The sun's energy can be converted using solar panels that can be placed on buildings or on posts, facing the sun.

Want to grow your own produce but don't have much time or experience? Then a herb garden could be the answer. With very little space or expertise you can cultivate sweet smelling, pretty plants that give your cooking or well being a lift, all year round.

If kitchens and living rooms are the social hub of a home, then surely bathrooms are the ultimate refuge. Bathrooms are where we spend time alone, pamper and nurture ourselves and enjoy some privacy.

Plaster is a more diverse and exciting material than you might think. Even if you have modern plaster it can be made more interesting.

For some of us, plain walls and minimalist furniture just don't hit the spot. If it's painted or bronzed walls you're after then talk to a specialist decorator.

So you want to smash down some walls, open up your living space and put in big modern windows and folding glass doors. Just about anything's possible, but sounds like you need a good builder.

Increasingly people are turning to the internet to source information about local services, either where they live or in areas that they are going to visit. The internet is now proving indispensable in all aspects of life - for example finding good local tradespeople, a local hairdresser or what's on at the nearest cinema.

Jesus Christ and Harrison Ford did it and even Changing Rooms' Handy Andy and the Queen's nephew get up to it. So what does this eclectic group of men have in common? Carpentry - one of the oldest and most appreciated trades known to man.

Good lighting is essential if you're to make the most of your interiors and it's the first thing you should think about when doing up a room.

Your home should feel safe and secure. The police and security specialists can help you achieve this. A little effort and investment can go a long way to keep out burglars and keep you in the lucky 96% who are never targeted by intruders.

Loft conversions seem to be springing up in every street, so what's involved and how do you go about it?

Ever thought of taking up diving? There are plenty of public swimming pools for kids to learn to swim and adults to keep in good health, but when it comes to diving the options are more limited.

Window dressings are an important part of interior design and can really bring together your scheme. With an unlimited supply of fabrics and styles available the possibilities are endless.

A smart, welcoming front door is always worth spending money on. If you have a period home, then getting a specialist in to get things back to the original is well worth it.

Metalworkers range from ship builders to bridge construction workers and from fine jewellery makers to producers of intricate parts for electronics manufacturers. So how did it all begin?

The world's obsession with celebrity is as strong as ever. In fact its growing with more and more celebrity endorsed products on the market. These include beauty products, homeware, designer diffusion clothing lines and now... kitchenware.

Drains may not excite you in the same way as wooden flooring or voile curtains, but it's vital to keep them in good order. Otherwise the glamorous home you've created could end up ankle deep in sewage.

Chilli hot red! Burnt orange! Aubergine! Pea green! Sky blue! Its time to put some colour back in our homes.

200 pounds to do up a bathroom? I think not! Renovating the bathroom is often one of the most expensive jobs when doing up a house - so why is it so expensive?

Carpenters aren't just the stars of bible stories - they are busy sawing, hammering and sanding today, still creating both practical and ornamental features in our homes.