From September, online shoppers will be able to rent a Shopbox, have it installed and ready to accept delivery of any online purchases when not at home.

Consumers will no longer have to stay in and wait for their grocery shopping, or be forced to pay for peak time evening or weekend slots, as the Shopbox will receive the goods whilst they are out, storing them securely and at the correct temperature, until they return home.

Unlike other drop boxes, Shopbox has three temperature-controlled compartments; frozen, refrigerated and ambient, which can accept anything from carrots to cornflakes to computer games:

• Easily installed, simply plug into the mains (part of installation) on days when groceries are being delivered and on other days you can use your Shopbox to accept any non-food items such as clothes, books and electrical products.
• The secure locking system is activated upon delivery and then unlocked by the owner on their return. The box is securely locked to the outside wall.
• Shopbox can also be used as an extra food storage device, ideal for outdoor entertaining and at Christmas, when fridge and freezer space can be tight.
• Shopbox is rented for a monthly fee of £14.99.

Many of the major retailers are supportive of Shopbox and are looking at joint marketing initiatives.

If you would like to find out more about Shopbox, please visit the website.
Tel:   (0800) 007 6122.

Kitchen specialist John Lewis of Hungerford really can boast it offers the best-painted finish in the kitchen industry, after its Gloss paints were independently tested and awarded the highest rating available.

It’s official – independent tests declare:…

In tests by the Satra Technology Centre, the Gloss paint finish that the company specialises in, scored the maximum of 5 points in all 17 categories, from resistance to wet and dry heat to marking by liquids, oils and solvents, which means they are certified for ‘severe usage’, the highest possible rating. 

The finish is suitable for commercial, industrial and professional kitchen environments, making the doors of the Crème de la Crème and Cool ranges the hardest wearing painted doors in the world of kitchens.

The paint finishes are applied by John Lewis of Hungerford’s expert team, based at the Wantage workshop and incorporate up to 13 separate stages, completed with hand burnishing.
 
The specialist uses the latest, most advanced formula available to create this expert finish, which has been developed with decades of professional knowledge and regular independent testing.

Featured here is the Cool Kitchen – a clean, modern design:

• High gloss finished kitchens were sold originally by John Lewis of Hungerford during the early eighties.
• In recent years these modern classics have made a huge comeback due to the popularity of the clean, glossy lines.
• This Cool kitchen is finished in Piano Gloss, Pure White and is enhanced with rich Walnut worktops and wrap around worktop, above a wine chiller.
• The Piano Gloss, Noir, Cool Refrigerator, is an ideal freestanding element and completes the classic working triangle, between the cooker and sink in the island.

Not only does the company offer its own collection of over 90 beautiful colours, but with excellent results in the recent testing, combined with improved processes and the application of an additional primer hardening agent, the specialist’s kitchens and furniture really are the best they have ever produced.

To see the full ranges of John Lewis of Hungerfords kitchen furniture visit the website.

Tel:   (0700) 2784726

September 1st marks Red Candy’s first birthday!

It’s been exactly one year since the homes across the country have been enlightened to bold design, from a superior choice of vintage inspired pieces and innovative contemporary design, to choosing red as a subtle accent, or fully indulging in this passionate colour.

And now, Red Candy gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning with the new Guzzini compact Espresso Maker:

• This funky and thoroughly modern single espresso machine is compact and lightweight, making it perfect for the smaller kitchen or city apartment.
• Few can resist the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning and this Espresso Maker fixes any caffeine craving on the touch of a button.
• Featuring a translucent water compartment & aluminium/chrome tray designed for ground coffee, but will also work with the tea bag coffee capsules that you can buy from supermarkets of coffee shops.
• As with all Guzzini kitchenware, the compact Espresso is formed in vibrant colourful acrylic to match design and function.
  Dimensions: 16 x 21 x 23.5 H - 1200 W.
  Priced at: £129.

If you’re looking for the perfect piece of kitchen kit for the switched on urbanite, look no further than Redcandy.co.uk!

About Redcandy - A website dedicated to the celebration of red home furnishings and modern interior accessories.
Whether you use red as a subtle accent, or your love of this passionate colour sees it spread throughout your life, RedCandy provides for all by stocking the latest, most fantastic and innovative red products and designs from across the world.

For more information on the Guzzini compact Espresso Maker visit the Redcandy website.
Tel:   (0121) 4496123.

Good and practical tools are fundamental for any first-rate kitchen, for professional chefs and amateur cooks alike.

Available through Jamie at Home, the Jme Essentials range is designed to take cooking back to its simplest form, and comprises everything from bakeware, to kitchen gadgets and utensils; everything you could possibly need to create the very best home cooked food.

For Autumn/Winter 2010, this collection of back to basics crucial equipment has been added to, giving you even more practical and durable kitchen must-haves that have simple and understated designs:

• Everyone knows that the key to a great dish starts with preparation, so get a head start with the nested set of three stoneware Cooks Bowls (£25 for small, medium and large).
  Designed by Morph exclusively for Jme, they are available in three coordinated colours that work perfectly with the existing Essentials range.
• The Essentials Measuring Jug & Juicer is yet another excellent design by Morph for Jme. Combining juicer and measuring jug into one functional design, Morph’s unfaltering attention to detail is evident yet again.
  The Jug & Juicer is made from stoneware and available in both 0.5L (£16) and 1L (£19) sizes.
• Continuing with the importance of preparation and getting your measurements spot on, the collection now includes stylish, stainless steel Kitchen Scales (£39) and wooden Measuring Spoons (£12 for set of 4). Both designed by Morph, the scales are retro in style and have an oval shaped heavy weight bowl for ease of pouring.
• For those who like simple, modern and functional design, choose from a range of stainless steel cookware, including Saucepan with Lid (£32), Stockpot with Lid (£48), and Frying Pan Non-Stick (£34) – perfect for everyday cooking.
• To complete the new additions, there are the Dozen Baking Tray (£13), Square Cake Tin (£9), and Chopping Block (£20).

In addition to the fabulous pieces already mentioned, the Essentials range includes many other kitchen classics that you surely cannot cook without!

For more information on Jamie at HomeCollections, or Jme products, please call (0844) 871 2010.

*All Jme homeware products are available through ‘Jamie at Home’ parties.

MENU’s New Steam Tower makes healthy cooking a doddle. 

The tower consists of 5 oven-proof pieces of porcelain that stack neatly in the oven allowing steam to circulate between the dishes; as steam transfers no taste - it is the ideal way to cook fish, meat, vegetables and dessert together.

The Steam Tower works by placing it in the oven over water. When the water turns into steam, the steam circulates around and through the layers cooking the food in the healthiest way leaving the finished dishes succulent and tasty.

Designer Christian Bjørn has been inspired by the Asian kitchen and created what is already on its way to become a Scandinavian classic.
“I have focused on a design that must function on even a professional level - but improved many details to work even better for a modern busy family ” says designer and architect Christian Bjørn.

He has worked closely with Michelin-awarded cook Morten Køster, who has been part of developing the Steam Tower concept.

“Steaming is the natural and most healthy way to cook your food in a way that preserve the vitamins and minerals ” explains Morten Køster, who has tested the Steam Tower and put together the recipe book that comes with it.

Steam Tower; Materials: Porcelain; Designed by: Christian Bjørn for MENU. Priced at £59.

For more information on the Menu Steam Tower visit the website.

A fashionable return to more traditional kitchen designs, brings a brand new beginning for Mereway Kitchens this summer, with the introduction of a new Revival Shaker style door for their English Revival range.

Originally launched 12 years ago, the English Revival brand has remained popular and with traditional handcrafted styles seeing a huge renaissance, Mereway Kitchens believe the timing of this new range is perfect for today’s market.

Based on a brand new unit matrix, similar to Mereway’s main collection, the new range is stylish, easy to plan and has far greater unit availability:

• It is available in both stunning Natural Oak, as well as the same 5 popular painted colours as their Lincoln collection. A Ready to Paint option is also offered for those customers looking to create their own colour palette.
• With delicate 78mm stiles and rails and a beaded profile on all frames, the new Shaker design exudes quality and elegance. Solid 19mm glue and dowelled cabinets and the addition of solid timber dovetail drawer-boxes all go into presenting a truly exceptional product range that is built to last.
• “Timber drawers are often seen as the signature of a quality in-frame kitchen and our new in-frame Shaker is no exception.” Comments Ginette Crowther, Marketing Manager for Mereway Kitchens “It will be the first in our English Revival range to feature solid timber dovetail drawer-boxes as standard, as well as the latest fully adjustable soft close runner.”

The new Shaker is just the first in a far broader collection of in-frame products, Mereway Kitchens will be releasing for their English Revival range over the next 12 months.

The Mereway Group of Companies manufacture and deliver high quality kitchen and bathroom furniture along with a range of associated products.

All furniture is made to order and supplied rigid using traditional glue and dowel methods.

For further information on the English Revival kitchen range, visit the Mereway website.

 Tel: (0121) 706 7844

Knife, plane or wire – how do you like to slice your cheese?

Three new cheese slicers from the Kitchen Devils Sidekicks’ range are now available for British Cheese Week.

With over 700 cheeses produced in the UK it is safe to say we are a nation of cheese-lovers.

During British Cheese Week (26th September - 4th October) we’ll be encouraged to try something new and will be spoilt for choice with a wonderful selection of hard, soft, crumbly and blue varieties on offer.

Sidekicks, Kitchen Devils’ new fun and functional kitchen accessories range, have a trio of cheese slicers to help you prepare cheese quickly and easily. You just need to decide if you prefer to plane, glide or slice:

• 1. Cheese Knife, £4.99 featured here - the non-stick blade glides through both hard and soft cheese, with a handy pointed end for serving. These are also great for children to use with no chance of any nasty cuts.
• 2. Cheese Plane, £5.49 - great for evenly cut slices of cheese and so easy to use.
• 3. Cheese String, £5.99 – perfect for thick or wafer-thin slices. When you have to make multiple sandwiches or a mountain of party food, this is a great time saver.

Kitchen Devils Sidekicks’ kitchen tools are fun, yet hygienic, strong and dish-washer safe, have light-weight, ergonomic handles with a textured soft-grip that make them comfortable to use and come with a 2-year guarantee.

The Kitchen Devils’ Sidekicks range is available from leading independent and hardware stores.

To view the new cheese tools visit the Kitchen Devils website.

The kid’s summer holidays are just about to start, which presents the dilemma to parents up and down the land - how do you keep them occupied for six whole weeks?

Well before you start tearing your hair out, the Dotcomgiftshop can help you.

TheDotcomgiftshop online is choc-full of fun pursuits, to keep them captivated over the holidays - whether it’s playing with their selection of toys and games; getting creative with arts and crafts; or making new discoveries in the garden and kitchen.

So no matter whether you and your family find yourselves on a tropical beach, caravanning in the Dales, or simply in your own back-yard - Dotcomgiftshop can supply all you’ll need to keep them happy, learning and above all - having fun!

Featured here are a few of the childrens cookery games and accessories:

Children’s Minature Tea Set, 11 Pieces; £12.95.

20 Assorted Plastic Cookie Cutters; £4.95.

Children’s Baking Set Spaceboy Design; £12.95.

Skull Design TV Dinner Tray; £12.95.

Large Popcorn Holder; £3.95.

The Dotcomgiftshop online, offers a wide range of gifts, exclusively designed or sourced by their in-house team.

They are a little bit quirky, some are quite kitsch but surprisingly stylish; you’ll find vintage style kitchenware alongside glamorous baroque chandeliers.

This easy to navigate website is divided into sections:

• Interiors - Kitchen, garden, bathroom etc.
  Gifts for Her, Him and the Kids.
  Toys and jewellery, plus seasonal items.

Their appeal lies in the huge range of products on offer, all at remarkably affordable prices, plus their pledge to customer service and speedy delivery.

To view the wide range of gifts on offer visit the The Dotcomgiftshop online.

LG’s new SolarCube microwave enables you to cook healthily and at light-speed.

LG Electronics (LG), a global leading innovator of home appliances, reveals the new SolarCube microwave featuring special Lightwave and steam technology to cook food quickly and healthily.

Simply prepare your food and select the correct setting, to enjoy all the benefits of steam cooking better than ever before. Not only does it keep your meal fresher, it also penetrates your food removing excess fat while locking in those essential nutrients.

The new SolarCube will save up to 40% of energy compared to conventional units, and gives a cooking time that is three times faster.

Coupled with the clever steam technology, the SolarCube uses Lightwave technology, where powerful halogen lights cook the outside layers of your food as well as the inside. This innovative feature means that your meal will be ready in minutes while staying moist, tender and bursting with flavour.

How the technology inside the SolarCube microwave works:

• Lightwave – this technology uses powerful halogen bulbs to cook the outside of the food like a conventional oven, as well as penetrating the inside of the meal ensuring it is perfectly cooked in the middle, as well as being crispy on the outside. All in the speediest way you can imagine!
• Steam- Steam is by far the healthiest way to cook, it locks in all of the essential nutrients we need while even removing excess fat.
  You can switch the steam on and off when needed and even combine it with the oven and grill modes for food that tastes super fresh.
• Taste Saver – this feature will keep your food warm and in pristine condition for a whole 90 minutes.
• Easy cleaning – steam cooking makes cleaning the microwave much easier, simply wipe the inside of the microwave after cooking, and you can even take advantage of the automatic drying, which you can set to kick in after steam cooking meal

For more information on the new SolarCube microwave, please visit the LG Electronics website.

The kitchen has always been inextricably linked to the vegetable garden, and thanks to Harrod Horticultural’s new range of quality kitchenware and food preparation products, you’ll be able to follow your fruit and vegetables on their journey right through from the kitchen garden to the plate.

Summer is the season when kitchen garden harvesting kicks off in earnest and you’ll be able to slice, mill, chop and press your produce within seconds of picking thanks to the mandoline, ricer, food mill and salad spinner products on offer.

Herbs aren’t left on the sidelines either, with five-bladed herb scissors, an exceptionally sharp hachoir and cutting board set and herb mill all on hand to prepare and add that just-picked flavour to kitchen creations.

And if you’re thinking of making chutney, jams or preserves for enjoyment at a later date, you’ll be glad of the assistance of their Jam Making products, with a kit comprising of a maslin pan, thermometer and funnel - along with a few other essentials such as jars, spoons, straining bags and labels - and the top quality stainless steel kitchenware should bring out the best of your jam making skills.

• Featured here is the Deluxe Salad Spinner.
  Soggy sandwich bread and damp salad leaves will be a thing of the past once the Deluxe Salad Spinner gets to work; this innovative, three-in-one, will fling water off your carefully home-grown produce in no time.
• Available in a small dark green version or a larger light green coloured model, the Deluxe Salad Spinner has a spec to rival a high performance sports car; a geared action allows easy spinning, the quick-stop brake quickly brings the spinner to a halt and non-skid feet keep it right on track.
• You can also use the removable drier basket as a colander and the transparent spinning bowl to serve fresh - and dry - salads, your lettuce, raw spinach, broad leaved herbs and greens have never had it so good.
• Small salad spinner measures 20cm L x 18cm H x 21.5cm D and the large is 30cm L x 23cm H x 27cm D - both carry a 10 year guarantee. Priced from £14.95

For more information on these quality kitchen accessories, please visit the Harrod Horticultural website.
Tel: 0845 218 5301