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The same week Nancy and I meted out judgments on magazines like Elle Deco and Living Etc, I got together with my friend Elin and her colleague Rebecca. They work at Period Living magazine, where the emphasis is on preserving period homes. They have a real appreciation for fixing up old things in order to give them new life.

This month Rebecca unearthed Reading-based The Baobab Tree, founded in 2007 by Heidi Awford. Heidi takes classic and traditional furniture and makes pieces over in her vast collection of vintage fabrics. Take a peek at her site for ideas - you'll find a fun array of cushions, chairs, lampshades and even mirrors to browse and buy.

Also in the mag is a feature on wood-turner Sarah Thirlwell. She incorporates reclaimed materials into her pots and vases. She sandwiches recycled yoghurt pots, vending cups, cork bath mats, reclaimed Perspex and acrylic together with plywood for a striated effect. "It's not just about eco-credentials - it's exciting to work with unusual materials," she says.