We discuss the work of Birman and Solomyak on the singular numbers of integral operators from the point of view of modern approximation theory, in particular with the use of wavelet techniques. We are able to provide a simple proof of norm estimates for integral operators with kernel in $B^{frac{1}{p}-frac{1}{2}}_{p,p}(mathbb R,L_2(mathbb R))$. This recovers, extends and sheds new light on a theorem of Birman and Solomyak. We also use these techniques to provide a simple proof of Schur multiplier bounds for double operator integrals, with bounded symbol in $B^{frac{1}{p}-frac{1}{2}}_{frac{2p}{2-p},p}(mathbb R,L_infty(mathbb R))$, which extends Birman and Solomyaks result to symbols without compact domain.