Making the most of houses these days is less daunting than when my pal first set out as a householder and property owner.   Way back when just leaving university, a chance came up to purchase a tiny little semi detached cottage, in a minute village absolutely in the middle of nowhere.  No shops, no pub, nothing apart from 2 farms, a church and a manor house.    He and his wife did all the work themselves at every stage, especially when they bought the neighbouring cottage and knocked through.

The chance of getting an expert in design to come out to such remoteness then then would have been impossible.  Not today – everything is available via the internet.    Check tradesmens’ sites carefully for membership of any trade associations.  Check their trade ratings and reviews.  A good agency will provide names of recent customers to whom references can be requested.   The world of interior design is not confined by geographical area these days!