Home Help: 9 August
Q I have inherited some Arts and Crafts oak furniture and would like to buy William Morris wallpaper, but in an unusual design. Could you please advise?
JP, by email
A William Morris and Co is mining its archives for less wellknown designs that reflect modern tastes, such as Larkspur, Meadow Sweet and Garden Tulip. The company hand-block prints the designs (price on application), or opt for machine roller-printed paper, from £44 per roll.
0844-543 9500, www.william-morris.co.uk
Q I have an opening in my garden wall that needs a new gate but it is an irregular size that doesn’t conform to the standard widths sold in most hardware shops. Can you advise where I would be able to find a made-tomeasure gate?
RR, by email
A I prefer wooden gates because they don’t rust, but it’s also nice to see through a gate when it’s closed. The Garden Cobble Stone gate from Gatewrights is an interesting design with the bottom half in wood but with a rectangular aperture above divided by black metal or galvanised silver rods of differing heights. Do spend that little bit extra to have the gate in sapele hardwood. Hardwood weathers while soft wood rots.
01787-882988, www.gatewrights.co.uk
Q The recent hot sun has accelerated the fading on the upholstery on my conservatory furniture. I am going to have to recover them, but this time around I would like to get some striped fabrics that don’t fade. What do you suggest? SB, by email
A Natural fabrics fade faster than ones in man-made materials. The Ionia collection, from £54 per metre, from Osborne & Little, comes in polypropylene, with a finish that protects against sun, rain and even mildew.
020-7352 1456, www.osborneandlittle.com
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com
JP, by email
A William Morris and Co is mining its archives for less wellknown designs that reflect modern tastes, such as Larkspur, Meadow Sweet and Garden Tulip. The company hand-block prints the designs (price on application), or opt for machine roller-printed paper, from £44 per roll.
0844-543 9500, www.william-morris.co.uk
Q I have an opening in my garden wall that needs a new gate but it is an irregular size that doesn’t conform to the standard widths sold in most hardware shops. Can you advise where I would be able to find a made-tomeasure gate?
RR, by email
A I prefer wooden gates because they don’t rust, but it’s also nice to see through a gate when it’s closed. The Garden Cobble Stone gate from Gatewrights is an interesting design with the bottom half in wood but with a rectangular aperture above divided by black metal or galvanised silver rods of differing heights. Do spend that little bit extra to have the gate in sapele hardwood. Hardwood weathers while soft wood rots.
01787-882988, www.gatewrights.co.uk
Q The recent hot sun has accelerated the fading on the upholstery on my conservatory furniture. I am going to have to recover them, but this time around I would like to get some striped fabrics that don’t fade. What do you suggest? SB, by email
A Natural fabrics fade faster than ones in man-made materials. The Ionia collection, from £54 per metre, from Osborne & Little, comes in polypropylene, with a finish that protects against sun, rain and even mildew.
020-7352 1456, www.osborneandlittle.com
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com