Well known for his role on BBC1’s High Street Dreams, Nick Munro is celebrated as one of Britain’s most original and innovative designers - and now he’s launching two new collections with Fired Earth.

The two new tile collections - Roman Mosaics and Welsh Mountain Slate are designed to be both beautiful and functional.

“I’m really excited about the new tile collections,” says Nick. “Welsh Slate is a great product. I love the Welsh mountains and I love the colours when the sun breaks through - the green meadows, crystal streams, blue skies - and, of course, the perfect blue-grey of the slate.

“It’s brilliant for wall and floor tiles as you can cut it very precisely and it doesn’t peel, making it safe to walk on.”

Nick and his wife, Ali - a textile designer - have also worked together to create a new mosaic collection for Fired Earth.

“When Fired Earth asked me to work with them on a new collection of hand made mosaic tiles, it gave me the perfect opportunity to work on a joint project with Ali, who is a brilliant textile designer.

The two of us looked at the original Fired Earth mosaics and we loved the craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Tunisian artisans, but decided that we could bring a new and more contemporary spirit to this ancient process.

We’ve created both geometric and figurative designs in an unusual colour palette of ochres, reds, greys and oranges.”

With Nick’s brilliant eye for design and instinctive understanding that Fired Earth wants to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional, these new collections are set to become design classics.

Roman Mosaics
Using an organic palette of Tunisian stone and marrying it with geometric patterns inspired by Roman baths and spas, the couple have achieved a new perspective on mosaic art.

Unique and evocative, as suggested by their names - Ludo, Maze, Lattice, Pyramid, Tartan and Rooftops - they can be used as details to add interest to a room, or using a whole panel to fundamentally change the space within which they are used.

Suitable for most purposes, looking equally stunning on walls and floors. Priced at £44.94 each. Pictured here is the lattice design.

To view the striking new Nick Munro tile collections please visit the Fired Fired Earth website.
Tel: (0845) 366 0400

For hot new colours at austerity-proof prices, Cormar Carpets brand new Apollo collection is out of this world!

Apollo is an easy to clean, stain resistant carpet that is available in a palette of fashionable new colours and well priced at £12-14 sq m, ideal for families setting up home or on a restricted budget.

An average size 4×5m room would cost less than £300 plus VAT to carpet - nearly half the price of a new iPad.

“This is a range which is appealing to the ‘new homes’ market, the ‘stain free’ market as well as being an ideal choice for bedrooms,” said David Cormack, marketing director of Cormar Carpets.

“And as colour returns to the home, and in particular to flooring, we have introduced some daring bold colours such as a vibrant red and jet black.”

In line with other products of the easy clean Primo family, Apollo is made from 100% Excellon polypropylene, is bleach cleanable and comes with a five year stain guarantee.

It is available in 4 and 5m widths and comes in a choice of 15 best selling plain and flecked shades.

Cormar Carpets are available nationwide and over one million customers choose Cormar Carpets every year.

About Cormar Carpets.

One of the success stories of the British carpet industry, Lancashire based Cormar Carpets was established in the North of England in 1956 and today ranks as one of the leading carpet manufacturers in the UK.

Throughout the last 50 years, it has placed great emphasis on quality, service and reliability. In fact, such is the esteem in which the company is held, that it has been voted ‘Floor Covering Supplier of the Year’ for the last five years, by readers of the flooring trade magazine, as well as winning many independent retailer awards.

For further information on the new ranges of Cormar carpets, or stockist details please visit the website.

Tel: (01204) 881234

Children love to play and have fun, but all too often it causes chaos around the home.

To make it easier for children to accumulate and play with their toys, IKEA’s clever designers have created the ultimate range of bedroom storage – STUVA, to help create a happier home for all the family.

Launching across all stores this August, STUVA is a unique clever storage system with endless possibilities to suit every child’s needs:

• Designed with rounded corners and edges for increased safety and available in a range of sizes and colours, you can create different storage formations to suit every need, style and personality.
• Easily assembled, the storage can be used for clothes or toys and with the included wall anchors it will be safely secured for any type of play.
• Coming in a range of large and small draws, cupboards, a toybox, shelves and a pull out bench, all sold as separates, you can really create the perfect play area for any child and adapt it as they grow and develop.
• STUVA children’s storage furniture is priced from £85 for a 50×50, H90cm storage bench in white.

Take a look at the full range of STUVA storage products by visiting the IKEA website.

IKEA has conducted a Playreport to continue to listen and learn from their customers:

They were so curious about play that they conducted the largest ever study on child development and the state of play in the world.

With the Playreport, IKEA engaged 10,000 parents and children from around the world, to participate in a conversation about child development and play.

The aim was to increase awareness, start meaningful discussions and hopefully, get parents and children to play more together in the process.
What they discovered might surprise you…!

While it’s great if people simply want to read the survey results from the Playreport, more than anything, IKEA wish to start an open dialogue about play.

Hosted on both Facebook and YouTube, you can now view and discuss the results through these great social media channels.

Playreport
Interact with the Playreport on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/playreport

View the video on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyBfWRW72VA

Villeroy & Boch introduce stylish new tableware collection Althea Nova for summer 2010. The fresh, botanical print design is teamed with a country classic shape, for a slightly nostalgic yet very on-trend feel.

The white fine china collection has been inspired by the resurgence of the kitchen garden and features a wide range of herbs and edible flowers, accompanied by their Latin names.

With ‘growing your own’ very much in focus, this collection evokes the feeling of nature and the natural world in a very feminine and elegant way.

The traditional shape matches this new pattern perfectly and lends the crucial traditional edge. All plates and serving platters are generously sized and ideal for modern family dining.

The pattern offers two interpretations of the botanical theme, the first shows finely drawn herbs with a shadowed effect in light watercolours, whilst the other features herbs close up and in perfect detail with strong colours.
Prices start from £10.95.

Althea Nova is matched with New Cottage crystal glassware in light green and yellow and stainless steel polished cutlery.

The Althea Nova collection will be available from September 2010.

To View the whole Althea Nova stylish tableware collection, visit the Villeroy & Boch website.
http://www.villeroy-boch.com

Tel: (020) 8875 6060

Darlings of Chelsea’s range of designer fabric sofas tap into this Autumn’s berry trend - upholstered in rich plum, aubergine and damson hues.

Update your interior for the new season, using a bold color like purple to create a strong style statement and make a room particularly vibrant, but equally pare it down with chocolate and neutrals to achieve a cosy and inviting atmosphere.

A sumptuous and decadent colour choice for sofas, purples are on trend this autumn, and Darlings of Chelsea are offering these shades in a comprehensive range of classic and modern shapes, suitable for all style tastes:

• The Carla pictured here, is an incredibly comfortable modular sofa with clean lines and a soft modern aesthetic.
• The Domenica Corner Sofa is unusually shaped and ultra modern, and available in a variety of modular configurations. It provides a great option for guests staying over as the nights draw in, as you can easily convert it to a sofa bed.
• The Lauren Modular Sofa is an extremely versatile sofa that can be made to fit a particular space, by changing the number of seat and arm modules, and has recently been updated to include a more traditional button back option.
• The Isabella Sofa with its dramatic curved back and chic velvet upholstery exudes pure luxury, whilst it’s circular shape and high arms make it perfect for snuggling down in.

All of these designs are available in a variety of size and fabric options, as well the option to be create a bespoke sofa to a customer’s own fabric choice.

• Prices:
  Carla, priced from £1100 for a 2 seater.
  Domenica, priced from £1849 for a corner sofa inc. cushions.
  Lauren, priced from £1350 for a 2 seater.
  Isabella, priced from £2069 for a 3 seater inc. 6 cushions.

To view this exciting new range of designer fabric sofas, please visit the Darlings of Chelsea website
Tel: (0207) 371 5745

Leading UK kitchen retailer, In-toto, has launched its next generation of true handleless kitchens with the Inline range.

The sleek elegance and timeless contemporary design of In-toto Inline, combines additional cabinet features and dimensions, enabling even more flexibility and planning freedom in the home.

Every element of the Inline is fully co-ordinated, with a continuous handle recess punctuating the front and a seamless finish concealing a superbly functional kitchen beneath.

In-toto designer and store owner Shanti Panchani from Northwood Hills, London, said: “The Inline is the next generation of handleless kitchens, which offers stunning simplicity to any room by bringing an uninterrupted, minimalist finish, which facilitates the latest desire to extend kitchens into a living and dining area.

With two or three drawer combinations and motorised or push open doors available, Inline is available in laminates, lacquers and wood veneers with matching colours, contrasting colours or stainless steel effect. In-toto’s application of the latest technology means its horizontal and vertical rails match the material and colour of the doors to create an even, clean finish.

“While white gloss kitchens continue to be in high demand, the beauty of Inline is its colour options with the likes of stone grey and a complementary slate finish work surface creating a flawless, fully co-ordinated kitchen which brings effortless cleaning and stylish living,” Shanti added.

“The advent of handleless kitchens together with kitchen islands, means an even more streamlined overall finish is possible which can be further enhanced by installing LED lighting between the worktops and the door fronts creating a greater feeling of space and light.”

The Inline brings incredible functionality to a kitchen with an apparent two drawer frontage, which actually gives way to three draws of storage beneath – none of which is visible from the outside.”

The In-toto Inline collection is available from In-toto stores across the UK from £15k plus appliances and worktop.

For further information on the new In-toto Inline kitchen, or to find your nearest stockist, visit the In-toto website.
Tel: (01924) 487900.

Savvy space saving shoppers will be hopping to Bensons for Beds this season, for the best selling Hip Hop bed with an all-new storage system.

A contemporary wooden bed frame, Hip Hop’s crisp clean lines have continually made it a hot favourite, but the availability of an ottoman lift up bed option, is set to further its appeal amongst hoard-aholics and neat freaks.

The bed works by raising the entire slatted base through a hydraulic system, to reveal a massive storage area - ideal to stow bulky items such as out-of-season bedding, suitcases or even the once-a-year Christmas decorations.

“Storage is an ongoing issue for many of our customers,” says Simon Williams, marketing manager of Bensons. “Smaller bedrooms and less built in cupboards, results in more bedroom clutter but you should never underestimate the potential storage space beneath your bed.

“At Bensons we aim to offer creative solutions, which is why we’ve taken one of our most popular bed frames and engineered it to incorporate maximum storage space.”

Made from a combination of solid ash and ash veneer, the Hip Hop is available in double and king sizes and retails around £399.99 for the double (excluding mattress).

Customers can now order over the phone using Bensons’ new Order Line Service on (0808) 144 6160 (Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, weekend 10am-8pm).

For further information about Bensons beds or for a store locator, please visit the website.

We’ve all heard the terms: carbon footprint, carbon off-setting, carbon neutral… but how many of us actually know what our carbon footprint is? More to the point, how on earth do we go about reducing it.

That’s where AlertMe’s new carbon footprint tool comes in. The company has developed a nifty new widget that allows you to measure your carbon output and convert it into examples (and costs) that you actually understand.

For example, a daily spin of the tumble dryer generates about 300kg of CO2, which is equivalent to driving from Glasgow to Brighton and back.
Not only that - it also costs you about £100 in electricity a year. So not only do you ‘get it’, you’ve also got the power to reduce it.

Features

• Know how much carbon dioxide your home creates.
  Calculate your home’s carbon footprint and find ways to drive this down.
  Monitor your CO2 usage over time and spot trends to help reduce your footprint.

Benefits

• Convert kgs of carbon into something you can understand, like miles travelled, plane trips, plastic bags used or gallons of petrol.
  Reduce your carbon emissions and make your home more environmentally friendly.
  See how your carbon footprint compares to the UK average.

The Carbon Trust estimates that the average UK home energy usage generates 1.37 tonnes of carbon per year, that’s 1370 kg of carbon.
How do you compare? Is your carbon footprint high, low, about average?

Now with Carbon Footprint, you can see at a glance how your carbon emissions compare to the national average and take steps to reduce your impact on the environment.

What’s your carbon footprint? Find out now by visiting the AlertMe website.

The Travelling Souk has found the perfect presents, with one for every occasion and for every person – a unique selection of tabletop accessories that have an instant impact.

All handmade, silver plated and finished with colourful glass beads.

Not only are they tastefully ornamental and functional, they are attractive and fun too!

• Quirky butter knives and the cake forks in our picture, are like little jewels on your tea tray, they will also make perfect housewarming present.
• And a ‘must have’ for every bar – a glamorous bar set, consists of a drinks measure, small plate, drinks stirrer and lemon fork. It makes an ideal present for Dads all year round, or a graduation present.
• Also available are wonderful cheese knives, which make a great accompaniment to every cheese board or platter and would be ideal for cheese lovers worldwide.
• Cheese Knife - £21.75.
  Bar set with drinks measure - £46.25.
  Cake Fork - £9.75.
  Butter Knife - £14.75.

Since Georgiana Pike set up The Travelling Souk in 2003, she has raised more than £300,000 for charities.
At the events ,10% goes to the hostess’s assigned charity and 2.6% of each purchase from the website set up in 2008, also goes to charity.

For more perfect present ideas, visit the Travelling Souk website.

Tel: (01865) 821835

September 1st marks Red Candy’s first birthday!

It’s been exactly one year since the homes across the country have been enlightened to bold design, from a superior choice of vintage inspired pieces and innovative contemporary design, to choosing red as a subtle accent, or fully indulging in this passionate colour.

And now, Red Candy gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning with the new Guzzini compact Espresso Maker:

• This funky and thoroughly modern single espresso machine is compact and lightweight, making it perfect for the smaller kitchen or city apartment.
• Few can resist the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning and this Espresso Maker fixes any caffeine craving on the touch of a button.
• Featuring a translucent water compartment & aluminium/chrome tray designed for ground coffee, but will also work with the tea bag coffee capsules that you can buy from supermarkets of coffee shops.
• As with all Guzzini kitchenware, the compact Espresso is formed in vibrant colourful acrylic to match design and function.
  Dimensions: 16 x 21 x 23.5 H - 1200 W.
  Priced at: £129.

If you’re looking for the perfect piece of kitchen kit for the switched on urbanite, look no further than Redcandy.co.uk!

About Redcandy - A website dedicated to the celebration of red home furnishings and modern interior accessories.
Whether you use red as a subtle accent, or your love of this passionate colour sees it spread throughout your life, RedCandy provides for all by stocking the latest, most fantastic and innovative red products and designs from across the world.

For more information on the Guzzini compact Espresso Maker visit the Redcandy website.
Tel:   (0121) 4496123.