MP visits local pensioner helped by npower warmth scheme

Chi Onwurah, the MP for Newcastle Central, has visited a local pensioner to see first-hand the difference made by npower's Health Through Warmth scheme.

Seventy-eight-year-old Don Grant and his wife Anne were left without heating when their boiler broke down recently. Don has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Anne, his wife, has limited mobility due to a recent operation on her spine. When their 20+ year-old boiler started to leak they were left without heating and found the cold made their health conditions much worse.

Unsure where to turn to for help, Don spoke to a local Warm Zone benefit advisor, who referred the couple to npower Heath Through Warmth in Newcastle. The scheme aims to help residents whose health is made worse by cold and damp living conditions, and they don’t have adequate heating and insulation in their homes.

Realising the urgency of the couple's circumstances, the local Health Through Warmth co-ordinator immediately arranged for a new boiler installation. Don had served in the armed forces, so SSAFA Forces Help was able to contribute towards the cost of the work and the remaining balance was paid by the unique npower Health through Warmth Crisis Fund.

Chi Onwurah MP was joined by Elaine Midwinter, npower Health Through Warmth scheme manager; Julie Jaglowski, customer services director, for npower; Jill Delf, operations manager at Newcastle Warm Zone cic and Bronwen Banner, benefits advisor at Newcastle Warm Zone cic.

Chi Onwurah MP said: "npower Health through Warmth is a fantastic scheme that demonstrates how successful partnership working can be in helping local residents here in Newcastle. Since the scheme launched it has done an invaluable job supporting vulnerable members of our community and I’d urge anyone who has a cold or damp related illness to get in touch with the local Health Through Warmth co-ordinator to see if they are eligible for help."

Don explained: "We couldn’t be more thankful for how npower Health through Warmth has helped us. The work was done very quickly and efficiently, meaning we were soon warm and comfortable in our home once again."

Newcastle is one of 15 areas across England and Wales in which npower's Health through Warmth scheme operates. Managed locally by Newcastle Warm Zone cic in partnership with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle and North Tyneside Community Health, more than 18,400 residents have been referred to the scheme since it began in 2003. The scheme also launched in North Tyneside in October 2010, and has received over 3,700 referrals to date.

Each npower Health through Warmth referral is assessed on an individual basis and funding can be accessed from a variety of sources, including the unique npower Health through Warmth Crisis Fund, government grants and charitable funds.

Elaine Midwinter, npower Health through Warmth scheme manager, added: "Like Mr and Mrs Grant, there are many residents in Newcastle whose health is made worse by cold and damp living conditions.

"npower's Health Through Warmth scheme operates all year round, so even though the summer months are here, we would encourage people to get in touch to find out if they could be eligible to receive help from the scheme."

New DiscountVouchers.co.uk Weekly Deals Offer Savings on School Uniforms, Garden Furniture and More

Online voucher codes specialist delivers latest value for money offers redeemable at House of Fraser and Debenhams.

 

The latest range of weekly deals from online voucher codes website DiscountVouchers.co.uk can help the UK’s shoppers save money at two of the top stores in the land. This week’s newly-updated discount deals include savings on garden furniture, school uniforms, childrenswear and more from leading department stores Debenhams and House of Fraser.

With mums and dads around the land getting ready to send their kids back to school for a new term, DiscountVouchers.co.uk can help them to make the most of their available budgets. New Debenhams discount code choices on show on the voucher codes site this week include up to 70% off childrenswear, free delivery on school uniforms and also free delivery and returns on all Debenhams orders.

Also on show on DiscountVouchers.co.uk this week are money-saving deals redeemable at high street favourite House of Fraser. Consumers can log on right now and use new House of Fraser discount code alternatives including free UK delivery on purchases of £50 or more, 50% off garden furniture and also money off bed linens.

Says Doug Scott, the MD at DiscountVouchers.co.uk: “We are always proud to offer people savings at over 800 top name stores, and this week we can get shoppers big money off at House of Fraser and Debenhams. Bargain deals on school uniforms and childrenswear this week can be a real bonus to the nation’s parents.”

DiscountVouchers.co.uk offers consumers money saving deals at major high street brands and specialist retailers, including stores like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Travelodge, First Choice, lastminute.com and Boden.

For more information visit www.discountvouchers.co.uk

Mould. The hidden killer in your home

If you knew that Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (often called ABA) is the most common fungal respiratory disorder in Britain today, and that it is caused by fungal spores that you could be breathing in at home right now, would you be worried?

If you also knew that you and your loved ones, babies, children, the elderly, and those with existing health problems such as asthma were particularly at risk would you be concerned? Of course you would!

How To Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones.

A London based property expert was so concerned about this common problem facing property owners and tenants alike that he was determined to do something positive it.

So he did what all successful business people do. He found a simple solution!

Now, offering a simple range of products that for literally just a few pounds can help to save our health and our homes from all types of mould and fungus. These small ‘Moisture Traps’ and ‘Moisture Absorbers’ use a combination highly absorbent crystals housed in a special water collecting container to safely and effectively remove the household moisture that mould needs to live. See http://www.caraselledirect.com/_/kitchen_accessories/dehumid...

Who’s at Risk from Dangerous and Damaging Mould and Fungus?

According to Jonathan “Contrary to popular belief it’s not just bad or old housing, but any home, no matter how grand or modest, where moisture is trapped or leaking. Spotting this however is not as easy as it sounds. Mould spores are invisible to the human eye, and many infestations may either be hidden, and in the process of developing without any obvious signs or odours.”

He goes on to say “If you boil a kettle, cook, use water in the kitchen and bathroom, and if you turn the heating up when it’s cold outside while keeping your windows and doors closed, then you and your home could be at risk right now”.

Apparently, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers may all be creating the condensation and moisture on your home surfaces are breeding grounds for moulds that are capable of destroying your health, your home, and your belongings.

He then concluded by adding “For the sake of a very small amount of money you can help to protect the most important people in your life as well as your biggest investments - your home and your car. Customers love these ‘Moisture Traps’ because you can put them wherever you want to and forget about them until it’s time for a refill. You can literally see how much water they’ve collected. So simple but so effective”.

Catch Killer Mould & Fungus Before It Attacks. (For The Price of Fish & Chips)

Jonathan’s selected range of 4 moisture removal products with the most expensive only costing £5.99 are simple to use and can be strategically placed anywhere in the home, in your car, or any other confined area where moisture could be or already has been a problem.

Beneath the ventilated surfaces of the ‘Mini Moisture Trap’, the ‘Croc Ador Moisture Absorber’, and the ‘Kilrock Slimline Moisture Trap’ crystals collect trapped moisture from the air and deposit it into a container that can simply be emptied or disposed of. The ‘Kilrock Gel-Safe Moisture Trap’ collects uses a gel instead of crystals. Jonathan also supplies a range of crystal and gel refills.

For more information call 08000 199309 or visit http://www.caraselledirect.com/_/kitchen_accessories/dehumid...

Making and fitting a new piece of skirting board with Dremel

Get a Smart Finish to Your Walls...

It may not sound like much but a smart end to your walls in the form of the humble skirting board makes all the difference. Skirting boards get scuffed and worn and in some cases rot away or simply haven’t been fitted in the first place. So, a little time spent creating and fitting or replacing them will smarten up your home. Simply take your Dremel Multi-Max and follow our step-by-step guide to help you!

Materials required :

Dremel Multi-Max

Wood and Drywall Saw blade MM450

10mm Flush Cut blade MM470

Hook and Loop Sanding pad MM11

Sanding paper for wood MM70W in grit P60

Masonry drill

Pencil

Straight edge

Rawlplug

Set square

Difficulty rating :

Two stars – fairly easy

Step One

Measure the area at the foot of your wall that you want to cover with skirting board. Then, buy a length of skirting board from your local DIY superstore in the style that you want to either match your existing boards or replace them. Skirting boards come in many styles from the completely plain to suit a modern house, to ones with a bevelled edge, to highly decorative ones with lots of moulding for an older house. Mark up the point along the length at which you want to cut the board using a pencil and straight edge.

Step Two

Cut out the piece of skirting board to fit the area where you need to replace it using your Dremel Multi-Max and the Flush Cut blade MM470. If you are fitting it into a corner you may need to cut off the edge of each piece of skirting board to fit them together neatly using the Wood and Drywall Saw blade MM450.

Step Three

Sand to finish using the Multi-Max Hook and Loop Sanding Pad MM11 and the sanding paper for wood MM70W which comes in three grits P60, P120 and P240. Finally, using a masonry drill, drill a hole for a rawlplug into the brickwork and then screw the skirting board into position, avoiding pipes, and fix it to the wall.

For more information go to www.dremel.co.uk

For Dremel videos, please visit : http://www.youtube.com/user/DremelEurope

Birthday specials at Furniture Village!

To celebrate their birthday, Furniture Village are offering extra discount on top brands such as Ercol, Tempur, Vi-Spring, G- Plan, Collins & Hayes, Duresta, Parker Knoll, Old Charm, Nathan and Jensen.

In addition to the Summer Sale, Furniture Village are offering fantastic deals on their beds,sofas and dining range available both in store and online and FREE delivery during August (available on August orders over £250 mainland Britain only.)

Duresta Trafalgar 2.5 Seater Knowle Sofa Was £4425 Now £3318
Now 25% off all Duresta
Ercol Chester Swan Was £299 Now £224
Now 25% of all Ercol
Milano Ottoman with Deluxe 22 by Tempur £2385 Now £1669
Now 25% off all Tempur
Old Charm Home Entertainment Unit £909 Now £681
Now 25% off all Old Charm

Rio Table and 4 Chairs Was £1299 Now £899
Como Table and 4 Chairs Was £1155 Now £549
Hennessey 3 Seater Causal Back Sofa Was £1039 Now £799
Carolina 3 Seater Sofa Was £1492 Now £995
Lyon Arched King Size Bedstead Was £899 Now £599
Essential Sleep Elgin Single Divan Was £399 Now £199

For your nearest Furniture Village call 0800 7833 833 or why not browse the great offers online for your perfect purchase at www.furniturevillage.co.uk

(EDITOR: I have a pretty good idea where we will be going this weekend!) 

Something for the confident DIYer! The Black & Decker® High Performance range

Dab

hand at DIY? Looking to take on a more challenging project in your home this bank holiday weekend? Then  Black & Decker® has designed the perfect power tools for you.

The new Black & Decker High Performance range eliminates the need to call in a professional, allowing you to successfully complete more complex jobs yourself and still have time to enjoy the extra day off work. Highlights include the lightweight and compact Cordless 10.8v Drill Driver, Impact Driver and Reciprocating Saw, all with Lithium Ion technology to ensure the tools are ready to use when you need them and last for the duration of the job.

The 10.8v products are equipped with a 1.3ah lithium battery and charger that gives full charge within 30 minutes, meaning your tools will be ready to use whenever you need them. The vertical slide pack battery is inserted into the handle of the products, making them more compact and comfortable to use.

These tools have been developed specifically to give the DIYer total control for any job and allow easy access to confined spaces – ultimately allowing you to be more efficient!

Black & Decker brand ambassador, TV designer and renovation expert Ben Hillman comments: "The new High Performance range from Black & Decker® is ideal for completing an array of tasks around the home and garden, reducing the need to call in a professional. I am currently renovating my home and have used the products for a number of projects including creating under stair storage, installing kitchen cupboards and constructing decking in the garden."

"The size and weight of the 10.8v tools means they are comfortable and easy to manoeuvre and the powerful lithium battery ensures top performance. With the bank holiday weekend coming up, there couldn’t be a better time to start a new project or get those outstanding jobs completed."

10.8v Drill Driver and 10.8v Impact Driver
- Newly designed soft grip to reduce vibration
- LED worklight that provides visibility in dark areas
- Magnetic bit storage and belt clip
- 10.8v Drill Driver can drive 257 screws into wood on a single charge
- 10.8v Impact Driver can screw into 4mm steel in less than eight seconds
- Weighing just 1.1kg
- Lithium battery with 30 minutes charge time
- Charger that communicates when fully charged and cuts out to save energy

10.8v Cordless Reciprocating Saw
- Three positioned pivoting handle for easy access to tight areas
- Material clamp that reduces blade vibration and allows for easy one handed cutting
- 16mm stroke length
- 46,400mm per minute cut speed
- Weighing just 1.3kg
- Lithium battery with 30 minutes charge time
- Charger that communicates when fully charged and cuts out to save energy

Additional products in the Black & Decker® High Performance range include the Pneumatic Corded Drill, Corded Heatgun, Small Angle Grinder and Planer.

FACTFILE:
HPL106K Cordless Drill Driver – RRP £129.99, available from B&Q
HPL10IMK Cordless Impact Driver – RRP £129.99, available from B&Q
HPL10RSK Cordless Reciprocating Saw - RRP £129.99, available from B&Q
KW750K Planer – RRP £69.99, available from B&Q
KD750KC SDS+ Pneumatic Corded Drill – RRP £129.99, available from B&Q
K2200K Heatgun – RRP £49.99, available from B&Q
KG750/1 Small Angle Grinder – RRP £49.99, available from B&Q
For general enquiries, stockists, service and technical advice, please call 01753 511234 or visit www.blackanddecker.eu

Nick Knowles tops DIY help list

Presenter of DIY SOS Nick Knowles has topped a list of celebrities members of the public would most like to help them decorate their property. Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles comes in bottom of the charts narrowly followed by Lady GaGa and Take That front man Gary Barlow.

The results of the survey carried out by FrogTape are revealed in advance of the last bank holiday of the year when thousands of UK householders will use the long weekend to get on with decorating tasks they’ve been putting off. Or need to finish off after starting them at the last Bank Holiday!

The survey showed that 82.62% of those who responded considered painting the walls to be one of the most cost-effective ways of sprucing up the home without having to lay out a fortune.

Women apparently rule the roost when it comes to deciding which colour to paint the home, with 67.55% of wives making the colour choice. (EDITOR: I am colour-blind and my wife is a qualified interior decorator and writer on decorating. It's clear who is qualified to chose paints in our house!)

Says Alan Murray, head of marketing, FrogTape: “A fresh lick of paint is a great way to instantly transform and refresh your home, without breaking the bank.”

The poll found that, on average, people spend only half an hour preparing before undertaking decorating.

Murray advises: “Be prepared to put in some time if you want good quality results and don’t underestimate the time it takes to prepare the room prior to painting. A good quality finish is all in the preparation.”

"FrogTape is a new masking tape developed to ensure paint is kept out and lines are kept sharp. Using FrogTape makes it easy for even the novice decorator to get the job done properly first-time without the need for touch ups."

The survey also revealed more women would attempt to paint a room than men and that women were also less likely to botch a job than their male counterparts.

Nearly two thirds of men admitted they always have a bash at DIY even though they don't think they'll be very good.

The results also highlighted that two thirds of those polled said that the bleak economic climate had made them more likely to attempt jobs themselves rather than hiring a professional tradesman

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Energy price increases: 10 tips to save £200 a year now and £900 over time

Electricity prices are up by an inflation busting 16% in some cases. All the major utility companies are announcing rises. But, what can be done to help minimise these rises? The energy saving website ConserveEnergy.co.uk has researched 10 effective ways to easily cut the cost of household electric bills.

Divided up into: action to take now, action over the medium term and over the long term, if all advice is followed could result in an annual saving of £900. Just a change in habits to follow the immediate advice could result in a saving of over £200.

Some do require some up-front installation and purchasing costs.

Things that can be done immediately:

1. Turn off electrical appliances when not using them.

Leaving your appliances on stand-by costs the average home £33 a year.

2. Switch off the lights when you leave the room.

If the rating is 60 watts, and the bulb is on for one hour, it will consume 0.06 kWh. If electricity prices are 12p per kWh. The value of the energy savings would then be 12p for every hour turned off.

3. Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.

This could save around £6 a year on energy bills. If everyone in the UK did this every time they used the kettle, it could save enough electricity in a year to power the UK’s street lights for 2 months.

4. Switch energy supplier to a cheaper tariff, and switch to Direct Debit payment and an online account.

Claims of savings of £200 a year from utility switching websites, although some claim £450 saving.

Total savings of £249 if you do the above. You can save around £249 just by changing your habits today.

Things that can be done medium term:

5. Turn your thermostat down.

By turning it down by just one degree it saves around £55 a year.

6. Replace all your old lightbulbs with energy efficient ones.

Energy-efficient bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a normal bulb and can save £3-6 a year each in energy bills (for a 100W bulb) – saving up to £60 over the lifetime of the bulb in reduced energy bills and replacement costs.

7. Buy more energy efficient appliances.

Replacing an old Fridge freezer with a new A+ or A++ EU energy rated appliances can save around £38 per year.

Total savings of £153.

Things that can be done longer term:

8. Properly insulate your home.

Cavity wall insulation can save £110, internal wall insulation £365, external wall insulation £385. 270mm loft insulation can save £140 a year, floor insulation can save £50.

9. Upgrade your boiler to a A rated condensing boiler.

Upgrading from an old G rated to a new efficient A rated model can save £225 a year.

10. Install double glazing.

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £140 a year.

Total savings of £475, and if you do all of the above you could save £249 + £153 + £475 = £877.

(EDITOR: All figures and calculations were taken from the EnergySavingTrust.org.uk website and their lists of assumptions based on average usage and an average home size)

The above savings and figures do not include the cost of installing or purchasing the new energy saving methods. But armed with these figures you can use them to calculate how much saving you would make if you purchased and installed everything.

ConserveEnergy.co.uk is a website dedicated to helping people save energy and money on their household utility and energy bills.

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Check out the best double glazing in your region

A new website Double Glazing Prices has burst on to the home improvements scene with a quote system that allows customers to find the very best deal in their local area. http://www.doubleglazing-prices.net combines a user friendly design with an intricate quote compare system that finds only the prices most relevant to the customer in question.

The Double Glazing Prices gives customers a wide range of products from standard double glazing, double glazing doors and cheap double glazing to double glazing doors, sash window double glazing, wooden double glazing and UPVC double glazing. Each header on the website is dedicated to a different area of home improvements and makes finding the best double glazing prices even easier.

The staff at Double Glazing Prices have accrued a myriad of contact and experience during their time in the home improvements industry and as result they have a wealth of knowledge. The FENSA and CERTASS qualifications requested as a minimum Double Glazing Prices as they bid to source the very best tradesmen in the United Kingdom.

The quote form that can be found on the Double Glazing Prices homepage gives customer the chance to get a call back from one of the home improvements experts regarding their enquiry. Once a name and contact number has been entered, one of the specialist team at double glazing prices will get straight in touch to get the ball rolling on the project.

Customers heading over to Double Glazing Prices today can also enjoy a 75% discount on their home improvements.


www.doubleglazing-prices.net

Great choice of wall and floor tiles only a click away at ceramiktiles.com

Ceramiks Ltd, a top Welsh independent importer and distributor of wall and floor tiles, launched a brand new customer-focused, interactive website this week, aimed at tile buyers all over the UK.

The site, www.ceramiktiles.com, is designed to provide customers with an easy to use site and to offer them a great choice of tiles at affordable prices.

With detailed product descriptions, new product pictures and a user friendly search engine to offer excellent functionality and customer experience, the new website helps customers find the right tiles, whatever their requirement, their budget or style.

Head of Group Marketing Angela Coyle says: "At Ceramiks, we have been providing retail and trade customers with an excellent range of competitively priced tiles from our Cardiff and Swansea showrooms for over 30 years. We have always taken customer care very seriously, listening to our customers and taking their views on board.

“Many of our customers now want to be able to choose products on line so launching this website was a natural next step. The big problem with choosing tiles is that it can be confusing with all the different colours and sizes. With the search engine on our website we think we’ve made choosing tiles much more customer friendly.

“Over the last year we have focused on working with leading tile manufacturers around the world to offer customers the best possible choice. The new website enables us to promote both established popular ranges as well as exciting new products such as the latest wood effect tiles. The design gallery also presents a range of interesting design ideas on how to use tiles to create the perfect home.”

Ceramiks Ltd provides tiles for all residential and commercial requirements and is open to both retail and trade customers. Most tiles are available immediately from stock and samples are available on request.

For more information please visit the new website: www.ceramiktiles.com

John Lewis launches the elegant Verona range to its luxury fitted bedroom collection

Renowned for quality, design and value for money, John Lewis is introducing Verona to its comprehensive range of fitted bedroom furniture.

With a simple, but elegant design, John Lewis Verona offers versatile style for your bedroom. Available in Light Oak veener and with a choice of two handles – rustic or contemporary nickel for a more traditional or modern look as well as plain or silver mirrored doors allowing you to create a truly individual bedroom.

John Lewis provides everything you need for an ultimate fitted bedroom, from a free home design visit, to full installation and a 10-year guarantee.

The service starts with a home visit from an experienced John Lewis representative to discuss your choice of style and storage needs. Once you’ve selected your favourite look from the range of samples available and designed a bespoke interior for all your individual needs, you’ll receive a 3D visual and floor plan of how your new room will look.

Once you’ve agreed your final design, a surveyor will visit your home to double-check all the measurements before the furniture is made. A typical bedroom takes between six to eight weeks with prices starting from £3,500. When everything is ready, a qualified installer will aim to fit your new furniture with minimal disruption to your routine, so you’ll be ready to try out your new bedroom in no time.

Once the fitting is complete, John Lewis will continue to care for your purchase with its unrivalled after-sales service, which comes with a full 10-year guarantee. Now that’s something to help you sleep at night.

John Lewis Customer enquiries 08456 049 049 or visit

www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/All+Furniture/Bedroom+Furniture/SubCategory.aspx

Oh, no! What’s In Your Drain Pipes?

The mystery of the missing sock may have finally been solved - drainage engineers in the UK recovered over 5,000 pairs of pants, knickers and socks from the nation’s pipes last year, according to figures released today by home emergency experts HomeServe.

Bizarre objects including garden furniture, fireworks, dog bowls, shuttlecocks and a £10 note have all been discovered in blocked pipes around the UK – and gadgets such as mobile phones and handheld gaming devices regularly find their way down the drain.

The most common causes of blockages, apart from food and waste, were children’s toys, food packaging and underwear, according to a survey of 2,000 of the 65,000 customers whose drainage emergencies were serviced by HomeServe in 2010.

Over one in twenty callouts resulted in the discovery of a dead animal, the u-bend being a perennial favourite for parents looking to avoid uncomfortable questions over the whereabouts of a small family pet. Almost as many man-hours were spent retrieving lost jewellery, including wedding rings that had fallen down a kitchen or bathroom plughole.

Steve Bailey, a HomeServe engineer from Liverpool , said “You’d be surprised at some of the things I have found whilst servicing blocked pipes and drains over the years. I once discovered a quarter of a chicken stuck in the U-bend of a toilet causing it to over flow. The customer had enjoyed a family barbeque the previous day, but was pretty bemused as to how it got there. You find children’s toys all the time – it’s amazing what fun kids can have with toilets.”

Five Simple Drainage Dos and Don’ts

1. Don’t pour leftover fat down the drain. An estimated 500,000 sewer blockages per year in the UK are caused by waste fat solidifying in pipes. Keep food packaging to store leftover fat, before disposing of it with the rest of the rubbish.
2. Do buy a plughole sieve for your kitchen sink. As well as catching stray food pieces, this will prevent smaller items from being accidentally lost down the drain.
3. Don’t flush the family goldfish. Whilst it may seem the most convenient method of disposal, a proper burial ceremony affords you much more satisfactory closure , as well as reducing the risk of a plumbing emergency.
4. Do remove jewellery before doing the washing up.
5. Don’t allow small children to take their toys into the bathroom unsupervised – the logic behind this should be obvious. (EDITOR: My dad had to rescue my favourite model Landrover from the toilet when I was five. And that was the last time I took a toy in with me!)

The Top Ten :

1. Household waste (hair, fat, food, dirt, general build-up) – 71% (46,150 callouts per year)
2. Children’s toys – 9.7% (6,305)
3. Food packaging – 9.7% (6,305)
4. Underwear – 7.7% (5,005)
5. Dead animals – 5.5% (3,575)
6. Animal/Bird nests – 4.4% (2,860)
7. Jewellery – 4.2% (2,730)
8. Cigarette packets – 3.7% (2,405)
9. Bottles – 2.4% (1,560)
10. Mobile phones and other gadgets – 1.1% (715)

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With Saniflo, home improvement can be a dream, not a nightmare!

Don’t let improving your home become a nightmare. The space saving Sanivite is ideal for installing additional kitchen and utility facilities. A waste water pump suitable for dishwashers, washing machines, tumble driers and sinks it is the perfect solution for any home improvement even when situated some distance from the nearest drain.

There's no need for complicated drainage problems or sollutions. This compact pump is capable of pumping hot, soapy waste water away through 32mm pipe work, offering vertical pumping capacity up to 5m and horizontal discharge up to 50m or a lesser combination of both.

Make the addition of a domestic kitchen or utility easy for yourself and your family. The Sanivite is usually concealed in a kitchen unit but can also be concealed behind a demountable panel to give access if required. Saniflo products provide the perfect solution for a tight space.

Improve your home with Saniflo. Minimum fuss….maximum effect!

For further information call 0208 842 0033 or visit www.saniflo.co.uk

Step Back In Time With The New Lighting Range From Laskowscy Design

Trends can be ephemeral. As quickly as they appear and take us by storm, they quietly retreat into the distance to be forgotten, sometimes even by those who were their greatest fans. But as fleeting and transient as they are, trends are also often resurgent, making a reappearance years later, picked up by generations who did not necessarily experience the trend the first time round.

Some of the trends exerting an influence in interiors at the moment, for example, are rooted in history. They look back to bygone eras and simpler times and they seek to reconnect us with the craftsmanship and authenticity of production processes from yesteryear.

The past few years, for example, have seen a resurgence in design trends that are centred around folk culture. Throughout Europe young designers are experimenting with the connection between folk culture and modernity, bringing folk traditions and ethnic patterns back onto the contemporary design scene.

Experts are also currently predicting a resurgence in retro home décor, as social concerns regarding job security and global events continue to dominate. This uncertainty encourages people to look back in time to seek comfort and reassurance from what has come before.

Recognizing these two trends, award-winning Polish artist and designer Remigiusz Laskowski has extended his portfolio of products to include a brand new lighting range inspired by Polish folk traditions and retro themes.

The collection contains four different lamps: Lullaby, Wave, Mirage and Decorative 66. Each lamp is created in steel using the same laser cutting and powder coating techniques that Laskowski uses for the rest of his product lines. The lamps all come in a standard matt white colour but can be ordered in a range of other colours on demand.

The impetus to create a lighting range came from popular demand. “I received many requests and suggestions from customers regarding the introduction of a lighting series,” says Laskowski, explaining that the production techniques he uses in his work lend themselves perfectly to the creation of a lighting collection.

“The technology of crafting in steel with openwork patterns similar to lace creates unlimited possibilities for playing with the light. It is that light, breaking through openwork ornaments, that enhances the immersive experience,” says Laskowski.

In creating the four designs for the lamps, he took his inspiration from a number of sources including Finnish design, Polish folk traditions and the fun-loving 1960s. “The Lullaby lamp is the tribute to Polish folk,” says Laskowski. “The rocking horse is a symbol of a carefree childhood and is inspired by the Polish winter capital of Zakopane, one of many places in Poland that people always want to return to.”

The Decorative 66 lamp is also a tribute to the past, says Laskowski. “Decorative 66 is inspired by the crazy sixties. Although I was born in the seventies I am aware of the great days, full of fun that my parents had during those years.”

The collection is best suited to use in a residential environment and would complement both a contemporary setting and a more romantic interior decoration scheme. The Lullaby lamp also makes a perfect addition to a child’s bedroom.

“Our products are designed for people who like unconventional solutions and who are individuals. There are also quite a few products in our range for people with a romantic soul,” says Laskowski.

The unique decorative lighting collection by Laskowscy Design is available exclusively from Muslavi Gallery, the brand’s sole UK distributor. Prices for the lamps range from £97-£107 and can be purchased via the online store, which showcases the entire range of lighting, furniture and interior applications.

To find out more visit the new Laskowscy Design website at www.laskowscydesign.co.uk or contact Muslavi Gallery directly.