Home Ideas: Tricks of the TRADE

Sunday Mirror, Jul 11, 2004 by Caroline Cook

Q I WOULD like to give one wall of my living room a brick effect. However I am having difficulty in finding fake bricks. Can you help? - Mr C. Jordan, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

AA GREAT way to achieve this look is to use the Rustic Brickwork Range from Dreamwall (01446 744862 or www.dreamwall.co.uk). Made from a plastic called Styrene, it is lightweight, cheap and can be painted. Once applied, it mimics an old weather-beaten brick wall.

QI WANT to renovate my kitchen by changing the doors and handles. I've seen some traditional pine doors in a builder's yard, but where can I buy something more contemporary? - John Thomas, Newquay, Cornwall

ATHERE are two types of company which make or stock kitchen unit doors - Just Doors, who manufacture doors to order from MDF and supply direct to the customer ready to paint (from pounds 45); or the DIY stores, who stock a variety of standard designs and sizes, which are finished and ready to hang. B&Q (0845 222 1000 or www.diy.com) do a great range of budget kitchens, called itKitchens. Handles start from around pounds 4. Contact Just Doors on 0870 200 1010, www.justdoors.co.uk

QI AM getting married in September and want to include some crystal on our wedding list. However, we're not keen on the classic cut-glass styles we've seen and would rather have a modern design. Any suggestions? - Zara Hart, Kingsbury, North London

ASOME big names in crystal have recently launched colourful, stylish ranges that are a million miles away from their traditional selections. Look out for fashion designer Julien Macdonald's range for Royal Doulton, and Waterford's bold Metra bowls and tall vases, and these rich Ruby Martini glasses at pounds 75 a pair, definitely something you'll treasure for years to come. Call 0800 039 0077 for local stockists.

QI'M looking for a free-standing metal towel rail in black or gold for my bathroom. All the stores appear only to sell chrome, plastic- coated, pine or another type of wood. Very frustrating. Please help. - Graham Williams, by email

ATHERE was a time when everyone did at least a gold finish or wrought- iron-style towel holder, but not any more it seems. However Argos have an under-basin storage rack which includes two handy shelves and three bars to hang towels from. It sits neatly around the pedestal area of a basin and so uses up dead space. It costs only pounds 24.99 in the gold finish. Call Argos on 0870 600 2020 or log on to www. argos.co.uk

QI WANT to sell my 1930s enamelled roll-top bath. Can you give me details of any salvage people? - Barbara Forbes, by email

AVINTAGE baths have become immensely popular over the past few years, with originals selling for up to pounds 3,000. Salvo is an organisation dedicated to sourcing architectural and antique garden and reclaimed building materials. Log on to www.salvo.co.uk for information about local dealers. You can get the look with a modern reproduction too.