Category Archives: Decorating

Make a date with DIY!

diy-shows With the new year now well underway, thoughts are turning to all those home improvement projects put on hold over Christmas. If, like us, you have big DIY or building plans for 2015, you might be in need of a little inspiration ÔÇô and where better to get it than from the many home shows coming up!

Throughout the year, DIY Advice Online will be rounding up details of our favourite home, building and lifestyle events in the UK, starting with the winter months ahead. So get your diaries at the ready and start planning your year of DIY!

The Southern Home Show, Alexandra Palace, London

Start the year in style at the Southern Home Show, returning to the Ally Pally for the second time. Covering interior design, DIY, self building, renovation, energy efficiency and gardens, the show is a chance for visitors to take part in workshops and seminars, find products such as power tools, hand tools and building equipment and get tips from the experts. You can even bring along your plans and drawings to the advice area, whilst kids can get stuck in to their own DIY workshops!┬áJan 30 – Feb 1, ┬ú8 (children free),┬áhttp://www.southernhomeshow.co.uk

The Listed Property Show, Olympia London

If you live in a listed building, this oneÔÇÖs for you! Here you can chat to conservation officers, property regulations experts, planners and architects, as well as source specialist builders and suppliers of things such as windows, doors, paint and flooring. And donÔÇÖt worry if you live up north ÔÇô thereÔÇÖs another show in Harrogate in March!┬áFeb 14-15, free (register online),┬áhttp://lpoc.co.uk/property-show / @Listed_Property

The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, Birmingham NEC

Ok, so itÔÇÖs not a home show exactly, but you might be surprised at the array of ideas you can glean for your home and garden here, not to mention inspiration for the outdoor lifestyle! Held during half term, this massive show is staged over several of the NECÔÇÖs huge halls and includes plenty of activities such as rock climbing, dog agility displays and discovery zones to keep the kids happy while you canvas opinion on essential outdoor style!┬áFeb 17-22, from ┬ú7 (children free),┬áww.caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk / @CaravanCampShow

Wilton House Antiques Fair, Wiltshire

This independent and renowned annual fair is the one to visit if you like period pieces. From furniture, paintings, maps, silver, porcelain, glass, clocks and collectibles, your home will certainly stand out from the Ikea crowd if you invest in a unique antique or two. With more than 40 top class, vetted dealers setting up stall in the cloisters area inside the main house and in the old riding school, experienced buyers and novices alike are welcome.┬áFeb 27 – March 1, ┬ú5.50,┬áwww.wiltonhouse.co.uk

Ecobuild, Excel London

This trade event is the UKÔÇÖs largest built-environment show and is packed with interactive and innovative attractions, live demos and brand new products and techniques. Speakers in the Nature and Built Environment Hall include experts from conservation trusts, the British Bee KeepersÔÇÖ Association and the Grass Roof Company, whilst visitors can even earn a spot to pitch their eco retail solution to Marks & Spencer!┬áMarch 3-5, free (register online, no under 16s),┬áhttp://www.ecobuild.co.uk / @Ecobuild_Now

First Time Buyer Home Show, Business Design Centre, London

You can only dream of DIY if youÔÇÖre yet to put a foot on the property ladder, but this show can get you started. Home-owning hopefuls can get free advice from housing associations, lawyers, credit check firms and home builders, and although the experts on hand do tend to be a little London-centric, there is also information on first time buying outside the capital. TV property expert Nicki Chapman will chat to first-time buyers about their experiences, and thereÔÇÖs ┬ú5,000 towards a deposit up for grabs too!┬áMarch 7, free,┬áhttp://www.ftbhomeshow.com / @firsttimebuyer

Vintage Home Show, Victoria Baths, Manchester

Do you think kitsch is cool? If your style is old style, make a date with Discover VintageÔÇÖs next show, where thereÔÇÖll be 50 fabulous stalls selling everything from furniture and lighting to ceramics and textiles. With items from the 1930s to the ÔÇÿ70s, youÔÇÖll be sure to pick up timeless treasures to make your home the envy of the street!┬áMarch 15, free,┬áhttp://www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk / @VintageHomeShow

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Birmingham NEC

Whether youÔÇÖre planning to build your dream home, add an extension to your current property or remodel your garden, this show is a one-stop shop of advice and bright ideas. The show features thousands of products on display, more than 500 specialist businesses, a planning clinic and experts from Homebuilding and Renovating magazine on hand to answer questions. Visitors can also book a free one-to-one consultation with an impartial expert at The Advice Centre – but hurry, as these slots are extremely popular!┬áMarch 26-29, from ┬ú12 in advance,┬áwww.homebuildingshow.co.uk / @MyHomebuilding

Ideal Home Show, London

ItÔÇÖs hard to believe, but this year marks the 107^th Ideal Home Show! And, as befits the grand duchess of all home shows, the IHS has home improvement ideas, garden gadgets, terrific technology and heavenly homeware bursting from every room. Celeb experts include Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, money saving expert Martin Lewis, TV presenter and campaigner Katie Piper and gardening god Alan Titchmarsh, whilst there will be lots of food and drink-related attractions and even a catwalk and daily fashion shows! And with the show returning to its original home, where it was launched by the Daily Mail way back in 1908, itÔÇÖs sure to be one of the most special events yet.┬áMarch 20 – Apr 6, from ┬ú12 in advance, children free (ticket required),┬áhttp://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk / @ideal_home_show

Main photo: Steve Burden┬á

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How toÔÇª transform a table

Gone are the days in which weÔÇÖd throw perfectly good furniture into a skip and replace it with a brand new buy. With purse strings getting tighter and crafty TV shows making it fashionable again to make do and mend, these days itÔÇÖs all about ÔÇÿupcyclingÔÇÖ. And it doesnÔÇÖt get much easier than transforming the good old kitchen table into a centrepiece to be proud of! HereÔÇÖs how:

1. If you have space in a garage or workshop, move your table and chairs from the kitchen into the workspace. If not, place them on top of dust sheets or newspaper.

2. Strip the table back to bare wood using a biodegradable paint remover, which is less toxic than older paint strippers and does not smell as strong.

3. Sand the wood thoroughly and wipe down with a clean cloth.

4. Apply a coat of paint. ItÔÇÖs likely youÔÇÖll need to re-sand the wood after the first coat before applying a second coat.

5. Wax with a cloth and remove any residue with a second, clean cloth.

6. If youÔÇÖre also repainting the chairs, itÔÇÖs wise to remove drop-in seats before you get started. You might need to unscrew them first and perhaps gently tap out tightly fitted seats with a hammer from below.

7. Treat loose joints and splits with wood glue. Check thoroughly for small, neat holes, which are a tell-tale sign of woodworm, and treat if necessary with woodworm solution or spray.

8. Sand, apply a coat of paint and repeat if necessary, as above.

9. Re-fit the drop-in seats. For a completely new look you can re-cover the foam first with a fabric of your choice or, if they are particularly old and worn, you can buy new foam and cut to the right size using the old seats as a template.

10. Hey presto, you have a lovely ÔÇÿnewÔÇÖ dining set!

┬áDid you know?

You can paint the wood in a number of different ways, to suit the type of furniture and the style of the room it sits in:

Distressed wood: Get the shabby chic look by applying two coats of paint, waxing and sanding back the wood gently.

Wood wash: Dilute the paint with water then apply as normal for a softer, translucent finish that highlights the wood grain. This works particularly well when whitewashing or lime-washing furniture or floorboards.

Crackle-glazed finish: Dry the paint with a hairdryer and wax with a clear then a dark wax, which will run into the cracks.

DIY favourite to close one in four stores

Popular DIY retailer Homebase is to lose a quarter of its stores following a business review. One in four of the chainÔÇÖs 323 outlets will close by 2018, having been branded ÔÇÿunprofitable or in declineÔÇÖ.

The rise in online shopping is one of the factors behind the decision, whilst itÔÇÖs also thought that young homeowners do not do as much DIY as their parents. Seven Homebase branches have already closed this year and another 23 will go by March, with the rest to follow. Homebase owner Home Retail Group has not revealed how many jobs will be lost but hopes to work with the new buyers of affected premises to safeguard as many positions as possible.

Home Retail Group ÔÇô which also owns Argos and Habitat ÔÇô announced two years ago that stores would close in order to reposition the brand as a smaller but stronger operation. Twenty six stores have recently been refitted and there are plans to increase the number of Habitat and Argos concessions within stores after a successful experiment to introduce pick-up points for customers collecting online goods. This followed strong Homebase sales last Christmas, as well as a good start to the current financial year, when warm weather and the football World Cup boosted sales of outdoor DIY equipment and garden furniture.

But a refurbishment of all remaining shops is not planned and HomebaseÔÇÖs managing director is to stand down after disappointing half-yearly figures, meaning the end of an era for DIY enthusiasts faced with waving goodbye to their local store.