Tesco Direct has moved into the bespoke upholstery sector, with the launch of a new Finest furniture range in their new Spring/Summer ’08 catalogue.

Available now online and in-store, the new Finest range of custom furniture is driven by quality and price, with all items being made to order in the United Kingdom

Every item in the new range is available in a choice of 12 materials, and three leather options, with 120 combinations available for Tesco Direct customers, who are looking for high quality furniture without the high price tag.

Joanne Coe, Upholstery Buying Manager, Tesco Direct, said: “Made to order furniture has previously been thought of as quite a luxury, but we wanted to make it accessible to everyone - not just a select few; this is a new area for the company and we’re very confident in the quality of the range.”

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen is pictured here, launching the Finest Made to Order furniture range. (Dakota Large Sofa)

Finest Made to Order furniture is made up of two main sofa and chair styles:

• The Dakota range, starting at £595, is contemporary with a linear shape, deep seats and soft fibre cushions.
  The Chichester range, also starting at £595, features soft fibre cushions and high-backed seating; it also has classic scroll arm detailing and generous proportions for extra comfort.
• Bloomsbury is a new take on the gentleman’s vintage product - a club chair and footstool, with a solid wood frame and soft fibre seat cushion. The footstool starts at £195 and the chair, at £350.

Web: http://direct.tesco.com/

Tel: (0845) 600 4411

Land of Leather, the specialist leather furniture retailer has now launched its new collection of leather sofas and chairs, intended to effortlessly adapt to each and every colour scheme and interior design period and style.

With the desire for leather furniture stronger than ever, the new Land of Leather range has been designed to combine comfort with style, committed to high-quality leather and response to future market trends in fashion.

Current trends showcased at Land of Leather include, corner sofas that gently curve around the room, leather and fabric mix designs and innovative motion sofas, providing the ultimate in comfort and ease of use.

Some of the stars of this season’s range include:

• The Jazz sofa featured here, conjures up images of a romantic, rustic holiday hideaway; the combination of cream leather and fabric ensure a cool, relaxed summer look.
• The trendy, Rose red corner sofa is available with matching recliner armchair and footstool, perfect for creating graceful glamour; its elegant lines and bold lipstick red colour would suit any girl about town looking to create an impact.
• Travel east with the brown leather and tan fabric Raphael. This cosy corner sofa has ample room to lean back, relax and make your own home a temple of tranquility; a stunning style statement, the Raphael is a softer version of the popular modern corner design.

Available online or from from Land of Leather stores nationwide.

Web: http://www.landofleather.co.uk/index.html

Stephan Pavlou and Donna Clarke founded The Little Book of Furniture in 2000, their aim being to provide hardwearing quality furniture of original design and eco-friendly at an affordable price level.

The Little Book of Furniture’s latest luxurious additions to their varied collections are no exception:

The BonBon Ottoman in our picture is as sweet as the French translation would suggest, simply mouth-watering; it would make a magnificent centrepiece with impact and style; it’s also big enough for all your friends to clamber on at once.

Available in a variety of colours in the softest of leathers, this luscious Ottoman will have you craving for more.

Dimensions: 122cm x 122cm x H45cm (Large) or 92cm x 92cm x H45cm (Small).
Priced at £775 (Large); £625 (Small).

Another new addition to the lounge range, is The Big Easy leather sofa; as the name implies it is generously proportioned and looks soft and inviting to collapse into for snug repose; also available in the softest of leathers, it has foam and feathers built into the whole seat, as opposed to separate cushions, making it extra squashy.

Dimensions: W229cm x D102cm x H74cm (large); or W190cm (small).
Priced at: £1795 (large) £1595 (small).

The Little Book Of Furniture shop is at 107 Commercial Street, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6BG.

Or shop online:
Web: http://www.littlebookoffurniture.com

Tel: (0207) 247 4445

Some people think Beauty should be exclusive expensive and scarce; these people don’t shop at ILVA, because the company believes that beautiful furniture should be commonplace, affordable, for use every day and it should be timeless and made to last.

ILVA’s new Autumn online catalogue is full of the latest trends, which take their inspiration from the world of high fashion, with metallics leading the way and the strong monochromatic look, which continues to work well in many styles from minimalist to baroque.

The examples featured here are:

• The stunning Nizza sofa in soft red leather (the back and armrests are adjustable to suit your mood) and the matching two seater with chaise longue are priced at £1499. Armchair £499.
• Marocco leather footstool £199.
• Banderole shelving in black high gloss finish and walnut veneer £899.
• Spire coffee table with white gloss finish and chrome frame £249. Side table £129.
• Curve leather arm chair with chrome frame £249.
• Trapez floor lamp in satin finish with chintz shade £149.
• Field hand tufted rug, available in various sizes from £199.

ILVA aims to bring you products that are practical distinctive and affordable that you simply can’t find elsewhere.

Web: http://ilva.co.uk

Tel: (0845 245 8285)

Marks & Spencer has launched a new collection of sofas and upholstered chairs called Furniture to Go, which is available exclusively online.
 
The range comprises six styles of high quality, great value sofas and co-ordinating armchairs available in a variety of fabric and leather options that can be delivered within 14 days - perfect for those who want to update their home in a hurry.

Customers can request up to six free fabric swatches by calling the customer service line below.

For added convenience, M&S delivers seven days a week and customers can select either a morning or afternoon delivery slot.

All products are covered with a 5-year guarantee. Prices start at £249.

Featured in our picture is:

The Fulham Range: Create the perfect modern living room with this contemporary design, offering high quality craftsmanship in a choice of two colours, at a special price:

•     Fulham Armchair from £275.00.
•     Fulham Large 2 Seater Sofa from £399.00.
•     Fulham Extra Large 2 Seater Sofa from £449.00.

Web:  http://www.marksandspencer.com
Tel:    (0845) 7 624624

From Paris and Milan - take a look at the stylish new looks of the season from Barker & Stonehouse, and right now they are VAT free too!

Barker & Stonehouse have pulled together some of the very best looks and styles and brought them to life on their latest Web TV films (on their website) to inspire you.

From Manhattan Mode featured here, through Antiques for the next generation; Recycled German oak furniture to the Perfect Tan furniture range in luxurious brown caramel and cream.

Manhattan Mode includes:

The superb Blenheim sofa, upholstered in distressed vintage cigar leather, with antique style studding and wood turned castor feet.

The matching Blenheim chair features scroll arms and generous seat proportions.

The Haddon trunk in classic style with studded timber trims, and leather handles, antique style metal clasps, is also in vintage cigar leather.

The stunning rectangular Vanderbilt Beverly Hills coffee table is superb, beautifully presented in mirror, and finished with chrome effect frame.

The Vanderbilt table lamps are trendy with mirrored glass base and a fabric lampshade..

Visit the website to view the full range of the exciting new spring offers:

Web:  http://www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk
Tel:  (07971) 478958

Rolf Benz the internationally acclaimed contemporary furniture manufacturer has launched its new RB 540 sofa; a unique seating solution designed around simple triangular seating sections.
 
The new sofa is multifunctional allowing the design to be changed to suit the space, mood or the requirements of a room; its adaptability is due to the design’s basic geometric shapes, thus producing a clever piece of furniture, which enables customers to use it in an inventive way.

The seating pieces can be arranged to form a classic sofa length, or one triangular element can be turned easily to join the front of the sofa.

The various parts as put together can create either a corner or U-shaped seat, which transforms the piece and multiplies its uses; the backrest is adjustable to correspond with the seating arrangement.

The RB 540 has a soft upholstered filling, which along with the exclusive seating combination provides a sensuous feel, ideal for relaxation.

 Rolf Benz also creates bespoke pieces of furniture, so customers choosing the RB 540 can order additional elements to extend the size and possibilities of the sofa.

Available from March 2007.

Prices start from £5,101 in fabric and £6,988 in leather.
 
Web: http://www.rolf-benz.com
Tel:   (01908) 604 629

This modular sofa from Rolf Benz is perfect for informal living, with luxurious cushions, flexible arms and casters which make it easy to change and adapt.

To change it from a classically elegant sofa to a spacious relaxation zone, you simply turn the end module of the sofa through 180 degrees to create a comfy square shape.

The sofa is called the 222, and it comes in a range of bold colours such as this vivid orange, and is even available in leather.

The Rolf Benz 222 modular sofa costs from £4875.

web: http://www.rolf-benz.com
tel: (01908) 604 629

Top luxury brand Rolf Benz have launched the 550 sofa - with an innovative concealed seating function.

Rolf Benz and award-winning designer Christian Werner have created a sofa which can transform from an upright seat into a relaxing lounger in one easy motion.

The height of the backrest can be adjusted by pulling on a concealed leather loop - and the seating cushion can be pulled out by hand. The 550 sofa contains a mechanism to ensure this process is smooth and effortless.

This adjustable machanism makes the Rolf Benz 550 Sofa a versatile piece of furniture, ideal for relaxing, reading or talking. The sofa is available in three sizes and a range of upholstery options including leather. A coordinated ottoman is also available.

Prices for the Rolf Benz 550 Sofa start from £2,600 (fabric) and £3,880 (leather).

web: http://www.rolf-benz.com
tel: (01908) 604 629