Tradition states that ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle’, a place to feel safe and secure, but it’s also becoming the social hub for many people across the UK - as staying in, is beginning to rival the traditional night out… unless you’re Welsh it seems.

Greenbee.com - the financial and leisure services arm of the John Lewis Partnership, reveals that almost a third (31 per cent) felt their home was an entertainment centre, with one in five (20 per cent), saying it was a place where they socialise and entertain friends and family.

Those in East England, are most likely to invite guests over for a friendly get together 28 per cent, compared to just 12 per cent of those in Wales.

However, Greenbee.com warns that many people may well be left disappointed, if they have to make a claim on their home insurance, for accidental mishaps, when entertaining at home:

Just 28 out of 259 home contents products currently on offer include accidental damage, such as a red wine spillage on the sofa, as standard.

With approximately eight out of 10 people believed to be under-insured by around 80 per cent, and four in 10 claims on Greenbee Home insurance being for accidental damage/accidental loss, it is vital people are aware of what level of protection they actually have.

However, research from greenbee.com has shown that the majority of UK adults believe mishaps, such as a party accident during an evening’s entertaining, will be covered as standard, when more often than not, this won’t be the case.

It is very important therefore that people ensure the things they care about are accurately covered by their household insurance.

Greenbee.com analysed research from GFK Roper Reports Worldwide.

Web: http://www.greenbee.com
Tel: (0800) 916 0300.

If you’re looking for a more flexible and creative approach to kitchen furniture, or you have limited space; the John Lewis Freestanding kitchen range is ideal.

The Freestanding Concept brings together a collection of separate, freestanding and functional units that link to form a uniform working kitchen.

Since it isn’t a fitted kitchen, a planning or installation service is not offered; instead you have the chance to plan, design and decide on the kitchen you want, at an affordable price.

It’s easy to plan your kitchen and try out different layouts and choose from a range of individual base and wall units, in a choice of door colours; there are also other useful units, such as pull-out bins and a wine rack:

• All the units are easy to fit - and take apart - so its easy to extend or refresh your kitchen, or even move them to a new house.
• Each freestanding kitchen unit comprises an MDF core with a beech finish wrap; and an integrated grey 40mm, high-pressure laminated worktop.
• The doors and drawers have lacquered gloss painted fronts and brushed nickel-finish bar handles.

The contemporary-style kitchen featured has beech-effect cabinets and a choice of 4 gloss door colours in white, cappuccino, burgundy or black, so you can even mix and match colours.

Retail price examples - 1100mm Hob Base Freestanding Kitchen Units, Burgundy £625 - £675.

3-Drawer Base Freestanding Kitchen Units, Burgundy £450 - £700.

Hi-Line Double Base Freestanding Kitchen Unit, Burgundy £500.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com

Tel: (08456) 049 049

Do you have ideas and dreams of creating a unique look in your home, but require a helping hand to put it into action?

John Lewis has lots of solutions, with its array of useful and bespoke services for the home, to enable customers to turn their creative ideas into reality.

A choice of everything from fabric to flooring, and anything in between, to ensure that their home will look and feel exactly how they imagine.

As part of the Standard Furnishing Advice Service, a free one-to-one consultation is available in John Lewis’s stores with one of their experienced Furnishing Advisors, to help turn a favourite fabric, magazine image or simply an idea into a whole new scheme for a room.

Express Furnishing is also now available online and this service is ideal for customers who can’t wait to get cracking with their new look.

The express service will make any soft furnishings from curtains and bed covers, to cushions and blinds to specification in 7 days; with over 200 fabrics to choose from including Designer’s Guild, Osborne and Little and Cath Kidston to fulfil the dream.

Customers can opt for the Premier Service, which is a home visit including measurements, a style board and the attendance of an advisor, to oversee the delivery and fitting, at a cost of just £200, which is refundable against any purchases made.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com

Tel: (08456) 049 049

Take crisp white linen as your base, then simply add some stylish cutlery, china and glassware and arrange neatly; decorate with a festive centre-piece and candelabras and for the perfect finishing touch use glitzy napkin rings and fun crackers. Then just add that delicious Christmas food – your recipe for the perfect Christmas table!

Opulence rules when it comes to celebrating; a heady mix of Plato china (plates £40 each), Ellipse cutlery (£17 set of 4 pieces) and Loop candelabras (£16) and the centrepiece hurricane lamp (£30) from John Lewis all present the ideal setting for the Christmas feast.

Villeroy & Boch Flow tableware and black crystal goblets offer an altogether more contemporary, cutting edge inspiration for a Christmas table; ideal for a minimalist look as featured here.

Alternatively go completely over the top and team with black linen, decorated with elements from the pearlescent Christmas theme from John Lewis.

This uses silver as the core colour combined with white, soft chambray blue, and oyster, all of which beautifully complement the ultra-sophisticated and stylish platinum tree; Wow Goblet £12. Plate from £6.95, Bowl £9.50, Glover & Smith Pewter salt and pepper bowls £21 each.

The 2007 John Lewis Christmas ranges include gorgeous trees, wreaths, decorations, lights, gifts, cards, packaging and foodie treats - in fact everything you could possibly need to make your Christmas as enjoyable as possible.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

The Lotus is an elegant and sturdy range of neutral cane furniture exclusive to John Lewis; it is handmade in England and ideal for light and airy rooms such as conservatories
 
The cane frames are in a nutmeg stain and the foam-filled upholstery provides comfortable support; the sand colour 100% polyester fabric is treated with a stain repellent, however the cushion covers are also removable for dry cleaning.
 
The Lotus Cane collection includes:

Cane Sofa £1300.

Small Cane Sofa £795.

Cane Chair £695.

Cane Coffee Table £395 - Sturdy and elegant tapered table with a nutmeg-stained cane frame and glass top and lower shelf.

Cane Lamp or Side Table £295 - with a nutmeg-stained cane frame and glass top and lower shelf.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

Treat your No 1 Dad to something other than socks on 17th of June from John Lewis.

How about a day of adventure that is sure to be an experience he will remember?

Virgin Discoveries provide once in a lifetime experiences and offer everything from flying lessons and rally driving for adrenalin seekers, to quieter golf days and cooking courses for those preferring a quieter life -  he won’t be able to stop smiling! (Only available from The John Lewis Website)

If your dad has culinary talent, try the Grill Slinger barbeque tool belt; complete with rubber handled turners and tongs and space in the pockets for seasoning, sauce’s or a bottle of beer, it’s the perfect multi tasking tool for the BBQ king this summer, £35.00.

Alternatively, for wireless fans consider the slick black Revo Pico+ DAB radio. This modern radio boasts features such as MP3 & SD card compatibility, re-chargeable battery and cordless capability for £129.95.

For vinyl lovers there is an Ion iTT-USB turntable for £119, to bring dad’s record collection into the 21st Century; he simply connects through USB to a computer and uploads his records into MP3 files, whilst re-moving any sound imperfections.

For lots more Fathers Day gift ideas visit the website:

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

Everyone loves to receive a gift and Easter time is no exception.This year John Lewis has Easter gifts for every age and price point.

Bring the spirit of Easter right into the home with the brightly painted Easter egg garland (£15) and wreath (£20): or choose from two special Easter egg trees; one is an elegant stainless steel branched tree (£20), from which can be hung special porcelain Easter baubles (£8.50 for set of 2), the other is made from brightly coloured painted eggs (£20).

John Lewis has chocolate gifts for all, including a giant family egg (£70); a Banana and Raspberry White Chocolate Egg (£15); cute animal gifts including cuddly bunnies, chicks and sheep are also guaranteed to raise a smile (prices from £1.75).

The children will love the special Easter craft kit (£9.95), finger puppets (£2) and the Easter Egg Hunt gift set (£12), plus boys and girls buckets (£4) for collecting the Easter spoils.

The perfect finishing touch is the Easter Egg Hunt gift set. Priced at £12 it includes everything you need for the perfect Easter Day: Happy Easter garland, tablecloth, 6 napkins, 6 crackers, table confetti, 6 egg hunt signs and 6 bags.

Visit the web site to choose from this tempting collection of Easter decorative, amusing and gift ideas.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel:  (08456) 049 049

John Lewis have come up with a gorgeous selection of chocolates and other tempting treats for you to show Mum just how much you care and help you to spoil her on the day.

You could show mum she truly is the best, with the featured chic and stylish hamper of pink champagne, champagne chocolate hearts and champagne truffles from luxury chocolatier, Charbonnel et Walker, £45.

Delicious light and fancy fairy cakes made by renowned cake maker Fiona Cairns provide a tempting treat to be served up with afternoon tea, £5.

After dinner why not spoil her with a selection of hand decorated Belgian chocolates presented in a beautiful rose trail designed box.

For mums always on the go, slip a sweet continental surprise into her handbag with the Ambassadors of London milk chocolate bar, complete with a special message, £3.50.
 
Put a smile on her face with the lovable hand decorated gingerbread man, £2, or the sweet rose trail carry box, hiding a selection of fruit jellies with liquer filled pearl centres, £5.50.

So what are you waiting for? Spoiling mum has never been so easy!

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel:   (08456) 049 049

John Lewis has introduced  new and exclusive clocks that are so attractive in design, they’ll make you want to watch the time tick by in 2007:

Beatrice is a large convex wooden wall clock, which is classic and stylish, featuring carved Arabic numerals and elegant filigree hands. £100

The Trio Pendulum Clock, pictured here, is exclusive to John Lewis and presents a less conventional style; a fashionable take on a classic design, the Trio has a trendy three-bar pendulum with a chrome finish and a frosted glass dial. £50
 
Electric’s polished metal frame makes a great contemporary choice with a retro feel; it is is 60cm in diameter, battery operated and with its bold numerals and hands it’s a most impressive clock. £110
 
Swedish Rose is small and sweet and has a distressed cream dial with a delicate rose detail. £40

Pastis is distinctly French in style - with references to Parisian bistro culture this square wall clock is a trendy accessory for the kitchen. £30

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

The John Lewis Christmas Cooking range for 2006 includes everything you could possibly need to make your Christmas cooking hassle free and tasty, so that you too can spend more time enjoying Christmas.

The perfect Christmas roast can be easily achieved with the latest carving accessories from John Lewis, which includes everything from a meat thermometer to a knife sharpener.

Here are a few tips from the John Lewis team of cookware experts to make your preparation even easier:

1. Use the Jamie Oliver Roaster (£70) from John Lewis, which features a non-stick surface and measures 28 x 34cm.
2. Check that your meat is fully cooked with the Weber Meat Thermometer (£10).
3. Allow your roast to rest for 15 to 20 minutes after removal from the oven, which will ensure that the meat is firm enough for successful carving.
4. Lifting Forks (£7.50 per pair) make light work of removing the meat from your roaster and the John Lewis’ carving board comes as part of a set with a tray (£59).
5. The Knife Sharpener (£12) will ensure that your Meyer Anolon Chefs Knife (£30) is always sharp and effective.
6. When cut, place your meat onto a hot tray (part of the carving board set) to keep it warm while plating up.
7. For the final touch, pour the juice in your roasting tin into a gravy fat separator, adding delicious flavour and texture to the gravy. The John Lewis Gravy Fat Separator retails at £12.

Web: www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049