Customers and dealers can now buy online from the Gloucester Antiques Centre and purchases will be shipped to customers directly.

The launch is a significant step forward for the company, the dealers and the customers.

The ability to transact online is something now taken for granted in many areas of business. The new website brings the Gloucester Antiques Centre bang up to date and enables customers from all over the UK and worldwide to purchase directly.

The detailed photographs and descriptions of antiques on the website deliver an experience, which is similar to shopping at the centre in person.

The quality of stock available on the website is assured by their clear dateline policy.

Since Gloucester Antiques Centre’s change of ownership in 2006, they have invested heavily in modernising the way they operate in order to improve the service and value delivered to customers and dealers.

In July 2009 the Antiques Centre moved from its previous building, which was in a very poor state of repair, to a beautiful refurbished warehouse in Gloucester Quays.

The new website is the next important step towards providing the service every customer and dealer now expects.

Fresh stock at the centre is uploaded onto the website daily and the range of items currently on show on-line provides a real taste of what is available at the Antique Centre itself.

Visit the Gloucester Antiques Centre website to view the exciting collections.

the-saleroom.com, the UK’s leading live online bidding site, recorded a 120 per cent year-on-year increase in bidder numbers in 2009, revealing growing buyer confidence in purchasing art and antiques online.

In a year when recession and credit issues dominated the headlines, the-saleroom.com bucked the trend with revenues generated by the site increasing by 55 per cent year-on-year.

With a growing International presence, the-saleroom.com appears to have a winning formula.

The value of lots sold on the site has also grown by 87 per cent with the highest price paid online for a single lot sold being £88,000 for a collection of war medals.

49 per cent more sales were connected up to ATG Media’s live bidding platform in 2009 and the percentage of lots sold over the Internet increased from 9 to 15 per cent.

the-saleroom.com has succeeded in building a world-class live antiques bidding platform and has attracted auctioneers all over the world, with sales in China, New York, Rome and Paris coming online through the platform in the last 12 months.

Anne Somers, Chief Executive of ATG Media, commented: “the-saleroom.com opens up the world of Antiques to a much larger population and is a fast, simple, reliable way of purchasing something timeless and valuable.”

Launched in 2006 by ATG the-saleroom.com, is an online service, where bidders can view hundreds of catalogues and participate in live auctions using live audio and video links.

The website provides a complete range of online services for buyers and sellers of art and antiques at auction, including a leading UK facility for live online bidding.

The site publishes a wide range of catalogues for upcoming sales, giving full details of the sale contents and highlighting star lots in each catalogue.

Visit www.the-saleroom.com to browse and bid.

For more than 100 years, Grange has been making houses into family homes with furniture that is beautiful and practical.

Drawing on history and the pared-down elegance of traditional, provincial French furniture - particularly pieces from Provence - Grange has brought together a collection that is at once timeless and yet entirely right for today.

From innovative modular furniture that adapts to suit both space and purpose, through to witty signature pieces, the Grange range is authentic, usable and an absolute pleasure to live with.

Using traditional joinery techniques, sustainable materials and timeless design, the Grange collections capture the warmth of the classic French family house and translate it into furniture that is exquisite and perfectly suited to contemporary British life.

The company has retained its manufacturing base in the Monts du Lyonnais, where craftsmen stain, lacquer, wax and polish pieces by hand, giving Grange furniture its distinctive translucency, silkiness and satin-touch finish.

Pieces from the Grange collections have their roots in history, but many have been subtly adapted, to ensure they fit perfectly in today’s relaxed family home.

Ideas are reworked, but the essence of warm, relaxed living are retained and the furniture Grange produces todaym is infused with the same passion and creativity as was the case more than a century ago; each furniture piece is unique, thanks to the wide range of stain, sheens and sizes.

There are a number of new additions to the Grange collection, particularly notable is the Table basse Jacob featured here:

• The mix of natural wood and painted finish, ensure this piece is both playful and modern, but with a definite nod towards history.

• A truly stunning piece, made of solid lime and cherry wood, with four useful small drawers and a unique take on painted wood, this table is set to become an antique of the future. Priced at £1440.
  Dimensions are: W= 150cm H= 40cm and D= 105cm.

Visit the GRANGE website to view their distinctive collections and find out where to buy in the UK.

Tel: (0870) 755 6486

When it all began in 1979, no one in their wildest dreams could have imagined what a success it would be….

Since then, the world’s most versatile bookcase has moved into the homes of millions of people all over the world. Happy birthday, BILLY!

BILLY was designed to be just a bookcase, but in real life, has proved to be multipurpose, in providing plenty of space for other things.

There is no right or wrong. BILLY is a bookcase for every passion!

41 million BILLY bookcases have been made since 1979; if you laid them all out in a line, the line would be over 70,000 kilometres long.
That’s a distance equivalent to almost twice around the world at the equator.

Since BILLY was first launched 30 years ago, continuous product development, combined with more efficient production methods, as well as increasing volumes, has allowed IKEA to make BILLY even more affordable. Since the start, the price has been reduced by more than 30% in today’s monetary value.

BILLY, to prove his adaptability is available flat packed, in a huge range of sizes and shapes, veneers and colours to fit any storage requirement.

There are even some limited editions available (from 1 October 2009 to 31 January 2010), covering various themes including quotes from Shakespeare’s Love Sonnets; Japanese Manga Motifs and in multi colours.

In honour of the Birthday and to view the complete range of BILLYs visit:

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

Montana is a creative shelving system, which promotes individual freedom to change form, composition and function at any time.

Not just at the moment when decisions are made, but the freedom to change form, composition and function at any time.

Let your imagination take charge; the company invites you to create your very own solution online and by doing so, make one of Montana’s 5 billion possible combinations a reality. Go on – have some fun being creative:

• Montana storage systems can help you to achieve your own design for any of your living spaces:
  You can do just about what you like, in what colour you like. Montana units are made in 12mm and MDF with environmental friendly water based lacquer.
  The units can be built with drawers, doors, shelves, trays, lights etc.
  Made for wall mounting, on plinths, legs or castors.
  Can be supplied with separate tops in glass or MDF.
  Montana creative shelving selection consists of 42 basic units, 4 depths, and 46 colours.

Montana is manufactured in Denmark and made to order, according to customer’s specifications; the units always come fully assembled from the factory and carry a 10 year warranty.

The newly established brand agency, Icons Of Denmark is designed to be a sales conduit for top Danish manufacturers of furniture and interior accessories, with promotional and sales activities over the whole of Great Britain and Ireland.
With Internationally renowned clients such as Montana, Carl Hansen & Son, and Pandul, they aim to offer their customers World Class Designer Products.

Web: http://www.iconsofdenmark.dk
          http://montana.dk/en/Home

Tel: (07535) 244524

Working from home has never been easier with Chamber Furniture’s bespoke home office design service.

Offering everything from a minimalist flush storage wall to a traditional study, the Company has its own workshops producing products in traditional hardwoods and painted finishes.

This latest project from Chamber Furniture encompasses a kidney shaped computer station, a floating storage wall and a media center.

Entirely bespoke, it has a high gloss lacquered finish and a push button open/close operation on all the doors and drawers.
Prices start at around £12k.

Web: http://www.chamberfurniture.co.uk
Tel: (01959) 532553

Banish your rickety shelves and wobbly flat pack bookcases and display your book collection and treasured photographs in style, with Nathan Furniture’s new Shades Living Library Collection.

The new collection is an extension to the popular Shades range launched in 2008; it features stylish bookcases in warm mid tone teak, which combines the signature Shades curved design with the ultimate in practical modular flexibility.

The bookcases are available in varying heights and widths, allowing them to be configured together to create a multitude of looks – ideal for displaying your treasured possessions, or for providing sturdy extra storage.

Andrew Cochrane, Managing Director of Nathan said, “Storage is a problem in many homes, with books and photos often hidden away in a box somewhere, or perching perilously on wobbly flat pack shelving. Our new range of bookcases provides a flexible, modular solution that offers an elegant design and solid, quality furniture built to last.”

To complement the bookcases Nathan is also adding a number of other new pieces to the Shades range:

A round coffee table and dining table, feature the popular sunburst veneer top; there is also a glass top option for the coffee table.

A two-door sideboard is also being introduced, plus a lamp table and corner unit with glass front display cabinet.

Nathan is available in over 200 stores nationwide.

Web: http://www.nathanfurniture.co.uk
Tel: (0870) 160 0427.

Bespoke English furniture maker Restall Brown & Clennell have introduced an illustrious range of traditionally inspired furniture.

This collection, which offers a range of classic pieces such as commodes, cabinets and drum tables, has been created in response to the recently renewed interest in handcrafted, traditional furniture.

Louise Pardoe, Head of Sales at Restall Brown & Clennell says: “We’ve seen a sharp rise in interest recently, for more traditional pieces such as, commodes and cabinets, during these times of economic uncertainty, people crave both quality and the familiar. Essentially, this means returning to traditional furniture created using traditional techniques that add real value to the home”.

The Traditional Collection includes the following handcrafted pieces:

• Bow-front Mahogany Commode
  This delicately crafted commode is an elegant addition to any sitting room and uses kingwood, tulipwood and satinwood to create stunning detailed panels. From £7,850.
• Crackled Lacquer Cabinet with raised Chinoiserie
  A fanciful take on the Chinoiserie style, this hand finished cabinet adds a real focal point to a room, with either mirrored or panelled doors, internal shelves and handmade drawers. From £29,000.
• Satinwood and Hand Decorated Drum Table
  A true nostalgic investment piece, the satinwood drum table is intricately detailed with a ‘petal’ veneered top and hand decoration, and four expertly hand dovetailed drawers. From £10,150.
• Walnut & Yew Oyster Breakfront China Cabinet, (in our picture)
  Walnut & yew oyster breakfront china cabinet, with oval glazing, four panelled doors below, radial veneers in walnut, with geometrical inlay of black & white lines to burr oval.
  Solid cross-grain moulded cornice & waist, with yew oyster bandings, on plinth base. From £28,220.

Founded in 1905, Restall Brown & Clennell offers exquisite furniture handmade by the most experienced English craftsmen and polishers.

To view the whole Traditional Collection visit:

Web: http:// www.rbc-furniture.co.uk
Tel: (020) 7627 1298

Furniture and wall-coverings boutique Elements Living, has launched the new Ethnicraft Oak Stonecut collection of furniture for the living room; each piece features striking horizontal cuts, which add interest and accentuate the texture of the solid, unfinished oak.

The architectural, linear detail on the front, is contrasted by the smoothness and the naturally wavy intricate grain of the top and side panels.

Ethnicraft’s trademark streamlined styling makes the collection’s sideboards, TV cupboards, wall shelves, side tables and coffee tables, a stylish addition to any contemporary home.

Elements Living founder, Anthony Ferguson says, “The new Stonecut collection is both ornamental and practical. People now expect their furniture to offer more than just simple storage solutions; the craftsmanship and detail on these pieces makes them unique and original.”

Prices start from £86 for the Oak Stonecut Wall Shelf to £1260 for the Four Door High Oak Sideboard, featured here.

Based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, Elements Living is a leading stockist of the Ethnicraft range, which received the “Best Product” award by leading designer, Terence Conran, at the London Interiors show.

In addition to the Ethnicraft range, exclusive wall coverings from Marburg, Omexco, Arte and Wilman are available.

For further details visit:
Web: http://www.elementsliving.co.uk

Tel: (016) 633 2123 / (0161) 652 9841

There are few companies with a heritage as prestigious as Restall Brown & Clennell; the company was founded in 1905, with the aim of designing, crafting and selling top quality English traditional style furniture.

Their luxurious hand-made furniture now graces many national and international city institutions, palaces, private residences, embassies and six star hotels.

The exquisite craftsmanship that goes in to a Restall Brown & Clennell piece of furniture is exemplary.

The collections include:

Traditional fine English Furniture drawing inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Traditionally crafted and designed to represent this period, expert craftsmen apply intricate marquetry and hand-painted decoration; glorious veneers in a variety of woods complete this archetypal collection.

Featured here is a beautiful crackled lacquer cabinet with raised Chinoiserie detail, with either mirrored or panelled doors and brass hardware. Priced from £29,000.

The unique 1930’s Art Deco styled collection is yet another example of RBC’s original and stylised interpretation of the period.
Drawing inspiration from Rhulmann, Brandt and Sue Et Mare, this collection of original pieces introduces debonair design to an interior.

The company has recently introduced a variety of Classically Inspired furniture including commodes, tables and cabinets, influenced by traditional design with unique modern accents.
(See our December 22nd article)

RBC has a showroom at the Old Imperial Laundry in Battersea, London, providing an excellent resource for interior designers.

Web: http://www.rbc-furniture.co.uk
Tel: (020) 7627 1298