Livingetc.

We've all seen the tv show and wondered how easy it would be to try out some of the things they do - well now you can try it for yourself with the Changing Room magazines. We've just moved into a new house, and to be honest when we moved in it was absolutely mank! The magazine gave us loads of ideas on different decorating techniques that we probably never would have tried before. We've now decorated the living room by colour washing the walls, and the house looks totally different now. You also get a free gift with each issue - normally a stencil, but somethings different stamps or paint effects. The great thing is that it gives you ...

About 6 months ago I decided it was time to spread my wings and get out there on my own two feet and buy my own flat. Seeing as London has the most ridiculous property prices in the country this was to be a 1 bed flat. Anyway, 6 months later I had trekked round about 50 flats, seen numerous mortgage advisors and generally driven myself insane with it all. I never thought it would be so stressful, if I had I might have thought twice about the whole idea. My effort was not in vane as I found my dream flat and made an offer and it all seems to be going through as I write. What surprised me most is the DIY bug that I have caught in the meantime. I ...

Free gifts you can use! What a novelty! It's true, though - I have actually found a use for couple of the free gifts from this magazine. This is unusual as most freebies end up as offerings to the local charity shop. The items and homes featured are eminently usable and adaptable to the abodes of lesser mortals like me, who do not possess sweeping staircases, extensive grounds, and, oh yes, a couple of million in the bank. It's got a nice little feature every month whereby an item of furniture is shown in its various guises, e.g. 20 coffee table, from a £10 version through to a £999 version. Fans of the magazine beware ...