Home UK (Conran Octopus General) - Tapa dura

It's time to take the stress out of hiring a man with a van. Home renovation and maintenance services are growing at a disproportionate rate to the rest of the economy and interest in the home is also at an all time high. Whether you need a cleaner or an architect, a reliable builder or someone to restore furniture, finding the person can be a huge headache and very likely an expensive gamble. Home UK answers the questions of how and where to find those people. This is the definitive guide to the UK's top services for homeowners. Whether you need your bath resurfaced, your china repaired, graffiti removed or flat pack furniture assembled, Home UK can point you in the right direction. The book covers categories such a architects, interior designers, contractors, home computer services, plumbers and movers. More unusual services include wheelie-bin cleaning, oven cleaning, and even someone who will arrange your photos into albums. There is a final section containing interviews with architects, building contractors, interior designers and others who discuss the role of the home and the services we desire and require.Entertaining to read, and interspersed with real-life stories of good, bad and downright ugly services, Home UK reveals the secrets of getting good work and includes reviews of only those who can be relied upon to provide professional work.

HELEN KIRWAN-TAYLOR writes regularly for The Evening Standard, Harpers & Queen, House & Garden, Wallpaper*, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. She write regular features about service for The Saturday Telegraph weekend section and has a column in The Financial Times called Mrs Mop, reviewing the variety of services available to homeowners