Step aside Hyacinth Bucket. Turning stereotypes on their head, research reveals that 18-24 year olds are turning into a nation of CHAPS…that’s Cautious Hosts Against Party Stress.

Twenty-six per cent of the house-proud and overly cautious young hosts, make guests remove their shoes to safeguard their floors, almost double that of those aged 65+ (14%) who may have been expected to be the most mishap-minded.

The survey of 2,014 adults from Greenbee Home Insurance (part of the John Lewis Partnership) finds almost a quarter (23%) of 18-24 year olds, don’t like entertaining at home, for fear of potential party accidents - almost three times more than those aged 65+, with just 8% worrying about damage, and more than double 55-64 year olds (10%).

Across the UK it appears people don’t trust their friends not to damage their property, with 14% on average saying they don’t like hosting parties at home, as they fear something will get damaged or broken if they do.

Almost one in five (19%) is so keen to keep their houses spic-and-span, they’ll ensure guests remain shoe-less, to avoid muddy carpets or high-heels scuffing their wooden floors.

However the seeming paranoia around home dramas may well be justified, as 14% reveal they’re more worried about household accidents or breakages than ever before, as in the current economic climate they can’t afford to replace any damaged items - rising to one in five (20%) of 45-54 year olds and 17% of women (compared to 11% of men).

With just 23% of those surveyed believing they’re covered for any home accidents through insurance (yet only 13% of products on the market offer this cover as standard) and industry data revealing a significant increase in related claims this year, it’s clear that the financial implications of a potential sofa spillage, or kitchen calamity should be kept in mind.

James Furse, managing director, greenbee.com said, “While those without cover are understandably concerned about the cost of an unfortunate accident while entertaining, even those with home insurance may want to consider checking their policy small print, to make sure they’re covered for all eventualities.”
For further information please visit:

Web: http://www.greenbee.com
Tel: (0800) 916 6800.

Surface View has launched their new eshop surfaceview.co.uk/two, featuring a new range of ready-to-buy canvases and prints.

From their vast and uniquely beautiful image collections, Surface View have brought together some of their favourite images and made them available to buy as canvases, prints or mounted prints online.

All of the imagery is lovingly digitally re-mastered from the original sources and care is taken to respect the character and ´age worn´ beauty of the original image.

“Not everyone requires our bespoke service, and we wanted to offer a collection of canvases and prints that are ready-to-buy, in a range of formats and sizes,´ says Michael Ayerst, M.D. of Surface View.

These will comprise of images specially selected from the bespoke collection and will be available in the ready-to-buy range for one month only.”

Prices in the Surface View Two range start from £30.
Each month the website will also feature a selection of Specials.

Of course, if you want to explore further options, you can still visit the main Surface View site (www.surfaceview.co.uk), a whole new world of bespoke interior graphics, to browse hundreds more images, discover the murals, prints, blinds and specialist products available and find out how to specify your own preferences.

Their expertise within their field, has led Surface View to work with a number of prestigious galleries, museums and artists, which includes collections from the V&A, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the National Maritime Museum and more…

To view the extensive Surface View collections visit:

Web: http://www.surfaceview.co.uk      

       http://www.surfaceview.co.uk/two

If you’re searching for a statement piece for your kitchen this summer, look no further than La Cornue’s new ‘colours of the moment’, Aqua and Coral!

In the aquamarine stove featured here, the hoods and Flamberge spit, find a new elegance that subtly transforms in changing light - the colour is as sweet as a sugared almond, as light as the sky’s reflection and as cool as a pebble in clear water.
An aquamarine Château is an irresistible invitation to the at home chef, to cook up the most bewitching flavours.

Gracing every continental catwalk, the energy-injecting coral tone is both bold, beautiful and is set to be a kitchen ‘must have’ this summer.
In introducing this passionate pantone, La Cornue is ensuring kitchen accessories are at the forefront of this seasons hottest trends!

Teamed with these fun summer hues, the classic Château 120 and 150 cookers are perfect additions to any cook’s kitchen.

La Cornue brings together contemporary style and 100 years of quality craftsmanship, to produce beautiful cookers and cookware.

La Cornue is available from stockists around the UK:

Web: http://www.lacornue.co.uk
Tel:(01926) 457618

Eco-chic interiors brand, Milk & Honey, is proud of it’s participation in the 2009 ‘A Taste of London’ at Regent’s Park in June.

Following on from a successful sponsorship of table linen at Gordon Ramsay’s ‘A Taste of Christmas’, 2008, Milk &Honey have been asked to continue their contract across the ‘Taste of’ festivals including ‘A Taste of Birmingham’ and ‘A Taste of Edinburgh’ as well as ‘A Taste of London’, with their effortlessly stylish linen, gracing the tables of the VIP theatre restaurants and dining areas.

‘We are privileged to be chosen as the official supplier of Table Linen to the Taste of London 2009 festival,’ says founder of Milk & Honey, Emilie Evans.

‘To work alongside some of the UK’s most famous chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstal, Michael Roux Jr, Bryn Williams and Gary Rhodes, as well as promoting high quality food, local products and cottage industries, is in keeping with the Milk and Honey ethos.’

Web: http://www.milk-and-honey.co.uk
See Emilie’s tips for elegant table laying see article below……

What are your top tips for laying a stylish dining table?

‘Try to keep it simple with pure white or warm vanilla linen, which will enhance the colours, texture and the beauty of whatever you are serving.

Whether your style is contemporary: layer with table runners and placemats; or traditional: layer with a table cloth, add a personal touch to your dining table, by placing fun or charming name tags, to avoid that guests’ moment of indecision, about where to sit when they arrive.

Creating a stylish dining table will guarantee your guests will always have something to talk about.’

How can you keep white linen looking crisp and fresh?
‘Always wash your white linens separately with a mild detergent. My secret tip to keep white linen dazzling is as follows: put 2 large table spoons of baking powder in the wash, which is not only ecological sound but will keep your linen sparkling white.’

Milk & Honey table cloths, napkins and runners, are available to purchase via their online store:

Prices Napkins (45×45cm) £3.95; Placemat (35×48cm) £4.50;
Runner (35×100cm) £8.00; Runner (35×160cm) £10.00;
Table cloth (160×160cm) £17.50; Table cloth (160×250cm) £22.50.

Web: http://www.milk-and-honey.co.uk

Goodwood Bathrooms has introduced the sophisticated City Range bringing warmth and individuality to the bathroom.

Decadent yet practical, the City Range of bathroom furniture (as seen in our picture) features high quality Cherry Maple, black porcelain handles and a striking Nero Absoluto granite top.

Also raised and fielded trims, fitted bevel edge mirrors and arched pelmets boasts a distinct style.

Although traditional in style, the freestanding unit is perfect for an open plan bedroom-bathroom area.

Creating a look that is popular within boutique hotels, the City Range makes it effortless to achieve a truly luxurious look within the home.

Neatly housing bathroom toiletries and more, the combination of drawers and cupboards, will keep unwanted clutter out of sight.

The characteristic cover bead on the frame stile, which can be made in a choice of designs, disguises the joint between units, to visually create an unbroken run of furniture.

Pull-out laundry baskets, drawer stacks and adjustable shelving add the finishing touches.

In addition, City can be used for free-standing or fully fitted installations.

Now just choose your timber finish…

The composition shown above retails from £10,461 including VAT.

Tailored to the customers needs, Goodwood Bathrooms bespoke service is offered within the City range, allowing for complete control over the finish, size and layout.

For more information on Goodwood Bathrooms visit:
Web: http://www.goodwoodbathrooms.co.uk/city.php

Tel: (01243) 532121

Appliance specialist, Caple, has launched the innovative Luna wall chimney hood, into its range of designer cooker hoods.

Becoming a focal point within the kitchen, Luna demonstrates the rise in prominence of the extractor hood; reflecting the current trend towards glass appliances, the circular facing of the Luna hood, is available in both white and black glass.

Bringing an element of contrast, the stainless steel also provides a masculine touch, against the sweeping curves of the glass frontage.

Maintaining the simplistic clean lines of the kitchen, the Luna hood features discreet touch screen controls.

Illuminating the cooking area, the hood has two 20W halogen lights to provide the optimum task lighting.

Luna has a maximum extraction rate of 900m3/h and provides three different speeds, to conveniently remove unwanted odours from the kitchen.

Offering flexibility, Luna is available with a recirculation kit.

The unconventional design measures 600mm wide.

Other qualities include aluminium grease filters and a ducting spigot size 150mm.

The Luna hood retails from around £529 including VAT, in both black and white glass.

For further information on this, or any other appliance in the Caple portfolio visit:

Web: http://www.caple.co.uk
Tel: (0117) 938 1900

A door entry system is the first step towards securing a building from unauthorized access, whether it is a residential or commercial property.

As the first point of contact a visitor will have when entering a premises, it is important to create the right impression.

Bitron Video’s range of entry panels combined with the new T-Line audio and video house phones make the right impression at reasonable prices.

The kits for audio and video systems, are complete with everything required for a simple and successful installation. The tried and tested 5-wire technology for video systems saves on installation time and costs, as there is no need for expensive co-axial cable.

Recently reviewed in Benchmark magazine, in a group test of the leading manufacturers 1 way audio kits, Bitron Video’s AV2058/51 T-Line Villa Kit was awarded recommended status.

This kit was also featured in Professional Security Installer magazine, in their Recession Buster feature, as an excellent value for money and fit for purpose kit.

The rest of the range is equally praise worthy and the value for money philosophy runs all the way through it, including the new T-Line Hands-Free monitor that is backwards compatible with most Bitron systems.

For further information visit:

Web: http://www.bitronvideogroup.co.uk
Tel: (01371) 871585.

The Travelling Souk Website is a veritable treasure chest full of gems for you, your friends and family, as well as your home and garden .

New and unusual products are constantly added to this exciting online department store; each time you visit it you will find new things to admire and be tempted by. Fun and hassle-free shopping!
 

The Travelling Souk was founded in 2003. For seven years, an increasingly large group of unusual designers and marketers travelled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, giving 10% of their turnover to their hosts’ chosen charity, at the end of the day.

Because of the demand from stallholders to join the venture and to accommodate customers all year round, the The Travelling Souk website was launched in 2008.

It differs from other websites, because 2.6% of every purchase goes to support a charity; this online department store contains wonderful treasures from over 100 small businesses and niche brands, which you won’t find anywhere else.

The quality is always excellent, providing good value and delivery is included in the reasonable prices.

Web: http:// www.thetravellingsouk.com

A specially selected collection of 37 new tile designs, featuring technically innovative and stunning surface effects, has been brought together in the latest Craven Dunnill Renaissance brochure, just published and available on request.

This latest collection reveals an emerging trend, towards bolder and more dramatic style statements for mainstream tiles:

• Industrial metallic tones are interpreted as urban chic in the new Actual range featuring intense, burnished mahogany and pitted silver options.
• In contrast, the delicate lustre glaze, which adorns the classic Blonda leaf design, featured here, has a timeless appeal, reflected in its black and white palette.
• The evocatively named Diablo range, is a dramatic example of the return of colour for bathroom walls with a blood red, three dimensional design, which seems to shimmer before your eyes.

Craven Dunnill is a one-stop supplier of ceramic wall and floor tiles. The company stocks a choice of more than 10,000 products, plus accessories such as adhesives and grouts, at its Bridgnorth warehouse and provides technical expertise, on-site delivery, and bespoke specialist manufacturer.

The Renaissance Collection can be viewed at the company’s showroom in Shropshire and at regional retailers.

For a brochure and all sales enquiries visit:

Web: http://www.cravendunnill.co.uk
Tel: (01746) 761