I have saved pillow cases from sets now gone, purchased pillow cases from opshops or even new, usually in a white colour and I use at least three to maintain the freshness of all my bed pillows and I then put the cover on matching the sheets for the week. You could instead use pillow protectors but I find you need at least three if you want to keep the pillow looking original, especially if you have a partner that snores or drawls, gosh that sounds grose doesn't it but no one can control what they do when they're asleep!! The extra cases can always be bleach washed or washed in napisan when doing the usual change. It's a method my mother taught me over 40 years ago and it's a cheap alternative to having to replace expensive pillows or having manky looking pillows in a short space of time. I also have a contoured pillow for good neck support and they are over $100 so protecting them for as long as possible is imperative. I don't buy cheap twin pack pillows, I try to buy good quality med density pillows for my guests, although most people who regularly sleep away from home tend to take their own favourite pillow anyway. I only change or replace our pilows if all my protection fails.

Styker, can you sew? Craftsy have a course that shows you how to make your own. I’m getting older and retail bras don’t sit very well anymore so making my own is on the agenda.

I use a magnetic strip and love that it keeps the bench clear. I don't like knife blocks very much as they are hard to keep clean. I use quite a few knives frequently and I don't find they get dusty at all – and the ones I use less frequently, like the fish filleting knife, I just wipe with a damp cloth before using but, as I usually touch it up with the sharpener before tackling a fish, I would wipe it after sharpening anyway. I have mine near the stove but in a reasonably discreet spot so I don't feel that they are out on display.

A dining room rug should ideally have 24" or more of extra space, surrounding the table. The guests should be able to pull out the chairs easily without tripping over the rug. Choose flat weave or low pile rugs because spills are inevitable from the dining table. Maintenance and cleaning become simple with flat carpets. You can also choose carpet tiles as they can be set up according to the shape and size you need. Rugs come in many colors, patterns, and textures. Feel the texture if you are purchasing a natural fiber rug because natural fiber rugs are hard and rough as compared to cotton. Match the shape of the rug with that of the room. Match the rug shape to the room shape and the table shape.