Get Hung Up On Flueless Gas Fires

Feb 10 2008

Tricks Of The Trade

Not content with making retro fridges and dishwashers, the lovely people at Smeg have turned their attentions to flueless wall-hung gas fires and the results are startling. With no recess, chimney or flue required, Smeg's fires are designed to simply hang on any wall and convert 100 per cent of gas to heat which will help reduce fuel costs and contribute to a greener environment. Check out their Retro, Classic and Linear styles at www.smeguk.com and fire your imagination.

Woollen cushion covers or your fave jumper shrunk in the wash? If wool gets wet and warm, the fibres contract and tighten, causing shrinkage. You can get wool warm or wet, but not both. To unshrink, soak in cool water with mild soap for 10 minutes. Next, lay flat on towels in a cool place and carefully pull to its original shape, repeating every so often until it is back to its original size.

Isn't it frustrating when you look at paint colour charts online then have to get off your bottom to get the samples? Not any more. Thanks to Crown Pure Paint Colour Samples, you can click on your chosen shade and they will post you an A5 paint chip in your exact shade and finish. For info see www.crownpaint.co.uk

Here's a great tip for cleaning hard to shift stains on acrylic moulded sinks. First, fill with boiling water then add a couple of dishwasher tablets to the mix. Leave to cool then empty the water and clean with a spray kitchen cleaner. All those red wine/tea stains you thought were permanently etched in should miraculously disappear.

More tea Vicar? Yes, afternoon tea is back in fashion and so too is the humble cupcake with specialist bakeries popping up. What better way to showcase your fruity friends (the cakes) than by using a Betty Jackson beaded chunky cake stand at just £24 from Debenhams. Or a three-tiered mirrored version costing £28 from Laura Ashley (above).

STYLE BIBLE

what's hot in the shops

Style City: Europe - edited by Lucas Dietrich, £16.95 published by Thames and Hudson

This valuable style/travel guide isn't just a couch potato's guide to Euro cool - after reading you will actually want to get off yer bum and hit the highway. Showcasing the revolution in 'lifestyle travel', you will find discerningly selected trend-setting restaurants, groovy shops, stylish hotels, hot districts and neighbourhoods - indeed all the special places where locals (as well as travellers) will find a vibrant urban experience.