ZACK LINEA double towel rail

The exquisitely finished towel rail is made of brushed satin 18/10 stainless steel. The practical bathroom accessory impresses with its typical, exclusive ZACK finish which lends the design article its unmistakable appearance.

The clear forms and the consistently timeless, clear-cut design language through which the LINEA articles fit harmoniously into a wide variety of bathroom worlds are the outstanding characteristics of this modern bathroom series.

Get one now at Proleno

ZACK LINEA glass door hook

The ZACK design brand presents the exclusive glass door hook made of high-gloss 18/10 stainless steel as a flexible bathroom accessory.

The exquisitely finished design article can be hung easily over glass doors and panels up to 10 mm thick, its groove providing a firm grip for a towel or bathrobe.

Hook one for yourself now at Proleno

Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro from Torafu Architects designed the 'Clopen' shelf, manufactured by Tanseisha. When pulled, a secret drawer appears, to store your valuables such as jewelry, stamps and passbooks.

The shelf panel is constructed from elaborate aluminum parts, and at 34mm thick, it looks as if it's made of natural wood. Attaching sliced veneer to a thin structure, they made space between two boards which can be opened using magnetic keys. The impression of the shelf completely changes when its hidden aluminum space is revealed from within the sliced veneer surface.

We haven't, yet, found anyone who stocks them for saleso if you sell them or know somebody who does please let us know.

Given the recent spell of warm weather I guess that nobody has their central heating switched on right now but as autumn approaches and chilly nights & cold mornings return we'll all be reaching for "heat on" setting.

To ensure effective performance of a water-filled radiator, you need to make sure that the radiator has been "bled" properly. Bleeding a radiator means getting rid of any air that has accumulated at the top of radiator. When air is present, there is no water, which means no heat. Bleeding a radiator is done by opening an “air vent” otherwise known as a “bleed valve”. Ideally radiators should be checked for air accumulation at least once a year.

To bleed a radiator you will usually require an appropriate tool, namely a flat headed screwdriver, a “bleed key” or a spanner. Bleed keys (vent keys) are not included as standard but can be purchased from a plumbers' merchant or home improvement store.

Bleeding a radiator is a simple process:

1. Ensure both valves at the bottom of the radiator are open;

2. Get a bleed key (vent key), screwdriver or spanner ready to open the bleed valve (air vent) at the top of the radiator. Have a rag or cloth ready to catch minor drips;

3. Use the tool to open the air vent and release the air holding the cloth underneath;

4. Listen for the change in sound; you will hear a hissing noise at first, which is the sound of air escaping. Vent the radiator until the sound changes and you get a steady stream of water. At this point you can retighten the air vent using the tool.

5. Once you have bled the radiator, turn the heating back on and leave the system to flow for half an hour.

Please note: On first filling a system, it is air that is vented from a radiator. However, from then on the periodic venting required is actually releasing hydrogen that is the by-product of rusting in the system. If regular bleeding is continually required, then this is a strong indication that the system requires draining, cleaning and refilling incorporating a corrosion inhibitor to prevent further rust in accordance with BS5449 section five commissioning. Alternatively, if regular bleeding is required then this could indicate a leak that is letting air enter the system.

Alternatively modern radiators do sometimes come with “automatic bleed vents” which release air from a radiator whenever necessary, meaning that you do not need to bleed the radiator manually. These are great for convenience, however there are instances of automatic bleed vents causing damage to a radiator as regular venting can mean regular water seepage which can lead to corrosion.

For more advice on maintaining your radiators, contact a radiator specialist such as Feature Radiators; their expert team can provide technical help on a variety of radiator related subjects.

An old friend, recently rediscovered, has a catering business based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Take a look at Clockhouse. Absolutely superb food. We sampled the offerings at a party that Clockhouse was catering (hence the rediscovered friend) and we were seriously impressed.

Even better, Clockhouse sells frozen ready meals that are perfect for the freezer and brilliantly easy to cook so if, like us, you work long hours but like good food, you can get home late and have a chef prepared meal on the table and ready to eat in about six minutes which allows just enough time to open the wine and feed the cat. I am hooked!

Paul, the owner, is the man of the moment and he and his team design and prepare the various foodie offerings. I am steadily working my way through them and have yet to find anything that I don't love. It's no more expensive than buying a supermarket ready meal but so much better and if you live close to Hitchin then delivery is free. For me it's a no-brainer.

Our friends at Caine Leather posted a great link earlier today. We looked, we saw, we definitely liked!

Evening all. Gearing up to watch the last night of Olympics competition. Come on Mo, we're seriously routing for you! What a fantastic event Lord Coe and his crew have put together.

What with the Olympics and our fabulous Queen's Jubilee what a fantastic year its been for Brits. It's a long since since I've been so proud to call myself British. What on earth will we do on Monday and for the next couple of weeks until the Paralympic Games starts?!?!?!?!

Anybody who lives in the capital will be familiar with the regular DIYers dilemma. You have a maintenance job that needs doing around the house or garden, but do you sort it out yourself or call in a London handyman service?

Here's our list of circumstances when it really is time to admit defeat and call in a London handyman service!

Electrical problems? Call in a London handyman service!

Electrical problems can be particularly tricky and one wrong move can find you shorting the whole house! What's more, there are now regulations prohibiting unqualified householders from dealing with certain types of electrical work - it's much safer all round to call in your local London Handyman service. Any London handyman service will have electrical experts who can help you out and deal with electrical problems quickly and safely.

Taking your time over a job? Call in a London handyman service!

We've all been there - a job needs doing but you just can't find the time and your spouse is getting on your back about it. The simple answer to the problem is to call in a London handyman service. A good London handyman service will be able to send someone round within a few days and that will be the problem sorted and will keep your partner happy - using a London handyman service can sometimes keep a marriage together!

Haven't got the necessary skills? Call in a London handyman service!

Do you have all the skills a London handyman service can offer? That's unlikely so next time you are fretting about whether you can do a job or not then why not stop worrying and get on the phone to a London handyman service. A London handyman service will be able to offer expertise across a wide range of trades and can take any problem off you hands.

Need more than one person? Call in a London handyman service!

If you have a job that needs more than one pair of hands then you might want to look for the number of a London handyman service. Friends and neighbours can be less than reliable but a London handyman service will be there on time and will be there for as long as you need them.

Need a range of jobs doing? Call in a London handyman service!

If you've got jobs building up around the house and garden then it really might be time to call in a London handyman service. A London handyman service can deal with anything from plumbing, to paintwork to gardening.
Also the beauty of a using a London handyman service is that they can invariably send a few people round who can get it all done on the same day.
This is the beauty of using a London handyman service - they have a range of operatives covering a range of different disciplines. In fact, a London handyman service is a one stop shop for all your maintenance needs!

Is Jack Frost nipping at your…radiators?

The recent cold snap and record-breaking low temperatures have led the British public to encounter a rarely seen phenomenon: cracking radiators! This is despite the radiators being inside a property and on a functioning central heating system.

But radiators are known as strong and durable pieces of engineering, so how can a radiator crack?

When water freezes: its volume expands by around 10%. A radiator full of water that is in a particularly cold room such as a conservatory, can freeze and the expansion of the freezing water can cause cracks; usually at weld points and seams on the radiator.

Radiator experts, Feature Radiators, recommend some options to prevent radiators freezing and the consequential damage.

Firstly, install a “frost stat”. This is a device that will override your regular central heating timer and thermostat by automatically switching on your central heating when it senses the temperature drop below a pre-determined amount.

Secondly, invest in some thermostatic valves as these have a “frost protection” setting. This means that when the thermostat on the valves measures the room temperature as approaching 0°C, the valve opens a little, allowing water into the radiator to ensure that it doesn’t freeze. However, this will only work when the central heating is “ON” as thermostatic valves are not able to turn the boiler on.

The frost protection setting on thermostatic valves is great for protecting your radiators and pipes during the day when your central heating system is switched on and working. However, a frost stat will ensure that you protect your radiators and pipes when your central heating system is switched off overnight or when you’re away during the winter and it is this period when most frost damage occurs.

Feature Radiators also recommends you consider frost damage when purchasing reclaimed cast iron radiators. These are often purchased from salvage yards and can be stored outdoors leading to cracking. Pressure testing of reclaimed radiators is essential to ensure that radiators are functioning correctly and that they are free from leaks.

For more information on radiators, contact specialists Feature Radiators on 01274 567789 or visit their website www.featureradiators.co.uk