Home & Garden
Graduate designs high-tech tea towel
Graduating Product & Furniture Design student Paul Oxley has invented a device he calls the electronic tea towel to boost kitchen hygiene. Paul, who graduates from De Montfort University in Leicester next week (14 July), with a first class honours degree, has developed the idea for a high-tech replacement for kitchen cloths.
Graduating student designs space saving sofa system
Graduating design student Charles Bramwell has designed the perfect party sofa system designed to save space in modern homes. Charles, who graduates BA(Hons) Furniture with Product Design from De Montfort University in Leicester next week (14 July), has developed an adaptable seating system to address the ever-shrinking average room size in houses.
The creme de la crema
Versatility is one of the trends building huge momentum in the kitchen with designers and consumers alike rethinking the traditional ways of handling appliances. Appliance types, options and combinations have evolved to allow for more diverse and personalised options.
Allot Frères takes luxury furniture to Maison & Objet
Ateliers Allot Frères of France, a specialist in top-of-the-range reproduction furniture, will, for the first time, take part in the Maison & Objet trade show, which will be held in Paris from 5 to 9 September 2008. The company specialises in reproductions of works from French master cabinet makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Allot Frères manufactures a range of over 600 designs, featuring a wide range of lacquers, finishes, fabrics and hand-sculpted models in Regency, Louis XV or Empire styles.
Ikea – Low price, but not at any price
An increased cost of living, at present, means that many of us may be spending more time at home this summer. With the belief that home is the most important place in the world, IKEA have some great products that will brighten up your home without breaking the bank.
Andrew Duff previews Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2008
The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (8 – 13 July 2008) is a highlight in every garden lover’s calendar. The show falls into five categories - show gardens, water gardens, small gardens, conceptual gardens and inspiring spaces and takes place in the beautiful environs of Hampton Court.
Affordable luxury is Bliss
The Bodo Sperlein Bathroom Collection for Bliss is a unique range of contemporary home accessories in fine, white porcelain. The collection has a clean-cut, sculptural aesthetic that reflects Bodo Sperlein’s signature style, offering affordable luxury from one of Britain’s leading designers. “These pieces are decorative and timeless,” says Bodo Sperlein, “but above all, they’re functional.”
Auction record for renowned artist Beryl Cook at Bonhams
In Bonhams sale of 20th Century British Art yesterday – Wednesday 2 July, a wonderful and humorous oil on board, Granny with her Pet Mouse by Beryl Cook fetched more than double its estimate to realise a world record price of £69,600 for a work by the artist. A second work in the sale, The Dolphin also soared in price to realise £66,000, also smashing the previous record price of £28,800.
Coram reveals innovation for the bathroom
Leading shower enclosure designer and manufacturer, Coram Showers, has continued to drive forward bathroom innovation by demonstrating how a traditional bathroom can be transformed into a contemporary shower room with ease. Using wet room panels from the Acora Continental Collection, it is possible to create a luxurious ‘wet area’ or ‘wet floor shower’, which provides a highly stylish yet cost-effective alternative to the complete wet room.
A holy experience for the Fair Trade Furniture Company
The fairly traded and sustainably sourced Jogya lounge chair from The Fair Trade Furniture Company recently got the holy seal of approval when Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited The Salisbury International Arts Festival in June. Archbishop Tutu was welcomed to Salisbury for the Peace Weekend where he was invited to talk with ITV News anchorman, Mark Austin, to discuss his ministry of peace and commitment to humanitarian causes.
Konnie Huq says ‘get creative with your photos’
Konnie Huq - the queen of crafts - may have left her Blue Peter days behind her, but she’s still putting her skill and creativity to good use with her latest project – the Kodak Creative Lab. Konnie is urging the British public to dig out photographs from the shoebox under the bed, pull out jpegs hidden away in folders on computers and turn them into something creative that friends and family will want to keep and share.
Boilers demystified
Worcester, part of the Bosch Group has developed a new generation of central heating boilers that not only reduce CO2 emissions, but can also reduce fuel bills. Three quarters of the energy used in the home is for heating and hot water which accounts for about 73% of a home’s CO2 emissions.
Meow: Hilarious new Coo Clock from HeadsUp
Kids and kids at heart will love HeadsUp’s whimsical and cheerful Coo Clocks. Combining Old World charm and 21st century style, these colourful clocks come with a wacky twist that breathes new life into Cuckoo Clocks of old.
Get the designer look for your home at TK Maxx
From the 26th June, look out for a special delivery of homeware to give your abode a new lease of life. With a host of different styles there’s furniture for all tastes. Interior trendsetters should look out for the large range of Oriental furniture including chests and cabinets from £49.99.
Eco-style your home from the ground up
Make a green style statement in your home with this trendy floor hide designed by Scottish eco-designer Susiemaroon and available from Pure Design. All the hides have a natural dark brown finish and are finished with rich gold, green and orange embroidery.