Latest Articles - janemalvisi.co.uk

Woman standing on a step stool adjusting beige curtains next to a large window in a bright, minimalist living room.

The Ten-Centimetre Curtain Rule That Makes Rooms Feel Taller

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Sarah gazed up at the ceiling in her living room, trying to work out why the walls seemed to be...

Two farmers holding documents observe birds flying over a wheat field with crop spraying equipment nearby.

France’s Imidacloprid Ban Gives Insect-Eating Birds a Cautious Recovery

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

New long-term data from France suggest that populations of insect-eating birds, including swallows and warblers, are beginning a cautious recovery...

Modern bedroom with wooden bed and large windows next to a minimalistic open shower with a hanging robe and stool.

Why Wet Rooms Are Transforming French Bathrooms in 2026

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Walls are being removed, shower trays are vanishing, and France’s familiar bathroom format is undergoing a subtle transformation. In both...

Hands wringing out a white cloth over a glass bowl of water on a wooden kitchen counter.

Tea Towels Grey and Musty? Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar Bring Back White

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Only months old, already grey and somehow musty: many tea towels are thrown away far too soon, even though one...

Person wearing gloves applying wood stain with brush on outdoor wooden deck in daylight.

How to Protect Outdoor Timber from Moisture and Rot

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

The scene is nearly always the same: after several days of rain, the sun returns in force, you step into...

Person sitting on edge of modern bed with underframe storage boxes and shelves on white walls in bright bedroom

Small Bedroom Storage Ideas That Make Rooms Feel Bigger

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Small bedrooms are rather like hand luggage: you’re convinced everything will fit, until you’re perched on the suitcase at 11pm,...

Person adjusting a wall thermostat set to 20°C in a cosy room with a steaming mug and a potted plant.

Why the 19 °C Rule Is Giving Way to 20 °C Smart Thermostats

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

For many decades, households relied on one figure to determine the right warmth for their homes. That approach is rapidly...

Hand wearing white glove cleaning toilet bowl rim with sponge in bathroom setting with cleaning supplies nearby.

How Extra-Fine Wet Sanding Paper Makes a Toilet Bowl Look Like New

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

For decades, people have tackled toilet bowls with thick gels and powerful bleach. Now, a growing number of cleaning hacks...

Two white robotic vacuum cleaners operating on a beige carpet in a bright living room.

Roborock vs Dreame in 2025: Which Robot Vacuum Suits Your Home?

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

The logos may look alike on a shop shelf and their adverts make near-identical claims, but these robots do not...

Person planting pink and purple flowers in a rectangular terracotta planter on a sunny balcony.

Dianthus ‘Bumbleberry Pie’: The Compact Pink for Small Gardens and Balconies

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are looking for exactly this: an easy-care plant that lasts throughout the summer, takes up very little...

Person holding a white shirt with a yellow stain in a bright kitchen with cleaning supplies on the table.

How to Remove Yellow Armpit Stains with a Three-Ingredient Paste

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Sarah looked at her favourite white button-down shirt in the wardrobe, confronted by yellow circles that seemed to mock her...

Young woman painting a beige colour sample on a wall in a sunlit living room.

Room Contouring: Use Colour to Transform Awkward Spaces

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Many flats look flawless in photographs yet feel oddly proportioned in real life: too long, too tall, too cramped or...

Man plugging multiple chargers into a power strip on a table with a laptop and smartphone nearby.

7 Appliances to Unplug Every Day to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

With electricity bills set to rise by almost 10% for everyone in France, here are 7 appliances you can unplug...

Young woman smiling and holding a spray bottle and newspaper while standing in front of a bathroom mirror.

How Newspaper and Vinegar Clean Mirrors Without Streaks

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Last Tuesday morning, I was hurrying to prepare for an important video call when I noticed my reflection in the...

Person planting blue and yellow flowers in a garden bed with gardening tools nearby on a sunny day.

Make Your Garden Almost Weed-Free in March With Ground Cover

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Anyone who does not want to spend every spring weekend on their knees weeding can make their garden almost weed-free...

Woman in a blazer holding a smartphone and smiling at a laptop in a bright electronics store.

Xiaomi X20+ robot vacuum: an exceptional Singles Day deal

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

The Xiaomi X20+ was already among the market’s best-value options for anyone wanting a model that can vacuum and mop....

Young man lifting the seat of a blue storage sofa in a bright, modern living room with wooden furniture.

IKEA VÅRKUMLA chair-bed: the 70s comeback for modern homes

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Soft contours, rich blue upholstery and a low-profile shape are making a subtle return to living rooms this season, albeit...

Man in cosy jumper placing logs into a wood-burning stove in a warm room with snowy trees outside.

Why Finnish Masonry Heaters Could Replace Radiators

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

The cold is not what strikes you first. The silence is. It is mid-January in a timber house outside Tampere,...

Person cleaning eyeglasses with a cloth and cleaning spray on a wooden table in a bright room.

How to Clean Glasses Properly and Make Lenses Last Longer

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

They can quietly wear down your eyes, your patience and, eventually, your finances. More people across Europe and the US...

Person tending to a green hedge on a sunlit garden patio with watering can and pruning shears on a wooden table.

Pittosporum replaces Photinia as the new favourite privacy hedge

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Many garden owners are despairing over hole-ridden Photinia hedges – while another, remarkably uncomplicated shrub is quietly taking centre stage....

Open drawer of beige jewellery organiser with gold necklaces, rings, and earrings on a white dressing table.

Jewellery Storage: How to Stop Tangles and Loss

Harriet Wainwright • October 14, 2026

The evening begins with dew-soft romance: flattering light, the dress you genuinely ironed and lipstick that needed three attempts. Then...