HOME HELP: 3 January
Q I recently bought a 1930s cottage and want to decorate it in keeping with that period. My local interior-design shop has such an array of wallpapers and fabrics that I don’t know where to start.
JG, by email
A I love the work of Neisha Crosland, whose designs have an Art Deco feel. The wallpapers Anemone, Birdtree and Merlin are priced from £66 for a 10m roll. As for fabric, Pollen has the period feel; Dahlia would be great for a blind, and Spider for the upholstery; prices start at £72.60 per metre. Check that any fabric you like is suitable for upholstery.
Neisha Crosland: 020-7657 1150, www.neishacrosland.com
Q Is it possible to buy a knitting pattern for a body warmer for a Lakeland terrier?
EB, Warwickshire
A I don’t know of any shops that sell these, but you could try buying online. The website Etsy.com includes a seller called TheKnittingSheep (type this into the Etsy search bar with no spacing). The store sells 1950s patterns to be knitted in ribbed four-ply. The downloaded patterns include a guide to sizes by breed; payment is by PayPal. Or try eBay and type ‘Knits and Pieces dog’ into the search bar.
www.etsy.com
www.ebay.co.uk
Q Our sitting room has a Baxi back boiler, fronted by an ugly gas fire, but we cannot a ord to replace the entire system. We wanted to get a new gas fire but Baxi no longer makes them.
S and DE, by email
A Baxi only makes electric fires now, which would not be compatible with your back boiler. If you buy a secondhand gas fire, do get it checked by a plumber. A new Baxi back boiler would cost £2,500, but a combi boiler would be more because of the cost of new pipe work. Sorry not to have better news.
Baxi: 0844-871 1525, www.baxi.co.uk
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com
JG, by email
A I love the work of Neisha Crosland, whose designs have an Art Deco feel. The wallpapers Anemone, Birdtree and Merlin are priced from £66 for a 10m roll. As for fabric, Pollen has the period feel; Dahlia would be great for a blind, and Spider for the upholstery; prices start at £72.60 per metre. Check that any fabric you like is suitable for upholstery.
Neisha Crosland: 020-7657 1150, www.neishacrosland.com
Q Is it possible to buy a knitting pattern for a body warmer for a Lakeland terrier?
EB, Warwickshire
A I don’t know of any shops that sell these, but you could try buying online. The website Etsy.com includes a seller called TheKnittingSheep (type this into the Etsy search bar with no spacing). The store sells 1950s patterns to be knitted in ribbed four-ply. The downloaded patterns include a guide to sizes by breed; payment is by PayPal. Or try eBay and type ‘Knits and Pieces dog’ into the search bar.
www.etsy.com
www.ebay.co.uk
Q Our sitting room has a Baxi back boiler, fronted by an ugly gas fire, but we cannot a ord to replace the entire system. We wanted to get a new gas fire but Baxi no longer makes them.
S and DE, by email
A Baxi only makes electric fires now, which would not be compatible with your back boiler. If you buy a secondhand gas fire, do get it checked by a plumber. A new Baxi back boiler would cost £2,500, but a combi boiler would be more because of the cost of new pipe work. Sorry not to have better news.
Baxi: 0844-871 1525, www.baxi.co.uk
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com