December 2009 Home & DIY Magazine

Buying a New Gas Fire

new gas fire

With the colder days approaching fast and the prospect of a cold and snowy winter to come we may all be thinking of new ways to keep our homes warm. If you do not already have an open fire, a gas fire may be a good option to add both a focal point and some extra heat.

New Stripper in Town

There's a new product on the market that claims to make the grim job of stripping wallpaper a lot easier. Having stripped what seems like acres of the stuff in the past I was obviously keen to try this out. It's called Wallwik - Wallpaper and paste removal system.

We had a suitably demanding job lined up - a lounge with that old favoutite "painted woodchip". Well, there's no point in trying it out on something too easy. My normal approach would have been to reach for the spiker and steamer and I know that works pretty well.

Eager to start, we unpacked the kit...

Chic Home Office

stationary

For whatever reason home offices are the one room in the house where we appear to put in the least effort.

Bizarre Insurance Claims

telefone assistant for insurance claims

We have all had to claim on our home insurance when one of the kids put a ball through the window or the paint didn't quite make it onto the walls.

DIY skills on the rise

Survey reveals DIY loves and hates
Maybe it’s the recession, but Britain is fast becoming a nation of DIY experts

Preventing Frozen Pipes

The cold weather is coming and all those little niggly jobs around the house need to be done in preparation. In the same way you might think about putting the anti-freeze in your car, now is also a good time to think about preventing your central heating and water pipes from freezing.

£100 of Homebase Vouchers

All you need to do is tell us about the DIY job you're doing at the moment and you'll be entered into this month's Prize Draw.

Creating a Cosy Home for Winter

It might be freezing cold outside with ice on the ground and even snow – but the inside of your home can easily be transformed from the clean lines of summer to a cosy and warm winter interior. There is nothing more inviting than a warm home with plenty of soft textures after battling against the elements outside.

Foolproof Christmas Cake

christmas cake

Christmas Cakes are the one type of cake you can make well in advance and know they will remain moist and delicious right up to Christmas Day and beyond. The secret to a good cake is quality ingredients. The recipe doesn't have to be long winded and complicated. Some delicious dried fruits, decent plonk and lots of love can create a wonderful cake in next to no time.

How to Recycle More

recycle symbol

It's not easy being green... but it is getting much easier all the time. With an increased awareness among all generations, it seems that recycling will become standard practise ....

Cheaper Christmas Dinners

christmas dinner

We all know Christmas is around the corner and while we all enjoy getting together with family and friends, the expense is always going to be an issue.

Buying a New Mattress

Buying a new mattress is not something to be taken lightly, in fact it is a considerable investment. But as we spend a third of our lives in bed it is an investment worth making. Trying out mattresses in your local store is the first step.

The Wonderful World of Felting

Most people will be forgiven for not knowing what on earth felting is, but once you discover the technique it is difficult to stop. If you are a reasonable knitter then this technique is a very easy way of turning a knitted fabric into a firm, stiff fabric suitable to cutting sewing and shaping into toys, bags and bowls.