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House and Garden
Architects & interior designers
Found Associates
A full internal-refurbishment and/or extension service is offered at this reliable and highly recommended firm. which is known for its stylish work.
14-16 Great Pulteney St, W1 (020 7734 8400/ www.foundassociates.com).

Knott Architects
A family business run by brothers George and Tom, offering domestic new-build and conversion jobs, plus extensions and redesigns, in what it terms a ‘crafted modernism’ style.
98b Tollington Park, N4 (020 7263 8844/ www.knottarchitects.co.uk).

The Pike Practice
Battersea-based architectural practice specialising in elegant extensions and refurbishment projects.
Unit 1, Crombie Mews, 11a Abercrombie St, SW11 (020 7924 6257/ www.thepikepractice.com).
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Royal Institute of British Architechts
Search RIBA’s database and find a registered firm near you.
(www.ribafind.org).

Builders
All Done Design
This award-winning builder covers the whole of London and undertakes all manner of jobs from kitchen conversions to commercial developments.
(020 8442 0465/ www.alldonedesign.co.uk).

Ashley Adams
Luxury bathroom and kitchen fitter, across north London and St Albans.
(01442 216302).

B&K Builders
Highly recommended, experienced builders, with numerous immaculate conversions, extensions and carpentry jobs under their belts.
(07976 668654).

Federation of Master Builders Organisation
Regulates small to medium-sized building firms, including an online database of registered companies. The website also features useful building contracts you can print off and use in order to safeguard your rights.
(www.findabuilder.co.uk).

Jackson Construction Services
Covering London, Surrey and Kent, this reliable firm installs kitchens, bathrooms and studies.
(07885 2948660).

New City Builders
John Wilson prides himself on his reasonable rates and reliable service. He works within the south-west area of the city, but is happy to recommend tradesmen if he can’t take on your job himself.
(07973 378316).

R Brooks Construction
Surrey-based Rowly Brooks runs a friendly and efficient business specialising in extensions and loft conversions in west and south-west London.
(08000 217212/ 07951 982944/ www.rbrooksconstruction.co.uk).

Stephen Cashman
A reliable builder and decorator, with reasonable rates and a 24-hour call-out service.
(07887 800023).

Stephen Deering Design& Build Company Ltd
Deering regards tricky building problems as an intellectual challenge to get his teeth into rather than an occasion for negative teeth-sucking. Excellent at design aspects as well as structural matters.
(07973 871031/email info@stephendeering.co.uk).

Wyndham Projects
Mike Du Toit is an exceptional kitchen and bathroom planner-fitter who will also take on larger projects for regular clients.
(020 8399 0707/07779 242580/ www.wyndhamprojects.com/ email mike@wyndhamprojects.com).

Carpenters
Barnaby Stone
Designs elegant, modern carpentry as well as reproducing older pieces. Makes beds, tables, cupboards and more to order. Based in south London.
(07768 395203/ www.barnabystone.co.uk).

Cupboards by Design
Fiona Duckworth makes storage solutions for tricky spaces such as alcoves, as well as shelving and kitchens, using your specifications. She covers all of London and typically takes six to eight weeks to fulfil an order.
(020 7556 1424/ 07956 493408).

James Whitehall
Swift, professional and good value for money, Whitehall makes beautiful, fitted and free-standing furniture to any style and does joinery work. He’s based in east London, but travels everywhere – yes, even south ofthe river.
(07786 513936/ 020 8809 3155).

Matthew Dover
Matthew Dover is very personable and offers meticulous service, with custom carpentry work ranging from shelves to sheds and much more in between. He charges reasonable rates too.
(07736 229244/email matthewdover@hotmail.com).

Melanie Woods
Based in Greenwich, Melanie Woods takes on custom work for cupboards, shelves, kitchens and joinery. She has very satisfied customers.
(07957 347168/ www.melaniewoods.co.uk).

Paul Bromfield
North London-based carpenter specialising in bespoke wardrobes, cupboards and fitted kitchens.
(020 8881 5111/ www.paulbromfield.co.uk).

Pete Glessing
Old-style trained carpenter, who made one reader a fantastic console table from railway sleepers exactly to specification for half the prices quoted elsewhere. Particularly good at banisters, kitchens and bathrooms.
(07855 667760).

Chimney sweeps
Apex Chimney Sweeps& Consultants
A useful company for anyone with an open fire – annual sweeping is recommended.
(www.apexchimneysweeps.co.uk).

National Association of Chimney Sweeps
Register of practising sweeps including those in London. All three of them.
(01785 811 1732/ 0800 833464/ www.chimneyworks.co.uk).

Curtains & blinds
Emma Jeffs
This award-winning designer produces adhesive window film in a range of contemporary, cut-out patterns. Lasting around three years, the film affords privacy in a really stylish way, and negates the need for blinds or curtains.
(020 8671 3383/ www.surfacematerialdesign.co.uk).

The Final Curtain
Book an appointment and this family of craftspeople will visit you in your home with samples and designs. They cover the whole of London and an order takes three to four weeks to put together.
(020 8699 3626/finalcurtain@gmail.com).

John Lewis
Ever-reliable and professional service from everyone’s favourite department store. Choose from the ‘Express’ service, completed in seven days but in a limited range of sizes, or ‘Bespoke’, which takes four to six weeks.
(020 7629 7711/ www.johnlewis.co.uk).

Peter the Pleater
Established in 1893, this traditional company has earned itself a brilliant reputation within the industry and among its customer base. Blinds, curtains and drapes come made to order and to an excellent but reasonably priced standard.
17-19 Great Eastern St, EC2 (020 7375 1053).

Directories
www.020London.co.uk
Lists hundreds of reputable services and tradespeople in London.

www.problemsolved.co.uk
A website made up of personal recommendations, complete with an efficient search engine that can team you up with all manner of tradesmen.

www.thetradesmensdirectory.co.uk
Lists a wide range of tradespeople recommended by members of the public.

www.upmystreet.com
Gives you local information according to your postcode, from good schools and reputable plumbers to the price of houses in your road.

www.wamt.org
Women and Manual Trades publishes an annual directory of recommended London tradeswoman.

Door-stripping
Phil Jackson
If you have grotty Victorian doors ripe for a makeover, Phil Jackson will restore them beautifully for around £15 a door. He comes highly recommended.
(020 8761 3961/ 07956 466849).

Electricians
Electrical Contractors’ Association
Search for contractors in your area.
(020 7313 4800/ www.eca.co.uk).

National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting
An invaluable resource – the NICEIC is a regulatory body issuing strict rules to its 10,500 members.
(0870 013 0431/ www.niceic.org.uk).

RJ Electrical
A general electrician who knows his stuff, returns your calls, and whose previous clients wave to him (and not with their fists). Does rewiring, call-outs and cooker repairs, and is based in north-east London.
(020 8599 2841/ 07836 677836).

Emergencies
Blocked drains and plumbers
Aqua-Care
(0800 389 2238/ www.24hrlondonplumber.co.uk).

AD Environmental Services
(0800 093 0015/ www.adsel.co.uk).

Emergency Plumbers
(0800 458 3082/ www.emergencyplumbers.net).

Dyno Rod
(0800 000999/ www.dyno.com).

Gas
Transco
(0800 111999/ www.transco.uk.com).

Locksmiths
Master Locksmiths Association
(0800 783 1498/ non-emergencies 01327 262255/ www.locksmiths.co.uk).

Water leaks
Thames Water
(0800 714614/ non-emergencies 0845 920 0800).

Glaziers
Absolute Glass
Unit 6, Gemini Project, Landmann Way, SE14 (020 7394 9324/ www.absoluteglass.net).

Express Glazing Contractors
Unit 3 Acorn Centre, 105 Blundell St, N7 (020 7619 6900/ www.expressglazingcontractors.co.uk).

Frazer Glaze
70 Druid St, SE1 (020 7252 0011/ frazerglazer@hotmail.com).

The Glass & Glazing Federation
This organisation provides a useful directory of local glaziers.
(0870 042 4255/ www.ggf.org.uk).

Kirby Glass
Happy to take on small domestic jobs such as broken windows.
Kirby Glass, 151 Hackney Rd, E2 (020 7729 4727).

Infestation
The British Pest Control Association
If the service being offered by your local council – which deals with rats and wasp nests, among other pests – doesn’t satisfy you, contact the BPCA. It can recommend a private contractor.
(0870 609 2687/ www.bpca.org.uk).

Gardeners & landscaping
Jay Osma
‘A brilliant landscape gardener who does everything from design to construction to maintenance. He operates as a company called Origin Landscapes and as well as being a consummate professional is one of the wittiest people you’ll meet.’
(07815 465445/info@originlandscapes.com).

Lucy Somers
Stoke Newington-based Somers trained at Caple Manor in Essex, and applies her talents to gardens in north London.
(020 8800 3163).

Noushine Nozari
Inventive garden designer who is based in north London.
(07818 064557/ 020 7254 1107/ email noushinegardendesign@btinternet.com).

Rob Bratby Gardens
Full landscaping, design and planting to suit any style of garden. Covers London and the south-east.
(07847 582152).

Sybil Caines
This talented garden designer is based in Stoke Newington.
(sybil.caines@blueyonder.co.uk).

Will Nash
Nash will take on any size of garden in north London. Adept at fencing, ponds and patios as well as flora and fauna.
(07961 171406).

Painter-decorators
Christopher Morley & Trevor Wade
Painters and decorators covering all areas of inner London.
(07722 587209/020 7250 1517).

Home Jane
From handywomen to plasterers, painters and plumbers, this is a handy group of meticulous female home helpers, or ‘Janes’. Very trustworthy and personable.
(0845 832 3639/ www.home-jane.co.uk).

John Scudamore
A trustworthy decorator who specialises in doing a fast and immaculate makeover job while you’re on holiday, meaning you come back to a finished home.
(020 8673 3500/ 07768 094659).

Jonathan Whitcombe
Reliable, trustworthy and good-value painter and decorator. Registered by Mile End Old Town Residents’ Association.
(07802 945174/ email jonathanwhitcombe1950@yahoo.co.uk).

Karen Yarnell
South London-based decorator specialising in marbling and woodgraining.
(020 7793 9172/ 07769 940381).

A Woman’s Touch
You will be allocated one of an army of female decorators, who will take pains to ensure minimum mess and maximum result. Project management and a large range of home services are also offered.
(020 7515 9604/ 07796 938310).

Plumbers
All Go Plumbing
Alan Good and his team cover a wide range of plumbing jobs from bespoke bathrooms to a humble blocked loo.
(0800 083 2215/ www.allgoplumbing.co.uk).

Association of Plumbing & Heating
Dispenses details of certified contractors throughout London.
(020 7647 0626/ www.aphc.co.uk).

Institute of Plumbing & Heating engineering
(www.plumbers.org.uk).

John Gregory
Highly recommended plumber operating in south-east London.
(020 7639 4144/ 07967 557480).

Leakbusters
A plumber whose work comes in at less than their original quote due to unexpected savings is hard to find. We’ve saved you searching if you you live in north London.
(0800 328 8125).

Mainbreak Plumbing
Craig and Simon are Corgi-registered to do gas boiler work, but also do tiling and complete bathroom refits.
(07940 167590/ 07917 108876).

Rosie Riley
Covers south-east London for all types of plumbing work, but will cover the whole city for major work.
(020 8692 3375/ 07932 566039).

Tree surgeons
Roger Davis Tree Surgery
Fast and reliable, based in south-west London and specialising in large and difficult jobs. Happy to tackle
extra-large trees.
(020 8874 8529).

Tool hire
Tool Chest
This tool and plant hire company based in Hammersmith will deliver or you can go along to the shop. Prices here are competitive: a cordless drill costs just a tenner to use for a 24-hour period.
68 Iffley Rd, W6 (020 8748 7912/ www.toolchesthire.co.uk) Hammersmith tube.

Upholstery
Hossack & Gray
Re-upholstery, antique restoration, expert leather-staining, wood-turning and gilding. Most jobs take one week.
Studio 10, 9e Queensyard, White Post Lane, E9 (020 8986 3345).

JE Norris
Upholstering East End furniture since 1945, this is a reliable and authentic family business which does on-site consultations and free estimates.
7a Tranquil Passage, SE3 (020 8852 8725/ 01424 812 129).

William Fountain & Co
East London family business, offering upholstery and re-upholstery, loose covers, and furniture and antique repairs.
(020 8558 3464/ www.williamfountain.com).

Window-cleaners
A2B
John Quigley offers a window-cleaning service throughout south-east London.
(079567 980604).

Andy Smith
Based in north London, Andy Smith is quick, efficient and reasonably priced. If he has other jobs on in your neighbourhood, he will charge £25 for the inner and outer windows of a small terraced house.
(07980 674630).

Shine
This company, often used by lettings agents, also does carpets and spring cleans as well as windows.
(0800 0371035/ www.shine-ltd.com).