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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.
 

Sick of the city? Miss the fresh air and space of the coastline?

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

• Austin Plumbing Services, Professional, corgi registered plumbing & heating services, based in Essex, covering Essex and East London. Call 07810 302 257
• BSG Building & Decorating Contractors, expert building contractors for any job- big or small. Based in Kent, covering all London. Call 01634 221 130

Before you light your first fire of the winter, make sure your cast iron fireplace is in good nick with a call to The Cast Iron Fireplace Company. A family-run business, it specialises in the professional restoration and sale of original cast iron fireplaces, cleaning all fireplaces by hand and returning them to their former glory. Its own range of fireplaces is comprehensive, and its worth keeping your eyes peeled for its Monthly Sale section, where, throughout the month of October, The Taj (circa 1890) will be reduced from ?485 to just ?325. Call 020 8977 0372.

Belle by name, belle by nature, the aptly named Belle Maison Home Interiors Ltd is in a class of its own when it comes to hand finished furniture and accessories

Started in 2001 as an independent retail shop, Belle Maison has since expanded to form its own UK factory in St Helens Merseyside. Today it manufactures its much sought-after designs for many other companies, but you can still buy and view its collection from BelleMaison.com.

Steering clear of the “pile it high, sell it cheap” school of thought evident at so many homeware companies, The Interior Showroom stocks a number of key, high quality and affordable pieces. It can also offer bespoke, special discount packages, created in store or via email for customers working to a budget.

Getting you prepared for the doubtless glacial conditions that will arrive in the not too distant future is the Glacier bedlinen range at VirginVieathome.com. Made from an extra fine cotton mix set with hand embroidered detail, and with a cool white and blue colour scheme, this is ideal for winter. It’s not too pricey either at just ?28.50 for a single duvet cover and laundry bag, and ?9 for a pillow case. You can also save yourself ?10 when you buy a double duvet (?40) and two standard pillow cases.

One good thing about the approaching winter is the end of the bikini season; out goes the diet and in come the delicious homebaked buns and bread. A colourful and stylish place to put those wheat-based delights, these quilted bread baskets (?9) from the newly launched BoutiqueProvencale.co.uk, bring a welcome flavour of France to the meal – and that’s before you get stuck into the baguettes. Matching sets of two tablemats and napkins available for ?22.

Is your recyclable clutter taking over?

No time to cook? Can’t think what to cook?