The good auction guide

Starting a new collection can be daunting. Art advisor Patrick Monahan shares his top tips on what and how to buy and what to avoid

Our new columnist, designer Africa Daley-Clarke, reveals how to build a storied feeling in your home, starting with the slow pleasures of secondhand

Many interior designers actively encourage a mix to create successful schemes. ‘For a space to be personal and individual, avoid filling it with only new things,’ advises Sarah Peake, founder and crea

North & Scotland 1st The Country House Gathering, Saltmarshe Hall, Saltmarshe, Howden, East Yorkshire, DN14 7RX. littleenglishhouse.co.uk 2nd Ilkley Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair, Clarke Foley

The numbers are in for some of summer’s biggest classic sales. Here’s why you’ve been opening up your wallets at UK auctions

Q Do retailers charge the same price for items sold in-store as they do on their websites? A Not necessarily. Some retailers may charge a different amount for certain items in-store – in the cases I’v