Home UK by Helen Kirwan-Taylor

Home UK is the best of the best, an exclusive design address book that you would imagine would be the preserve of an elite group of A listers. In a fit of huge generosity, Helen Kirwan-Taylor has turned this design bible into a publication that can be bought by all and sundry.

Home UK is the sort of address book that you'd pay almost anything to get off your best friend. Its pages are full of architects, builders, interior designers, gardeners. Helen Kirwan-Taylor and her friends can't sing their praises high enough. Each company has a full write up, giving examples of recent commissions where applicable. The client recommendations further enhance a company's entry and make for more interesting reading by allowing you to find out what everyone's doing: it's the Hello! of interior design.

This no nonsense publication and with its handy wipeable covers is an essential if you are taking on a design project in the home. The one thing all the companies mentioned have in common is their client focused attitude. They provide a good old fashioned and reliable service and bring a good name back to their profession. With the damage caused by the cowboys who roam our cities, ready to rip off the nearest individual requiring help, we have forgotten about the good guys. They can be found listed in Helen Kirwan-Taylor's bible. Of course, it helps being a good and appreciative client and it is essential to pay your bills on time. Helen gives advice on living with a project and how to avoid divorce situations. After all, Helen is a journalist by trade, contributing to the Financial Times, The Telegraph and Evening Standard and is considered an expert on all things to do with the home.

Home UK is not just limited to huge design projects and is as useful to all home owners, whatever their plans are. The chapter entitled Service Plus addresses domestic services, an economy worth £4 billion. If you need someone to put up a shelf, walk your dog or organise your photographs into albums, you will find the answers here.

You may wonder how you ever managed to run your home without Home UK but always be grateful to Helen Kirwan-Taylor for making this invaluable book possible.

Publication details:
£16.99
Published by Conran Octopus
ISBN 1840913789
2005

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