The really useful column

Alison Cork5 April 2012
The Weekender

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So you want to know where you can buy the best garden benches, the sexiest kitchen appliances and a beautiful piece of artwork from as little as £50? You've come to the right place.

Alison Cork

I have had several e-mails from readers asking where they can find teak garden furniture. The answer is the Royal Arrow company.

Its collection includes about 400 models, ranging from classic Lutyens outdoor benches, Cushion benches with underseat storage (£645) and Lloyd Loom chairs, to clean-lined indoor dining chairs. Designed and made at its factory in Indonesia, prices start at a reasonable £70 for a folding chair, with a two-seater bench costing around £350.

Royal Arrow has a showroom at 12 Stratford Road, W8, but also offers a mail-order service. All furniture comes with a 15-year guarantee. Call 020 7938 2000 or visit www.royal-arrow.com.

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

Axis, the national contemporary arts information service, has compiled a database of more than 4,000 artists who have produced original pieces from as little as £50. Artwork includes furniture, pottery and glassware and can be viewed by logging on to www.axisartists.org.uk.

However, if you haven't got access to the internet, you can call 0870 443 0701 for help and advice in searching for the right artist or craftsman. Supported by The Arts Council, this is a great way to encourage talent and bring some originality into your home.

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS

Country House Books is a company that supplies private houses with beautiful libraries of leather-bound books, selected both for their appearance and content.

Most are sourced from the UK and come from country house owners looking to liquidate some of their assets, so the provenance is also interesting.

Country House Books can search out particular sets or authors pertinent to a client's interests. So whether you are a fishing fanatic, a historian or someone with no interests at all apart from making money, these people can create your dream book collection. Call Anthony Bailey on 01379 668325 or visit www.countryhousebooks.com.

GOOD-LOOKING COOKING

I admit I'm a sucker for sexylooking kitchen equipment, but hate to feel I am paying too much extra for the pleasure. However, I've just come across a new range of kitchen appliances from Indesit, very aptly called The Sleek Silver Set.

Comprising a washing machine, dishwasher, fridge freezer and range cooker these are seriously good-looking pieces of kitchenware. Prices from £799.97 down to £279.99, which looks like a good deal. The Sleek Silver Set is available from branches of Powerhouse. For details of stockists, ring 0870 010 4309 or visit www.powerhouse.co.uk.

REALLY USEFUL 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 £2). It even offers a competitively priced emergency call-out service for plumbing problems, storm damage, lock-outs, break-ins and vandalism. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please note: some mobile and office lines operate a premium-rate callbarring system.

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

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