Thermal flasks - Aladdin Europe

Homes
Need expert advice on your home? Email Zena at homes@sundaymirror.co.uk or write to Tricks of the Trade at..
Homes & Holidays, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Sorry we can’t reply personally.
8
TRICKS ofthe TRADE
HOMES Zena Alli
Shed some light on
my curtain problem
Flower stickers,
Spin Collective
Add a little
Sparkles
What’s fairest mirror covering of them all?
? CAN you wallpaper over
mirror? I have some mirror
sliding doors that I can’t afford
to change. – Laura Connor,
Bradford, West Yorks
U Z E N A S AY S : T o n y
Hutton – a decorator at A.M.
Decor, listed on www.rated
people.com, a network of
recommended tradesmen –
suggests you put a coat of
PVA over the mirror first to
act as a base coat, then paper
as normal. My suggestion?
Stickers. They’re much more
sophisticated than they used
to be. Okay, you’re not going
to cover every inch of mirror,
but choose a fun design and
it’ll be interesting.
Spincollective.co.uk have
this assorted flowers wall
sticker set – 25 stickers for
£18 (above left).
Or, for something more
funky, try the Tapestry
Sparkles design (above) –
£5.49, www.stickyups.com
Solution to tiny bathroom dilemma
? MY daughter’s bedroom has a
lovely box-shaped bay window
where we have put the bed. But
finding a curtain design to suit the
shape is proving difficult. The
room is at the front of the house so
I need something that will give
privacy but let light through. –
Arabella Menzies, Cardiff
U ZENA SAYS: You could go for
a thin voile Roman blind for daytime use then have heavier
curtains for the night-time.
For a more streamlined option,
Luxaflex black-out Duette and
Plissé sheer pleated blinds come
in a combi option so you can
adjust the shades from the top
and bottom. The sheer blind can
be pulled down during the day
and the black-out blind can be
drawn at night.
Luxaflex Duette Combi blinds
cost from £102 for a made-tomeasure blind measuring 80cm
by 80cm. For stockists visit the
website www.luxaflex.co.uk or
call 0800 652 7799.
Trendy jars are a great idea
for all your kitchen storage
Good idea... Focus
? I’M trying to find a semi-circular towel rail to
fit under the wash hand basin in my tiny bathroom.
Please help! Mrs H Colgan, Dungiven, Co. Derry
U ZENA SAYS: FocusDIY (www.focusdiy.co.uk,
0800 436 436) has one for £18.99 that fits very
snugly under the basin, or try Bathroom Trends
(01372 720207), which has a Half Circle Chrome
Towel Rail (Code: 1600550) for just £11.50.
Marks & Spencer (www.marsksandspencer.com,
0845 603 1603) has a free-standing Under Sink
Storage for £35, which as well as having hanging rails will also provide you with extra storage space.
Or opt for the J by Jasper Conran WallMounted Towel Shelf, £65 (www.debenhams.
com, 08445 616161) to fit over the toilet.
Luxaflex blinds
are made-tomeasure
Hang and
store... M&S
Designer-led... Conran
? WHERE can I find glass jars with
clip-down lids? The ones I’ve seen are
for jam – I want to put rice and pasta
in mine. – Margeret Miller, Crewe
U ZENA SAYS: These traditional
storage jars have suddenly seen a
surge in popularity. Jamie Oliver has
even included these jars in his new
catalogue (www.jmecollection.com).
He has two kinds, the pretty in pink
Sorbet Kilner Jars ranging in price
from £2.50 to £6. And Etched Glass
Storage Jars from £12-£18.
Asda (www.asda.co.uk, 0500
100055) also has similar storage jars
for a mere £1 for the 1L size and £2
for the 2L size – bargain!
To the test Thermal flasks
Trendy...
Jamie’s
etched
jars
Asda...
cheap &
cheerful
TESTED BY PHIL DAVY
Save money on buying hot drinks and soup for lunch at work with a handy flask
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Joint
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Stanley Bolt, £22.99 (www.
Lifeventure Mountain WideThermos Classic, £9.99 (www.
Aladdin Challenger, £22.99 (www. Thermos Ultimate, £18.99 (www.
Stanley Classic, £21.99 (www.
mouth, £19.99 (www.lifeventure. stanley-pmi.com, 01442 419800) stanley-pmi.com, 01442 419800) aladdin-pmi.com, 01442 419800) bhlgroup.co.uk, 0113 276 3456)
bhlgroup.co.uk, 0113 276 3456)
IDEAL for anyone with a van, THIS 1-litre retro flask is built AVAILABLE in seven colours, THE Ultimate lives up to its SIMPLE and sturdy, the stainco.uk, 0118 981 1433)
C
M
Y
K
LOVE soup? This one’s for you.
Not the best for keeping drinks
hot more than eight hours, but
there’s a big mug with extra
cup. It’s also easy to clean.
Retractable handle, shoulder
strap and 1L capacity make
this a versatile flask.
the Bolt’s hexagonal design
means it won’t roll around on
the seat or floor. With a rigid
aluminium handle, you don't
have to remove the stopper to
pour. Offering 1-litre capacity,
drinks cool down after about
eight hours. Warranty 25 years.
like a battleship from stainless
steel, but doesn’t keep drinks
as hot as the others. Retractable
handle makes it easy to grip
while you unscrew the stopper
– a couple of turns to pour.
Warranty 25 year s, with
optional stainless steel finish.
this keeps drinks steaming hot
for more than 14 hours. Clever
design means you can store
sugar or sweetener in the base,
while the two cups lock
together neatly. Just twist the
stopper to pour. Tough, stainless
steel body with rigid handle.
name, keeping drinks piping
hot for more than 18 hours.
Slim, stainless steel body has
rubber grips top and bottom so
you’re unlikely to drop it.
Smaller and lighter than the rest
with 0.8 litre capacity, it’s
perfect for your handbag.
less steel Classic comes in
black or white. To pour, just
twist the stopper. Drinks stay
hot for at least 12 hours, too.
Capacity is 1 litre, with 0.5 litre
option. Great value for a tenner,
a retro hammered finish costs
a quid more.