Marianne Westmann’s New Homewares Collection – Belle Amie.

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Marianne Westmann’s New Homewares Collection - Belle Amie.Belle Amie a new collection, designed by iconic Swedish designer Marianne Westman has been added to the New House Textiles range of homewares….

Now in her 80’s, Marianne Westman, has always created pretty designs and products inspired by her immediate surroundings and Belle Amie was one of her first designs, drawn from wild flowers near her home.

A small-scale, cheerful flower print, it comes in the classic sky blue / bright white combination, which is such a perennial kitchen favourite.

Belle Amie brings a period look to the kitchen and is now available in a collection, which includes trays (from £21.96), oilcloth (£23.28 per metre, 150cm wide), paper napkins (£4.79) and a trivet (£17.28).

Belle Amie is part of the New House Textiles collection of Homewares, available to buy online.

The collection is very well priced, ranging from £4.56 for a set of stylish paper napkins, to £58.44 for a linen and cotton tablecloth, which will grace your table for years to come.

To view the complete New House Interior’s Belle Amie Homeware collection, please visit the website.

Read more about : Home Interiors, Tableware

GenevaSound’s Award-Winning New Portable Audio System

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

GenevaSound's Award-Winning New Portable Audio SystemGenevaSound’s new Bluetooth enabled Model XS, is a quaint hi-fi sound system built for travel. The beautiful compact cabinet includes an entire system of speakers, amplifiers, radio and alarm clock in a single rechargeable unit.

Fashioned by Geneva’s design team as the definitive portable audio companion, its sturdy waterproof clamshell case available in red, white or black faux leather, flips open to reveal a slender piano lacquered cabinet, inset with the brand’s distinctive domed grille.

Beneath the grille resides a discrete sound system of amplifiers, dual tweeters and woofer. Model XS features an integrated digital FM tuner with auto search, a digital clock with alarm, and stereo Bluetooth playback.

Once opened, a compact yet powerful Hi-Fi system is revealed:

  • The digital amplifier and stereo speakers play mid and high frequencies with absolute accuracy.
  • The woofer is capable of producing robust bass response below 80Hz.
  • Music streams wirelessly to the Model XS from any Bluetooth-enabled device, such as iPad, iPhone, and other smartphones and tablets.
  • Other audio sources can be connected via the included 3.5 mm line-in cable.
  • Advanced digital technology allows the Model XS to produce stunning and expansive stereo sound that belies its compact size.

Retail Price : £179.00. Available in January 2012.

For further information and to view GenevaSound’s award winning portable audio system, please visit the website.

Read more about : Home Entertainment

Wood Or Laminate Flooring – The Facts

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Wood Or Laminate Flooring – The FactsResearch by 1926 Wood Flooring has revealed that lots of people are searching online to discover which is better: real or laminate flooring?

In response to this, 1926 Flooring has produced information to help people come to a decision about the best type of flooring to suit their situation.

When deciding on a flooring material for your home, it can be difficult to choose between laminate flooring and real wood. Here are some facts about each of these to help make an informed decision:

Real Wood Flooring

Also called solid wood flooring, this type of surface is 100% real wood, with no extras other than paint or varnish, if you require them.

Advantages

For capturing that authentic look, nothing beats real wood flooring.
Solid wood floors can be sanded to remove any scratches or scuff marks. This means that they last longer than laminate, asthe surface can be restoredseveral times during the course of its life.
Real wood flooring can also be varnished and painted to match the decor of your room each time you redecorate.

Disadvantages

As real wood flooring consists solely of natural wood, it can expand and contract depending on levels of humidity in the air. This means that you should leave a small gap around the edge of wood flooring to allow for any expansion.

On particularly cold frosty days, you may find your flooring has unsightly gaps between the planks in draughty rooms.
Conversely, on days with high levels of humidity you may find the wood has buckled. This buckling can result in severe damage if you have not left enough space to accommodate it.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring consists of melamine resin fused with layers of fibre board, which simulate the appearance of real wood, stone or any other kind of flooring.

Advantages

This type of flooring is great if you’re on a budget. Generally it’s cheaper than real wood flooring (starting at around £10 per metre,) but is a bit of a compromise if you’re looking for an authentic finish.

If you have small children, laminate flooring is an excellent option as it is very easy to clean; dirt and moisture can simply be wiped away and the flooring won’t be discoloured by chemicals in household cleaning products.

This kind of flooring is resistant to scratches, so it a fairly robust option. Laminate will also not absorb moisture, which can be a problem with real wood flooring, so it can be laid anywhere, even areas in the home which experience varying levels of humidity, such as the kitchen. Some laminates as so resistant they can even be laid in the bathroom.

Disadvantages

As laminate flooring is made from several layers of man-made fibre, it is impossible to sand it down should it get damaged. This means the only option for dealing with imperfections that may occur in the laminate, such as cracks, is to replace it entirely. Also, if you want to change the appearance of your flooring, the only option is to buy an entirely new floor.

Engineered Wood Flooring

This type of flooring is made by layering different types of wood and then finishing off each section with a veneer of the wood of your choice. It’s the ‘best of both worlds option’.

Advantages

This gives the appearances of a real wood floor, with a price tag similar to that of laminate. Also like laminate this type of flooring does not have the same problems with moisture as solid wood, so it can be laid anywhere in the home.

Disadvantages

Like laminate this kind of flooring can’t be sanded down, re-finished or repaired, as the veneer on top is only a relatively thin layer.

To view 1926 Trading’s extensive ranges of real wood and laminate flooring, please visit the website,

Read more about : Wooden Floors

Ingarden’s Exclusive Range Of High Quality Outdoor Showers

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Ingarden’s Exclusive Range Of High Quality Outdoor Showers As the exclusive UK distributors of an elite range of high quality outdoor showers and taps, Ingarden repeatedly supply architects, landscapers and garden designers, with their range of showers and taps that are purposely designed for use outdoors.

Many of these are designed to mix hot and cold water supplies, making them the perfect addition to any garden, swimming pool or pool house.

They are supplied from a Dutch dealer who uses only the very highest quality materials, including Marine Grade 304 brushed stainless steel and high quality hardwood and each design is guaranteed for five years.

A variety of designs are available including both wall mounted and free standing:

  • The free standing design comprises of a mixer tap, fixed shower head and additional flexible hose ready to be plumbed into floor level pipe work.
  • Featured here is the Garden/Outdoor Shower in Brushed Stainless Steel, Wall Mounted. Single Feed. Dimensions; Pole height – 119.5cm. Length of shower-head pole – 38cm, shower head – 20cm. Priced from £350.
  • This wall mounted design is one of the only designs available on the market that allows both hot and cold water to be supplied directly to the shower, via two separate feeds. The shower comes with a fixed shower head, hot and cold taps and additional flexible hose
  • Cold water supply showers also offered by Ingarden, can easily be adapted to provide a controlled temperature, by simply adding a mixer valve, which will combine hot and cold water.

To view the Ingarden range of outdoor showers and taps, please visit their new website to be launched soon.

Tel: (01732) 832299

Read more about : Bathroom Showers, Leisure

First Ever Electric Model Cooker Introduced By Rayburn

Monday, January 16th, 2012

First Ever Electric Model Cooker Introduced By Rayburn 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.

Read more about : Range Cookers

The New Definitive Information Website – AboutUnderfloorHeating

Monday, January 9th, 2012

The Definitive New Information Website - AboutUnderfloorHeating If you are considering installing Underfloor Heating and looking for the best possible information and its suitability for your property. Then you will be delighted to know that Excelsior Information Systems (the owner of UK Home Ideas) has now launched www.AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk.

The website offers a wealth of in depth information, to provide solutions to your queries, so that you are not only well equipped to select the best system for your property, but also to achieve the best deal for this very significant

Once you start doing research on the web, you’re likely to discover, as Excelsior did, that there is very little independent first-class information and advice on the subject out there.

Most sites belong to product manufacturers, trade bodies or other organisations with an agenda to promote.
So Excelsior embarked on a mission to generate the finest underfloor heating website in the UK, to provide an independent source of information for the underfloor heating buyer – and AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk is the result.

Quenton Fyfe, Excelsior’s MD commented, “Because we are a publishing company rather than an underfloor heating supplier, we have no agenda, or partiality, so we can offer you an honest synopsis of the whole market, with no hidden plan, and no strings attached.”
“We have spent many months, and invested heavily in commissioning extensive, original research into the Underfloor Heating market in the UK, to enable us to bring you detailed, independent information to help inform your buying decisions.”

“Our aim is to create the highest quality, most informative websites in the UK, in each market we enter.”

AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk offers the following articles about the product, such as “Wet Underfloor Heating” and “Saving Money With Underfloor Heating”, as well as consumer advice articles like “Choosing the right Underfloor Heating” and “Installing Underfloor Heating”.

There are many more articles in development, to ensure that AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk becomes the most comprehensive underfloor heating website available on the web.

So before making that important decision to buy a system in the UK underfloor heating market, why not prepare yourself, by reading the detailed articles on AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk ?

As an informed consumer, you’ll be well prepared to make the best choice, and get the best deal on your underfloor heating system!
We hope you enjoy this site, and find it helpful.

If you have any comments or suggestions, Excelsior will be pleased to hear from you.

Read more about : Building Services, Underfloor Heating, Web Sites

Carl Hansen’s Wishbone Chair Is A Real Design Classic

Friday, January 6th, 2012

CarlCarl Hansen’s Wishbone chair is now available in Tangerine, which is said to be The Colour for 2012.

So if you like to invest in something durable, while keeping up with trends, the Wishbone Chair is just perfect. The colour is bright and beautiful and the design is a real classic.

The Wishbone Chair (CH 24) is a classically stylish and lightweight sculptural dining chair:

  • The top rail is cautiously steam curved to enhance freedom of movement and provide additional comfort. This design is a compact masterpiece of craftsmanship.
  • There are more than 100 stages in the manufacturing process involving genuine handwork, including the seat, which is hand woven from 120 meters of paper cord and can last for up to 50 years.

Hans J. Wegner designed the Wishbone Chair for Carl Hansen & Son in 1949, and production has continued uninterrupted since 1950.
Priced from: £391 ex VAT.

About
Carl Hansen & Son is a Danish-owned furniture manufacturer established in 1908 and based in Aarup, Denmark.

The company is one of Denmark’s oldest manufacturers of designer furniture and the world’s largest producer of furniture designed by Hans J. Wegner.

With solid roots in Danish cabinetmaking traditions and an understanding of the latest in production technology, Carl Hansen & Son creates furniture that lasts for generations and is sold all over the world.

To view more designer furniture from Carl Hansen & Son, please visit the website.

Read more about : Custom Furniture, Dining Chairs

The New Palais Sleigh Bed From And So To Bed

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

TheA delightful new addition to And So To Bed’s collection of traditional lit bateaux, the ‘Palais’ is a classic French style sleigh bed, with sleek curves and simple lines.

The highly distinctive fine-looking panels of walnut and cherry wood veneer lend the collection a timeless look and are just right for today’s more eclectic interiors.

The bed is available as both a traditional lit bateau and a ‘socle’ with lower footboard.

Price for 5 ft ‘Palais’ lit bateau as shown: £4150.

The range of co-ordinating bedroom furniture includes a 3 drawer bedside chest, 4 and 5 drawer chests, from £1050, a dressing table with mirror £3675 and a wardrobe £4950.

To view And So To Bed’s Palais Sleigh beds and matching bedroom furniture, please visit the website.

And So To Bed has showrooms throughout the UK.

Tel: (0808) 144 4343

Read more about : Bedroom Furniture, Beds, Sleigh Beds, Wardrobes

How To Cut Your Lighting Bills By Up To 75%

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

How To Cut Your Lighting Bills By Up To 75 per cent How would you like to cut your lighting bills by as much as 75%, yet still have an attractive lighting scheme.

Here are some tips from Sally Storey, (Design Director at John Cullen – Britain’s leading lighting company) to help you avoid possible pitfalls.

If you are thinking of redecorating, then now is the best and cheapest time to install more efficient lighting before you start.

The future of energy efficient lighting lies with LED fittings, which can last for as long as 20 years. They appear more expensive than regular products, but over their lifetime will more than make up for the initial outlay with energy savings.

John Cullen’s brand new, next generation Polespring LED downlight, sets new standards for energy efficient lighting. It uses just 12w of energy and gives you the equivalent of a traditional 50w halogen bulb at a fraction of the running costs. With its improved colour rendition and clarity, it is suitable for lighting throughout the home – even for paintings and other artwork.

If you don’t like compact fluorescent light bulbs, then replace traditional light bulbs with energy saving IRC (infra-red coated) bulbs. They come with all the usual fittings and give out the soft and attractive light we all recognise and love. A 40w bulb will give you 60w of light output – still helping you to keep your bills down.

Make sure all your lights can be turned off with the flick of one switch; if you have to turn lamps off individually, you will end up leaving them on even when you are not in the room.

Sensors are also an effective way of ensuring that lights are only used when they are needed. They are particularly useful in corridors, bathrooms and gardens, as well as in areas in the home where children (or adults) regularly forget to turn off the lights.

Good task lighting, such as a desk lamp or reading lamp by your bed, means that you don’t need to have the whole room lit up just to work or read. The new floor-standing 4w LED Pocket of Light floor lamp provides a well-directed beam of light, which won’t dazzle the person next to you. It is ideal as a freestanding task light by a bed or a sofa.

Finally, don’t think energy efficiency is all doom and gloom. For the first time ever, you can transform a roof terrace for as little as 7w, or bring your garden to life at night time with just 60w – no more than just one traditional light bulb! So get planning before the summer!
Prices: LED Strip Streamer, £72 per metre; Polespring LED, from £110;
Plaster Flat, £132.

For further information about John Cullen Lighting, please visit the website.

Stockist Enquiries: Tel: (020) 7371 9000

Read more about : Garden Lights, Home Interiors, Home Lighting

Yale’s Latest Digital Security Solutions Available Online

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Yale’s Latest Digital Security Solutions Available Online Thinking about improving your home security, then look no further than Yale Digital, their new easy to use website, offering the very latest digital security solutions.

You will conveniently be able to buy your security products online via the Digital Store and have them delivered direct to your door.

Products available include:

  • Yale’s revolutionary new SmartHome Alarm, which turns on a light in your home when an intruder activates a PIR outside, plus digital door locks, fire safes and wire-free alarms.
  • Most of the Yale Digital products are available with professional installation, carried out by the national network of Yale Security Point installers.
  • Yale Digital also includes ‘Build my alarm’, an easy-to-use feature that proposes both general security and high security packages depending on your home’s requirements.
  • You can also arrange for a 130 point security check of your property via the website, to enable you to ascertain which products are best suited to you and your home.
  • Specially trained Yale Security Point installers always carry out this reliable and affordable survey, for additional peace of mind.

Yale Digital offers you and your family security and peace of mind, with cutting edge technology, practical reliability, plus all the convenience and flexibility that only a digital solution can provide.

For more information or to view all of the Yale digital security products, please visit the website.
Yale’s Digital Helpline Tel: (01902) 364606.

Read more about : Burglar Alarms, Home Automation, Security Lighting, Security Services, Wireless Alarm Systems