Welcome to the Blogs

The toaster, the microwave – whatever did we do without them?  And now there is a new must-have gadget to make our lives easier: The Quooker – the UK’s only 100ºC water tap.  Forget the kettle; turn on the Quooker for instant boiling filtered water¬ for tea, coffee, pasta, blanching vegetables, warming dishes or even sterilizing babies

Here are just some of the tradespeople you have recommended this week:

• Roofix; high quality and efficient roofing company. Based in SW London. Call 020 7498 6329.

• Magic Wood Floors Ltd; experts in supply & installation of wood floors. Based in SE London.

London Stone Paving has scoured the globe to put together a collection of natural stone to inspire you. Regardless of whether your project is a small residential patio or a high specification commercial installation, London Stone Paving can provide the ideas and the expertise to transform your outdoor space into an oasis.

Its Middlesex showroom is ideally located, just minutes from junction 14 of the M25.

Building fantastic climbing frames that manage to be both attractive and exciting, JC Gardens can custom-build  to your own specifications,  featuring slides, suspension bridges, scramble-nets, monkey-bars and more. Fresh from exhibiting at The Chelsea Flower, JC Gardens is offering readers two great deals: a significant 15 per cent off all climbing frame orders placed during July, and its handmade tree-swing for just £100.

For those of you who’ve embraced my ‘don’t move improve mantra’, this handy home decorators file could reduce some of the stress that comes with renovation. Divided into four useful sections, it includes a year to view planner, note pad, helpful tips and a contacts section.  There are also clear pockets to store paint charts, swatches and clippings,  and a clever sheet of paint tin labels so you know which is which when the inevitable touch-ups are required.

• Watertight Solutions plumbing & heating. Covering greater London, Surrey, Windsor and Hampshire. Call 0203 002 6868 or see www.watertightsolutions.uk.com

• BM Building Services, specialists in interior refurbishment. Covering all London.

Prestige started life as a company specialising in painting and decorating, but over the past seven years has forged strong bonds with various other high-quality tradesmen, meaning it is now able to offer you a complete refurbishment package.

Taking the current climate on board, Prestige is well aware that people are keen to improve as opposed to move, and its full project management package is perfect for such renovations.

Tucked away in Stratford, East London, Paragon Interior Furniture is a little gem, designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke kitchens, studies and bedrooms at distinctly non-bespoke prices.

Using only the best quality solid woods, veneers, stones and granite, Paragon uses its low key East End location to keep overheads right down; and without salesmen or high street overheads, it can offer a large range of kitchen products at a fraction of usual retail prices.