There's a curator's trick to making pictures look intentional rather than haphazard—and it starts before you pick up the drill.

Plan first

• Lay frames on the floor to design your grouping; photograph it

• Mark a centre line on the wall at 145–155cm from floor (roughly eye level)

• Use painter's tape to mock up frame positions

Choose the right fixings

• Masonry: wall plugs and screws

• Plasterboard: push-in anchors or toggle bolts for anything heavy

• Lath and plaster: always use two fixings; go light on weight

Hang for stability

• Two hooks per frame stop tilting

• Add felt pads on bottom corners to protect paint

• Fine-tune with a spirit level and tiny adjustments

Gallery wall tips
Match spacing between frames, mix sizes but keep one horizon line, step back often.

We can supply the full kit, hang a gallery wall and photograph the final layout for your records.

[Fixings guide] [Layout inspiration]

A teenager's bedroom is often the only space they truly control. Respecting that—mess and all—supports their development in ways that might surprise you.

Seven reasons to ease off

1. Safe space: Teens feel judged everywhere else. A door they control lowers stress.

2. Ownership builds responsibility: Autonomy comes first; responsibility follows, not the other way round.

3. Mess can be a coping tool: Familiar sensory environments buffer against overwhelm.

4. Different priorities are normal: Social life and schoolwork outrank tidy floors at this stage—and that's developmentally appropriate.

5. No crystal ball: Many messy teens become very organised adults once they design their own systems.

6. Relationship cost is real: Constant nagging erodes trust. They hear criticism, not care.

7. Connection beats cleanliness: Strong parent-teen bonds predict long-term success better than strict room rules ever will.

So what do you ask for?

• Hygiene minimums: Dishes out daily, wet towels hung, bin emptied twice a week

• Safety basics: Clear path to the door, sockets visible, no candles or overloaded plugs

• One weekly reset they own: Agree the time, hand them a short checklist, then step out

Make it easier to succeed

• Provide simple storage: big laundry basket, open shelves, clear boxes

• Use visual systems for neurodivergent teens: labels, photo prompts, colour-coded zones

• Offer help only when asked; praise effort, not spotless results

A note on social media and teens

News cycles and online pressure can feel relentless. Sleep and real connection matter more than perfect rooms. Keep phones out of bedrooms overnight where possible—and model the same yourself.

We can set up storage that fits the room, print a laminated reset checklist and create a shared family calendar for chores.

[Family agreements template] [Teen wellbeing resources]

Prime December restaurant slots are already disappearing fast: think office drinks, client lunches, family dinners, New Year's Eve.

If you’re planning to entertain clients and colleagues over the festive season, now is the time to secure your table.

As frequent bookers of the best, hard to access tables, Consider it Done’s team of EAs know a thing or two about locking in a reservation. Here we’re sharing our expertise so you can look forward to some wonderful dining experiences this season.

It may not be glamorous, but blocked or neglected gutters are one of the most common causes of water damage in London homes.

Leaf litter, construction debris and rubbish caught in the wind can all end up trapped in your gutters and downpipes, leaving nowhere for rainwater to go other than flooding back in to your home.

Establishing a routine of twice yearly maintenance, involving clearing piepwork and testing the water flow, can save headaches and potentially thousands in repairs.

Dust matters in my home. West London air is never really clean. Traffic grit, construction dust, -  it all drifts indoors, even with the windows shut. Add the dust we make ourselves (skin, fibres, crumbs, fluff) and I found myself endlessly hoovering, and endlessly cross.

Being slightly obsessive about clean floors and permanently over-stretched, the idea of a little robotic helper was irresistible. I went down the rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube demos. Eventually, I pressed “buy” and a Eufy rolled into my life.

Our relationship wasn’t entirely smooth at the beginning.

There’s a number of reasons you might be worrying about what to do with an old laptop.

The environmental impact. You’d hate for it to end up in landfill.

And security. How can you be sure the digital footprint you created doesn’t find it’s way into the wrong hands? 

Meantime your old device sits languishing in your home taking up precious space (and collecting dust).

Here we bring together some expertly reassuring advice and lots of possibilities.

With spring finally here, now is the perfect time to declutter, re-arrange and streamline your wardrobe.

A well organised wardrobe makes dressing a pleasure. It removes frustration and difficult last minute choices from your already hectic morning routine. And also ensures your style reflects who you are today—not who you were a decade ago.

The Truth About: Video Doorbells in London

Video doorbells have become increasingly popular in London and across the UK, with options from Ring, Nest, Eufy, Arlo, and Blink topping the market. They promise extra security and convenience, though real-world experiences (aka thanks to CiD’s in-house Home Tech expert Mike) show they’re not without issues.

If you’re considering installing a video doorbell, or changing to another brand, this guide is designed to help you make an informed choice.

Every September, Londoners notice the same thing: more spiders indoors. You see them in the bath, scuttling across the carpet, or clinging to hallway walls just as you are about to switch off for the evening. It can feel like an invasion, but it’s simply spider season -  a pattern which repeats across the UK.

As September settles in and summer slips behind us, now is the moment to refresh your outdoor space and set the scene for the next growing season.

As September settles in and summer slips behind us, now is the moment to refresh your outdoor space and set the scene for the next growing season.

As the CEO or owner of your firm or someone with a senior-level positon in your company, can you really ever take time off? 

Thinking of installing a home EV charger? You're not alone. More drivers than ever are switching to electric (plug in) vehicles accounting for over 20% of new car sales in the UK.

Though the UK charging infrastructure is still catching up with demand and if you’re considering an EV purchase or you’ve already acquired one, it’s likely you’ve also been thinking about whether charging at home is an option.

Can I just use a plug socket? Do I need permission? And what happens if I live in a London terrace with no driveway?

Here’s what you need to know - before you book an EV charger survey.

For many people, dry cleaning is just something they do because the care label tells us to.

It’s easy to put off - a silk blouse in need of pressing, a winter coat still carrying the scent of last season’s commute. And yet, dry cleaning plays a more important role than many realise.

It doesn’t only make garments appear smarter, and the wearer look sharper.

It also helps them last longer, stay fresher and avoid damage - from causes you can’t always see.

Here’s everything you need to know about dry cleaning. What it really does, why it costs what it does, and how it may be looking after more than your dress sense.

London in the sunshine means one thing: it’s time to picnic.

Whether you're spreading a rug in Hyde Park, heading for Hampstead Heath with a view, or heading to a summer concert, few things feel more luxurious than a picnic done well.

We’re officially banishing plastic cutlery and limp packet sandwiches.

A London picnic deserves a touch of style, a little planning, and just enough indulgence to feel special. Here’s how to upgrade yours.

For many UK households, summer brings a familiar nuisance: wasps.

They're part of the natural ecosystem, but when they appear in high numbers or start nesting close to (or inside) your home, they can quickly move from irritating to risky.

In dense urban areas like London, where gardens, roof terraces and loft spaces are tightly packed, wasp activity can be even harder to ignore.

If you live in London, you already know about hard water. It’s part of daily life. The white staining on your shower screen, the residue in your kettle, the build up around taps. Fill a glass with tap water and you’ll see the white cloudy swirl.

Even when you are fastidious about cleaning, over time hard water is quietly affecting your appliances, plumbing, and even your hair and skin. Not dramatically, but persistently. Which is why more London homeowners are now addressing this issue it head-on.

Whether you’re meeting a long-time client or building a new relationship, a great summer lunch spot does more than wine and dine - it signals care, professionalism and attention to detail. In other words, it reflects well on you and your firm.

The best venues combine setting, service and flexibility, without pushing the budget or making anyone feel uncomfortable.

To help you navigate the bewildering number of options when it comes to London’s lunching scene, we’ve set out 15 standout restaurants across London, plus some fresh openings for a new angle. From riverside terraces to rooftop escapes, each one is ideal for a summer business lunch to leave just the right impression.

Ants are industrious, resourceful, and when they invade your home, remarkably persistent. Even when you live in a highly urbanised city such as London, they can find their way in.

Understanding their behaviour and implementing simple strategies can help you keep them at bay and maintain a calm, ordered living space.