Before you put up the decorations….let Parvin’s elves make your house look fabulous

Before you put up the decorations….let Parvin’s elves make your house look fabulous

It’s a little-known fact that the period between Haloween (spray-on spider-webs and flourescent aerosol shoestrings) and Christmas (cards, trees and stockings) may have been invented by super-intelligent mice in Victorian London as a winter ritual to keep them safe from the cats of Chelsea. These mice used subtle mind control techniques to force house-owners into…

The relatives are coming. Quick! Call Parvin’s!

The relatives are coming. Quick! Call Parvin’s!

5 minutes ago it was summer. But we’ve all been around long enough to know that Christmas is lurking in the shadows, sellotape and wrapping paper in hand. Santa Claus is rubbing his hands, cackling at your state of unpreparedness. This year, there’re no excuses to keep the relatives away – not ULEZ or COVID…

What dragons don’t know about London house prices

What dragons don’t know about London house prices

Smaug, the dragon made famous by JR Tolkein, famously slept on a massive hoard of gold in his cavernous cellar. Tolkein’s writeup of Smaug is somewhat unflattering. It suggests he was the kind of dragon who had another room full of toilet paper, not to mention several jerry cans of petrol out the back, and even some pasta that went out of…

Feeling sociable? See our innovative home improvement suggestions

Feeling sociable? See our innovative home improvement suggestions

They say it’s easy to mock. And, in the words of comedian Steve Wright, maybe that’s why we enjoy it. I came across these home decorating examples that add new meaning to the word ‘unique’. They should have an award. I’m sorry, but the temptation to share them was overwhelming. How about this brilliant idea to capitalise on unused…

Well, I’ll go to the foot of our stairs – but not much further for this summer’s staycation

Well, I’ll go to the foot of our stairs – but not much further for this summer’s staycation

Might as well face up to it – the closest we’re likely to get to a South Sea Island this summer is a trip to Southsea (picture below). But if you’re lucky enough to own property in London, you’ll be staying entertained as you watch your house price go up. In fact you’re probably considering…

What colour adds most value to your house – again
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What colour adds most value to your house – again

We hear a lot about the value of a fresh coat of paint to raise property resale price, but according to survey we value artistic expression above mere profit, and only 4% of homeowners paint for that reason. Fifty-five percent just want a different look, and the main reason homeowners decide to paint is a…

If lockdown ends, the house guests are coming. Better get ready now…..
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If lockdown ends, the house guests are coming. Better get ready now…..

All the talk is about coming out of lockdown. When that happens, beware: house guess can’t be far behind. Stock up on biscuits – and what about the paintwork? We’ve all had it easy for a year but golly – with foreign holidays off the agenda, redecorating looks like the thing for 2021. Beat the…

Anti-COVID Paint? Could be….
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Anti-COVID Paint? Could be….

It’s probably not going to solve the worldwide coronavirus problem overnight, but it’s good to see some developments that look as if they will help. In May of this year some of the world’s leading coatings specialists gathered (virtually) at the Royal Society of Chemistry, in collaboration with the British Coatings Federation, to discuss how…

Redecorate, or move to Hartlepool: your choice. How the housing market affects Londoners
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Redecorate, or move to Hartlepool: your choice. How the housing market affects Londoners

he UK property market is breaking records since the end of lockdown. ‘Sales agreed’ across the country from mid-July to mid-August add up to more than £37 billion. In London, instead of the usual summer slowdown. we’ve had the highest number of homes being put up for sale since March 2008. Rightmove say they are seeing a…

Book yourself a Virtual Quote and beat the post-Lockdown rush!

Book yourself a Virtual Quote and beat the post-Lockdown rush!

As part of the Construction Industry we are still able to carry out certain types of decorating work during the Lockdown. This includes much exterior work, and work on empty buildings and premises. But we’re coming into decorating season and there’s already a lot of work booked in. So the scientists at GD Parvin have…

Decorating advice for Landlords and Property Management Agents
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Decorating advice for Landlords and Property Management Agents

Landlords and Property Management Agents sometimes ask our advice for maintaining paintwork in apartment blocks. This includes in-between tenancy commercial decorating as well as regular cyclical maintenance of common spaces and exteriors, as well as Section 20 and JCT decorating work. Durability We’d always recommend focusing on practical and durable finishes, whether the buildings are for…

Sorry, you can say to the election canvassers: we’d love to talk but we’re having the house painted

Sorry, you can say to the election canvassers: we’d love to talk but we’re having the house painted

Already the phones at Parvin Towers are ringing off the hook. Can you park a van outside our house until the election’s over? Or lend us a “Wet Paint” sign for our front door? There are serious questions to be asked of all parties: for example is Dulux’s “Striking Cyan” washable paint an anti-Labour or…

Is it worth paying more for Farrow & Ball?
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Is it worth paying more for Farrow & Ball?

It’s a question that comes up frequently. With Farrow & Ball paints often costing twice or three times as much as comparable Deluxe and Crown paints – both good quality brands – is it really worth paying the extra? Will you be able to tell the difference? From a professional decorator’s viewpoint, here’s what I…

No christmas songs yet, but we know next year’s colour of the year

No christmas songs yet, but we know next year’s colour of the year

You heard it here first. Before even the first sighting of a Santa, before a single sparkle of tinsel in a shop window, I can reveal next year’s Colour of the Year. Akzo Nobel – Dulux to you and me – must have their colour elves on piece-work, because according to my watch it’s only just…

Sound ecomonic advice about decorating from an acknowledged expert

Sound ecomonic advice about decorating from an acknowledged expert

For once I’ll be serious. At least for a bit. If you own property in London you probably keep a close watch on property price trends. If not you must have nerves of steel. Latest figures from the ONS suggest a 4.4pc fall in London house prices over the last year (compared to a rise…