It may come as little surprise but it is official, as a nation, our beds are extremely important to us.

Most of us rate getting a good night’s sleep as having a lie-in and sleeping on laundered bed linen, in our top ten favourite small pleasures.

So, what better excuse do you need to invest in the new range of silk bed linen from John Lewis?

As well as being super luxurious, sleeping on silk also has many health and beauty benefits and can even help slow down the appearance of wrinkles.

Other health benefits include:

• Anti-static properties, which helps keep frizzy hair to a minimum.

• Hypoailergenic making it the perfect choice for allergy sufferers.

• Silk is a natural temperature regulator, which reacts to body heat - meaning you’ll never be too hot or too cold.

• Encourages better circulation.

The range is available in five elegant colours: Ivory (shown in our picture). Soft Mocha, Ash Rose, Duck Egg, Pearl compromising of duvet cover, pillowcase and sheet in single, double and king sizes, with prices starting from £25 for a pillowcase.

Product Information:

Soft, 100% silk fitted sheets, which are machine washable for luxury with practicality.

Matching duvet covers and pillowcases available separately.

Single to fit bed 90 x 190cm.
Double to fit bed 135 x 190cm.
Kingsize to fit bed 150 x 200cm.
Super kingsize to fit bed 180 x 200cm.

Visit the John Lewis website for more information.

Tel:   (0845) 049 049

2009 saw the introduction of the colour black into the bathroom, with accents of black on taps and furniture presented in stylish finishes.

In 2010, black is now the defining colour in up-to-date bathrooms.

Basins, for so long only to be had in white, are now available in sleek, sexy black.

The Jacuzzi® Morphosis basin in black, epitomises the essence of the new trend and is available now from the new Jacuzzi® Designer Range.
This distinctive basin, designed by leading design house Pininfarina, oozes style and sophistication.

The stunningly proportioned Jacuzzi Nexus basin takes on a whole new persona, as its sleek lines are accentuated further by this new colour option; combine with a red, black or white deck for a real boutique look.

And why choose white when the Jacuzzi Bordo basin is now available in black? Better still, choose one of each and create your own unique look.
The Bordo basin is available in a choice of two sizes - 45cm and 55cm.

• Jacuzzi Morphosis 80cm countertop basin (£744.00) on Jacuzzi 100cm gloss red countertop (£550). Featured here.

• Jacuzzi Bordo 55cm countertop basin (£224.39) on Jacuzzi white countertop 100cm (£550).

• Jacuzzi Nexus 45cm countertop basin (£257.99) on gloss red countertop 140cm (£650).

Bold, decadent and highly desirable, a Jacuzzi basin in black is the ultimate design statement; add a touch of sophistication to your bathroom and update with this on-trend style, to create a sleek and stylish look.

The Jacuzzi Designer Range New Innovations catalogue is available to download now, and features highly desirable products that look superb and perform to the highest standard.

The Jacuzzi Designer Range is sold exclusively through specialist bathroom retailers throughout the UK.

To view the whole new basins range please visit the Jacuzzi website.

Tel: (01782) 717175

A newly launched UK-based service gives cash-conscious consumers greater control over their finances, by-passing the banks with their often hefty overdraft charges and fees.

The Speed-e-card (a prepaid MasterCard) and e-bank account, gives the consumer many of the benefits of a traditional bank account and debit card - but with no interest charges or late fees - and no credit checks:

• The card can be used online or in shops, just like a normal credit or debit card, including abroad, meaning no more worries about having to change up Travellers Cheques.

• Once you have loaded funds into your speed-e-card account, you can then use the card to access this balance from either ATMs, or to make payments Online, via the free e-bank account and even set up standing orders from it, making it a viable alternative to running a traditional bank account.

• Because consumers can only spend the money they have on their card, they should never go overdrawn, enabling greater control over their money and no nasty overdraft fees!

• There is also the option to receive an SMS every time the prepaid card is used, so card-holders will know straight away if it is being used fraudulently.

Gary Miller-Cheevers from Speed-e-card says: “The Speed-e-card with its free e-bank account gives consumers greater control over their money, and the re-assurance that they will never pay charges and fees due to being overdrawn.

We believe that in these credit-crunching times and with lots of media coverage over unfair bank charges and hidden costs, this service provides a transparent and ethical way to manage your finances. Why give the money to the banks when you can spend it yourself!”

The Speed-e-card is also unique in that once it is activated, it can be loaded with a Speed-e-loans Payday Loan - a form of cash advance, which is repaid on your next payday.

For more detailed information, please visit the Speed-e-Card website

Haddonstone, the UK’s leading manufacturer of fine garden and landscape ornaments, has completed a full costing review of its current ornament prices, which has led to over 70 price reductions.
The company has also absorbed the recent VAT price increase for both garden ornaments and fireplaces.

As a consequence there is now an increased range of planters that cost less than £100 including, the Plaited Basket, Belton Box, Etruscan Vase, House of Dun Urn and the Vine Urn; and the Small Key Planter is now only £15!

Significant savings include the popular Bayeux Fountain, which has been reduced from £1200 to £995 – saving more than £200!

Pictured here is the Bayeux Fountain HC130: Inspired by Romanesque architecture; this robust self-circulating fountain features stylish leaf moulding around the fountain bowls; this design was created by Haddonstone to act as a focal point in a sheltered garden or conservatory.
Includes Pump.

Height: 1525mm./60”; Weight 222kg./ 489lb.
Diameter of main bowl: 950mm. / 37.38”.
Diameter of base: 572mm. / 22.1/2”.

Please note: The fountain will require mechanical lifting on site in all instances.

Other designs which have been reduced in price include, the Victorian Jardinière, Florentine Urn, Tudor Jardinière, Bust of Pan, statues of Andromeda and Venus, Large Dolphin Fountain, Seasons Plaques, Haddonstone Table Supports and the Elizabethan Smokers’ Stand.

Simon Scott, Haddonstone’s Marketing Director, comments: “We have undertaken a full review of our production costs and are delighted to be able to pass on savings, wherever we can, to our clients.
By also absorbing the recent VAT increase, we are pleased that customers can continue to buy quality products at reasonable prices.”

For more information visit the Haddonstone website.

Tel:   (01604) 770711 to request a copy of their inspirational 208 page catalogue.

Valentine’s Day is a day famous for waste and over consumption. This year saw the exit of conspicuous consumption and welcomed in investment buys.

This does not however mean your love and affection for your loved one cannot be displayed through the giving of a gift this Valentine’s Day.

Offering quality, luxury and elegance, a coffee machine from JURA provides the investment piece you’ve been looking for.

Conjuring up memories from cafes in European cities, JURA’s high quality coffee can bring the romance of a holiday to the home.

The ENA5 is the world’s slimmest bean-to-cup coffee machine, measuring just 23.8cm wide, and is designed with the discerning customer in mind:

• Available in 7 different colours, including Valentine red, the ENA5 includes innovative features such as rotating and height adjustable spout, intuitive rotary control dial and display, and a cappuccino frother.

• Whether with breakfast in bed on a lazy Sunday or after a dinner for two, share a JURA-made espresso or cappuccino and enjoy the aromatic coffee flavours.

Jura UK has a flagship concession in Harrods where the full range is available.
Jura coffee centres are also available at specialists cookware shops, selected department stores and online.

For further information on the full JURA product range and stockist details, please visit the JURA website.
or www.juradealers.co.uk

Geoff Collier has developed a selection of striking brass pieces, ideal for either traditional or contemporary interiors.

The new brass collections website showcases their ‘Period lighting’ and ‘Shell’ Collections, which offer the consumer a selection of specialist items to suit a variety of interior looks and tastes.

The Exclusive Lighting Collection is a varied range of products including table lamps, Floor lamps, Ceiling lights and Wall lights, all produced from in-house designs and original patterns, dating from the early 19th century onwards.

The products, from grand art deco wall lights to contemporary bedside lamps are handcrafted by skilled artisans, featuring intricate detail, such as traditional fine chiselling and punch-work.

The Shell Collection is a contemporary interpretation of organic sea-life forms, transformed into highly original door furniture, window accessories and lighting.
From sea urchin door-knobs in nickel, to Cone shell curtain pole finials; this range would be ideal for a sea-side residence, yacht or modern home.

The Neo-Palladio Collection is also due to be launched within the next few months.

Geoff Collier is proud to produce the very highest standards of craftsmanship for their clients, including many leading Interior Designers, Architects and Antique Dealers who commission them with bespoke pieces as well as large scale manufacturing contracts.

Visit the Geoff Collier Collections website to be inspired.

Tel: 020 7373 8888

It’s the most romantic day of the year and AGA are offering some sweet suggestions for you and your amour…

AGA’s celebration of Valentine’s Day includes a heart-warming 50% off all Joules at AGA and Love AGA textiles.

The collections include the too-yummy Love AGA chef’s pad in our picture, discounted to £5.48, with a matching apron at £9.98.
Both are made from organic cotton and make the perfect gift to a loved one.

Their cute Valentine’s Day Breakfast set includes one heart-shaped silcone ring and one flower-shaped silicone ring; they make delicious drop scones for breakfast in bed and come with a circle of indispensable Bake-O-GlideTM. £11.95.

Ideal for conjuring up gorgeous and delicious tarts is the 23cm silver anodised aluminium heart-shaped flan dish, priced at £11.49.
And a 12cm version , priced at £5.49, is a luscious way to show your Valentine you care.

Why Not Join in the celebrations?
On February 13 there will be lots going at your local AGA shop to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

To find your nearest store, Tel: (08457) 125 207

For more information visit the AGA Cookshop website.

Delicious, fresh vegetables from your own garden on your dinner table every day – what a luxury!

It needn’t be a worry if you think your garden is too small, or if you only have a few hours to spare.

Complete kits for instant edible gardens have arrived!:

Small Vegetable Garden Plant Pack - The plant pack contains all the plants and seeds you’ll need for ONE GROWING YEAR. It doesn’t matter when you buy the pack, as you will receive deliveries through the post for a whole 12 months.

• The young plants are only sent out when they are ready for planting, so there’s no need to ‘harden’ them off or pot them up.

• With each plant pack you will be sent a Planting Plan.

• How many plants you’ll need to fill your beds, has been carefully worked out; how far apart each plant should be and depending on the weather, the best time to plant. It’s a bit like ‘planting by numbers’.

• Great for one to two people - It will fill two raised beds 1.2m x 2.4m, or a plot 4m x 4.5m. Price: £92.50 Including delivery.

The Mini Kitchen Garden Plant Pack – New from The Travelling Souk.

• Its small size means that it will fit into all gardens, raised beds or pots.

• There is something very satisfying about growing your own and with the instant edible garden kits you are helped every step of the way.

• Ready-to-plant organic young plants are delivered to you by post and a planting by numbers plan means that you get it right – an excellent way of engaging your children too.

• The mini-kitchen-garden pack is packed with veggies, salad, herbs and strawberries – just dig in!

• The kit contains 40 young organic plants and retails at £45.

Also available from The Travelling Souk are Raised Beds and Mini Green Houses.

Visit the Travelling Souk website to view more gardening delights.

Got a few extra pounds to shed after Christmas? Don’t join a gym – grab your vacuum cleaner instead!

Vacuuming is one of the best household chores for working off calories and is twice as effective as walking in the park.*

Just twenty-five minutes of vacuuming burns off the same calories as a glass of wine, so you could even sit back and relax in your fresh, clean home with a guilt-free glass.

Powerful suction and improved ergonomics mean that using one of the new Power uprights from Vax won’t be a chore.

The entire Power range has been improved for 2010, introducing new features to provide enhanced comfort and performance, along with an extended 2-year guarantee:

• The new extra-length 10-metre power cord means no stopping to move the plug.

• The comfortable grip on the handle supports your hand, so cleaning is less effort.

• For faster, more effective hard floor cleaning, a new rumble strip prevents dust from scattering back during vacuuming.

• And the tools have been re-designed to improve suction and ease of use.

With prices starting from just £79.99, the new Power range offers great value for money.

It includes Pet models with an anti-bacterial filter and a TurboTool, which makes picking up pet hair, cleaning stairs, upholstery and car seats a breeze.

For easier stair cleaning, the Power 6 Complete, also has an extra long stretch hose for cleaning right to the top of your staircase.

* Vax housework calorie counter: http://www.vax.co.uk/calorie-counter.php

For further information on Vax vacuum cleaners or for stockist details, visit the Vax website.

Tel:  Vax Customer Careline: (0844) 412 8455.

Established in 1977, Vax is a leading UK floor-care brand.
The company’s product portfolio offers a comprehensive range of carpet washers, vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners and hard-floor cleaners.

French technology company Withings has announced the availability of its WiFi Body Scale in the UK.

Withings has combined sleek design and technology, to transform a regular bathroom scale into an accurate health monitoring system.

The world’s first WiFi connected personal weight scale that automatically records the user’s body weight, lean and fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) to his/her secure web-page.

In addition, a free Withings iPhone application, WiScale enables people to follow their body weight, lean and fat mass on their smart phone.

With its extra-flat black and steel design, the scale is an ideal bathroom accessory.

Jam-packed with technology, while still remaining very simple to use, the scale is available now on the Withings website priced at 129 euros or £119.

“We strive to bring innovation, design and technology to everyday objects through a wireless connection to the Internet and we feel the WiFi Body Scale truly delivers on all fronts,” said Cedric Hutchings, Withings General Manager.

By using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), the scale calculates the user’s body fat composition, and displays it in actual weight instead of a percentage of fat in the body; this allows for more accurate tracking, because it avoids the daily weight fluctuations, due to things like water gain or loss.

The scale is the perfect tool and a useful motivator, for anyone concerned about their health and interested in monitoring the benefits and progress of their diet and exercise plan.

It’s also useful for tracking the entire family’s health progress, with its multi-user function.
The scale automatically recognizes up to 8 users the moment they step on the scale and adds the stats to their individual online tracking graphs.

With the convenience this scale provides, users don’t have to lift a finger to get their daily stats - just step on the scale then check your progress report instantly on the web, or on your free WiScale iPhone application.

The Scale measures: 0.90 inches/23 mm | 12X12 glass slab/ 32×32 cm.
Display: 62 X 40 mm with high white contrast lighting.

Visit the Withings website for more information.