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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Live webchat with Kirstie Allsopp, TODAY, Weds 28 March, from 12.30pm

154 replies

RachelMumsnet · 26/03/2012 15:13

We're delighted to announce that Kirstie is going to be hosting her first ever online webchat on Mumsnet from 12.30 to 1.30 pm on Wednesday 28th March, where you'll be able to chat with Kirstie, and tap into her expert knowledge on home-making and DIY. Known for her forthright views on parenting, home-making, decor and passion for crafts, Kirstie will offer honest advice to all Mumsnetters. If you're unable to join Kirstie at 12.30 on Wednesday, post your advance questions to this thread.

The webchat will celebrate B&Q's partnership with Mumsnet which is scheduled to launch 16th April.

OP posts:
walkingcarefully · 28/03/2012 11:54

Welcome Kirstie!

Did you feel the absolute fear and raw ambition competition which hangs around in the WRI handicrafts tent? It is palpable.

Are you a member of the WRI and do you feel more determined to win at competitions, given the very high standards of entry?

Shivs1974 · 28/03/2012 11:55

There are so many questions on here that I want to know the answer to as well...but Kirstie, what I'd like to know is whether you'll be buying Mary Portas's knickers?

ohanotherone · 28/03/2012 11:57

Kirstie, I think you are lovely but when you came to look around my flat in London

DonkeyTeapot · 28/03/2012 11:58

I may have swooned a little when I saw Kirstie's test post.

Kirstie, will you come to my house and make things with me? I can supply cake.

badtasteflump · 28/03/2012 12:03

Kirstie - Have you honestly never got it on with Phil, even a little bit? Not even when he was in the hot tub? Grin

I love you btw Smile

kramarfranmamma · 28/03/2012 12:06

Hi Kirstie,

I am about to move into a new house in Maidenhead. Are you able to recommend a good place to buy furniture, either second hand or new that is both well made and affordable. I am hoping to find furniture that is a bit different to what is offered on the high street. Ideally I would like to see the furniture before buying, so was imagining an outlet store or a furniture fair that we could browse the items before buying. We are happy to travel all over the UK in search of the perfect items so location is not an issue!

Thanks,

coolascucumber · 28/03/2012 12:07

Does Phil know how dodgy he looks in the camel coat?

FelicityElectricity · 28/03/2012 12:15

Hi Kirstie Smile
We are considering whether to move or extend our 3 bed semi. I'm concerned about an extension making our house one of the best houses on a not so nice street (all LEA houses so not that pretty) and exceeding the ceiling price. My question is how do you find out the ceiling price? Apologies if it is a simple one! In the current economic climate would you advise people to make the most of where they live rather than move? Not that we can get a new mortgage at the mo..

spotofcheerfulness · 28/03/2012 12:23

Hi Kirstie, is buying property always the best investment or do you sometimes think the couples on LLL should rent? Do you think there's a market for cheaper, long-term rentals in this country in the same way that other parts of Europe do?

MNHQ
RachelMumsnet · 28/03/2012 12:31

Kirstie is ready to join us and will be answering as many questions as poss in the next hour. Welcome to Mumsnet, Kirstie...

OP posts:
KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:32

Hi Mumsnetters, I've clocked in for the webchat, chuck any or all questions although today is on of @BandQ days, I am a passionate advocate of helping people say "I did that" and have been working for two years now with special focus on encouraging women to believe in their abilities.

KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:33

@spotofcheerfulness

Hi Kirstie, is buying property always the best investment or do you sometimes think the couples on LLL should rent? Do you think there's a market for cheaper, long-term rentals in this country in the same way that other parts of Europe do?

No, nothing is always the best, and if I think couple on L,L,L would be better off renting I have & do tell them so. The way renting happens in Europe is very different to the UK and there would have to be massive legislative and cultural changes in order for us to follow their example.

AllotmentFreak · 28/03/2012 12:36

My Son is interested in an end of terrace house priced at £122,000, bathroom needs overhauling and a lick of paint throughout, would an opening offer price of £114,000 be reasonable do you think? Thank you.

DonkeyTeapot · 28/03/2012 12:36

Hi Kirstie, welcome :)

whoknewthat · 28/03/2012 12:37

We sold our house in London at the very bottom of the crash in 2009, panicking that we would be trapped there. Our old street is now approaching peak prices.

We feel foolish, especially as our house in the sticks has gone down in value (and we couldn't afford our dream house).

Please reassure me that we weren't the only ones, and that it doesn't really matter!

nowit · 28/03/2012 12:37

Hi Kirstie,

Love your work!

What is your take on New Builds? We have just bought one and are due to move in in 6 weeks or so.

How can be quickly and cheaply inject some life into the beige?

Thank you for coming to 'see' us

KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:37

@MmmPercyPigs

Hello Kirstie,

What, in your opinion, makes a 'house' into a 'home'. My family and I live overseas and because of our work, we tend to pack up and change countries every 3-4 years. We aren't really able to take much stuff with us and usually move into furnished accommodation.

Other than fill it with my happy family - do you have any advice?! :)

Photos, photos, photos Grandparents weddings, family gatherings, kids on the beach ? blown up pictures, photos on canvas, collages anything which reminds you of happy events or family history. And for me it?s cushions, it?s amazing how the ugliest bit of rented furniture can be freshened up with new cushions, I move them all around the house, updated whenever I can, don?t worry that they won?t go with the next house because there?s bound to be somewhere they work. Photos, throws & cushions ? Was anyone else obsessed with the Little Princess book, in which an attic room was transformed in the night with cushions & throws?

jaquelinehyde · 28/03/2012 12:37

Hi Kirstie,

I am shockingly bad at doing anything crafty or arty so homemade stuff is out of the question and I have no money so can't afford to buy any of your lush homewear items. What do you suggest I do to make my home resemble something more than a jumble sale?

KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:37

@FelicityElectricity

Hi Kirstie Smile We are considering whether to move or extend our 3 bed semi. I'm concerned about an extension making our house one of the best houses on a not so nice street (all LEA houses so not that pretty) and exceeding the ceiling price. My question is how do you find out the ceiling price? Apologies if it is a simple one! In the current economic climate would you advise people to make the most of where they live rather than move? Not that we can get a new mortgage at the mo..

Don't aplogise, it is a very good question and lots of people are in the same boat. Be honest with a good local agent, just pop in and say I need this info, I'm not selling at the moment but your help would be very much appreciated. Never pretend you intend to sell when you dont. Good agents understand the benefits of ongoing relationships. Moving is very expensive, but so is having work done, you need to write down all the figures, including lawyers fees, mortgage arrangement fees, stamp duty, removal men and work out which is better value and means less upheaval for your family.

Nixea · 28/03/2012 12:37

Of all the crafts you've tried your hand at, are there any that you can honestly see yourself doing again?

As a hand bookbinder I was pleased to see someone standing up for traditional crafts. I think that the availability of cheaper mass produced products have led a lot of people to underestimate the amount of work that goes into creating something by hand and it was refreshing to see a programme that appreciated this!

jenbinns · 28/03/2012 12:39

Hi Kirstie, mum of three, live in the country, farmhouse. What carpet should I have upstairs? Sisal? Or should I have floorboards and rugs? No white shagpile please.

yellowflowers · 28/03/2012 12:40

ooh MN love the way the answers are highlighted - makes it much easier. thank you. Really hope I find out about Kirstie's hat!

KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:40

@DonkeyTeapot

Another Kirstie fan here. I've really enjoyed repeatedly watching Handmade Britain, and the Christmas one too, and I imagine it was brilliant learning all those crafts and being able to have a go at different things. I just wondered, what crafts do you regularly practise at home, and what have you made that you are most proud of?

It gets frustrating sometimes because I end up doing more mending & bits of DIY than I do projects from scratch, I suspect it?s the age the kids are, my proudest achievement was the cushion I did for the Yorkshire Show, because of the competition I had a date to work to , otherwise it would probably still be in my sewing box because name taping had taken precedence @BandQ

KirstieAllsopp · 28/03/2012 12:41

@AllotmentFreak

My Son is interested in an end of terrace house priced at £122,000, bathroom needs overhauling and a lick of paint throughout, would an opening offer price of £114,000 be reasonable do you think? Thank you.

A property is only worth what people are prepared to pay for it, offer what you can, if someone offers more it's worth more. I always, always go for properties with scruffy bathrooms or kitchens, your son can easily learn the skills needed to improve a bathroom himself and once you start on DIY there's no going back.

whoknewthat · 28/03/2012 12:43

I read an interview once where you railed against mothers who pretended they led very successful lives without an army of back-up and paid help.

I wanted to thank you for that, it made me feel much better about myself (although secretly I knew that anyway).

So my question is, which do you think is the most important bit of parenthood that you would never miss, however important your other commitments, and how do you prioritise?