Vidal Sassoon Athletica Collection

This Spring/Summer, all eyes will be on London, host city of the 2012 Olympic Games and the home city of luxury haircare brand Vidal Sassoon.

Sassoon’s long association with the Olympic Games began in 1976 when Vidal Sassoon created a sculptural and fluid haircut for American figure skater Dorothy Hamill; illustrating the Sassoon’s cutting techniques that liberated women from high maintenance hairstyles. For the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, Sassoon became the ‘official hair care consultant to the athletes’, creating a collection of cuts designed to complement each sport.

The history of women’s hairstyles and sport is inextricably linked to the history of women’s freedom – a belief that is central to the Sassoon philosophy. With the advent of women in sport in the 1920s, women’s clothing and hairstyles evolved in response to these new physical and psychological freedoms.

Today, the Sassoon International Creative Team introduces a new chapter to the story with Athletica: a collection of effortless sophisticated hair looks that are as fashionable as they are functional.

The iconic symbols of the Olympics – the five interlocking rings of the flag and the bronze, silver and gold medals – inspired Sassoon Professional’s SS12 Athletica collection, a series of effortless, sophisticated looks; expertly tailored by Sassoon stylists to suit every individual.

Kindred philosophies are at the heart of the alliance between the Olympic Games and Sassoon: both are guided by performance at the highest level, intense training to reach a pinnacle of excellence and a practical and individual approach.

Sassoon Professional Chromatology colour service, a concise and essential range which offers unlimited intermixing opportunities for perfectly personalized results, delivers brilliant high definition colours, inspired by the resonant metallics of winners’ medals. Applied in concentric circles, nodding to the curvature of the iconic Olympic rings, these vibrant shades enhances the shape of each client’s cut. To lock colour in place and protect the hair, Sassoon Colour care range with IntelliPROTEC technology leaves hair vibrant, weightless and full of natural movement.

“This season we’ve concentrated on a pale rose through to a deep red gold. Silver moves from tones of soft grey through to violet and there are a few hints of hot flame orange.”

Edward Darley, UK Colour Director

The result is effortless, elegant and easy to maintain. With Sassoon Professional products specifically designed to support beautifully coloured and cut hair, the perfect finish is effortlessly achievable. This season, Sassoon Professional recommends Heat Shape, Halo Hydrate and Diamond Polish to create pliable, playful texture for the straighter hair styles. For the textured curls, a combination of Curl Form and  Definitive Groom will moisturise, and give a perfect texture and definition to each curl.

“We wanted to give a real athletic feel to the hair. The movement in the cuts is designed to give a sporty look – almost as if the hair has become beautifully dishevelled after someone has completed their sporting activity.”

Mark Hayes, International Creative Director

With SS12 Athletica, Sassoon Professional introduces the flawless technique, high performance products and masterful attention to detail that will highlight your best assets, and bring your natural beautify to life.

Sassoon Professional Chromatology and the SS12 Athletica Collection are available exclusively in Sassoon Professional Salons and Partner Salons of the Sassoon Professional Programme.

A full list is available on the Salon Finder at www.sassoon.com

Cllr Sheppard (79), a district council member for Lowdham, was eight months into his one-year term of office as council chairman. He died peacefully at home. He had been battling pancreatic cancer for some time, but he had returned to carry out his duties in the autumn, despite the illness delaying his start to his civic duties.

Cllr Sheppard served as the vice-chairman of the council for 2010/11. He was elected by his fellow councillors at the council’s annual meeting on Tuesday, May 17. He was originally from Edwinstowe and, after completing his education, he joined the Royal Air Force, serving for two years as a fitter on airframes.

On leaving the RAF he joined Davy United in Sheffield, working for 18 years as a draughtsman for the company which manufactured rolling mills for the steel industry.

In 1971 he opted for a change of career and bought Knight’s Roses, a rose-growing company in Lowdham, which he ran for 36 years until his retirement in 1997.

Cricket was his big passion in life, and he played regularly until he was 68 for Edwinstowe, Lowdham, where he is a life member, and latterly, Thurgarton Cricket Club, where he volunteered as the club’s head groundsman. He also served on the committee of the South Notts Village League for 27 years.

He had been a member of Newark and Sherwood District Council for 21 years, serving on the council’s planning committee until his election as Chairman of the Council. He also served as chairman of the planning committee for six years.

He was a parish councillor in Lowdham for 28 years, serving as chairman for 24 of those years. Cllr Sheppard leaves his wife of 53 years, Sheila.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Tony Roberts, said: “It was with great sadness that I learned of Keith’s passing. Although he had been ill for much of his year in office, he was so stoical and positive. I thought he would win this fight.

“Keith was a dedicated and hard-working councillor. He delighted in his role as chairman of the Planning committee, in spite of the controversy that often accompanied some decisions. As with his illness he took it all in his stride, rarely losing his temper, but occasionally showing his irritation with some very blunt speaking.

“I will remember Keith for his unswerving loyalty, his dedication as a councillor, his dry sense of humour but above all his warmth as a human being. He deserved his accolade as Chairman of the Council. It is such a huge pity that he was taken from us during his year of office. At this sad time our thoughts, prayers and thanks for her support this year, are with his wife, Sheila.”

The council’s Vice-Chairman, Cllr Marika Tribe, will assume the role of Chairman for the remainder of the civic term. Councillors will decide if/when to elect a new vice-chairman.

Here are a few tips for travelling on the continent

From the fragrant lavender fields of Provence to the Gothic spires of Prague’s skyline, Europe is a treasure trove of sensory experiences. A lifetime of travel on the continent would let you see it all, but for those with more limited time, carefully planned Europe tours can do more than just take you to the major sights – it can immerse you in the culture and lifestyle that have made Europe the ultimate destination for generations of travellers.

Rather than rushing through an over-packed itinerary, today’s travellers are seeking a real connection with the little aspects of everyday life in Europe. Luckily for those discerning jet setters, tour operators are savvy to those desires.

One of the most exciting developments in guided tours of Europe is the proliferation of different kinds of tours. Whether you’re travelling as a family, looking for a bit of extra adventure or want to sit back and cruise the waterways of the continent, there’s something to suit your needs.

Family Travel

Europe tours can be a great way for parents – and grandparents – to spur a lifelong interest in travel in the youngest generations. Whether you’re going as a multi-generational group or just taking the kids on their first big excursion, having the trip organised by experts cuts back on stress and planning in a major way. All-inclusive tours have itineraries that are suited for travellers of all ages and take in a wide variety of European destinations, from Bavaria and the Alps to the castles of France and even here in the UK.

Adventurous Travel

Travellers yearning to see the world in new and different ways shouldn’t ignore guided tours, thinking that they’re only for low-energy tourists. In fact, Europe small group tours make it far easier to delve into the countries you’re visiting in an immersive way. Small group tours give travellers hands-on “sight-doing” experiences, creating opportunities to interact with the places you travel to and become immersed in the fabric and rhythm of daily life. Cook, create, share the interests of local experts – and enjoy active pursuits too, like walking and bicycling – you’ll energise the mind, body and spirit.

By land or by water

A Europe tour is often the best way to see a variety of countries and to get the most out of your money. But there are a couple of ways to take in the sights.

While both land tours and cruising take you to the most sought-after destinations, each offers a unique vantage point for taking in the scenery of the countries you travel through. In both cases, your accommodation and transportation are covered, so it’s up to you; which view do you want to have?

The incredible variety of Europe – cultural, historical and natural – gives it almost unending allure in the eyes of travellers. With the right tour, you’ll be able to experience Europe in fine detail, giving you an impression of the nuances that make life in the Old World so rich and unique.

An extract of the book by Martin Bodenham, a Leicestershire resident. Martin is also CEO of the private equity firm Advantage Capital .

————-

Kent told tara to hold all his calls when she arrived for the day and then closed his office door. He wanted some peace to concentrate on the letter without interruptions. It took him most of the morning and several drafts.

It’s got to be right, he thought. This letter may be CBC’s death warrant.

He wasn’t hungry at lunchtime so he took a walk around the Science Park to get some air, and to chew over the letter in his mind. When he returned to his office, he read his draft one more time and decided it was ready.

Once I let this go, there’s no going back.

He called Tara into his office. “I need you to type up a letter for me, but you need to keep the subject matter in strict confidence. You can’t mention it to anyone.”

“What’s it about?” she asked.

“Listen, I don’t want to talk about it right now.” He handed Tara the letter. While she had no idea about the significance of the document she’d just received, Kent had no illusions as to the massive step he’d just taken.

“Okay. Do you want me to drop what I’m doing now to work on this?”

“Please. Do it straightaway. It’ll be obvious why when you read it.” Tara returned to her desk and began to read.

“Dear Sir/Madam

I am the CEO of Cambridge Buy-Out Capital (CBC). CBC is a private equity fund manager. The firm is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

More than 90% of the funds managed by this firm have come from one investor. This investor is a multifamily office called Tritona, based in Geneva. When CBC accepted Tritona as an investor a few months ago, we were informed that there were three families whose wealth is managed by Tritona. These families are the Needmeiers, Deutchmans, and the Kvarnbacks, all of whom are well known amongst the business community in Europe.

As part of our due diligence and compliance procedures, we examined a number of documents to confirm the identity of Tritona and the families behind them. It is in this connection that I wish to file a suspicious activity report.

It has come to our attention that Swedish passports changed in format three years ago, moving to the new EU format. However, one of the passports we have received to confirm the identity of Andreas Kvarnback, a Swedish national, is in the old format and yet it is only two years old. Furthermore, the spelling of his name on the attached photo page of Mr. Kvarnback’s passport is incorrect.

I confirm that I have not raised the matter with either Tritona or Andreas Kvarnback so as to avoid ‘tipping off.’

Please contact me should you require any further information.

Yours faithfully,

John Kent

Chief Executive Officer”

Kent held up his palms when Tara came back into the office. “I know. It’s a bloody nightmare,” he said before she could say anything.

“What does this mean for the firm?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” he lied. It wasn’t right for him to discuss with Tara what it meant for CBC before he’d sat down with his partners first.

“When do you want the letter to be dated?”

“Put tomorrow’s date on it. I want to mull over the wording once more before it goes out. I’d like you to set up a partners’ meeting for tomorrow afternoon, so I can brief everyone on this too.”

“I’ll set it up.”

“Don’t mention the letter. Just tell them an important matter has come up, but don’t tell them what it is.”

I need to work out how I’m going to break this to them, he thought.

That night, Kent again struggled to sleep. He kept searching for possible explanations for the suspect passport. The best theory he could come up with was that Andreas Kvarnback had supplied Tritona with a false passport to hide some form of personal embarrassment. The worst was that Tritona had knowingly supplied CBC with the forgery in order to mask the real identity of their investors. He suspected the worst.

What if none of the named investors behind Tritona is real? The money’s real enough; it’s coming from somewhere.

By the time he fell asleep it was four a.m. He slept through his alarm and only woke at seven thirty when Sarah’s alarm went off. He had breakfast with her, but didn’t mention anything about the previous day’s events. She’ll be horrified, he thought. I’ll tell her when I get to the bottom of it all.

Kent arrived at CBC midmorning. “You look tired. Can I bring you a coffee?” asked Tara as he walked by her, heading straight for his office.

“Make it a strong one,” he said. “Did you arrange the meeting with the partners for me?” he asked, trying to force a smile.

“I did. I’ve set it up for four p.m. It’s in your diary.”

“Thanks. Can you print off copies of my draft letter ready for me to hand out at the meeting?”

“Sure. Did you have any further changes to make to it first?”

“No. I think it’s pretty much there, subject to any comments from the partners.”

He sat staring at the screensaver on his PC. What’s the point of doing any work if the business is about to go off a cliff?

Tara brought in his coffee. “This came for you by courier first thing this morning,” she said, handing him a large brown envelope marked Private and Confidential.

Kent sipped the coffee. “Thanks,” he said as Tara walked back to her desk. He ripped open the envelope. Inside he found a DVD case and a typed note. It read:

“You may wish to reconsider sending your letter after watching this.”

What the hell’s this? He stared at the DVD on his desk and then reread the note. There was no signature, and the envelope gave no clues as to the identity of the sender. It took a few moments before his brain engaged. He stood up, shut his office door, and then inserted the DVD into the drive of his PC. His hands were shaking.

The machine whirred as it launched the disc. The PC screen went black, and Kent could see the reflection of his face, wide-eyed and frightened. A moment later, the screen lit up.

“Oh my God!” he said out loud.

____________________________________

The Geneva Connection is about John Kent. The phenomenal success of his private equity firm has propelled him into the world’s wealthy super-league. Then he discovers his financial backers are a front for the world’s largest organised crime group, the Mexican Caruana drug cartel. It is run by Felix Safuentes, also known as “Jivaro” after the South American tribe famous for decapitating its enemies. Kent’s nightmare hasn’t even started…

It is often tempting to write a restaurant off before you’ve even set foot in it. We’ve all done it – and it’s sometimes the best way of choosing a good restaurant if you don’t have any other way of narrowing your choices. Choose one that looks busy, one that is nicely decorated or one that has the best looking waiting staff. Never mind about the food they cook.

But sometimes (in fact, a lot of the time) it can be entirely wrong. For someone who doesn’t much like eating humble pie – like me – especially so. For when I first heard about an Indian restaurant on the side of a roundabout in North Muskham I must admit I wasn’t over impressed. Consequently, I hadn’t been in there for years – but because of its location I suppose I just never fancied it.

So when I was invited to the Ashiana Indian Restaurant a few weeks ago, I couldn’t resist the chance to try this place. Scores of friends and colleagues had been there before and all came back with delightfully effulgent reviews.

Walking in, one is greeted with a resplendent modernity – nothing like I’ve seen in an Indian restaurant before. Not the usual dull, dreary curry house, but something much more than that. One of the friendly managers sat us at our table. At this point, I thought to myself, it would either be the worst or the best Indian meal I’ve ever had.

For appetiser, we opted for a selection of mixed starters. This, despite the name, was a selection of tandoori kebabs with beef, chicken and – strangely – one prawn.

Despite the lack of a second prawn (which didn’t matter as I don’t like prawns anyway), the kebab meats were absolutely delightful. They were marinated in a blend of spices and herbs and then cooked to absolute perfection. My partner ordered the staple Indian restaurant dish, the chicken Korma. I, however, decided that something a little more adventurous was in order.

So, I – like every man up and down the country, in an attempt to assert his manhood – ordered the hottest thing on the menu, the Mirch Masalla. I was attracted by the fact that there was five different types of chillies in this thing. Being a lover of chillies, it was perfect for me. Or so I thought.

The old saying, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen” – well that was quite apt in this situation. I perhaps over estimated my spice receptors, but the dish was beautiful. It tasted out-of-this-world. Better than anything Indian I’d ever had before.

The korma was also excellent. There are a few signature dishes, of which the Masalla was one, that you really should try. One can tell that time and effort has gone in to making these. For those less intent on trying anything different, the usual Indian dishes are available too.

The staff really knew their stuff, and were happy to answer any questions or recommend different dishes to try. The restaurant wasn’t busy when we went on a Tuesday night, but later in the week and on weekends it’s popular – so it is probably worth booking.

After we’d finished our meal, on the way home I said something that I hadn’t said in years. “That’s the best Indian meal I’ve had for quite some time,” I muttered.

Seems I should have been served up that bit of humble pie for dessert after all.

Cocktails make up a large portion of drinks sales in bars and
restaurants across the world. But why not try making an after dinner cocktail at home – with coffee?

Espresso shots get you through a tough day at work, and now they are becoming a popular way to start off an evening out or finish a meal with a buzz. Like a Red Bull and vodka, an espresso martini combines a shot of alcohol and caffeine. It would be stupid if you drunk them all night if you value your sleep, but they certainly are a great to start off the night on a high note.

An espresso martini, sometimes called an espressotini, comes in various mixes. The only consistent ingredients are espresso and vodka. Despite the association with martinis, this cocktail never uses gin, which is too bitter to mix with already bitter espresso.

Poor versions of the espresso martini use regular filtered coffee and even instant coffee, but the real thing should always use genuine cooled espresso shots. If you’re making one at home, make a double espresso and allow it to cool down before chilling and adding it to your cocktail shaker. Using ice to cool down your espresso will just give you watered down espresso, although you can put an ice cube in the glass when serving.

The vodka in an espresso martini, always one single shot, is almost always of the flavoured variety. The most popular option is using vanilla vodka and adding a coffee liqueur such as Kahlua. To the base of espresso and vodka, some people like to add a splash of Grand Marnier, while other recipes prefer Tia Maria, Amaretto or Crème de Cacao. Even chocolate liqueurs can be added if you prefer the taste of a mochaccino to a regular espresso. Pick your favourite liqueur and if you think it will go with your espresso martini then give it a try. Whatever you choose, make sure you only use a splash because the main purpose of this additional liqueur is to add a just hint of flavour. You don’t want to overpower the primary flavours.

If you like your coffee a little creamier like a cappuccino, you have the option of creating an Italian-style Irish coffee using the same espresso and vodka base. Shake two shots of espresso with one shot of vodka and two teaspoons of caster sugar. Carefully pour over a layer of Amarula Cream.

Whatever recipe you choose, like James Bond’s martini, it should always be shaken, not stirred. Though be sure to leave out the olive. The one thing that almost all espresso martini recipes agree on is the garnish. Three espresso beans will top your drink off properly. The rules for garnishes say that odd amounts are lucky so go with one, three or five beans. Serve simply in a martini glass, which you can rim with a mixture of sugar and cocoa powder.

As the dining out culture in the UK grows, it’s important you know which wine to choose. But how do you tell your Cabernet-Sauvignon from your Beaujolais?

Unless you intimately know your Cabernet-Sauvignon from your Beaujolais, a wine shop and even the wine shelves at the supermarket can seem like a confusing place. So many countries, so many regions, so many grapes and so many prices. It isn’t easy to get the best for your money and taste buds without a little know-how.

The first step to making a good choice when buying wine is to approach the purchase in the same was as another – you need to know what you like and what you don’t like.

Even if the wine shop owner finds you the best Pinot Noir in your budget, you are not going to like it if your preference is for a sweet, fruity white.

If you have trouble knowing what you like – for example, if you only usually order a medium house red or white at a restaurant – try experimenting with a few wine varieties instead of ordering house wine with your meals. Also look out for wine shops that offer tasting sessions. This is a great way to find your likes and dislikes.

By experimenting, you will quickly begin to develop a nose for wine. It would be wise to remember that wine tasting has little to do with the perfect wine, but everything to do with what pleases your palate.

You might discover that you have a taste for Merlot in a restaurant but when you walk into a wine shop you become baffled by the choice. The real difficulty is finding out which ones are good within your budget and which are scraping the barrel, or cask.

Go into your local wine shop and have a look over their Merlot selection. Your budget will narrow down your choice considerably, so decide how much you want to spend and then see what you can get for your money.

As a rule, good aged reds deserve a little extra spend, but you can get away with spending slightly less for a good young white. This is useful to remember if you only have £6 to spend on a bottle.

Check out the blurbs on the wine racks. You can usually discard the winery notes supplied by the winemaker as these are, of course, marketing material written with the sole purpose of getting you to buy their bottle. Your best guideline is the handwritten notes put there by the wine retailer.

These are obviously still designed as a marketing tool, but the wine shop has its reputation to think about, so any recommendations are likely to be honest. If there is a wine shop assistant available, ask their advice.

Explain what kinds of wines you have tried and liked in the past. Tell them one wine that you love and one that you hate and ask them what type Merlot they think you might enjoy.

If you are planning an Italian meal with robust flavours, this should also influence their recommendations for you, so tell them as much as you can. By describing your preferences they should get a good idea of what type of Merlot would be best suited for you and the occasion.

Most importantly, remember that what you enjoy is your personal preference. No wine reviewer or shop owner is going to have your exact taste in wine.

Learn what types of wines you enjoy and keep a note of them. It is also useful to get to know your local wine shop so they can get to know what recommendations will be suited to you.

Styling your home with flooring is a crucial aspect, and one that could prove
costly if you’re not completely satisfied. Using wood flooring looks ultra-stylish, and is practical too.

Despite the many types of floor coverings available today, hardwood is still the most beautiful and the best. You can choose from many styles and colours to complement any interior. What’s more, the natural beauty of the wood brings many benefits.

If you worry that hardwood floors are environmentally unsound, fear not. By choosing a hardwood floor instead of a synthetic floor covering, you are using a renewable source of energy. While the trees were growing, they would have contributed to cleaning up carbon dioxide emissions. Synthetic flooring, on the other hand, will have involved harmful factory emissions.

One of the most attractive qualities of wood, aside from appearance, is the lack of maintenance needed after installation. Modern finishes on hardwood floors mean the days of backbreaking scrubbing on hands and knees are a thing of the past. Only sweeping or vacuuming and light cleaning using specially designed products are needed.

Hardwood floors, as opposed to carpets, are incapable of harbouring or collecting dust and other allergy particles. This means your family will be at less risk of allergies or allergy induced medical conditions. Several health organisations endorse wood floors for allergy-prone people.

Additionally, hardwood floors are an excellent financial option. While good quality flooring is a bit more costly than the cheap alternative, hardwood maintains its value over time. It does not show the wear and tear that synthetic products do. This will increase your home’s value in the long run.

If you don’t have any experience laying wood flooring, it is recommended that you call in the professionals. Hardwood floors expand and contract much more that laminate flooring, so you need to know where and how to account for this. However, with the right tools, including a circular saw, and a lot of research, a handy DIYer will find laying wood flooring surprisingly easy.

Once laid, wood flooring remains beautiful for many years to come if proper care is taken of it. Maintenance is low, but you need to take certain steps to keep it looking good.

The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand and dirt. These three act like sandpaper, grinding, scraping and dulling the shiny surface. Use door mats both inside and out to help prevent the dirt being carried through the house. It is wise to remove outdoor shoes too, but that is erring on the side of caution.

Water allowed to stand on any part of your hardwood floor can cause warping and discoloration. Be sure to wipe up any spills promptly.

For any piece of furniture, apply hardwood floor pads to legs and surfaces in contact with the floor to avoid scratches. If your floor does get a bad scratch in it, you can buy colour-matched scratch filler kits.

Direct sunlight can discolor a hardwood floor. Protect your floor with voile curtains or blinds.

Clean your hardwood floor by using a good broom, a vacuum with a special bare floor attachment or a good dust mop.

Pet claws and nails need to be kept well trimmed, as they can scratch wood surfaces.

Carefully applied colour in your home makes an immediate and lasting visual impact, giving off an array of mood-changing associations. Your colour scheme should complement the space and suit your personal preferences.

Before you choose your colour schemes, always consider the space. Dark rooms can be brightened up with light-coloured walls, accessorised with white voile curtains and plenty of green plants. Tiny rooms look more spacious with pale, cool colours, accessorised with minimal light-coloured furniture. Boxy rooms cry out for a focal point, such as a feature wall contrasted with an attention-grabbing piece of furniture or art.

By understanding the qualities of primary and secondary colours and how they work together, you’ll have a better understanding of how to apply them in your home. Primary colours are red, yellow and blue. Secondary colours are orange, green and violet.

Deep, warm colours including red-violet, red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange and yellow give a room an intimate, cosy feel. Light, cool colours such as green, blue-green, blue and blue-violet make a room seem more spacious and elegant. Pale neutral colours also have this effect.

Red: bright and bold, red suggests vitality and aggressiveness. It is a great accent colour, making cold, open rooms seem more inviting and intimate. Deep, subtle shades of red such as burgundy and maroon are perfect for living rooms. Its complementary colour is green.

Green: the colour of nature, green is refreshing and pleasing to the eye. It makes dim rooms seem more vibrant by bringing a garden-like atmosphere indoors. With its varying shades, green works in just about any room.  Its complementary colour is red.

Yellow: stimulating, sunny and cheerful, yellow is associated with intellect, power and creative energy. Bright yellows bring warmth and light into dark rooms, and pale yellows make small rooms seem larger. It is also a great kitchen colour. Its complementary colour is violet.

Violet: strong and majestic, violet is a powerful accent colour. Pastel violets take on the mood characteristics of red or blue depending on which is more prominent in the shade. Lilac for example, takes on blue’s characteristics, while lavender takes on red’s qualities. Its complimentary colour is yellow.

Blue: most blue shades denote harmony, peace, steadfastness and loyalty. While it’s appropriate for any room, blue is an excellent bedroom colour because it makes one feel comforted and serene. It can also soften rooms that are over-bright. Its complimentary colour is orange.

Orange: orange combines the energy of red with the intellectual associations of yellow. Dominant and lively, orange is a vibrant choice for bathrooms and work areas. Peachy oranges have a delicate effect, while brownish oranges such as terracotta give off warm, cosy vibes. Its complimentary colour is blue.

The easiest way to colour your home is to start off with a relatively blank canvas, featuring fairly neutral shades on your more permanent fixtures and fitting such as sofas and floor coverings. These don’t have to be boring. You can use rich but neutral colours like chocolate and versatile stone. These shades work wonderfully with an accent colour running through your homes accessories. You can use your curtains, cushions, lamps, candles, blankets, rugs and pictures.

However, whether you’re fixing up to sell or just want to give your home the love it deserves it’s important to respect original features and restore them extremely carefully – a bodge job won’t see the house through another year, let alone 150.  Many professionals advocate using like for like when restoring a Victorian or Edwardian home, making new additions blend in with old, while others suggest respecting the original by making alterations and additions obvious. The benefit to this is not only in adding your own mark to a place but also in realising that a copy is not as desirable as an original.

If you desperately wish to keep an old home in the state it was intended to be your first stop should undoubtedly be the local reclamation yard or handy website www.salvo.co.uk where you can pick up anything from paving slabs to sash windows, plaster mouldings to butler sinks, church pews and even school toilets.  You might also wish to build up a network of local builders who will get in contact if they remove something you need from another house or even knock on the doors of homes which are obviously being renovated.

While restoring wooden doors and floors may seem as simple as a sanding and waxing job, often panels or boards may need replacing or woodworm may need to be treated. For the perfect finish hire a professional who will know how to use the unwieldy floor sander and exactly what products to use on your wood.

Additionally a carpenter can suggest ways in which warped or ill fitting doors can be improved. Original bathroom fittings can look wonderful but there’s no denying that tens of years of wear and tear can take their toll.

With a little attention lavished on them ball and claw baths, butler sinks and even old loos can be given a gleaming new lease of life. Again, rejuvenating a cast iron bath might be best left to a professional although home re-enamelling kits are available. A toilet bowl, even one as old as your Granny, can be cleaned using good old fashioned housewives tips such as bicarbonate of soda or indeed a professional can resurface both bowl and tank for you.

Of course, with the new back-to-basics trend in interiors you may choose to make a feature of crumbling plaster and chipped fire surrounds – there’s never been a better time to work that ‘worn in’ look.