RSGOLD-RUNESCAPEGOLD

The Royal Albert Hall was booked for New Year's Eve 1999 in 1975 Madame Tussaud's and Tower Bridge were snapped up long ago. And, most worryingly, hospital emergency departments may not be able to function because of the difficulty of getting staff to work the festive period without substantial financial inducements. Little thought was given to such matters when the big party venues started selling out long before Mr Heseltine spoke those words. A large proportion of hotels and restaurants have already decided to close their doors Public transport may not run. AS FAR BACK as 1989, Michael Heseltine told an Arts Council lunch: "If it is at all possible, purchase an option on any dance hall you can find for the night of 31 December 1999." Now, with a year to go, the worry is less about finding a venue than whether anybody will be on hand to work that night. Or if you feel really artistic you can buy tiles and do it yourself.. No longer the cracked brown floor covering, this comes in 30 different colours in tiles, sheets or panels from around pounds 22 per square metre.

Even in sheet form, its soft marbled finish adds texture, but it comes into its own in custom-made designs, beloved of the new wave of interior designers who can now combine practicality with individuality without offending the wallet, or the senses.Forbo Nairn offers a bespoke service - a drawing or computer-generated design is cut exactly to pattern and can be reassembled in the home. In 1996 Forbo Nairn, the only remaining manufacturer of lino in the UK, reinvented the product as Marmoleum (tel: 01592 643111). Linoleum has been around for more than 100 years and offers warmth, easy maintenance and a clear conscience for environmentalists. It is a totally natural product, made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour and chalk, but because it was traditionally used in hospitals andclassrooms, it has suffered an image problem. Lino started to come back into fashion earlier this decade as a versatile, low maintenance flooring which is very child-friendly - lino has natural anti-bacterial properties and is easy to clean. IF YOU really can't bear the thought of a carpet there is a fashionable, natural and comfortable alternative: linoleum. Dust mites thrive in wool, but fresh air and regular vacuuming will limit contamination.Think hard about the dangers of ceramics or stone at the foot of the stairs if you have small children A carpet with underlay provides a much softer landing.. Areas which suffer heavy traffic should be covered with Heavy Domestic.

You can get away with a cheaper carpet in the bedroom. A good quality 80 per cent wool/ 20 per cent nylon carpet will last between 10 and 30 years, depending on wear, if looked after - vacuumed and lightly cleaned regularly.Bare floors of any sort are healthier in the bedroom, but if they are then covered by heavy wool rugs they will still harbour dust mites.lThe National Asthma Campaign recommends short pile synthetic carpets. Carpet prices start from pounds 4 per square metre for a nylon lightweight tufted carpet to around pounds 50 per square metre for a traditional woven Wilton or Axminster. It is almost more important for the underlay to be fitted professionally than the carpet, because any gaps will cause uneven wear in the carpet. Buy the best you can afford - preferably rubber crumb or felt. A thick underlay will help protect a carpet by absorbing some of the wear.