We all know someone who has had that “nightmare” renovation situation. This could be running out of money halfway through, builders walking off the job or uncovering unpleasant surprises along the way. It’s no wonder it can be one of the most stressful things homeowners put themselves through – and many of them will be doing it with little to no knowledge about construction or project management. On top of this, these building projects are often done when people are expecting a baby or working full-time so it’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed.
One person who has seen it all, both through painful personal experience and as part of her job, is renovation consultant Becks Perfect. “I’ve made every mistake, made and lost money and employed the good, the bad and the ugly of the building trade in all of my experience,” she says. The trick is to make sure “the renovation becomes something you’re steering rather than something that is happening to you”. This is an idea she dubs “renomaxxing”. Here are her tips for achieving it.
What is ‘renomaxxing’?
Perfect says: “I’d define it as squeezing every bit of value out of every pound you spend on your house. For example, instead of upsizing because you feel cramped in your house, think about ways you can rework layouts, reconfigure storage and upgrade finishes to make the space perform at its absolute best, which in theory should reward you not only in giving your home a new lease of life, but also in potentially adding more value to it as well.”
Dolly Parton – a life in pictures
Dolly Parton died on Tuesday at the age of 80. Tributes from around the world have honoured the country music superstar, who passed away following a “brief battle with cancer”.
The singer was best known for her genre-defining hits including “9 To 5”, “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene”.
Born into a musical family in 1946
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in 1946, the fourth of 12 children, into a poor farming family who lived in a one-bedroom cabin in Tennessee.
Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a tobacco farmer. Parton spoke about her mother, Avie Lee, singing folk songs all the time, and her aunt played the guitar.
Country star’s unique style
During her teens, Parton began modelling herself on a local character known as the “town tramp”.
The lady wore bright red nail polish, low-cut tops and high heels – young Dolly thought she was beautiful.
A musical powerhouse
Despite being unable to read sheet music, Parton was proficient on several instruments including the banjo, harp, piano and saxophone. She had her first No 1 hit with the song “Joshua” in 1971.
- It was the theme song that Parton wrote for the 1980 movie 9 to 5 that fully propelled her to stardom.
A nearly 60-year marriage
Parton maintained a deeply committed, nearly 60-year marriage to Carl Dean until his death in 2025. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared,” Parton said when he died.
Dean remained out of the public eye, choosing to focus on his asphalt-paving business in Nashville. The couple had no children.
Parton’s life in pictures
How shingles jab ‘could slash heart risks’
The shingles vaccine currently used by the NHS may slash the risk of heart failure, heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.
What you need to know
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash and the jab that protects against it – Shingrix – is available on the NHS for people aged 65-70, people aged 70-79 (as part of a catch-up program) and for those over 18 with a severely weakened immune system.
Experts say that if all over-60s had the jab, it could prevent tens of thousands of deaths.
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The study
The NHS switched to Shingrix from the former vaccine, Zostavax, three years ago. Researchers from the University of Oxford compared the risk of stroke, ischemic heart disease or heart failure between the two vaccines over seven years.
- They analysed data from more than 70,000 people and found that up to seven years after the jab, people who had Shingrix lived 9 per cent longer without developing a cardiovascular disease.
more on health from the i paper
Children’s eyesight is getting worse. This is what parents can do about it
The rise in short-sightedness is not directly caused by too much screen time, but a related change in children’s behaviour. Fortunately it can be reversed.
Why nicotine vapes are still best chance to quit smoking
Smokers are more likely to quit their habit by using vapes compared to conventional methods such as nicotine gum and patches, according to a new study.
Quit rates are higher
The Cochrane Review examined 80 studies involving almost 30,000 people and found that quit rates were higher with vape use, with it leading to 61 per cent increased odds that a quit attempt would be successful after six months.
- That means that eight to 10 out of 100 people using vaping to quite smoking might succeed compared to six of 100 people using nicotine-replacement therapy.
Providing vapes can help
Researchers looked at behavioural support – offered through advice and counselling – and found that people who were also given nicotine vapes were more likely to quit.
The expert view
We have very strong evidence that regulated nicotine e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than smoking. Based on the consistency of the findings here, it’s clear that they are a proven and viable option for people wishing to quit cigarettes
Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, senior author of the review from University of Massachusetts Amherst
At least 15 newborn babies die in Islamabad hospital fire
At least 15 infants were killed when a fire broke out at a state-run hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, triggered by a fault in air conditioning systems, local broadcaster Geo TV reported.
Here is everything we know about the incident so far.
What happened?
The blaze started at around 7am local time on Wednesday at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on the third floor of the mother and child health ward.
The incident is among the deadliest hospital fires in recent years in the country, where government healthcare is subsidised but facilities are overburdened.
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The story in pictures
A closer look at the detail
- There were 16 newborns in the ward when the fire broke out, one of whom was rescued, Geo reported.
- Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to conduct an immediate investigation, his office said.
- “Those responsible should be identified, and the strictest action should be taken,” Sharif’s office said.
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Set out the scope of your works
One of the most common things to go wrong in a renovation is for costs to spiral. This can easily happen if you go with a quote which is missing key parts of the work or doesn’t set out the scope of work clearly. Perfect advises clients to always get a minimum of three quotes and says you should “never be afraid to interrogate a quote until you’re completely happy and fully informed”. She says having a quote which accounts for everything will give you “leverage and confidence” in the conversations you have with the construction team throughout the project.
Focus on the journey, not just the end result
Choosing the right people for the job can also have a huge impact on how stressful your experience will be. Greg Drain is the CEO and co-founder of Narrative Ltd, an architecture and construction company based in south London. His key piece of advice is: “Try not to prioritise the vision of the finished product and enjoy the journey getting there. You aren’t buying a pair of shoes, you’re designing, costing and building a detailed and complex renovation. The best chance we have of getting the most bang for our buck is to invest in people with the expertise in achieving this.”
Invest in the most important spaces
Even if you’re building your “forever home”, Perfect believes it’s still worth investing in the rooms future buyers will scrutinise the hardest: the kitchen and bathrooms. “Quite simply, pound for pound, they’re the most expensive rooms to build (even if the bathroom is tiny),” she explains. “They’re also the most used rooms in the house on a daily basis, so making sure the layout, flow and finish are as good as they can be can only add to your daily enjoyment of the space whether you’re planning to sell or stay in it for the long term.”
Time specific works with the weather
Many people choose to start a project when conditions are drier and warmer. So, if your costs are climbing, Perfect recommends starting in autumn or winter. “Winter tends to be quieter, so you can expect better rates and availability, but weather here is the biggest factor for anything structural or external such as groundworks, roofing, render, which can be slowed due to damp conditions. If you can, I would advise booking structural and internal works for more off-peak timings to get better pricing and availability, and time anything weather-dependent for what would be a typically drier stretch of the year.”
Deciding on your interior design can feel overwhelming when you have multiple rooms to decorate and endless decisions to make. Plus, trends change fast. Perfect suggests spending your money on a timeless design for things which would cost a lot to change in the future. This could be kitchen cabinetry, tiling and flooring, for example. But having fun with trends isn’t a no-no. Perfect says things like lighting, paint colour, soft furnishings can all be changed quite easily so if you want to go for 2026’s butter yellow or plaster pink trends, what’s stopping you?
Keep plumbing in the same place
A renovation project will never be cheap but there are ways to save money. Perfect says: “Try and keep plumbing and structural walls in roughly the same place, wherever you can. Moving drains and load-bearing walls is one of the most expensive things you can do.”
She also suggests making sure your builder and other tradespeople are sticking to the sequence of your works. If you’re not making sure the plumbing and electrics are complete before plastering, for example, you’ll end up slowing the work down and incurring extra costs. No one wants to pay for someone’s hard work to be redone because a stage was skipped or rushed.”
There will be snags
One important final aspect to remember when budgeting for your project is snagging. These are the final bits that need fixing or finishing once everything else has been done, such as paintwork, fitting hooks or knobs or adding flooring thresholds. Some homeowners have been hit with invoices for thousands of pounds for final fixes which weren’t included in the contract. Perfect says to ensure you have a retention clause and defects period built into your contract. This is where you hold back a sum of money to pay for any snagging, with an agreement they’ll be rectified once the house settles over a period of time i.e. six months.
Where to turn if things go wrong
It’s horrible to think about things going awry when planning a beautiful new home, but as we all know, it pays to be realistic about the risks. A contract is one of the most important documents you need when employing builders. “A properly written one, like one published by the Joint Contracts Tribunal, should include a dispute resolution process,” says Perfect. “If your tradesperson belongs to a trade body like the Federation of Master Builders, Trustmark or Niceic (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), there’s normally a formal complaints procedure or mediation route.”
Perfect says things like staging payments and tying them to completed work is a good idea otherwise you’re handing over large amounts of money with no idea what it’s being used for. “Additionally, having someone independent reviewing contracts, scopes, quotes and progress before money changes hands can help negate problems further down the line.” A consultant like Perfect can assist with any queries and questions to make everything feel less overwhelming and remind you that it’s an exciting journey with something special at the end.