Solar Technology is a specialist in solar power and is one of the largest producers of solar panels in the UK; the company has launched two new solar powered products designed to provide eco-friendly lighting in mains free environments.

Each Solar Mate lighting kit from Solar Technology is quick and easy to install, requiring no special tools and is ideal for UK weather conditions, featuring high power solar panels designed to absorb sun light even on dull, cloudy days.

When installing the new Solar Mate lighting kits there is no need to comply with Part P of the new building regulations introduced in the UK in 2005, whereby, a qualified electrician must complete all outdoor electrical work.

The Solar Mate Point 5 in our picture, is an efficient and easy way to provide lighting where mains power is not available and ideal for garden lights, or in buildings such as; summer houses, sheds and stables, or even for camping/festival trips. RRP £19.99.

The Solar Mate Point 5 features a Solar Panel using thin film solar cell technology, which powers three internal rechargeable batteries during the day, to provide power for 10 super bright LEDs, powerful enough to illuminate up to 9 Sq Metres for 3 hours.

Solar Technology has also designed a movement-activated security light, The Solar Mate Secure I features an integrated PIR movement sensor, which can be easily adjusted both for sensitivity and time.. RRP £24.99.

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

Tel: (01684) 774000

Clare Harris established Talking Tables Ltd. in 1999, just in time for the 2000 Millennium celebrations with only 8 products - today their current line is 150 and growing.

The Talking Tables vision is to provide stylish and co-ordinated accessories for your party or occasion, providing fun and different ways for people to celebrate and entertain.

They know how to get the party started - with party games from their ‘Table Trivia collection, table games to break the ice, such as ‘Jet Setters’, ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’, ‘Tots Trivia’ and ‘Food Fest’ to name a few.

The company’s in house team is constantly creating designs to inject excitement, glamour and elegance into any party occasion, from birthdays through summer fiestas and after-dark dinner parties to weddings.

There is a wide-range of exciting product designs on offer to suit all ages, including colourful place settings, table runners, garlands and decorations, posh party poppers, mini sparklers etc.

Talking Tables products can be found in retailers such as John Lewis, Heals, Selfridges and Liberty as well as independent shops nationwide, or online:

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

Tel: (020) 8675 9811

Villeroy & Boch offers a delightful range of festive decorations and tableware to adorn the home in a sophisticated and elegant style this Christmas.

The variety of traditional style decorations adds a touch of nostalgic festivity:

Featured here are:
Tree Decorations Winter Dreams £10.50 and Winter Fun £7.50.

A wealth of charming Christmas decorations in Toys Pattern are on offer from £19.95:

Christmas Toys Engine £24 and Railway Carriage with Santa Clause or Teddy Bear £24.95.
Christmas Toys Circus £39.95.
Christmas Toys Christmas tree £75.00.
Christmas Toys Gift Boxes from £19.95(also featured).
Christmas Teddies £7.95.

Ginger Cake & Cookies and Ginger Charm Tableware from £18.50.

This fascinating and inspirational collection can be viewed online in the Villeroy & Boch Christmas Section:

Web: http://www.villeroy-boch.com

Tel: (020) 8875 6060

Rococo Chocolates are continuing with their tradition of having artists lovingly paint the skilfully made chocolate moulds by hand.

This year they have a Santa in his Bugatti, in splendid colours, and an equally colourful Santa on his Lambretta.

Together with the Christmas tree decorated with candles and presents, they make wonderful gifts and table decorations.

All models retail at £25.00 - also available in Sepia at £16.50.

Christmas is not festive without the flavours of Christmas Pudding and Nutmeg; therefore the special Christmas Selection Box of three bars, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, Christmas Pudding and Cranberry and Nutmeg is a real treat when cosying up in front of the fire.

The bars are £3.95 each or £13.50 for the gift box.

It is also an Italian Christmas at Rococo Chocolates this year, with The Ravioli Box which contains a mix of flavours - Prune and Armagnac, Port and Nutmeg and Christmas Orange.

Retail Price: £ 20.50 per box or buy loose at £ 7.50 per 100g with your choice of the 7 flavours.

Buon Natale! as they say in Italy.

Web: http://www.rococochocolates.com

Tel: (020) 7352 5857

Christmas is a feast to indulge all the senses; it’s about celebrating in style with those you love; good food, great friends and family, plus the perfect party touches to make it really special.

Habitat’s ‘Rich Feast’ of contemporary Christmas decorations, employs rich lashings of red, from hot pink to morello cherry to ignite all corners of the home with many varied tones; this bold winter colour has never looked so fresh with clever layering and geometric patterns, applied to baubles, luxurious throws and stylish tableware.

Shimmering metallic table ornaments and gift-wraps add extra glamour and clusters of twinkling garland lights give walls and mantels a soft glow; or spark some romance by filling the air with the seductive aroma of scented candles.

Whoever said a Christmas tree had to be firmly rooted?

Habitat’s Bijou trees are made from garlands of twinkling red or metallic crystal lights and their flexible branches enable you to move them wherever you wish -hang them flat against walls, or wrap them around corners to great effect.

Finally the Habitat selection of great Christmas gift ideas, will put a smile on everyone’s face, fussy children included.

Having created that exciting festive atmosphere, its time to charge your glasses, relax by the fire and ignore the dismal winter nights.

Web: http://www.habitat.net

Tel: (08444) 99 1111.

Ikea’s Christmas 2007 Glansa lighting collection leaves no gloomy corners indoors, let alone gardens and balconies; with chandeliers, drapes, stars, light chains and hanging decorations, creating the right festive setting and mood.

With a winter that lasts 4-5 months and a need to lighten up their homes, the Swedes have always valued and cherished good lighting and employ candles and lighting decorations to create a very cosy and inviting atmosphere.

The Glansa Lysa lighting pictured here, has a snowball theme and includes a huge chandelier (90cm white £99.50), hanging lights/drape (48 bulbs- indoor, assorted colours £16.99) and a light chain (48 bulbs –outdoor white £16.99), which you can put on the ground.

Glansa Diamante bright electric stars (electric 27cm assorted colours £7.99) are traditionally hung in windows in Sweden.

Glansa Filt are novel felt cylinders with LED lights, which you can roll out into a table mat; also available as hanging star shapes (electric 40cm assorted colours £10.99).

The entire Glansa lighting series was designed by Ola Wihlborg, to inspire you to brighten up your home in warm and welcoming new ways this Christmas.

Web: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB

Tel: (0845) 355 1141

B&Q is promising to bring festive cheer to everyone this Christmas, whatever your style or space, with twice as many eye-catching products as last year, on sale in their stores from November 2007.

The Festive Fairytales collection in our picture is inspired by nature and features traditional seasonal icons such as the Small Berry and Ribbon Rattan Cone Tree (£2.98) and Rattan Wreath (98p each).

Also, fairy, butterfly, reindeer and robin characters bring a child-like innocence, in products like the Animated Feeding Reindeer (£39.98) and the Poly Resin Fairy Decoration (£1.98).

Earthy accent colours – moss green, caramel and burgundy, contrast against soft silver and pure white to great effect including; on the stunning 80mm tree, Lacquered Baubles (£1.48 each), Glittered Leaf Baubles (1.98 each), contrasting with the natural look of the Pine Cone and Bead Garland (£1.98).

Mistletoe, holly hearts and stars are represented in a range of finishes including, stencils, trailing glitter, punched holes and distressed paint.

Five distinctive key themes are on offer, across lights, decorations, characters and home accessories, including Classic Christmas, Bah Humbug, Eastern Promise and Midwinter Mayhem, all of which, feature quality materials and exquisite finishes.

Web: http://www.diy.com

Tel: For your nearest B&Q Store (0845) 850 0175

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 Original Christmas blue plates first appeared at the Nordic Exhibition in 1888, when Royal Copenhagen exhibited a series of blue plates, with the intention of providing an advertisement for the factory.

Crown Princess Louise was so enchanted by them that she immediately bought a plate, and the news of the royal purchase spread like wildfire, so people were soon queuing up to order plates.
 
The technique used in manufacturing these plates is very different from other porcelain painting, as the motif on the plate appears in relief; This decorative technique is still recognised today as a typical mark of Royal Danish porcelain.

The beautiful 2006 Christmas plate motive illustrates Christmas at Kronborg castle north of Copenhagen; designed by artist Sven Vestergaard it features five swans in flight over the sea that surrounds Kronborg.

The castle was built around the 1420s, is one of Northern Europe’s most important and impressive renaissance castles.

Following tradition, the original model is destroyed each year to ensure that the plates remain limited editions.

The Christmas Plate retails at £56.

Web: www.royalcopenhagen.com
Tel: (0800) 963 763

The Expectation of Santa’s visit is the highlight of Christmas for children and the exciting Ho Ho Ho collection of decorations from B&Q, goes all out to present the Santa theme and add to the fun.

Bring your tree to life with the assorted colourful character baubles and figures, which include a cute red robin, Santa, polar bear and a penguin; Then add the fluffy Feather Star Tree Topper for the perfect finishing touch.

The Ho Ho Ho Ice range focuses on a white Christmas and features snow globes and baubles with enchanting characters and scenes within.

Also on offer in the collection are the novel Baby’s First Christmas Bauble and Clay Dough decorations, character Christmas stockings, a musical puppy hand puppet and an animated singing reindeer.

Complete the festive picture from the selection of character, jewel effect and multi coloured rope lights, table settings wreaths and floristry.

Web:  www.diy.com
Tel: For your nearest B&Q Store  (0845) 850 0175