The benefits of oak are numerous – in a world with so much chipboard, veneer, mdf etc, the character of genuine hardwood really stands out. Each item of oak furniture is unique in that the grain of the wood has its own story to tell.

Oak’s also particularly suited to furniture making because of the strength the timber has as well as its character. Solid oak is a material that lasts – and as any antique furniture dealer will tell you – for hundreds of years. From late 15th century gothic cupboards to Victorian era chairs – there’s a whole world of antique oak to explore.

Modern furniture made from oiled or lacquered oak has a comforting warmth to its colour, and is easy to look after, needing just a wipe clean with a damp cloth once every so often.

Below are a list of handy hints to keep your household and furniture free from those dreaded stains.

Stain Ballpoint ink
Removal agent Methylated spirits
How to do it Dab with absorbent white cloth and methlyated spirits

Stain Beetroot juice
Removal agent Borax and biological detergent
How to do it First rinse with cold water. Soak coloureds in a solution of borax for 15 minutes. For white linen, sprinkle borax on the fabric and flush with hot water. Wash with biological detergent.

Stain Bird droppings
Removal agent Borax, biological detergent and chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide
How to do it Scrape off excess droppings and sponge with a solution of borax or soak in biological detergent. If stains still remain, try soaking in dilute chlorine bleach (white cotton) or hydrogen peroxide (coloureds and synthetics, but not nylon).

Stain Blood
Removal agent Salt or biological detergent
How to do it Presoak fresh stains in heavily salted cold water or detergent.

Stain Candle wax
Removal agent Absorbent paper, a warm iron and methlyated spirits
How to do it Scrape away the excess. Place a kitchen towel over the residue and press with a warm iron until the paper absorbs the softened wax. Dab any colour residue with methlyated spirits before washing.

Stain Chewing gum
Removal agent Ice cubes
How to do it Freeze the gum with a bag of ice cubes. Once it becomes hard and brittle, break away the gum with a knife.

Stain Coffee and tea
Removal agent Detergent, vinegar and borax
How to do it Flush with cold water and spot clean with a solution of washing detergent but not soap. If staining remains, soak in a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water or a solution of borax.

Stain Colour run in washing machine
Removal agent Washing soda and colour dye remover
How to do it If you dye an entire washload, soak in cold water with washing soda to avoid setting the colour. As soon as possible, machine wash again with a colour run dye reversal product.

Stain Contact adhesive and glue
Removal agent Acetate (nail polish remover)
How to do it Dab with acetate.

Stain Cooking fat
Removal agent Bicarbonate of soda and biological detergent
How to do it Add a few drops of water to bicarbonate to make a paste and spread over the stain. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash in biological detergent.

Stain Crayon
Removal agent Methlyated spirits
How to do it Scrape away excess before dabbing with methlyated spirits.

Stain Curry
Removal agent Biological detergent and hydrogen peroxide
How to do it Some curry stains contain strong natural dyes that are almost impossible to shift. Dab with a strong solution of detergent before laundering. Soak stubborn stains in a solution of hydrogen peroxide bleach.

Stain Dried fruit
Removal agent Lemon juice
How to do it Place the garment stain side down on absorbent kitchen towel and dampen with lemon juice. Dab with hot water and wash.
Stain Fresh fruit
Removal agent Borax or salt
How to do it Soak in a solution of borax for 15 minutes to neutralize the acid and then wash. Alternatively cover the stain with salt and then wash.
Stain Grass stain
Removal agent Biological detergent or methylated spirits
How to do it Grass is a combination of protein and dye. Detergent should remove most stains. Dab any remaining dye with methlyated spirits.
Stain Ink on coloured fabric
Removal agent Milk
How to do it Soak immediately in slightly warm milk then wash.
Stain Ink and felt tip pen
Removal agent Methlyated spirits
How to do it Dab with an absorbent pad dipped in methlyated spirits.
Stain Lipstick
Removal agent Soap or methlyated spirits
How to do it Rub fabric against fabric with soap or a little washing-up liquid and then wash. Dab with methlyated spirits if the fabric isn’t washable.

Stain Mildew – dried
Removal agent Salt or lemon juice
How to do it Rub with damp salt or a lemon and leave in the sun for at least 12 hours.
Stain Mildew on shower curtains
Removal agent Chlorine bleach
How to do it Sponge or soak in dilute bleach and machine wash with detergent.
Stain Mildew on white cotton and linen
Removal agent Household chlorine bleach
How to do it Mildew is almost impossible to remove and is caused by damp. Soak in diluted bleach then thoroughly rinse and wash.
Stain Mildew on white synthetics
Removal agent Hydrogen peroxide
How to do it Soak in one part hydrogen peroxide to nine parts water. Rinse and wash.
Stain Paint- emulsion and water based
Removal agent Water
How to do it Sponge immediately with plenty of warm water. Dried paint can be scraped or picked off, but is difficult to wash off.
Stain Paint – solvent based
Removal agent White spirit
How to do it Dab with white spirit.
Stain Perspiration
Removal agent Clear vinegar or lemon juice
How to do it Soak or sponge with vinegar, but use lemon juice on wool. Rinse and wash.
Stain Plasticine
Removal agent White spirit
How to do it Scrape off as much mud as possible and dab dye stains with white spirit.
Stain Pollen
Removal agent Sticky tape
How to do it Lift away the pollen with sticky tape or a vacuum cleaner, but don’t rub or you’ll fix the dye.

Stain Red wine
Removal agent Carbonated or soda water
How to do it Dab or flush with carbonated or soda water and wash.

Stain Rust
Removal agent Lemon juice
How to do it Flush with lemon juice, leave for 15 minutes and launder.

Stain: Scorch marks
Removal agent: None
How to do it: Scorch marks are permanent damage, but their appearance can be disguised by carefully shaving away the damaged fibres.

Stain: Shoe polish
Removal agent: White spirit
How to do it: Dab with white spirit and wash

Stain: Urine
Removal agent: Detergent, vinegar or shaving foam
How to do it: Soak in detergent and wash. For non-washable fabric, dab with mild vinegar solution. On mattresses, sponge with a dab of shaving foam.

Head to your local hardware store or supermarket for all the removal agents mentioned.

We all spend a large proportion of our lives sleeping, so it’s not difficult to see that it’s very important to ensure that your bedroom looks beautiful and feels comfortable.

Furniture generally takes up a large proportion of any room, with the bedroom being no exception, and the pieces which you choose can have a huge impact not only on the look of a room but also on its ambience.

You are spoilt for choice nowadays when it comes to bedroom furniture, as there are lots of different styles and colours for you to choose from.

Pine furniture is a great choice for those looking for pieces which are guaranteed to look stylish for years, and if you’re looking for something other than traditional pine furniture, why not take a look at the many painted styles which are available?

White painted pine bedroom furniture looks great in contemporarily styled bedrooms, and these pieces are just as durable as standard pine styles.

Whatever the style and colour of the rest of the decor in your bedroom, white painted pine bedroom furniture will look absolutely amazing, and you won’t find yourself looking for replacement pieces for a very long time.

A living room is often the largest room in the house, no matter whether you live in a mansion or in a very small apartment. Regardless of the size, living rooms are where everyone comes together, therefore, they should be furnished accordingly.
Living room furniture can either be formal and elegant or casual and inviting. Often, the style of furniture will set the tone for the room.

Significance

1. Living room furniture is important to your home because it provides a place for you to sit and relax while reading, watching television or entertaining guests. Living room furnishings should provide seating as well as a small table or two to give you a place to set drinks, books and other items.

Function

1. Living room furniture is used for sitting comfortably with a group of people, whether it be your household members or visitors. Your living room is a place to gather as opposed to intimate seating arrangements that may be found in the bedroom or kitchen.
   Typically, the household television is in the living room and it is often used as the room’s focal point.

Features

1. Living room furniture features a choice of sofas, two-person love seats, or single-chair seating. Recliners are typically used in living rooms, as well.
   End tables and coffee tables provide places to set things such as photo frames, lamps and other decor.
   Televisions are also part of the living room furniture. They can be positioned on a shelf or cabinet, stored in an entertainment centre or armoire, or nowadays, placed on the wall.

Types

1. Formal living room furniture is generally made of dark wood, straight back upholstered chairs and sofas made with sophisicated fabric. Formal living rooms are generally furnished for special occasions and guests and tend to be more of a showcase of fine furniture.
   Casual living room furniture is inviting and comfortable. Casual living furniture is family friendly, embellished with soft pillows, overstuffed chairs and recliners.

Considerations

1. No matter whether you have matching furniture or a mixed collection of second-hand pieces, consider arranging your living room furniture around a focal point, such as a television, fireplace or a window.

Interior designer Scott Waldron is leading the 60 Minute Makeover team in Walton-Le-Dale in Lancashire at Margaret’s house.

Margaret does lots of work for local charities and spends time at a local hospice visiting patients and cheering them up. Her son Paul and her son-in-law Stephen think her home needs cheering up too. Margaret was widowed eleven years ago and since then she has not had the cash or the energy to redecorate. The house is really getting her down.  Paul and Stephen have asked us to create a beautiful home that Margaret can enjoy but it will come as a complete surprise to her – and it won’t cost her a penny. The team will give her living room, dining room and bedroom a total revamp – and all in just one hour before she gets back.

Cawdor Country Cottage Furniture Collection embodies a classic style and elegance within a quality modern furniture construction.

The smooth ivory satin finish on quality timber, accentuated with natural oak tops, gives this Cawdor Country Cottage Furniture Collection an understated, calming beauty,

Crafted with timber sourced from renewable forests, this Cottage Furniture collection aims to create a peaceful sanctuary within your own home.

The Beauly Modern Oak Furniture Collection embraces the Zen approach of minimalist and modern furnishing.

Simple clean lines and angular frames inspire uncluttered tranquillity, and large T-joints impart a sense of ruggedness, while showcasing the Beauly Modern Oak Furniture Collection’s superior construction.

Crafted with quality oak sourced from renewable forests, the Beauly Modern Oak Furniture Collection will transform your home into a haven of warmth and serenity.

To find out more call in to our Inverness store or follow this link to contact us.

Mattress Life Span

Your mattress won’t last forever. A combination of factors works together to determine how long your mattress will provide optimum comfort and support.

It’s All About You

• Lifestyle. Changes in lifestyle, such as moving into a new home or getting married, may call for a change in your mattress.

• Your Body. As we age, our bodies change. What was comfortable and supportive when you were 25 may not meet your needs when you’re 35 or 45. Likewise, the amount of space that’s right for a six-year-old may not be enough for a 16-year-old. Make sure that every mattress in your home meets the sleeper’s current needs for comfort, support, and space.

It’s Also About Your Mattress

• Age. Don’t look to the age of your mattress or the warranty to determine whether it’s time for a new mattress. Neither are indicators of how long your mattress will maintain optimum comfort and support.

• Quality. A poor-quality mattress set can deteriorate quickly, while top-quality sets can provide comfort and support for a number of years.

• Use. A mattress set that is used nightly or that gets more of a workout (e.g., you watch television or read in bed) will lose its comfort and support more quickly than a set that is used less often, such as a guest room bed.

Types of Mattress

The most familiar of these are spring interior mattresses. Springs in heavier gauge wire give a firmer mattress; lighter gauge will give a softer mattress. The quality of the mattress is often determined by the number of its springs. Open coil and continuous spring versions are the least expensive and a budget mattress, unless made of foam, will be open coil.

Open coil mattresses contain rows of individual coiled springs joined with a helical wire. Continuous springs are made from one piece of wire and give a bit more independent support. For good, mid-priced continuous spring mattresses, try Pinemaster by Kozee Sleep.

Pocket springs are small individual springs sewn into calico sleeves. The pockets, rather than the springs, are joined, making the mattress more responsive to the sleeper. Also, when the bed is shared, the movement of one partner is less likely to disturb the other. The number of pocket springs in a mattress is one indicator of quality: a standard double mattress may have 600 to 800 springs or 3,000 or more.

Interior spring mattresses, whether open coil, pocket or continuous, are assembled similarly to a sandwich with the supporting springs between layers of cushioning on each side. The cushioning provides a barrier between the springs and the occupant. Fillings can range from inexpensive polyester to combinations of cotton, wool, horsehair, silk, mohair and cashmere, as well as better quality foams, including latex or visco-elastic foam.

Deeper mattresses will have more fillings, offer greater comfort and be more expensive. Hand-stitched sides, found mainly on handmade beds, extend the sleeping area to the edge. Not all mattresses need to be turned over, but all should be rotated regularly so that the head end becomes the foot end.

Polyurethane foam mattresses range from the inexpensive, through to high-specification options, such as Memtec Combi-air foam as used by Concept is just one company that makes mattresses in LayTech which improves on natural latex.

Latex has a long-standing reputation as an excellent material for mattresses because it is resilient and recovers its shape quickly. Concept have improved on natural latex mattresses with LayTech which is an advanced polyurethane foam developed by Kay-Metzeler which offers an unbeatable combination of exceptional comfort and support along with a luxurious feel and re-bound characteristics comparable to latex.

Visco-elastic foam, also known as memory foam, is currently enjoying popularity. This synthetic material quickly conforms to the sleeper’s shape so that hips and shoulders sink in, but support is maintained under the spine, keeping it correctly aligned. Dispersing the body weight away from the pressure points is its particular benefit. One of the side effects of visco-elastic foam is that it holds body heat, making the bed very warm. Sleepers usually find they need a lower tog duvet or less bedding, but body temperature can be regulated by choosing a mattress from a company such as concept, that has a cover which employs Coolmax technology. The Concept Memtec Combi-air collection is engineered to allow a cooler and dryer sleep experience with excellent moisture management properties. This is achieved with a 3D air flow corrugation profiling to the top surface layer of memory foam.

Memory foam is expensive to produce and the price of a mattress will reflect the thickness and density of the foam – it should range from 40 to 70mm in thickness – and its combination with either another type of foam or a sprung unit; if the mattress was made entirely from memory foam, the sleeper would keep sinking.

Remember, always visit a reputable bed shop and, when testing the mattresses, remember that comfort is all-important. Lie in your favored sleeping position for long enough to make a considered judgment. Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council cautions wisely, “Never go shopping for a bed when you’re tired, as any mattress is likely to make a favorable impression.”

Sleep is essential for well-being – and a comfortable bed is vital for a good night’s sleep.

However, we don’t always realise when our bed needs replacing. Specialists advise that a good-quality mattress should last for 8 to 10 years, but there are a few obvious signs of wear and tear such as protruding springs and, for couples, the tendency for the mattress to sag in the middle.

If you find you sleep better in a bed other than your own, it might be time to buy a new one.

Before you buy a new bed

One major consideration is size – of both your bedroom and yourself. To judge a bed’s optimum width, both partners should be able to lie side by side, with their hands behind their heads and elbows sticking out without touching. A bed should also be at least 10cm longer than the taller partner.

When shopping for a bed, couples should try a range of mattresses, with divans and bedsteads, to find the combination that best suits them.

“Some research has shown that people who have back pain actually have a worse night’s sleep on mattresses that are marketed as ‘orthopaedic’,” says sleep specialist Dr Neil Stanley. “But irrespective of back problems, a heavy person will always need a firmer bed.”

Always visit a reputable bed shop and, when testing the mattresses, remember that comfort is all-important. Lie in your favoured sleeping position for long enough to make a considered judgement. Jessica Alexander of the sleep council cautions wisely, “Never go shopping for a bed when you’re tired, as any mattress is likely to make a favourable impression.”

The bed base

What the mattress rests on will affect your bed’s comfort, so it is best to choose a mattress and base that are designed to go together. Both components should be of equal quality, too, or comfort will be compromised.

A divan base is a box frame on castors or legs. More responsive than a solid top is a firm-edge divan with heavy springs set inside a wooden framework. For the best level of support, look at sprung-edge divans, which have one or more complete spring units on top of the wooden frame. A divan with a deep base can also include storage drawers, while ottoman-style divans open on hydraulic springs to reveal a storage compartment inside.

The other main base option is a bedstead, which supports the mattress on flat slats or on more responsive sprung slats. Solid bases or slats are a good choice for memory foam or mixed foam/spring mattresses. If a bedstead comes with the option of an upholstered base unit, this will be far preferable under a pocket-sprung mattress and will offer similar comfort and support to a sprung-edge divan.

Watch this space for advice on mattresses.

Transform your dining room this weekend in just 5 steps

From Ideal Home Magazine

1) Reinvent the space
First, clear out accumulated junk and clutter, ready for dinner-party action. Make your dining table into the focal point of the room – a quick way to do this is to place it in the centre of the room on a rug that contrasts with the flooring.

2) Use colour tricks
Create an effect or highlight a feature using colour. In this kitchen-diner , we created a visual link between the two zones by using the same mint shade on the kitchen walls and for the dining-area curtains. Your room might have a chiminy brest or alcoves crying out to be picked out with a bright colour or print. Not that brave? Then frame an area with an eye-popping rug or pair of curtains.

3) Set the right mood
Good lighting  is crucial. Add diffused mood lighting with table lamps or even big lanterns or a candelabra. If you have an overhead light, it should be dimmable; if not, use a shade that softens the glare. Sit in each seat to check that nobody will have strong light in their eyes.

4) Create a display
Every dining room needs a talking point your guests can look at while you’re busy in the kitchen. Display a collection in alcoves, invest in an unusual picture or print, or try the idea used here with a row of black and white photos in matching frames on a narrow ledge.

5) Theme accessories
Give your dining room personality – and express your own – with accessories that complement each other. Try choosing Moroccan-inspired details: ornate lanterns, heavy metal candlesticks, trinket boxes and cushions with metal-disc trim.

Stylist’s top tip
Hang a pendant low over the dining table to put it – literally – in the spotlight