The really useful column

The natural home For those of you who seek to be environmentally friendly in the home, I have just discovered Holzweg products. They include natural wallpaper paste, which is used like any other wallpaper paste but is completely free of fungicides, preservatives and synthetic resin; and also timber woodworm treatment, which is a non-toxic, biodegradable system for eliminating woodworm and other rot infestation.

Priced from pounds 3.95 and available by mail order from The Healthy House, Cold Harbour, Ruscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire (01453 752216; www.healthyhouse.co.uk).

Large, good-quality reproduction mirrors can be hard to find and very expensive. But Rococo Frames of Fulham, 666 Fulham Road, SW6 (020 7384 9234) has a great range of

both modern and antique styles at hugely discounted prices. All the mirrors are hand-finished and made in the UK. Prices start at pounds 149 for antique reproduction, plus a pounds 20 delivery charge for anywhere inside the M25.

Alternatively, do as I did; buy a picture frame and get your local glazier to put in the mirrored glass.

And for gloriously overthe-top picture frames at reasonable prices, try Bostock, 127 Portobello Road, W11 (020 7229 8164).

Cheats' guide Here's a bit of fun I couldn't resist. For time- pressed Londoners who want their guests to think they are a dab hand in the kitchen, this has to be the ultimate cheat: candles that give off the comforting fragrances of home cooking. From freshly baked hot apple pie to buttermilk pancakes and blueberry pie, Country Kitchen candles will make you look like a fantastic home cook while you discreetly throw the packaging in the dustbin.

Available

in a range of sizes and colours, prices start from pounds 1.49. The company is new to this country, so you can find out where your nearest stockist is by calling Yankee Candles on 01179 749300.

Get it in writing For anyone managing their own property renovation, one of the crucial factors for success is to have all the paperwork spot on, and that includes the agreement with the builder. The Royal Institute of British Architects publishes a user-friendly building contract that has been created specifically for consumers dealing directly with the builder, and can be applied to practically any form of domestic building work.

Thoroughly comprehensive and written in plain English, this piece of paper could prevent endless aggravation at a later stage, and is well worth the money. Available by mail order from RIBA bookshops, Construction House, 56-64 Leonard Street, EC2 (020 7251 0791), for pounds 13 plus VAT or go to RIBA's bookshop at 66 Portland Place, NW1.

This week's bargain For many years I hankered after one of those gentleman's club fenders, but they are hard to find on the high street, and expensive when you do. Then I spied a mail-order advertisement placed by Don Boulonois, who sells fenders and fire screens. A good 30 per cent cheaper than the shops, he has more than 100 styles in brass, black, chrome, stainless or brushed steel, and is the sole distributor in the UK for an elegant new range of firescreens, in traditional and contemporary designs.

I am now the proud owner of a magnificent, leather club fender. Don can be contacted on 01630 655202.

Can you handle it?

When I was renovating my flat I found it very difficult to get stylish door handles at reasonable prices; they were either boring and cheap or desperately trendy and overpriced. I wish I'd known about Fretco. A family-run firm since 1938, Fretco are specialist metal

workers or fretters, as they are called, and can cut, bend and shape virtually any piece of metal into any design. They can make handles, bathroom fittings, kitchen sinks, stainless-steel cladding for kitchen units, door fittings and fireplace surrounds.

Just take in an idea or, better still, a drawing, and they will do the rest. A fantastic way to get bespoke metal fittings at little more than high-street prices.

Fretco, 1 Thane Works, Thane Villas, N7 (near the junction of Hornsey Road and Seven Sisters Road; 020 7609 1570).

Really useful telephone numbers The London Tradesmen's Directory on 0906 780 8888 (premium line) is a list of recommended and reliable London-based workmen from all trades. All you pay is the price of the telephone call (about pounds 2). It even offers a competitively priced emergency callout service.

Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please note: some mobile and office lines operate a premiumrate call-barring system.

Do you know of any people, places or services that should be featured in The Really Useful Column? If so, email me at alison@alisoncork.com and I'll investigate.

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