Mrs. Jane who is moving into her semi-detached house in February. She states that she is totally confused about how her home should be renovated and decorated. Since this is your first home, Mrs. Jane doesn’t rush into things without a lot of thought and consideration. Look around, seek advice and get quotations before arriving at a decision. As a rule, buy the bare essentials and build up around them. Remember that it’s often years before owners actually have their homes done to their taste. (more…)

In an alcove also boarded up, was a very practical arrangement for heating water. Before going to bed the occupants stoked up a firebox under a big copper, and had hot water for the morning.” One of the great finds lay under accumulated layers of linoleum and newspaper: a floor of huge meter-square slabs of black slate that now shine as they must have done 120 years ago. This slate, like the stone, was quarried locally. Other discoveries were an embossed metal ceiling which was later covered up with plaster, (more…)