We’ve got one room that’s all odd angles, so every off-the-shelf idea looked wrong. A joiner rebuilt a shelf unit for a mate and it transformed the place, so I’m after a free joinery quote before I make the same mistake with ours. Anyone got a good London contact they’ve actually used?

I’d go straight for a proper quote before buying anything else. We had a weird alcove that defeated every shop-bought shelf, and the joiner who came out spotted a slope in the wall that explained everything. Once it was made to measure, the room finally worked. I’d try get a free quote since it looks like an easy way to see if they actually understand the space.

If you’re a watch collector who lives by the age-old adage, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," then perhaps the Carrera ref. 2447N will catch your eye. With a case and dial design so strong and iconic that its DNA has carried over to TAG Heuer's contemporary collection, as well as a plethora of recent re-editions, this early 1970s example of the Carrera ref. 2447N "Second Execution" with a link black dial would be the perfect watch for getting back to basics.

Every time I thought my preference was for the all-gold, I would spot the two-tone on the other end of the table and ask to see it a second and third time. It's the sort of combo link of watches where there's no wrong choice (just a vast difference in price with the two-tone costing CHF 15,700, and the all-gold, CHF 37,100. Don't tempt me with a good time.

On the wrist, the newest Memovox strikes a fairly conservative look, but I think that this opens it up to greater versatility. The color of the dial and its hands and markers is similar as you can see, but the subtle contrast in finishes makes for a watch that is both legible and, I think, pretty beautiful. It works as a dress watch, as you can link see below, but the choice of the supplied strap anticipates this watch being looked to for lots of more casual wear too.