Your decorating queries answered by our expert

Our resident interiors expert Rachel Leedham is on hand to answer all your decorating queries

DISGUISING A CHIMNEY FLUE

What colour paint should I use on a wall to minimise the visual

impact of the black flue of our free standing, wood-burning stove?

tessa slimon, Devon

I spoke to Judy Smith, colour consultant at Crown (0330 024 0281, crownpaints.co.uk), and she advised against using a pattern behind the flue, as this will draw attention to it. She suggested a dark matt emulsion such as Midnight Navy, from £14 per 1.25 litres, or City Break, from £13 per 2.5 litres. Jenny Luck, colour consultant at Little Greene (020 7935 8844, littlegreene.com), recommends an absolute matt emulsion in a deep, sumptuous tone, and suggests Cordaba for a warm, rich feel, Obsidian Green (shown) or Invisible Green for a dramatic effect, or Scree or Lamp Black if you are drawn to greys, all £42 per 2.5 litres. Word of warning: combustible materials should never be used by a stove, particularly the flue pipe.

Do you know where I can find the beautiful chandelier resembling a birdcage, pictured in Laura and Patrick Butler-madden’s drawing room (p23, April 2017)? BELINDA JAMES, By EMAIL

With its copper-coated wire frame and colourful menagerie of exotic birds, this unusual light, La Volière by French designer Mathieu Challières, is perfect for bringing a touch of whimsy to a scheme. The fledglings are individually crafted from hand-dyed goose feathers so each chandelier is unique. The pendant lamp is available from Graham and Green (01225 418200, grahamandgreen.co.uk) in two sizes: H33 x Dia45cm, £425 and H33 x Dia66cm, £499. A floor lamp and two styles of table lamp with rigid copper bases are also available.