and also for a folding table for our attic which is accessed by stairs of only 63cm wide.Published August 2010
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How can we protect our pictures?
We would like to hang watercolours in the south-facing living room of our seaside apartment. Can you recommend framing techniques that will help protect them from fading?Published August 2010
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Who produces lamp bases like this?
Despite extensive searching online, I’ve failed to find a company that supplies wooden barley-twist lamp bases.Published June 2010
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Where can I find fretwork shutters?
I have seen a house and its windows are fitted with Moroccan-style shutters of great delicacy and elegance. Can you tell me where I can find something similar?Published June 2010
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Are bead curtains or similar still available?
I need a bead curtain to hang across a doorway to keep out flies during the summer. I would prefer it to be in glass, ceramic or wood rather than metal.Published June 2010
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Who supplies wall beds?
I’d like to replace our guest-room bed with a high-quality folding bed that fits against the wall. It needs to be a full-size double that will comfortably support a large man.Published June 2010
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Can you suggest a fabric with marine motifs?
I am renovating a harbour-front cottage and looking for coastal-themed material, ideally in blue, to dress my large windows.Published June 2010
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Can you identify this bathroom mirror?
I am very keen to replace my bathroom mirror with one in the picture enclosed. The Conran Shop used to stock it but was unable to give me details of the manufacturer.Published June 2010
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Which stripe will work?
Can you suggest a pale grey and white stripe for Roman blinds to tone with Farrow & Ball paint colours Cornforth White and Strong White?Published June 2010
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Can my chandelier be adjusted?
My metal chandelier is too deep for a room in our new house. The cable runs through a central support and needs to be shortened and re-run. I’ve asked at several outlets to have this work done but without success.Published June 2010
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Where can I find library steps?
I’m looking for folding library steps to reach high bookshelves in my study. Any wood is fine but mahogany would be ideal.Published June 2010
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Who will create a textured wall finish?
I’d like to commission a wall finish that has more depth and patina than paint and wonder which studios to approach?Published June 2010
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Which daybed fits the bill?
We’re looking for a daybed that has a wooden frame and a stowaway bed underneath for a family room.Published June 2010
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Who supplies unbacked mats?
Where can I buy a sisal, coir, seagrass or jute mat without a synthetic backing?Published June 2010
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A chic facelift for wooden furniture
The cheapest furniture by far is from boot fairs, charity stores and junk shops. Or you may have some pieces already. It’s easy to give them a face lift.Published June 2010
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Unbacked mats
Which door furniture will be most suitable?Published April 2010
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Vibrant organic towels
Where can I buy organic towels in vibrant shades?Published April 2010
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How to hang curtains
What is the best way to hang heavy curtains?Published April 2010
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Easy-to-clean fabric
Which upholstery fabric is the easiest to clean?Published April 2010
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Bulb light fitting
Is this light fitting still available?Published April 2010
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Period veranda
Where can we find a period veranda like this?Published April 2010
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Can we fix it? Yes, we can
Turn DIY into shopping heaven and discover London’s online and in-store experts.Published April 2010
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Give your decking a new lease of life
It's easy to restore your wooden decking to its former glory, one board at a time.Published August 2009
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Spring into action
There are now so many affordable and clever ideas to spruce up your home, it's never been easier to DIY with style.Published April 2009
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Paint is hot news
Paint is the style budget hot tip for all interiors this spring. It's easy to buy, easy to apply, eco-friendly and affordable.Published February 2009
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In with the in crowd
Home is where the heart is this winter, so turn yours into somewhere special with the latest trends.Published January 2009
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It’s the fiesta season
Interior designer Sue Timney doesn’t want a white Christmas this year. She is decorating her home in the paintbox-bright colours of Mexico instead.Published December 2008
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Pick a fruity new look
Make your home rich and glamorous for winter with purple and deep berry colours. Find out how to mix the ingredients.Published December 2008
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Restoring garden furniture
Plan some DIY for the weekend with our easy step-by-step guide to restoring your garden furniture and saving some money.Published August 2008
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Add pattern to your furniture
The swing back to pattern has embraced furniture - from top Dutch brand Moooi to a set of simple shelves at Ikea. But it is easy and far cheaper to create your own totally original feature for any room.Published May 2008
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Interiors all aflutter
London is aflutter and butterflies are out in force. Design takes up the theme, with butterfly china, lights, cushions and trimmings all over town.Published May 2008
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Modern stripey makeover
Painting stripes on walls can create a sophisticated, individual interior. Transform your home with our step-by-step guide.Published April 2008
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Wallpaper made easy
Wallpaper is back in fashion, and putting it up can be quick and easy, thanks to the latest 'paste-the-wall' designs. These can be hung dry from the roll, and the exciting news is that they now come in many fashionable patterns.Published March 2008
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We all flock to damask
Damask’s shimmering motifs are appearing on modern silks and velvets, china, washbasins and even concrete radiators. Find out all about this season's hottest interiors' trend.Published December 2007
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Fantasy takes flight
Just go for it. There is such a fabulous choice of cheap, high-fashion decorations in the shops that every home should get the wow factor.Published December 2007
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Gorgeous fireplaces
Rediscovering a fireplace and setting it to rights is one of the greatest pleasures of moving into a traditional home. In the 1960s and 1970s, fireplaces were largely regarded as old-fashioned, and were filled in or covered over. We show you how to investigate fireplace potential - before calling in the pros.Published October 2007
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Lovely laminates
This type of flooring reached its heyday in the Nineties. Yours may have been down for more than 10 years, so it is good to know that there are products that can restore colour, revive sheen, and conceal knocks and scratches.Published October 2007
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Expert tips: Feature walls
The shape of a room can very easily be "changed" with the clever use of paint or wallpaper. Make your living space work for you with these simple techniques from the experts at Farrow & Ball.Published October 2007
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Garden project
Get cracking now to brighten your view. Coloured finishes can transform old wood on furniture, fences, sheds and trellis.Published August 2007
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Re-laying a gravel path
The main problem with gravel paths is weeds. They can be controlled by weedkillers, but a longer lasting solution is to use a weed-proof membrane.Published August 2007
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Replacing a broken floor tile
Floor tiles can get cracked due to wear and tear, or through damage if a heavy object is dropped on them. Replacing a single tile is more cost-effective than re-tiling an entire floor.Published August 2007
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Drilling a tile without cracking it
Many installations in kitchens (and bathrooms) involve making fixings in a tiled surface. It is essential to use the correct technique for drilling through tiles so they do not crack.Published August 2007
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Repointing mortar
If old mortar has cracked or deteriorated, get advice from a structural engineer about whether it is a sign of a structural problem or simply due to settlement. If settlement is the cause, mortar can be repointed. Find out how in our step-by-step guide.Published August 2007
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Simple stencilling
Highlight one wall - or just part of it - with a fashionable pattern of metallic dots. This idea also works well on screens and large cupboard doors. If you leave enough time for the paint to dry, you can complete this project in a day, or over a weekend.Published July 2007
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Dining room makeover
Get rid of the clutter and reinstate its proper function as a welcoming space in for family meals and entertaining.Published May 2007
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Spruce up your front door
Your front door is the first thing people notice about your home, so it is vital it makes a good impression. Give the front of your house a new lease of life.Published May 2007
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Hallway in a weekend
Hallways may be functional areas but that doesn’t mean they have to be devoid of style - try this quick fix to revive your hall.Published May 2007
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