A lot of people ask how easy it is to clean stainless steel [worktops]. The simple answer is 'very easy' and GEC Anderson recommend the microfibre cloths that have been mentioned by a number of contributors, in combination with cold water. Simply wipe down the worktop after use to prevent build up of streaks or marks - especially, in hard water areas. And that's it! Some words of caution probably should be taken into account before making a final decision as to whether stainless steel suits your lifestyle. Stainless steel is prone to attracting finger prints and marks and so the key here is to regularly wipe down the surface so as not to let dirt and extraneous material to build up in the first place. Another thing to consider is that stainless steel will scratch and mark over time. This is perfectly normal! Scratches and marks will build up over time, creating a unique patina appearance. Simply ignore them. Your stainless steel worktop will outlast pretty much every other alternative worktop material and should provide you with several decades of useful service.

I agree with Rennew Traditional Building Materials - it's not a question of what's 'trending' or 'passé', but of really paying attention to the existing building and marrying that with the sensibility of the future inhabitant. Some spaces suit the industrial treatment, some don't, and no-one should be forced to be fashionable. I can't help thinking of the old Bauhaus principle of 'truth to materials' though. If you find yourself faking an 'authentically exposed' surface, then something isn't quite clicking in your analysis of what's in front of your nose. Not that I wasn't once taken in by an entirely ersatz 'industrial' café in Paris once, which was not, as I'd supposed, a converted butchers! The convincingly-aged metro tiles were to die for...

I never understood why people don't build their conservatory for year round use. It's all about light and heat control. Automatic sun reflective shades along the roof windows will keep the room from overheating in the summer and even help keep it warm in the winter. Proper wall and ceiling insulation, double or gas permeated triple glazing will keep it comfortable year around with the right heating. Add a wee wood stove in a corner with a simply pipe chimney and you have yourself a lovely winter sun room to brighten your cold winter days. If you live where there is snow, even better. It'll feel like a wee slice of paradise.

An ensuite to the master bedroom is a great asset in a family home, reducing the morning stampede to the family bathroom. It also helps create that sense of luxury, adult space. A sanctuary away from the rest of the family.