I discovered a great source of information on the maintenance and restoration of old buildings on the new Maintenance Matters website. The site has been produced by Cadw, the ‘official guardian of the built heritage of Wales’. Short publications on such subjects as lime-washing, repointing and replacing sash cords are freely available and well worth a read if you’re looking for heritage building advice.

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One thing I realised from my recent post on the downstairs travertine floor was that I haven’t recommended Stoneworks who are the company I bought the travertine flooring from and I’ve subsequently ordered mosiac tiles from for the splashbacks. I’ve always received great service from them and wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.

It’s also worth contacting them for any advice you may need related to tiling with natural stone wall or floor tiles.

StoneWorks Ltd

In their own words: "Stoneworks supplies high quality natural stone wall and floor products at competitive prices."

Thanks StoneWorks!

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For anyone with an interest in building, conversion or renovation, or in just getting your hands dirty, Michael Pollans ‘A Place of My Own’ is a great opportunity for some self reflection through Pollans written account of his own experiences in constructing ‘a room of  [his] own making‘.

The book is an insightful, introspective diary of experiences in building a writing hut (a shed with a desk in it) in the woods behind the New England home of the author.

Pollans style is chatty and assured. His journey from hopeless sub-DIYer to trainee craftsman gives hope to us all, even those of us with two left thumbs.

This is a book for the interested, if this sounds like a journey you yourself would like to take then it’s thoroughly recommended, otherwise you may find it deadly dull.

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Somewhat in anticipation of being able to take up residence we’ve bought a great new bed for the barn. King sized, so an extra six inches for the baby to spread out in during the middle of the night whilst his mother and I teeter at opposite edges of the bed.
Ours is a Snowdon organic [...]

A couple more useful sites that I’ve used recently and can recommend.
Scavengers A nice idea - ‘Scavengers offers a unique bespoke service to source and reclaim that period piece of furniture you’ve been looking for. Baths, beds,sinks, taps, fireplaces, mirrors, chandeliers, radiators, garden furniture, doors and much, much more.’
So if you want something antique [...]