Ask Alice
Do you have an interiors dilemma? Consult our resident specialist
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Q. Dear Alice, My sitting room has a beautiful ceiling rose, but rather than paint it white, I'd like to give it a more imaginative treatment. What do you suggest?
Sarah Anderson, Whitehaven
Q. Dear Alice, My sitting room has a beautiful ceiling rose, but rather than paint it white, I'd like to give it a more imaginative treatment. What do you suggest?
Sarah Anderson, Whitehaven
A. Last year, I got spectacularly creative with my dining room ceiling rose. First, I sealed the plaster with a coat of shellac and then sprayed it with red oxide spray, using masking tape to protect the area around the rose. I then decided to do a DIY gilding job with goldleaf, which was attached to the plaster using a layer of goldsize (slow-drying tacky material). I should perhaps have stopped at this point, but I got even more carried away and decided that it needed an extra sparkly finish, which I achieved by highlighting the raised areas of the plaster with PVA glue and then gently applying thousands of tiny, pale-green glass seed beads with a paintbrush. The result is a stunning, shimmering ceiling rose that still makes my neighbours faint with envy - although it did make my arms ache horribly for weeks afterwards. All the materials are available at good art shops and specialist DIY centres.
Q. I live on the top floor of a two-storey house, and want to clean my windows, but don't fancy climbing a ladder. Do you have any ideas?
Lottie Morris, by e-mail
A. If you have access to a garden tap and hose, why not try a telescopic cleaning system? For £49.99, H&G Promotions (01299 266303; www.hgpromotioms.com) will supply a five-metre telescopic pole, suitable for cleaning the windows of most two-storey buildings, with a nylon coil water feed that produces a powerful spray. Its "porcupine" head attracts dirt and is also useful for cleaning conservatories and velux windows.
Q. Dear Alice, While I had scaffolding on my house, the scaffolders bashed a hole in the wall next to my front door. Is there anything I can do myself to fix it, without having to pay for a builder?
Simon Knowles, Gillingham
A. I have an incredibly cheap and easy solution. First, fill the hole to the level of the brick surface, using a cement-based compound, ensuring that the texture isn't too smooth, so that it replicates the natural surface texture of the brick that you're filling. Then, to match the colour, carefully scrape a little pile of brick dust from the surface of a brick from an inconspicuous area of your house. Then mix this dust with some PVA glue and, using a putty knife, apply your mixture to the surface of the repair. When it's dry, it will be indistinguishable from the rest.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments