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We all love the Devon aesthetic—the thatched cottages of the South Hams, the colorful Victorian terraces in Torbay, and the rugged farmhouses overlooking Dartmoor. But let’s be honest: between the Atlantic gales and the "liquid sunshine" (read: relentless drizzle), our homes take a beating. In 2026, maintaining your home’s exterior isn’t just about making it look "proper" for the neighbors; it’s a high-stakes game of protecting your biggest asset. 1. The "Salt and Sea" Tax If

We all love the Devon aesthetic—the thatched cottages of the South Hams, the colorful Victorian terraces in Torbay, and the rugged farmhouses overlooking Dartmoor. But let’s be honest: between the Atlantic gales and the "liquid sunshine" (read: relentless drizzle), our homes take a beating. In 2026, maintaining your home’s exterior isn’t just about making it look "proper" for the neighbors; it’s a high-stakes game of protecting your biggest asset. 1. The "Salt and Sea" Tax If

There’s an old myth in the DIY and decorating world that refuses to die: “Real pros don’t use tape; they just know how to cut in with a good brush.” If you’ve ever felt a pang of guilt while painstakingly applying FrogTape to your skirting boards, thinking you’re somehow cheating at DIY—stop right there. The truth is, while a steady hand and a high-quality angled brush are essential skills, premium decorator’s tape isn’t a crutch for amateurs. It is, in fact, a professional d

​Selling a house is often listed as one of life’s most stressful events. Between dealing with solicitors, chains, and estate agents, the idea of picking up a paintbrush might be the last thing you want to do. ​However, in the competitive UK property market, putting a bit of time and money into decorating your house before the "For Sale" board goes up is rarely wasted effort. In fact, property staging and redecorating can be the difference between a house that lingers on the m

​ ​We have all been there. You are prepping a room for a fresh coat of paint. You look up and see it: a hairline crack meandering across your ceiling like a spiderweb. ​The temptation is overwhelming. “I’ll just dab a bit of filler on top,” you think. Or worse, “The paint is thick; it’ll probably cover it.” ​Do not do it. ​If you just paint over a crack, it will reappear within weeks. To fix it permanently, you have to do something that feels completely counterintuitive: you

Let’s be honest: the W/C (or the "powder room" if we’re feeling fancy) is usually the most neglected room in the house. It’s tiny, it’s functional, and it’s often tucked under a staircase or at the end of a dark hallway. But here’s the secret: The W/C is the only room in your home where you have a captive audience. Every guest will eventually spend a few minutes alone in there, staring at your walls. Why give them a blank beige box when you could give them a conversation sta

If you’ve been scrolling through interior design feeds lately, you’ve likely seen rooms that look like they’ve been dipped entirely into a single bucket of paint. No white baseboards, no beige ceilings—just pure, saturated color. This trend is called color drenching, and it’s the ultimate "cheat code" for making a room look professionally designed without the designer price tag. What Exactly is Color Drenching? Color drenching is the practice of painting everything in a room

It’s tempting to skip the "white-out" phase and dive straight into your new color, but unless you’re a fan of "surprise shades," painting over a bold color with a neutral base first is a non-negotiable step. ​Think of it as hitting the "reset" button on your walls. Here is why that extra step is actually a time-saver in disguise. ​1. Preventing "Ghosting" ​Bold pigments—especially reds, deep blues, and vibrant yellows—have a way of haunting your new paint. If you try to put a

​We’ve all been there—standing in the paint aisle, looking at hundreds of color swatches, and thinking, "How hard can it really be?" While a DIY weekend project can be tempting, there’s a massive difference between a "painted room" and a professionally finished space. At Smith’s Painting and Decorating, we believe your home deserves more than just a fresh coat; it deserves a transformation. ​Here is why hiring a professional team is the best investment you can make for your h