September is a useful month for your home. Summer isn’t quite over, the really wet weather hasn’t arrived yet, and there’s still time to tackle those jobs that become much harder once winter sets in.

It’s also the perfect time to think ahead. If you want your garden, patio or decking ready to enjoy next summer, now is the time to start planning.

Here are five jobs worth putting on the list.

Soft, calming and incredibly easy to live with, Dulux has named Soulful Sage its Colour of the Year for 2027. And we think this could be one colour trend with serious staying power.

Insurance reinstatement is the process of restoring a property after it's been damaged by an insured event. This could include escape of water, fire, impact damage, storms or other incidents covered by an insurance policy.

Unlike a standard renovation, reinstatement requires careful coordination between homeowners, insurers, loss adjusters and contractors.

The garden kitchen has officially grown up.

What started as a simple barbecue on the patio has evolved into something much bigger, fully designed outdoor living spaces built for cooking, entertaining, and genuinely spending time in. In 2026 and beyond, homeowners are moving life outside in a big way, creating gardens that feel like an extension of the home rather than somewhere you occasionally visit when the weather behaves.

If you’re thinking about creating an outdoor kitchen this summer, here’s what you need to know before diving in.

Some rooms call for calm, colour-drenched walls. Others need drama. Texture. Pattern. Personality.
So when you’re refreshing your home, one question always comes up: Paint or wallpaper?
The truth? There’s no single right answer. It all depends on the mood you want to create.

Here’s our take.

Last Friday, we spent the day at Lymley Wood Forest School supporting Lorna and the fantastic team behind this inspiring local space. Using existing materials already available on site, Andy constructed a safe additional step to improve access to the toilet area, a small but important improvement for the children who use the woodland setting every day.

While the project itself was simple, the impact is meaningful. Forest schools like Lymley Wood provide children with the opportunity to learn outdoors, connect with nature, build confidence and enjoy the kind of creative, hands-on play that is becoming increasingly important in today’s world.

Creating safe, functional spaces for children to explore and grow is something we’re incredibly proud to support.