Margaret Thatcher’s Dulwich house was fitted with a handmade Smallbone kitchen, which had won the Prime Minister’s heart at first sight and in 1985 was one of the most widely reported features about her home.

As a Smallbone Kitchen owner, she joined the ranks of celebrity fans of the company, which included Rowan Atkinson, Nigel Mansell and Dustin Hoffman. Today, the company is still known for its international star following.

As a direct result of this media coverage, Mrs. Thatcher’s Dulwich kitchen was carefully recreated at Pinewood Studios for the set of The Iron Lady film, now released.

When approached by the Production team to provide a kitchen for the film, Smallbone pulled out all the stops, dismantling a complete showroom display and rapidly re-built it at Pinewood to recreate the character of the Iron Lady’s traditional kitchen.

Pictured here is Smallbone’s Pilaster kitchen as depicted in The Iron Lady:

• Inspired by the grand architecture of the 18th century the design focus of this kitchen is the pilaster, a gently tapering half column, which is based on an original from 1743.

• Other details like the dentil cornice mouldings plus raised and fielded panels, also have their origins in the Georgian period.

• The Pilaster collection can either be made from oak, or can be hand painted in many different colours.

Smallbone’s Design Director, Steven de Munnich commented, “Smallbone is an iconic British brand and Margaret Thatcher’s kitchen is definitely in our Hall of Fame. We were so pleased to be asked to play a role in this film - and proud to be part of her story.”

For further information about the smart Smallbone Pilaster Kitchen, please visit the website.

JURA, has launched the world’s smallest one touch automatic coffee machine, the ENA Micro 9.

The ENA Micro 9, which follows on from the popular ENA 9, unites style and beauty with precision coffee making and user-friendly technology. This is a machine that coffee lovers will want to own more than ever before.

For coffee fans that are looking for something new, the ENA Micro 9 brings a Micro brewing unit that allows it to be both compact and stylish:

• The ENA Micro 9 can make all your favourites, including espresso’s, cafe crème’s, cappuccino’s and latte macchiato’s, at the touch of just one button.

• Available in stylish Chrome, the ENA Micro 9 along with its diminutive merits, will smartly fit in with the surroundings of any home.

• It is appropriate for first time coffee machine buyers and coffee connoisseurs alike, which makes it even more attractive.

• JURA’s simple to operate One Touch technology with easy-to-understand symbols, means making your perfect coffee is easier than ever before.

• With state-of-the-art foam technology and a height-adjustable dual spout, JURA’s latest innovation guarantees a feather-light foam consistency outcome for every coffee.

• Priced at RRP £845.00.

All JURA machines now feature an Aroma Boost function, providing a natural, refreshing energy boost when you need it, as well as a Zero-Energy Switch, which allows the machines to use up to 40% less energy, making them extra eco-friendly.

JURA are recognised leaders in luxury Swiss made bean-to-cup technology and for further details on any of the JURA coffee machine range, please visit the website.

For the first time in 65 years, Rayburn has launched an electric model of its range cooker, offering ease of use and real flexibility as it can be installed almost anywhere in the kitchen.

With a powerful electric fan oven, a conventional oven, a grill and either an induction or a ceramic hob, the Rayburn Electric really is a range cooker for the 21st century:

• The new model also features either square or dome hinged lids.

• The induction hob has exceptional response times, automatically adjusts to the pan size and is extremely efficient.

• The ceramic hob uses the latest infra-red technology to offer rapid heating and cooling, as well as improved controllability.

• For ease of use and cleaning, both styles have touch-sensitive controls and a single ceramic glass cooking surface.

• The Rayburn is well known for providing cosy warmth in the kitchen and this has been retained with their patented Warmfront technology that allows you to heat the outside of the cooker at the flick of a switch, providing the warmth the Rayburn is famous for, while using minimal energy.

• The new model is available in six beautiful colours, including classic Cream and Black, stylish Pewter and retro Aqua.

This beautiful cooker is perfect for every style of kitchen.

For further information about the new Rayburn electric cooker please visit the website.

Due to the busy lives we all lead now time available is key, so there isn’t always time to cook a three-course meal, therefore we opt to fill up with unwholesome ready meals, a takeaway, or calorie laden snacks.

Now however Sistema’s brand new microwave range, enables you to eat more healthily and conveniently.

Their extraordinary new collection of ‘Klip It Microwave’ products provide the latest innovations in cooking and storage solutions.

The range is specifically designed to promote healthy eating to fit in with today’s busy lifestyles:

• All the containers are adaptable, as the trays can be removed in order to store and then re-heat pastas, bolognaise curries and much, much more.

• The new range is also ideal for freezing food and storing leftovers.

• Perfect for the winter months when a good stew is exactly what you need to warm you up.

These microwaves offer a resourceful cooking solution, with 3 steamer products, 3 plate products (complete with an inner tray excellent for cooking meats and fish). There is also a brilliant Soup to Go mug that is just perfect for taking to work and keeping at the office.

Statistics show that 93% of households now own a microwave? It’s now accepted as an efficient, faster and more nutritional method of cooking.

Microwaving with Sistema offers the following benefits:

• It’s fast and convenient.

• Generally, cooking food takes a quarter of the time in the microwave than it does in your conventional oven.

• Natural flavours are retained in the food.

• More nutrititous, as reduced cooking time means more vitamins and minerals are retained. Vegetables steamed in the microwave are much healthier than when boiled in a pan.

• It’s economical your microwave uses less electrical wattage than your conventional oven, and you’re cooking for a much shorter time.

The ‘Klip It Microwave’range is now available from Amazon UK, and many more UK retailers. See online list.

For Further information and to view the whole range of Sistema’s Klip It microwave products, please visit the website.

Barnes of Ashburton are celebrated for their designs in hand-crafted bespoke kitchens, but in response to the increasing numbers of people choosing to work from home, they have entered the market for home offices.

If space is at a premium and converting a box room or garage isn’t an option, then a home office space can easily be created within your living room.

A cleverly planned bespoke workspace should cover essential storage whether fitted or freestanding and will include:

• Permanent or Hideaway Desk.

• Storage and Bespoke Cabinets.

• Book Shelves and Display Cabinets.

Featured is the Barnes of Ashburton home office painted in ‘All White’ from Farrow & Ball, with a 40mm solid oak block -top. The prices for a similar design start at £5K.

Barnes of Ashburton will design and install an office for you that precisely matches the style of your existing room and will make the most efficient use of the space available. That’s the beauty of bespoke!

Barnes of Ashburton was established by furniture designer Patrick Gunning over 35 years ago. Since that time the business has built an enviable reputation, for supplying the very finest bespoke kitchens and handmade freestanding furniture to clients across the UK.

To view further examples of bespoke home offices created by Barnes of Ashburton, please visit the website.

The new Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner from leading UK floor care brand Vax, is able to achieve spotless carpets in just 20 minutes, with its deep cleaning, quick drying technologies.

An average front room takes just 20 minutes to wash, and is dry enough to walk on again within an hour or two.

Cleaning your carpets can seem like an enormous job that you never quite have time to do. Therefore it’s no real surprise that recent research by Vax, revealed that over half of UK parents let their kids crawl and play on carpets that are never washed.*

The Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner takes all the hassle out of washing, so you can be confident your carpets look and smell as clean as your clothes, every day.

• Its flexible hose and wash tool make it easy to clean your stairs, upholstery and even your car seats.

• For really stubborn spots, there’s also a pre-treatment kit to break down dirt and stains before you wash.

• Watch the demonstration video at www.vax.co.uk/about/videogallery.php?video=rapide_ultra2 to see how quick and easy it is for yourself.

Why wash your carpets?
A clean carpet is not just about how it looks; even if it’s vacuumed daily and looks spotless on the surface, your carpet can still become a breeding ground for dust mites, pollen, bacteria and mould.

They get trapped between its fibres and thrive in the warm, humid conditions of our double glazed, centrally heated homes. Regular washing helps keep these unwanted houseguests at bay, so your home is a healthier place for you and your family.

The W90-RU-P Rapide Ultra 2 is available from major retailers for RRP £279.99 and includes a 2 year guarantee.

For more information about the Vax Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner, please visit the website.

Customer Careline Tel: (0844) 412 8455

*The Vax survey of 1,937 respondents found that while 88% of parents said they let their children play on their carpets, 48% of parents never washed their carpets.

Gilbert’s the leading supplier of kitchen products, have introduced a new designer food preparation board that offers a trendy twist to this kitchen essential.

Featured on the board are numerous knives, which highlight perfectly the main function of the board, with the added benefit that this board will not ruin your kitchen knives.

The NSF approved boards are made from Eco friendly natural wood fibre:

• Knife-friendly, non porous and will not harbour bacteria, stains or odours.

• The boards are extremely hard-wearing, maintenance free, temperature resistant to 170o C and dishwasher safe.
• Sizes: -11″ x 9″ (28cm x 23cm) Priced at £22.95, 14″ x 11″ (35cm x 28cm) Priced at £38.00.

These boards are available to purchase from Top Gourmet and department stores, online and from independent cook shops.

Gilberts offer many products to enhance any kitchen, from food preparation, through cooking to tabletop and fine dining, whether for domestic or professional use.
From knives by Gustav Emil Ern or Solicut, valued by leading chefs, to Swiss Diamond cookware featured on numerous TV cookery programs, there are utensils for every culinary purpose.

To view the Gilberts’ range of designer food preparation boards and more, please visit the Top Gourmet website.

Here are some great tips on how to maximize the space in a small kitchen, courtesy of Debbie Bowden, designer Barnes of Ashburton.

Bespoke is best! The beauty of commissioning a bespoke kitchen is that the cabinetry is made with your kitchen size in mind.

• Every centimetre is resourcefully utilised to create efficient work-space and storage.

• Worktops can be reduced in depth, cabinets scaled down in size. Everything is possible, as every component is made to measure. However, bespoke needn’t mean expensive with prices starting from £15000.

• Pull out “Magic Corners” with a soft close mechanism provide an ideal corner storage system. These prevent food items, or hard to reach crockery languishing at the back of cupboards.

• Recycling is still important in a small space. Discrete, pull out bins with compartments for sorting compost, glass and plastics, can be integrated into a kitchen, however small.

• Choose appliances to make the most of the space available – a ¾ size dishwasher for example, or a multifunction oven.

• Create the illusion of space by not fitting wall cabinets.

• The owner of the kitchen featured, requested a traditional, hand-painted kitchen, with a relaxed feel. But for more of a contemporary, sleek look, consider handle-less kitchens.

• Create the illusion of space with light-reflective paint, or hi-gloss finishes.

• And if you can accommodate a central island, scale it down and create a sociable place for guests to perch.

For more information about the Barnes of Ashburton’s bespoke kitchen solutions, please visit the website.
Tel: (01364) 653613

Designed by Swedish artist Louise Fougstedt, the vintage print tea towels introduced by New House Textiles, confirm that great design never goes out of date.

These designs look as fresh and appealing today as when they were first launched in the 1950’s.

Typical of Fougstedt’s design work, the strong shapes and colours inspire people to buy these tea towels for their authentic retro style, to frame or even make into cushion covers.

The towels are woven in a robust 55% linen/45% cotton mix to ensure they withstand continuous use in the kitchen.
They are generously sized at 47cm x 70cm. Priced at £10.75 each.

Louise Fougstedt vintage print tea towels by New House Textiles include:

• ‘Pantry’ and ‘Coffee & Cake’.

• ‘Cooks Favourite’ in blue and green – pictured here.

• ‘Summer Barbeque’ and ‘Pots & Pans’.

To view, or place an order from the New House Textiles’ extensive Homewares Collection, which includes trays, aprons, chopping-boards, fabrics and tablecloths, please visit the website.

Tel: 01989 740380

Emma Bridgewater has added to her popular Sampler Collection in the new Autumn catalogue, with a handy large dish, an elegant comport and some pretty kitchen textiles to name but a few.

Sampler is easy to fall in love with for collecting, but it’s also a pleasure to use every day, as it represents everything that’s cosy about being at home.

The pattern is one you’ll want to use for breakfast before school, with your children as you help with homework, or enjoying a chat with a girlfriend over a big mug of tea on a cold afternoon.

The Sampler Large Dish is a really useful piece, decorated with Emma’s favourite pattern, Sampler, which echoes her love of Victorian hand sponged pottery. The dish is just right for serving your favourite foods over lunch, or at an impromptu dinner party. £49.95.

Sampler Comport echos Emma’s love of Victorian sponge ware and is just ideal for holding a Victoria sponge cake. £59.95.

The Sampler Double Oven Glove is as practical as it is pretty. £13.

The cosy Sampler Cocoa Mug easily provides for a really generous cup of hot chocolate. Decorated with the sweet romantic lines of Sampler, this is a piece to treasure and would make a lovely and thoughtful gift. £21.95.

Visit the website to see the complete range of Emma Bridgewater’s charming Sampler Collection.

Tel: (0844) 243 9266