I sympathise with Adrian Chiles’s struggles in the garden (What I have learned in my filthy, bloody, sisyphean quest to tame my garden, 26 February). The basic problem is that the classic English garden was designed to be labour-intensive and for show. A different approach, working with nature rather than against it, gives a happier … Read more
Letters about washing versus laundry (11 February) reminded me that when I researched the public washhouses of Manchester, the public called them “washhouses”, but the men who worked there on the machinery called them “laundries”. The original council committee of the 1870s was the Wash House Committee, but by the mid-20th century this had changed … Read more
In an age when we should be reducing, reusing and recycling, the retro look is more relevant than ever. How can you fill your home with timeless treasures and your wardrobe with “pre-loved” clothes? Here, secondhand specialists share the secrets to sourcing vintage, bartering for a bargain – and avoiding overshopping. Embrace a sense of nostalgia … Read more
The prosecution: Meera I’ve been collecting art from all over the world for years, and cheap frames don’t fit or look good I’ve been living with my boyfriend Raf for a year now, and we’ve been putting off framing our art. I am a writer and Raf is a designer. We don’t struggle financially but … Read more
Walk into any big UK supermarket, and somewhere between the pasta and pet food you’ll find an aisle stacked with seductively stylish yet affordable homeware. From tableware to throws, cushions to coasters, objets d’art to duvet covers, the shelves will be teeming with everything you could possibly need to furnish your home – all in … Read more
Marie Olsson Nylander is a self-taught interior decorator, but won’t be pinned down to any single label – she is also an antique dealer, collector, stylist and podcaster. As well as a mother of four. Marie defines her style as “boho wild”, and there is perhaps no better definition of it than this home full … Read more
Whether it’s the crisp white sheets, plush rugs, luxurious finishes or serene feel, there is always something deliciously inviting about a boutique hotel bedroom. So it is hardly surprising many of us attempt to recreate that same warm and inviting look in our own homes. In fact, according to Pinterest, in the last three months … Read more
Just as the British designer Lou Rota is enjoying what you might call a third act in her career – from graduating as a graphic designer to working on pop videos, then science and natural history documentaries to making and decorating tableware and furniture for the likes of Anthropologie – her house, too, is enjoying … Read more
Federal student loan borrowers are temporarily unable to apply to income-driven repayment plans, a decades-old safety net that ties their monthly loan payment size to household income levels, as the U.S. Education Department reviews a recent federal court ruling. The department closed applications to the repayment plans last week after the U.S. Court of Appeals … Read more
With the government seemingly stepping back from regulatory duties, consumers may have to act as their own financial watchdogs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the independent federal agency created after the 2008 financial crisis to shield people from fraud and abuse by lenders and financial firms, has been muzzled, at least temporarily. “Everything is on … Read more