MEVH is a new coffee and dinner service from Herend - now there is no need to go to the beach, the seaside comes to you.

Brightly coloured cups and saucers with skilfully hand-painted marine life will bring summer to your table all year round.

Decorate your table with this service and display your favourite animal or colour; available in five attractive colours with sea-horses, octopi, sea shells, star fish and fish.

Light brush strokes and stylised painting combined with a richness of colours and patterns around the rims – are all worthy of the grandness of the seaside.

Childish simplicity – in the positive sense of the word – a playfulness that blends perfectly with today’s style, executed by master craftsmen makes this service very special.

A cup and saucer is priced at £77.40.
A side plate is £47.60.
A plate with painted border is £85.20.

Web: http://www.herend.com

Tel: (020) 7384 9722

Luminarc, a world leader in glassware have brought an exciting new collection to the table, which will allow even the novices amongst us to sniff and swirl in true sommelier style.

The Vinery collection, incorporates a number of different shaped glasses created to enhance the tasting experience. Comprising five glasses and three beautifully shaped decanters.

This range will not only allow you to present and enjoy wines at their best, but will also look stunning on any table.

Each of the glasses lends itself to a particular grape varietal and the fine rim makes the delicate art of tasting as precise as the blending; they are also cloud resistant which means we can say goodbye to dishwasher damage.
Prices range from £9.99 - £11.99 per pack of 4.

The Vinery decanters come in three distinctive and beautiful shapes:

Slender Decanter
The wine is aired as it flows along the long neck of this decanter and the delicate design enables it to be easily gripped by the punt at the
Bottom. £14.99.

Harmonious Decanter
The voluptuous yet crisp design of this decanter is ideally suited to more mature wines; the wine is aired through the length of the neck. £19.99.

Aerial Decanter
Both elegant and professional, this decanter is perfect for tasting all types of young wine; its open collar provides a large surface for oxygenation and its angular shape allows for the gentle release of aromas.
£14.99.

Luminarc products are available in most supermarkets.

Web: http://www.luminarc.org/home.aspx

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

The combination of Verner Panton’s design and Menu’s award winning thermo cups is eternally modern and an immediate classic.

Verner Panton was always on the cutting edge – willing to test new designs, new styles and new technologies; his colourful design radiates curiosity, optimism and joy.

The pattern on Menu’s thermo cups is called Geometry 1 and is from 1960; it represents Verner’s first and most famous textile design, for which he received The International Design Award in the United States in 1963.

Menu’s thermo cup is also an award winning design, created by Pernille Vea; the cups are constructed in two layers of porcelain with a hollow isolating centre, ensuring that you never burn your fingers and maintain the cold or heat of the contents equally well.

In 2003, the thermo cups were awarded the FORM 2003 prize and the DesignPlus prize in 2004.

The cups are made of porcelain of the highest quality, fired at 1320 degrees Celsius, ensuring strength, durability and an easy to clean surface; the glazing is acid-free, and therefore does not change colour and doesn’t contain lead or cadmium.

The new cups come in attractive boxes bearing designed by Verner Panton, containing four coloured cups or four cups with black decoration. Retail price £29.95 available in the shops from May.

Web: http://www.menu.as

For the ‘pooch’ with everything, this trendy Magis dog house designed by Michael Young, is a must have accessory for your faithful friend.

Made from moulded polyethylene, it has stainless steel legs and a brass plate with the inscription Amicus Fidelis Protectio Fortis (faithful friend, strong protector); the brass plate can be personalised with your dog’s name.

Measuring W104cms X D150cms X H83cms, the Magis dog house is available in orange or white and retails at £274.

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

Tel: (020) 7376 5088 or (020) 7637 1932

BBC Worldwide, has launched BBCGreen.com, a consumer lifestyle website for people interested in how they can change their impact on the environment.

BBC Worldwide is using its considerable expertise in these areas to create a new, thematic outlet for a clearly defined target audience.

The new site gives simple and practical advice on living a greener life that will make a difference to both the environment and your wallet.

As well as offering regular editorial features such as ‘Where does your recycling really go’ and ‘Do food miles really matter’, BBCGreen.com also gives users access to its unique Green Action Plan.

The Action Plan enables you to see how different actions compare and discover what really does make a difference.

The advice on BBCGreen.com is based on facts and expert opinion and covers areas such as food, travel, home and finance, which are central to living a green lifestyle.

Will Watt, Publisher, BBCGreen.com, said: “A large proportion of the UK population want to be Green, but are confused and not sure where to begin.
Our aim is to give them the best possible start with day-to-day advice that makes a greener lifestyle manageable, practical and affordable.”
“We don’t campaign on green issues, we simply want to help and inspire people who are looking for easy-to-follow advice.”

Join BBC Green today and you could win a luxury trip to Paris for two.

Web: http://www.bbcgreen.com/content/home

Following the phenomenal success of their NewWave Caffe collection, Villeroy & Boch has launched the NewWave Acapulco tableware for 2008.

The Acapulco pattern inspired by colourful South American prints, originates from one of Villeroy & Boch’s most successful collections of 1977 and has been re-introduced onto NewWave; combining the appeal of a retro pattern with a modern shape.

This ethnic-style collection has been inspired by travel and exotic destinations and translated into contemporary designs for today’s discerning consumers. The graphic range features bold prints of flowers and birds in vivid contrasting colours.

The striking Acapulco new line includes:

NewWave espresso cups, cappuccino cups, coffee cups and mugs featuring the signature sweeping handles.

Matching party plate saucers, large enough to serve biscuits on and for resting coffee spoons are also offered, making the Acapulco collection ideal for serving after dinner coffees.

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

Tel: (020) 8875 6060

Royal Copenhagen is launching its first new complete service of the 21st century.

Elements consists of 15 items, which come in 15 colours and plain white, and is the work of Louise Campbell, the front runner in a new generation of Danish designers.

It is the first time this century that Royal Copenhagen has launched a complete service, with all the items being developed right from scratch.

Elements is strongly traditional and unashamedly modern, the contrasts between the heritage of centuries and life in the new millennium become one.

On the one hand the shape of the service contains fragments of the Blue Fluted service of 1775, Flora Danica from 1790 and Half Lace from 1885, while on the other hand, the approach to colour is radically different from the traditional blue and white colour palette of Royal Copenhagen.
 
Elements includes everything from cups and plates in various shapes and sizes, to jugs, rectangular platters, salad bowls and dishes; each item comes in its own colour as well as plain white, with the palette ranging from bright orange to turquoise, cerise and dusky green.

The new pattern is painted by hand using a brand new technique that makes this rich use of colour possible.
 
Elements is flexible enough to accommodate global cuisine, whether the table is set with a salad bowl in turquoise, or sushi served on a rectangular porcelain platter with a grass-green design.
 
Example of price: Small dish/board £20.25 in white and £35.50 painted.
 
Web:  http://www.royalcopenhagen.com

Tel:    (0800) 963 763

It isn’t always easy being green - whether it’s driving 20 metres to grab a pint of milk, because it’s just started raining, or sneaking up the thermostat so you can sleep with the covers off.

So have some fun this spring, by confessing all those eco-sins and lighten your conscience with The Green Confessional; you can bare all to Together.com’s online priest and have the chance to win a fantastic prize:

They are giving away a Brompton bike, cutting edge Voltaic solar backpacks and some sexy Wattson energy monitors.

Here is a selection of perfect ways to atone for your eco sins – just check out the saintly deeds below, now easier than ever to follow through:

Saintly Deeds

1. Switch your bulbs to low-energy ones.
2. Recycle an old mobile phone.
3. Switch to a green energy tariff.
4. Do a home energy audit.
5. Make sure your loft is fully insulated.

Confess here:
Web: http://www.together.com/feature

The smart place to be this April is at the NEC in Birmingham - from 10th to 13th April 2008, where The Smart Home Show, (which is part of The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show), will be bringing together all the latest trends in smart home solutions.

Smart Home technology means controlling the home environment in a way that enhances the way you live; it makes life more enjoyable, more comfortable, easier and more secure.

Whether you are looking for a multi-room entertainment system, integrated lighting to control the mood of every room, state-of-the-art security to protect you and your family, or you just want to chill out watching a favourite movie from the comfort of your bath - The Smart Home Show will help you find the right solution.

There will be major brands to choose from, with leading industry experts on hand to share their knowledge; with practical demonstrations, advice clinics and a daily programme of free specialist seminars.

A visit to the Show could mean a home equipped for the 21st century is within your reach - don’t miss out!

Tickets are £10 in advance or £14 on the door.

For more information and tickets, visit:

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

Tel: (0871) 945 4547