eveningstandard--2019-11-01--PETA's award-winning vegan interiors brands for your home

It's World Vegan Day today — a day when vegans across the globe celebrate and champion the benefits of a plant-based diet.  Veganism is more than just going meat-free, however. It also means adopting a change of lifestyle and more consumers are now seeking out cruelty-free homewares and interiors.  The number of vegans in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2019 according to The Vegan Society. In 2018 alone, the UK launched more vegan products than anywhere else in the world.  In June, UK-based charity PETA, dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals, announced the winners of its Vegan Homeware Awards 2019 and top high street and designer names made it onto the list.  Among the winners of this year’s awards are H&M Home’s Conscious collection and Italian furniture makers Cassina.  Brands ditching wool for animal-friendly alternatives included House of Kind, for its handcrafted Polku blanket featuring a grey and off-white Scandi design, offset with pink pom poms.  Meanwhile, eco textiles brand Weaver Green was awarded best wool-free ottoman for its Kasbah Ink Ottoman made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles but with the look and feel of a wool product.  And The Fine Bedding Company’s vegan Smartdown range of bedding – also made from recycled plastic bottles with a 280 thread count – was crowned best down-free bed linen.  Other winners in PETA’s Vegan Homeware Awards 2019 include accessories brand Hetty + Sam, whose stylish geometric cushion is made from cruelty-free fabric, Eden Perfumes’ Vegan Soy Wax Candle in lime, basil and mandarin and Ocado's Scruffs Eco Donut Dog Bed, made with recycled fleece.  Meanwhile, Italian brand Cassina won the collaboration award for their collaboration with Philippe Starck to create furniture using apple waste in place of leather.  The experimental product, Apple Ten Lork, is made from apple cores and skins that would otherwise be wasted.  And Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven won the innovation award for his use of palm leather to create a range of vegan rugs.  An alternative to cow hide, the innovative rugs are made from palm leaves, which are folded in strips and attached to a woven base to create a patterned appearance.  PETA’s director Elisa Allen says there is a booming demand for vegan décor with buyers looking for fashionable and functional pieces.  “Animals are not fabric – and we need to move away from using their skin, fur, wool, and feathers as such.  “As interest in vegan living grows, so does the availability of stylish, cruelty-free home decor options. In our selection of the winning products, we took into account their look and feel, ethical credentials, and feedback received from PETA staff as well as from compassionate consumers,” she says.  When looking at the criteria for what makes a product vegan and cruelty-free when choosing the winners, the team at PETA get confirmation from the shortlisted brands.  The team also take on board feedback from consumers throughout the year.  Take a look through our gallery above for the best vegan interiors brands for your home.


eveningstandard--2019-11-22--The top picks in party-ready interiors

The top picks in party-ready interiors

Get your glad rags on, it’s soirée season.  And what better way to celebrate than to throw a ball of your own? Drawn up for carrying wine, throwing shapes and adding festive frills, this group of attendees offers everything you’ll need for a fabulous fiesta.  Swipe through the gallery for an assortment of party finishing touches - from candlesticks to cocktail sticks.  Interiors expert Sophie Ashby on mastering the art of colour  Q: Any tips on how to create a great colour scheme for any room?  A: Start by choosing three key colours for your space. For example, when incorporating greens and blues into a living room, I would start with fairly neutral walls and perhaps a warm, off-white for the larger furniture. Then add stronger greens and blues using upholstery, smaller furniture, art and accessories. My final touches might include the odd burst of yellow or orange to disrupt the perfection.  I don’t think it’s possible to have too much colour. To create a rich, layered and bright room, I say ‘go for broke’. Create coherency by repeating the colours you use on different elements in the room. For example, at home I used oranges, blues, greens, yellows and red, but for every item in that colour (ie a yellow floor lamp) there would be another object in the room of the same shade.  I enjoy experimenting with strong paint colours on the walls and Farrow & Ball has some great pages on its website (farrow-ball.com) dedicated to helping you discover what works and where. I often suggest picking a more muted version of a colour you like, for example a greyish blue, dirty pink or mossy green. This can then become a backdrop on which you layer stronger colour.


eveningstandard--2019-12-04--Why this blue is tipped to be the next big trend in home interiors

Classic Blue has been revealed as Colour of the Year 2020 by Pantone, the American colour coding company whose swatches are the reference point for designers worldwide.  A rich shade close to cobalt, between navy and royal, Classic Blue is "a timeless and enduring hue elegant in its simplicity", according to Pantone and has been used in homewares through history, from Ancient Egyptian glazes and Bronze Age glass to Tang and Ming dynasties Chinese pottery.  Described as "solid and dependable" and a shade "we can always rely on" by Pantone Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman, Classic Blue will make a strong statement on its own — as a bold feature wall or as an accessory against a neutral backdrop — or layered with other lighter shades of blue, such as denim or sky, for a tonal look.  Heralding good news for interiors fans who embraced grey with enthusiasm, the deep blue will pair well with many shades already in our homes.  Pantone says the shade "brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to the human spirit", particularly as technological advancements gather pace. "It's easy to understand why we gravitate to colours that offer the promise of protection."  We've already seen the colour on the catwalk in next year's collections.  British fashion designer Stella McCartney included rich, blue looks in her Spring/Summer 2020 show at Paris Fashion Week in September.  Using the shade in homes  Instagrammers the world over have been championing mid to dark blues for the past few years.  "These deep blues became popular in 2013 and have been becoming more mainstream and familiar ever since," says Dulux creative director Marianne Shillingford, "They are perfect for spaces where we want to sleep, dream and relax — it's a colour you can dive into and of course blue is the world's favourite colour.”  Stylist Alex Stedman, of The Frugality Blog, and writer Kate Watson Smyth, author of Mad About the House, are among interiors influencers to have used blue hues such as Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue — which now has over 24,000 posts on its very own Instagram hashtag — on walls and features in their homes to stunning effect.  "Dark blues have proved a popular choice within the home, especially in the kitchen as dark blue cabinets look very elegant and make an impressive design statement," say interior designers Nicola Keenan and Nicola Lindsell, co-founders of Boxx Creative design studio.  "The dark blues work really well when paired with warm natural woods and can also provide grounding and depth to neutral colour schemes."  "Pantone’s Classic Blue works well as an accent colour or as a main colour within a room scheme, for instance by painting the walls and ceiling," adds Keenan.  Last year's Colour of the Year was Living Coral, a lively shade pitched between orange and peach.  It was described as "sociable, spirited and life-affirming" by Pantone, but it wasn't an industry-wide favourite.  Design TV presenter Michelle Ogundehin, writing on the Dezeen website, argued that it was "simply too saccharine, bright and ripe to be remotely relaxing".  Australian design studio Jack + Huei described the choice of colour as "tone-deaf and downright irresponsible", and proposed Bleached Coral — a very pale blue — for next year to highlight the environmental destruction of coral reefs.


thedailybeast--2019-01-30--Scouted Modsy Is Interior Design For People Who Hate To Redecorate

Scouted: Modsy Is Interior Design For People Who Hate To Redecorate

When living in a big city and moving around a lot, it's hard to make a place feel like home. Hand-me-down or quick-buy furniture is usually strewn about and things just don't look cohesive. But who has the time or money to find an interior decorator that can untangle the web of design you've created?  That's where services like Modsy come in. Modsy is an all-in-one design service that helps you plan, arrange, and even buy pieces to make your idea of a dream bedroom, living room, whatever you want, come to fruition.  I was given the opportunity by Modsy to test out the experience, and I’ve been recommending it to friends ever since. It has completely changed how I look at what I buy and how I plan to buy for my space. And the price (packages start at $59) is much less of a gut punch than any other interior design service I was considering.  There’s the option to choose what you think your interior design style is, or take a fun style quiz that is probably the best part of the whole set up. The quiz absolutely nailed my style, dubbing it Mod Collector (a mix between Eclectic and Mid-Century Modern, with a touch of Industrial). It’s like reading the perfect horoscope. After that, comes the addition of what your actual room looks like.  While working from home one day, I spent five minutes gathering the measurements (length/width of the room, any alcoves, etc.), and took a handful of photos of my living room from every different corner and angle I could think of. They recommend eight photos (four in each corner, and four from the middle of each wall, including the ceiling and floor in each) but I sent a couple more, as my open living room set up is a bit wonky.  After all the measuring, it takes about a week to get your beautifully detailed 3D rendering if you pick a package that includes it. If you do (I recommend it), it’s like your own personal stockpile of interior design porn, based on your own home.  What always scared me about interior design services was whether they would be pushy about purchasing the furniture they recommend. Modsy doesn’t do that. They give you a place to set your budget for every piece that may be placed in the room, and link out to it, but you’re not pressured into buying anything they mock up.  You can even swap in things they have mocked up in their library using their Live Swap too. If you see something you want, you can just place it in your studio, without having to discuss anything. But, if you want help, most of their packages include one-on-one time with the designers.  My good friend, and coworker, Veronica de Souza also got the chance to have them help her design her basement/den area. “I dragged my feet during Modsy’s setup process. I put off the design quiz, though it ended up helping me describe my style. I put off uploading what felt like a million photos of my living room," she said. “But once I saw the 3D model they made I realized it was all worth it. I was blown away by how realistic the model was, and the fact that I could click and drag pieces around like I was playing The Sims. One of the two designs I received made me think of the space in a completely different way.”  The only slightly disappointing part is that even though both Veronica and I had put that we shop and love pieces from more affordable destinations like Target and IKEA, most of the pieces were from higher-end retailers like CB2, West Elm, and others. “I ended up buying a pair of armchairs that were in my Modsy design, but on a different website because they were on sale,” Veronica said.  Honestly, the overall design and planning has made my all-over-the-place checklist into a cohesive design plan, which is really what this was about. I’ll have these renderings to refer back to in case I want to switch up my room’s layout, and I’ll have the inspiration built-in. If you need a kick in the butt to redesign your space, Modsy is a great place to start.  Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.


theguardianuk--2019-01-30--Selfie v shelfie fashions growing appetite for interiors

Selfie v shelfie: fashion’s growing appetite for interiors

Forget about athleisure, ugly trainers and logomania, the most dominant trend to have gripped the masses in recent years isinteriors. The fashion world is currently consumed by a homeware obsession – making the “shelfie” the new selfie.  It’s not a hard trend to hunt down. On social media, aesthetically pleasing backgrounds now get at least as much attention as the outfits we post photographs of. Elsewhere on our feeds, Peggy Guggenheim’s terrazzo-tiled palazzo in Venice, the quiet sophistication of Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge and the sugary millennial-pink interior of the tea room at Sketch in London are just as likely to be pictured as a new pair of shoes. The hashtag #IHaveThisThingWithTiles has become as commonplace as #TodayI’mWearing, while Le Corbusier is the new Calvin Klein and Charlotte Perriand the new Prada.  The two worlds have merged to create complementary – if co-dependant – style statements and, as a host of established players enter the fray, buying a cushion with your coat is set to become cheaper and more accessible than ever. Hot on the heels of River Island launching its 160-piece in-house collection last September (its head of homeware, Dayna Sofair declared that “style doesn’t end at our clothes”), Asos launches its first homeware line, Supply, next Monday. River Island promises that “customers will be able to shop the looks [priced between £6 for a mug to £275 for a rug] easily and refresh and update their home seasonally” just as they would with their wardrobes. Similarly, Asos’s “living” range, which starts at £8, is “inspired by seasonal trends and packed with innovative pieces for your home that are as individual as you are”.  “It’s a natural extension of accessorising in fashion in the way you might buy something to cheer an outfit up; the equivalent is buying a cushion for your sofa or a vase for your mantlepiece,” says Vogue’s fashion features editor, Ellie Pithers. She too credits Instagram for the rate at which we are consuming images of people’s houses, hence increasing our appetite for interiors (witness the Italian fashion brand Bottega Veneta this week releasing its spring 2019 campaign, in which the chrome and snakeskin chair the model sat on stole the show). “The next stage of showing off your good taste is extended to your house.”  The new offering from Asos – which self-identifies as “a global fashion destination for 20-somethings” – promises to work, says Pithers, because it is targeting young trend-driven shoppers who don’t have a lot of space or money. “They haven’t focused on big furniture, because their customers are students who don’t have big flats.” Instead, they can “buy a standard sofa from Ikea then beautify it with lots of nice little bits”, such as placing a wicker wastepaper basket, a printed plate or a water jug nearby. River Island’s bestsellers so far – a coaster, a planter and a leopard-print mug –chime with this psychology.  That the popularity of interiors has coincided with the rise of the Swedish H&M group on the high street is no coincidence. The group capitalised on the mid-century Scandinavian aesthetic – one of the most prevailing interiors trends of this century – by bottling the formula, firstly through its H&M Home brand and then with Arket, which launched in 2017. “Arket has been clever,” says Pithers. “The way they have the homewares by the till. Instead of buying a chocolate bar on the way out of the newsagent, you’re buying a little vase or a pack of matches that doesn’t cost very much and cheers you up.”  When it comes to fashion, quick-fix, fast interiors are the new food for thought. And they’re always ready for a close-up.  This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.    The links are powered by Skimlinks. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that Skimlinks cookies will be set. More information.


theindependent--2019-01-23--The yearaposs top design trends from Europeaposs biggest interiors fair

The year's top design trends from Europe's biggest interiors fair

At the Paris interiors trade fair, Maison & Objet, there was talk of “nouvelle vague” — a new wave of radical design which, if you looked carefully, swirled around amid an otherwise overheated show in eight huge halls with a rather dull mix and only glimpses of talent and originality.  Holding court in the middle of it all was Vincent Grégoire of influential Paris trends agency NellyRodi, in a gorgeously curated gallery crammed with fresh French products and the avant-garde.  There were surrealistic ceramics and fanciful chairs, graffiti-splashed fabrics, sculptured marble, brilliant baskets, tribal masks, handcrafted metals — and even the odd robot.  Excuse My French was the somewhat cryptic title for this mad melange. Grégoire was championing the original, exotic, individual and bizarre.  “People are sick of globalisation,” he said. “Now we are bold not bourgeois. We do classic with a twist, revitalise old crafts and mix in some top tech.”  In truth, these trends are not a French monopoly. You could see them in many places, for about 60 per cent of Maison & Objet exhibitors are drawn from 63 countries.  What does remain global is an international pool of well-trained talent and a transcontinental sharing of craft skills.  Prime example is designer of the year at Maison, Sebastian Herkner, 38, from Frankfurt, whose early internship with Stella McCartney taught him “tactility and emotion”. Now he’s putting craft back into industry.  He worked, for example, with 200-year-old Thonet of Austria, whose legendary wood-bending expertise has furnished thousands of cafés with those familiar curvy brown bentwood chairs.  Herkner’s new version has a traditionally bent timber seat and caning, married with an elegant CNC-cut frame.  His new range for UK- and Germany-based garden furniture company Gloster has a heap of elegant, textured cushions you can leave outside.  The London stockist is World of Teak, N11. Herkner’s easy chair for Dedon takes four days to weave in the Philippines and the glass base of his Bell table for ClassiCon has revived the fortunes of ancient glassmakers in Bavaria. Find it at Aram Store in Covent Garden.  Prestigious French furniture maker Ligne Roset, founded by Antoine Roset in 1860, now finds clever conduits for top French designers.  Quilted fabric is its relatively recent art, developed painstakingly for the already-classic Ruché sofa by Inga Sempé, who worked out the patterns on her sewing machine at home.  “Then we designed a robotic quilter,” says Michel Roset, current father of this formidable family firm. It still takes nine hours to quilt a sofa: “But we get the original handmade effect at a good price.”  Adapting these techniques is Marie Christine Dorner, with a sharp geometry for her new quilted Uncover sofa.  Ligne Roset has a dedicated London store in Mortimer Street, W1 and an expansive concession in Heal’s, W1.  Britain, too, is an enthusiastic baton-bearer for originality and craft. Prime example is Object Studio in E10, a team of designer-makers brought together by RCA graduate Tom Vaughan and celebrated for super-curvy wooden furniture.  Now, aided by a Queen Elizabeth Trust Scholarship, they’ve perfected a new metal dining chair, using local metalworking skills, from sand-casting the aluminium components, to coating with copper or bronze, or covering with hand-stitched leather.


theindependent--2019-02-16--Transform your interiors with mixed material furnishings

There’s a new rule that design gurus are urging us to follow: mix up your materials and finishes. Interior designer Katharine Pooley tells me that “a simple piece of furniture can be completely transformed with the use of high contrast finishes, adding interest and a sense of luxury to even the simplest pieces”. So, next time you find yourself shopping for home accessories, look for pieces that combine and clash materials to give your home an on-trend design update and a more dynamic feel.  Read on for examples that showcase the dramatic effect of bold material pairings in the home.  First up is Swoon, the one-stop-shop for quirky, often art deco-inspired pieces to bring your home up to date. There is a vast selection of items in the Swoon portfolio that demonstrate the elegance of a metal-wood or metal-stone pairing. A personal favourite is the Grace cabinet, a combination of acacia wood and brass with steel legs. The striking geometric design contrasts the flecked woodgrain of the unit with the smooth finish of the brass design, appearing 3D to add further dimension to whatever scheme it’s placed within.  New from Scandi lighting and furniture brand UMAGE is the Acorn in amber brass and smoked steel. The Acorn is a pendant light that pairs brass and steel accents with glass in different tones to help you set the mood in any room. The visible decorative bulb of the Acorn offers an alternative to the ubiquitous Edison variety, with the added benefit of the stylish smoked glass.  Finally, Francis Cayouette has created an unapologetically minimalist french press coffee maker for Danish design brand Stelton. Available from Oggetto, the matte black stoneware of the Theo cafetiere is topped with a pale bamboo lid. With the trend for dark kitchens, this piece will fit seamlessly into the modern kitchen environment. The spout is drip-free, making your morning that bit easier.


theindependent--2019-03-29--Instagram influencer Erica Davies unveils her new interiors collection

We're all guilty of scrolling through Instagram and wishing we could transport the interiors looks from the grid directly into our own homes.  Now it's possible, as top interiors influencer Erica Davies has joined forces with QVC to create a collection inspired by her own home.  With over 15 years experience in the fashion industry as a stylist and journalist, she upped sticks from south-east London to renovate a house in the countryside on the Essex/Suffolk border.  A fan of scouring eBay and trawling the high street, Erica gives her 133,000 followers on Instagram a daily look into her stylish home.  Here she offers an insight into the trends to look out for and how to style your home on a budget.  1. What homeware to invest in  A piece of art can act as an expression of your personality on the walls of your home. it's also one of the easiest ways to create a talking point in a room.  If you can't stretch to an original artwork, opt for a wall print from eBay or Etsy. You can get them personalised for an extra special touch.  "I think a real statement piece of art is a good one, and you don’t have to make it expensive.  "Something large that will dominate a room and provide a focal point is a really quick and easy way to give your room an update," says Davies.  2. Why a bedroom is the easiest room to update  When you've decided to transform your home, it's difficult to decide which room to tackle first.  The bedroom is probably the room where you will spend the longest time, so make it a priority.  "For me a bedroom would be the easiest to makeover. A new lick of paint on the walls won’t cost a fortune, but it will completely refresh the space.  "Build on the scheme by adding new cushions, a fresh duvet set or even a statement, inexpensive rug.  "I also think having plants in a bedroom really adds texture and interest," says Davies.  3. Where to look for inspiration  With endless hashtags to follow and people sharing photos of their homes across social media, the internet is a treasure trove of inspiration.  But, it's not the only place to look to spark your imagination.  "It could be a restaurant, a hotel I’m staying in, someone walking down the street in a really cool outfit, or the way somebody might put colours together might spark something.  "I might just see a cushion and that would spark an entire theme, so I find inspiration absolutely everywhere," says Davies.  4. These are the trends to look out for in 2019  Luckily, lots of home decor trends are carrying over from last season so there's no need to splash out on totally new items if you're on a budget.  "There are still so many botanical prints, but they are moving into less natural colours, so look for faux in colours other than green.  "I've noticed a lot of circular trends – circular foot stalls and circular tables," says Davies.  Scroll through our gallery above to see the new QVC collection in full...


theindependent--2019-04-04--When it comes to interior design velvet is taking over

When it comes to interior design, velvet is taking over

Velvet is fast becoming something of a trans-seasonal fabric choice in interior schemes all over the world. From hotels and bars to the most Pin-able of living rooms and bedrooms, velvet has scalloped, pleated and dimpled its way onto our feeds and into our homes. From upholstery to curtains and carpets; the trend is here to stay.  One of the most prominent ways we are introducing velvet into our interior schemes is via upholstery on armchairs and sofas. Sofa Workshop, a leading sofa retailer, has reported a 58 per cent increase in searches for velvet sofas year on year, while online furniture retailer, Wayfair.co.uk, has quoted a staggering 500 per cent year on year increase.  However, velvet sofas may not have the monopoly on the market, as the site has also seen a spike in searches for “velvet wallpaper”, which is up over 1000 per cent year on year. Heritage carpet manufacturer, Brintons, has also revealed that velvet-style carpets are enjoying an increase in sales. Nadia McGowan Hill, Wayfair.co.uk’s resident style advisor, believes this is indicative of a growing confidence in the material, “proving that this trend is being creatively adapted into home improvements and decor, as well as furniture.”  But it’s not just a creative confidence in the fabric that's fuelling its popularity, as Kelling Design/KDLoves’s founder and creative director Emma Deterding tells me. “There are so many bombproof varieties of velvets available today. You can be as daring as you like, without the fear of spills, stains, wear and tear. Velvets are now just as life-proof as any other fabric on the market.”  Shelby Pearson-Hendry, visual merchandise and photography manager at Sofology, agrees and believes the variety available in top retailers today is also driving the market. “The popularity of velvet continues, not only because of the luxury and richness that it offers, but also because of the wealth of choice in terms of finishes. From crushed and matte velvet all the way through to deep pile, with interwoven pattern, this sumptuous fabric is both liveable and indulgent.”  Helen Bygraves, co-founder of London and Surrey-based design studio, Hill House Interiors, points out that due to the variety available, velvet “lends itself well to both minimalist and maximalist designs", meaning its popularity reaches across two of the key schools of aesthetics in interiors. For example, Ikea, known for its classically Swedish and minimalist designs, has launched a series of velvet pieces including the Fasalt Swivel armchair in a glorious mustard that works just as well in maximalist schemes. Ella James has also created beautiful new season photography that demonstrates the use of decadent velvet cushions in pared-back, Scandi settings.  So, whether you’re ready to go full throttle with a carpet or sofa, or if a scatter cushion or two is your limit, embrace velvet this spring and beyond.


theindependent--2019-06-03--Vogue illustrator launches playful interiors collection for Habitat to spruce up your home

Illustrator and photographer Quentin Jones has designed an interiors capsule collection for Habitat – and it’s as sprightly as fans of the acclaimed artist would expect.  Jones, who is renowned for her work for Vogue, Chanel and Victoria Beckham, has reimagined some of her signature artworks across a range of textiles for the home, consisting of rugs and cushions.  There are the abstract eye cushions (£60 each), which Jones explains were inspired by the idea of a “sofa monster surveying the room”, that feature one open and one winking eye that look as if they’ve been painted on in brushstrokes.  Then for those really looking to add some eccentricity into their living rooms, there’s the Antrausic Rug, costing £450, that features splashes of primary colours alongside rigid black typography on a white background.  One undisputed highlight is the eye-eye My Love rug (£450), which incorporates two of the cushion designs into one reassembled artwork that looks as if it has been painted directly onto the rug itself.  “My artworks are often very layered, with a mix of photography, painting and moving image,” Jones comments.  “It doesn’t translate obviously into interior pieces, but I have a strong sense for how I like home’s interiors to be which sits as the under-pinning to lots of my work that hands on the walls.”  Jones explained that she personally prefers working with monochromatic and primary palettes and is inspired by German art trends, such as Bauhaus.  The artist adds: “I am also drawn to bold graphic shapes with minimal fuss which might be from having grown up in a house if two architect parents, who were keen minimalists.”  Quentin Jones for Habitat is available to buy from Tuesday 4 June. Prices range from £60 to £500.


theindependent--2019-06-15--Digital platforms and technologies are changing the landscape of the interior design industry

The pervasive nature of modern technology has found its way into the interior design industry in unexpected and exciting ways. New digital platforms have been born out of niches that mirror the recent demands of the consumer (who has developed a penchant for vintage design pieces) alongside pressures from the wider industry to abolish waste and encourage the efficient use of pre-existing design products. Today, I speak to two entrepreneurs about the online products they have created, putting in place solutions to two very contemporary challenges. That necessity breeds innovation has always been intrinsic to design and this is how it looks in the digital age.  The increase in popularity of vintage and one-off pieces for the home has forced the rise of technology to support more widespread availability of such items. Interior designers and homeowners alike are drawn to the unpredictable and intoxicating journey of sourcing the perfect, unique item that makes a home their own. Hollie Bowden, a London-based interior designer, says, “Sourcing furniture has long been a pastime of mine, since before I even began designing. I do this all over the world, auctions, antique fairs, flea markets, eBay, I have suppliers all around the world. My main ports of call would be Paris, Milan and Belgium, especially for antiques.”  So too does Trilbey Gordon, head of interior design at Londonewcastle, believe that the best decorative pieces for the home can be found in the most obscure of places. She says: “I source eclectic pieces from everywhere for my clients’ homes. Paris, London, Miami, LA, through dealers, auction houses, first dibs and vintage stores that I have relationships with. I always try to mix things up, I never want a room that is just one look, from one source or one era. I want to see pieces that are interesting and collectable, but also to be in a space that tells a story.”  But for the vintage lover without the time to dedicate to the exhausting task of hand-sourcing furniture from all over the world, new digital listing technologies are invaluable.  Sandrine Zhang Ferron founded online design marketplace Vinterior in 2015 to further this technological movement, connecting independent sellers of vintage furniture to their markets. The origination of the digital product she created lay in the largely inefficacious processes of the vintage furniture trade. The scattered and ephemeral nature of vintage sellers and the pieces themselves were something of a catalyst for Zhang Ferron. She spent months trawling vintage furniture dealerships and showrooms trying to find the perfect Scandinavian style chair for her new London home, becoming frustrated at the fruitlessness of it all.  She tells me that, although inspiring, the travel involved in visiting these showrooms to little or no avail was time-consuming and the lack of updated online furniture listings just added to this frustration. Zhang Ferron believed that there must be a better, more coherent method to sourcing these rare yet unbelievably popular items. This was the moment she decided to pursue Vinterior, “the online marketplace that brings together independent boutiques with those looking for remarkable furniture, in one place”.  Leaving the world of finance behind, Zhang Ferron tells me she learned to code to build the platform from scratch. She launched the platform with 200 products with the support of 12 dealers and last year, celebrated Vinterior’s 200,000th furniture listing across more than 150,000 sellers. The network is evidently expanding with the consumer’s tastes, making readily available the rare design classics and one-off vintage pieces of Pinterest boards the world over.  When I ask which style or era of furniture design Zhang Ferron’s customers (or should I say, unique users?) are most drawn to, she unblinkingly offers, “postmodern. Postmodern design, in particular, looks unbelievable in a super modern setting. The 21st century home benefits from the superior quality of this style and people love the natural materials that this movement incorporates.”  The second challenge that is being tackled by digital creatives is the hugely underreported, endemic problem of overstock and product waste in the retail industry. The scale of overstock across all retail categories is worth around £5bn in the UK alone, according to research by buyfair.global, the first B2B multi-lot auction-based marketplace for overstock, sample and end-of-line products.  The founders of the site believe that “excess stock is a huge problem, but [we] have a solution to the current difficult trading conditions of premium design products”. This solution to the sheer scale of waste involved in modern product production centres on a multi-lot auction model, ensuring fair prices for buyers and quick return on stock for sellers, allowing brands to reinvest profits back into the design industry.  Dominic Speelman, co-founder and CEO of buyfair.global, is dismantling the stigma surrounding overstock across retail. He assures me that although overstock has been a taboo subject for a number of years, something that premium brands in particular “have been loath to discuss”, he feels “a tipping point has been reached and people are searching for a solution to the problem”.  Deborah Spencer, a partner at the company and founder of annual design show designjunction, tells me: “buyfair.global brings the first and only multi-lot, real-time auction to the industry at a time where it has been incredibly difficult for homeware brands to manage inventory as we lose key retailers from our high streets.” It has already signed a number of design and lifestyle brands looking to make a change, including LSA, Serax, Case and Innermost who join more than 200 other companies and thousands of product listings.  From aesthetic demands to environmental pressures, technology in the interior design community is streamlining and improving the buying process at many different stages. It’s fascinating to track its progress and the world looks forward to where such platforms will take it next. Although, I’m rather contented knowing that my route to purchase of the perfect postmodern coffee table is easier than it has ever been before.


theindependent--2019-12-20--How the top interior designers decorate for Christmas

There is an art to decorating your home for the festive period. It is one of the world’s most democratic art forms, with endless themes, colours and tastes counting towards what is deemed a successful scheme. The criteria? Whatever makes you feel festively fuzzy on the inside. Whether you tenderly retrieve generations-old decorations from the attic or refresh your look annually, there is no wrong way to get your festive fervour flowing. This week, we hear from three interior designers on their personal preferences when it comes to decorating the family home for Christmas.  “I believe Christmas should feel magical no matter what age you are. I love creating the magic for those around me to enjoy, old and young. Christmas styling is as fast moving as the fashion industry, I learnt early on not to try and follow these but to find what I like and evolve it year on year. That way every year I have a scheme that has been thoughtfully developed and remains truly magical.  As with everything at home, my priority is to make it work for my family. The boys love to help with selecting the decorations. They love animals so we are using a selection of bird decorations along with the more traditional Christmas Baubles. The best way to start is by looking at the current room scheme and seeing what would best translate it into a Christmas scheme. I never want my Christmas scheme to be alienated from the room or the house, I want to ensure it felt right. I make sure to layer the Christmas tree from the centre out to ensure it has a rich, full appearance.”  “I like recognising the seasonal transition within my interiors, so decorations go up early, but not too early! Sticking to tradition, as soon as the twelfth day is up, they come down. When decorating for Christmas, more is always more. Your home is a reflection of you and your personality, and this applies just as much if not more so to seasonal decorations as year-round interiors. For example, my treasured collection of old toys take centre stage at Christmas time. I’m a collector of items, and my home is full of pieces I have gathered from my travels over the years. Christmas decorations are no exception. I try to add one or two items to my seasonal box every year.”  “Decorating for Christmas is one of the most joyous activities of the year. I’ve always loved it and if I could, I’d start on 1st November. I start by laying out all of my decorations out so I can see what colours and baubles I want to use. This way, there is a system! The first area of the home I decorate is the hallway. To make a memorable entrance hall, I love to create a really lovely white, very soft feature using gorgeous olive branches and dried Luminara. Olive branches are really easy because they're very malleable and you can move them and the Luminara are dried so they can be used again and again.  Continuing the theme, white Christmas trees are definitely my favourite, and are always what I do these days. One of the things I've learned over the years is that even if you have a smaller tree you can build it out using foliage. My absolute favourite is Pussy Willow which you can place throughout the tree to give a much wider scale, and it works with any colour scheme. It also looks amazing in a vase, and will last for up to a year without water. I always put my lights up first so they are styled evenly on the tree, making sure they're all working. Bigger baubles will always go at the bottom so that you start with more at the bottom and start to get smaller as they go to the top.  A really good way to decorate if you've got a minimalist home and you don't want a tree, is to display wreaths on a wall. This creates almost paintings of wreaths, or you can put them between your photographs and paintings on a wall. Wreaths are not only for the outside of the door and work well inside and are nice on the table as well. If they're small you can put candles and walnuts in them and use all of the lovely Christmas oranges.”


thesun--2019-01-05--Inside Jake Quickendens minimalist country mansion he shares with his Staffy pup featuring a motor

Inside Jake Quickenden’s minimalist country mansion he shares with his Staffy pup, featuring a motorbike indoors, glossy interiors, and chickens

JAKE Quickenden has slummed it in the I'm A Celeb jungle but resides over a stunning modern home with minimalist decor.  The 30-year old star, who released new music last month, lives in a pristine pad with inspiring features - that would be loved by Fifty Shades of Grey character Christian Grey.  Jake shares his house with his adorable Staffordshire pup Storm, whose silvery blue fur even matches his home's cool decor.  Photos posted on Instagram reveal the singer has chic taste, favouring metallic interiors and glossy surfaces.  Visitors enter a huge corridor through a front door grey door, where a majestic motorbike stands nearby as a stunning centrepiece, and a sign spells 'love'.  Entering the kitchen, The Dancing On Ice winner's pals can mingle on the snazzy orange chairs, or swivel seats by his breakfast bar.  If he fancies a spot of cooking, for girlfriend Sophie Church or his mum, he has all the mod cons at his fingertips, including a four door oven.  The metallic theme continues upstairs in his bedroom and also into the living room, where there are grey carpets, curtains and sofas.  There is plenty of floor space in all of the rooms for Jake to practise his yoga, which he does every morning to strengthen his back after a Dancing On Ice injury.  Jake was a professional footballer before he broke his leg, and still plays for his local team.  Jake appeared on I'm A Celeb in 2014 and finished runner up to his future fiancé's father Carl Fogarty.  Though he has starred in many reality shows, singing is his main passion and what he always returns to.  Jake first tried out on The X Factor in 2012 where he sailed through the first round of auditions with a rendition of Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody.  He failed to win over Nicole Scherzinger at judges houses and she opted to take Rylan Clark to the live shows over him.  Returning in 2014, Jake had better luck – making it through to the live shows and has since released an EP, I Want You, in 2015, and an album New Chapter, in 2016.  Jake starred in Dancing On Ice 2018 - winning the show with partner Vanessa Bauer.  Now the singer is back with a new song, When You Kiss Him, and is set to star as George Berger in Hair the musical later this year.  Jake suffered a tragedy when his dad, Paul Quickenden, died in 2008, after battling a freak case of non-familial bone cancer.  Jake's brother Oliver was diagnosed with osteosarcoma - the most common form - in 2010 when he was only 16.  Oliver passed away in 2012 surrounded by his family, with Jake keeping their memory close and photos of his father and brother around his home.  Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.  We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thesun--2019-04-10--The worst interior design fails from creepy toilet statues to floral wallpapered bathrooms

DECORATING a house can be a fun experience when it comes down to what reflects your personality.  However, some homeowners went one step too far when it came to wanting something unique.  Some of the worst bathroom and bedroom fails have been revealed which will scare any interior designer.  From sperm-shaped sinks to floral toilets, the houses will certainly be difficult to sell on afterwards...    It's not just houses which have the worst interior - hotels have also fallen victim to some baffling designs and ornaments.  Bathroom blunders, confusing doors and horrifying artwork have been spotted and shared online by previous guests.  Willy-shaped swimming pools and badly-translated signs are some of the ruder designs found in hotels abroad.


thesun--2019-04-15--Interior designer reveals the simple changes to update your home in minutes and some of them are V

Interior designer reveals the simple changes to update your home in minutes – and some of them are VERY cheap

IF you want to give your home a new lease of life, or are planning on selling, an expert has revealed cheap tricks to transform and update any room.  Redecorating can be expensive, so if you're planning on moving soon it doesn't make sense to spend lots of money, or you may be on a tight budget to begin with.  But expert Justine Wilson, director of Vault Interiors, has shared the simple 'finishing touches' you can make which won't break the bank.  Speaking to Femail, she outlined some key interior tips - and the first is choosing a single 'accent' colour to run throughout your house.  It doesn't have to be paint, as cushions, a book, flowers or even a photo on the wall featuring the 'pop' of colour is enough.  Open-plan living is also desirable for most people, so try and maximise space by moving furniture if you can't knock down a wall.  And swapping dated lampshades for pendant lighting can be a quick and easy way to add value, or update, a room.  A central feature of the home, the dining table, is one area which can really shine, says Justine.  She said: "A nice table runner or eye-catching centrepiece can be the difference between your room looking enticing or just average."  You can accessorize with flowers, candles, some eye-catching cutlery and crockery for the finished product.  Bathrooms are another important area which shouldn't be overlooked.  Justine says try and create a 'spa' atmosphere with candles and flowers, and decorative products will help achieve the look.  And she advised hiding all daily products, such as toothpaste, to give the room a high-end feel.  She said: "Coloured towels, scented candles and soap dispensers can go a long way to dress up a tired space."  If you have a bit more money to spend, she said free-standing tubs, large tiles and rainfall showers were easy ways to create a designer look.  The bedroom is where we spend a lot, if not most of our time, when at home.  But it's really easy to give it a new lease of life as well through clever styling.  Matching lamps and adding your 'pop' of colour can help transform the room.  Justine said: "A simple bedspread can be elevated by adding in some scatter cushions and a bed throw."  While some people may not think of their garden as an extension of their home, it can add value to your property if selling, or enjoyment if you're staying.  Justine advises homeowners to view their garden as another room or space, and try and continue the flow from inside to outside.  She said: "Scatter cushions across the lounge setting, add small potted plants to the table and hang up some lanterns to create a relaxing and peaceful ambience."  The key thing is to create "atmosphere" she said, while choosing one neutral colour as a base, adding beige and grey are this season's must-haves.  Plus people are sharing the incredible home transformations they achieved using just tester pots of paint.  This mum managed an entire kitchen makeover, just using B&M worktops.  And this will certainly inspire you to change, after one woman revealed all the dirt lurking in her mattress after she vacuumed it.


thesun--2019-04-17--Kids dream bedrooms drawn up from their imagination are made into reality by interior designers

Kids’ dream bedrooms drawn up from their imagination are made into reality by interior designers

A GROUP of children have had their dreams turned into reality after a team of design experts recreated their perfect bedrooms.  Home services site, Angie's List, asked children around the world to draw their ideal bedroom - and then surprised them by recreating a magical real-life version.  Using their imagination, the children - aged between 5 and 10 - were allowed to draw whatever they wanted in their personalised rooms, before the team of designers brought their ideas to life.  From Spain to the Philippines, England and Pakistan, each room was recreated in a warehouse where the children could play.  Understandably, the rooms couldn't become their actual bedrooms, but they still had a magical time in their dream room.  From slides to a colourful jigsaw wall and a five-tier bunk bed, these look seriously epic.  One little girl's room even had fluffy white clouds while others had huge leafy trees and chic white sofas.  Which room is your favourite?    Earlier this week, we told you about the pregnant woman whose rant went viral after stranger puts her coffee in the BIN, because ‘she’s not allowed’ to drink it.  We also revealed one mum has praised Head & Shoulders £1.50 shampoo as an ‘unbelievable’ chicken pox treatment.  And we showed you Asda has been blasted over ‘sexist’ kids clothes with boys’ slogans saying ‘active little man’ while girls are ‘oh so pretty’.


thetelegraph--2019-01-12--Pared-back practical and perfectly elegant inside interior stylist Maria Le Mesuriers Sussex coun

Pared-back, practical and perfectly elegant: inside interior stylist Maria Le Mesurier's Sussex country home

The walls of Maria Le Mesurier’s country home on the Uppark estate in West Sussex are lined with baskets, of every shape, size and period imaginable. Handmade from natural wicker, seagrass or straw, they have been collected over a lifetime of travels to Italy, Spain and much-loved Madeira – the home of her late father, the Madeira-winemaker John Cossart. ‘For me they are like works of art, and each has a story to tell,’ says Maria, an interior stylist. ‘I love the rawness of their form and their simple aesthetic; and, of course, they provide invaluable storage.’  With five children – three from her first marriage (Alfred, 15, Pearl, 13, and Gio, 10); and two from her second, eight years ago, to Paul Le Mesurier, a cousin of the actor John (Dolly, five, and Rocky, two) – she makes design choices based largely on simplicity. ‘The more children I had, the fewer complications I needed, whether that be in life, belongings or furniture,’ she says. ‘My style is smart without frills, but ordered and always natural. Juggling a busy family life and work, my head can feel like the inside of a handbag, so for me organisation and a streamlined home are key.’  The family moved into their new home five years ago. ‘We were living like sardines in a small converted farm building nearby,’ says Maria, so they decided to do a house swap with her mother, who had the opposite problem and felt she had too much space.  Situated amid beautiful West Sussex countryside, the 17th-century Uppark estate had been inherited by Maria’s great-grandfather, Admiral the Hon Sir Herbert Meade-Fetherstonhaugh, in the 1930s. When the war ended, he and his son approached the National Trust and asked it to take on Uppark to protect it for the future, and in 1954 the main property passed to the Trust, while the extended family continued living within the house and on the estate. In the late 1980s tragedy hit when Uppark was devastated by fire: Maria and her family lost all their possessions and her parents moved into the former stables, where her mother remained until the house swap.


thetelegraph--2019-02-26--Beige is the new grey interior designers say it is new must-have colour to paint your home

Beige is the new grey: interior designers say it is new must-have colour to paint your home

While the idea of painting your home beige may seem uninspiring, toasty colours are replacing the cool greys which have been in fashion for a decade.  Interior designers and high-end paint sellers are celebrating warm off-white colours and encouraging people to paint their homes beige.  Charlotte Cosby, Head of Creative at Farrow and Ball told The Telegraph: "There is a real movement towards brown based tones and warm woody neutrals, stepping away from the cooler greys that have filled homes for the last ten years.  "Our new colour Jitney is a great example of this, offering a sandier update on beige that feels altogether more fitting for today’s modern home."


activistpost--2019-05-19--Attract Butterflies and Bees to Your Garden by Reducing WiFi Radiation Frequencies

A happy garden is a wireless-free garden.  Decades of research has already determined that plants and insects as well as animals and people are harmed by exposure to wireless radiation.  This flyer provides details on how to eliminate or at least reduce these sources for California residents who want a healthy garden.  Of course, the same suggestions apply to gardeners everywhere.  Make your garden safer and happier for bees, birds, trees, plants, wildlife, and you. Reduce wireless microwave radiation in and around your home. It interferes with learning, fertility, neurology, immunity, navigation, sleep, DNA, and overall biology of wildlife and humans. Here are some steps:  For more information:  Physicians for Safe Technology  www.MDsafetech.org  Protect the Earth. It starts with you!  Protect the Earth. It starts with you!  Protect the Earth. It starts with you!  Protect the Earth. It starts with you!  Tens of millions of utility “Smart” Meters have been installed throughout the U.S. and around the world so it’s likely that you have them unless you have already “opted out.”  These meters have also been associated with many other awful issues besides killing plants and repelling insects.  Free documentary, Take Back Your Power, provides more details.  People everywhere hate these meters and are fighting to get them off their homes and out of their communities  (See 1, 2, 3).  For more information, visit the following websites:  Be Free and Independent! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


birminghammail--2019-06-19--Dad builds outdoor garden bar for 30 using just BQ paint and crates

Dad builds outdoor garden bar for £30 using just B&Q paint and crates

A dad has built a stylish outdoor bar - using just B&Q paint and crates.  The nifty creation from the dad set him back just £30.  The bargain bar was met warmly when it was shared on social media.  The dad posted updates on Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK.  He began with three wooden pallets nailed together at their narrow ends while upright to create half a cube.  On top of the structure three floating shelves were attached, providing the surface to mix drinks, Mirror Online reports.  A lick of outdoor paint was then applied, costing just £7.  The woman wrote in the captions of the photos: "Hi guys.  "Would like to share an idea.  "Might be not to everyone's taste but I love it.  “So I asked my hubby to build me a bar in garden for my birthday party.  "The idea was to make it a cheap project.  “Considering that my other half is not into DIY it has turned out great.  "So all the pallets and worktops offcuts were free from B&Q and some local retail places.  “That's the final result which cost only fraction of what you have to pay for ready made one.”  The impressive work led to an outpouring of appreciation from fellow bargain enthusiasts.  The post also inspired others to share their homemade bars.  One woman uploaded photos of her back garden, which had decking made by her husband entirely out of old pallets.  The original poster returned to the page to thank her new fans.  “Thank you all for your kind comments," she said.  "Never thought that this many people will like our project.  "So glad to inspire so many of you.  “Wish you all luck and can't wait to see the results.  "Maybe accidentally we have started a new summer must have project.  "Now we just all need lovely summer to make a good use out of our bars.  “Please always remember to drink responsibly and share with others."

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Milo Boyd, James Rodger)


birminghammail--2019-06-25--Inside 115m five-bedroom country home with miniature railway in garden

Inside £1.15m five-bedroom country home with miniature railway in garden

House hunters will want to get on-board with this impressive country property that is on the market for £1.15million - and comes with a miniature RAILWAY in the back garden.  Binhams is a grand-looking five-bedroom home with a large driveway and two double garages, with just a glimpse into an acre of neat back garden.  But venture into the garden and delight at 140 metres of train track, as well as an 11-metre long railway bridge and purpose-built engine shed to house locomotives.  The fully-functioning railway track is offered as part of the sale of the country home in the Chew Valley, Somerset, which is on the market through Savills Clifton for a guide price of £1,150,000.  The railway, which sits within the extensive garden adjoining the open countryside, was designed and built in 2014 by current owner Peter Pearson, a retired engineer.  Railway enthusiast Peter said: "I’ve always been fascinated by engineering in action.  "I worked for many years in energy engineering, designing, building and operating very large steam boiler plant.  "The idea of building and running my own miniature steam loco took hold once I retired, so when we moved house nine years ago, a large garden was at the top of my list of must-haves.  "With just over an acre of landscaped grounds, Binhams was ideal."  In 2013, Peter got to work on the railway in his new garden, set on the outskirts of Ubley.  He said: "It was a painstaking process to lay all 140 metres of track and screw in its 900 sleepers by hand.  "Then there was the work to build the turntable, 11 metre long bridge and the all-important purpose-built engine shed to house the locomotives and their trucks.  "The whole project took just over a year to complete."  Peter also built a steam locomotive himself, which pulls two trucks and can carry up to seven adults.  He said: "The railway has been the backdrop to many great memories over the last five years.  "It’s been a fantastic way to introduce my grandchildren to engineering and my four-year-old grandson, Ben, has even learnt to drive his own small, electric loco.  "Having said that, its appeal is by no means limited to children. Everyone who visits our home enjoys a ride."  Peter and his wife, Claire, currently share Binhams with their daughter, Laura and her young family.  But after many happy years, Laura and her family are now buying their own property, and Peter and Claire have therefore made the decision to sell.  And Peter hopes that the railway he lovingly built will be kept by the new owners.  He said: "I will miss Binhams hugely and, while the railway is removable, I very much hope its new residents choose to keep and embrace it as a unique and crowd-pleasing feature.  "Meanwhile, I will continue to run my locos at The Bristol Society of Model and Experimental Engineers at Ashton Court, which I have enjoyed doing for many years.  "Attracting up to 3,000 rides a day in peak season, the crowds certainly keep me on my toes."  David Wild is marketing the property for Savills Clifton.  He said: "A spacious and secluded family home, Binhams offers all the benefits of a country lifestyle, while being very well-connected to Bristol.  "Originally built in 1974, the property has been significantly extended and remodelled in recent years, to create incredibly flexible accommodation, currently serving two households.  "The large, exceptionally well-maintained, rear gardens are a great asset, offering a beautiful and tranquil setting, with open countryside views.  "The railway, at the far end of the garden, could well be a dream come true for an enthusiast young or old."  For further information, contact Savills in Clifton on 0117 933 5800.


dailyheraldchicago--2019-10-09--The front-yard vegetable garden

The front-yard vegetable garden

On the back of Susan Eisendrath's little SUV, a bumper sticker reads: "Be the change you want to see in the world."  You need only go a few feet -- to her curbside front yard -- to see Gandhi's aphorism brought to life. What was once a typical grass lawn under the shadow of a big old silver maple is now an assortment of raised growing beds, mulched paths and fruiting vines attached to various structures.  A vestige of grass remains, but the veggie beds are interspersed with sunflowers, monarda, butterfly weed and a few other blooms for the pollinators and birds. In one corner, a beehive rises like a lighthouse. Eisendrath and her husband, Joe Libertelli, call this their "farmette."  Sandwiched between their home in Rockville, Maryland, and the circle at the end of a cul-de-sac, the yard is enclosed by a tall fence. The change they want doesn't include feeding the deer -- hence the fence -- but it does extend to challenging the long-held suburban ideal of a front yard given over to the conforming lawn.  Lawns are in retreat as gardeners want more space for treasured plants, for rain gardens, for pollinator gardens and even as a place to tuck herbs and other culinary plants in with the ornamentals. Is suburbia ready for a full-blown upfront veggie garden, in all its late-summer raggedness? Eisendrath knows she is ready, and the planet is ready.  Rejecting the lawn and growing your own food organically is a practical if demanding way of reducing your carbon footprint "I think there's going to be more acceptability as people are responding to the challenge of climate change," she says. "And the fresh food movement has become much more prominent."  The couple is not under the strictures of a homeowners association, though the turn to self-sufficiency, now in its 11th year, did ruffle some feathers. "We have had people call the county on us early on," she said. The log bed edging has gone; the wood chip piles, too, and the fence has been fixed up a bit. "There are certain county codes we were made aware of in relatively gentle ways," she said. "We have learned the system."  When I visited recently, the corn was high, the tomato vines hulking and fruitful, and the amaranth -- weedy if left to seed -- ready for harvesting. "It has very tasty leaves," said Eisendrath, 60.  The garden is shaped by the adornments gardeners use to protect their hard-won crops. Black netting sheaths the broad grapevine at the front of the house, forming a barrier between the clusters of developing fruit and avian raiders. CDs dangle high in the air, twisting in the breeze, to scare off the birds.  On an earlier visit, Libertelli, 62, lifted a tarp to show me logs seeded with mushroom spores (he also forages for mushrooms), and a month before, the couple gathered a garlic harvest -- 1,500 bulbs. Some will be returned to the land as seed cloves next month, while the fall crop of peas and brassicas takes shape and the sweet potatoes plump up for harvest.  Libertelli concedes that the yard looks "shaggy" but says that "to grow something from seed and turn it into food strikes me as magical."  Joining them in the garden this year are their friends Don and Ann English, who live about half a mile away. Don is a beekeeper with a hive on the edge of the front garden that yielded about 40 pounds of honey this summer, now bottled or on its way to becoming that favorite medieval libation, mead.  For Eisendrath, the idea that individuals can work to change the world is not some slogan but a way of being. She first gardened when she was in the Peace Corps in Tanzania. The couple lived on Capitol Hill (with a garden in the front yard of their rowhouse) before decamping to suburbia. They first lived in the house next door but sold it to acquaintances because the current home offered a sunnier location from which to expand their agricultural empire. (The rear yard sweeps down to the adjoining Rock Creek Regional Park and is dark and unsuitable for vegetable gardening.)  Besides the grapevine, a hopvine clambers up a pole, from which Don has harvested and dried the blooms to flavor his mead and home-brewed beer.  The entrance to the house is defined by an arched tunnel supporting kiwi vines, cardinal flowers and a hardy passionflower. Eisendrath reaches up to hold a green orb. "This is my pride and joy," she said. "My single passion fruit."  The fuel for the garden is a supply line of compost in various stages of preparation until, finished and soil-like, it is dug into the growing beds.  It's almost impossible for the home gardener to address all of one's food needs, even in such an intensive garden, and the harvests ebb and flow between a few spring peas and bushels of zucchini and peppers, not to mention the garlic bulbs. But Don English reckons for greens, the garden can at times provide up to 60% of his requirements.  Much of the garlic harvest goes into flavored oils and sauces. I recommend the green grape chutney, infused with fennel, chile, honey, ginger and fenugreek.  Don English, reflecting on their friends' farmette, said: "Most people around here will have a few tomato plants and herbs, but for Joe and Susan, this garden takes a vast amount of their time, not only growing it, but processing it. I just don't know many people who have done that."  Eisendrath also uses the garden as a gathering spot for other Master Gardeners and fellow members of the Montgomery County Food Council, a group established to address issues of access to locally grown food. On a recent open house at the farmette, cooking instructor Wendy Nevett Bazil gave a demonstration using its produce.  Ann English, a landscape architect, says as the fertilizer- and pesticide-dependent lawn becomes increasingly unsustainable as the dominant landscape element, "it's really important that some new templates are put forward" that will allow homeowners to find different expressions of the domestic yard, including vegetable gardens.  "There has to be a marriage that hasn't happened yet, in how to support the world, feed critters and pollinators, and then the soul, which is the aesthetic piece," she said. "We are in this big transition."  She said if she owned the property, she might have made it more decorative, but "I think it's a bodacious demonstration."  The corn is an heirloom popping variety named Glass Gem, though next year the Englishes are thinking of switching to sweet corn. That and other logistics "will be discussed over the winter with Joe and Susan," Don English said.  Over a glass of mead? The answer came after a long pause. "I wouldn't put it in the singular."


eveningstandard--2019-02-13--Chelsea Flower Show 2019 preview of the best gardens and top trends

If there’s one message that the RHS Chelsea Flower Show wants us to take home this year it’s to reconnect with nature.  Woodlands and forests abound, from a playful family garden full of adventure co-designed by the Duchess of Cambridge to Sarah Eberle’s stately forest glade.  "Get outside and get your nature fix," say Adam White and Andree Davies of Davies White Landscape Architects, who are designing the RHS Back to Nature garden with the Duchess of Cambridge.  The garden, which will not be judged, will include a hollow log to hide in, a tree house, stream, campfire and den to reconnect children to the natural world through play.  Trees may be taking stage this year, but there is one exception. Oak trees are banned from the show to prevent spreading the destructive pest oak processionary moth which has been found in the grounds.  With Europe-grown lavender already off the menu because of the disease xylella – a headache for designers because English-grown lavender is hard to get to flower in May – plant health is no longer a subject that can be ignored, even at Chelsea.  We all need to do our bit to prevent diseases spreading said RHS Director General Sue Biggs at a press conference to launch the show in central London this week.  "If there’s one message we’d love to get out there, it is ‘Don’t bring plants back from holiday.'"  So, royal tree houses aside, what will be the other highlights this year for the 170,000 people who will swarm the showground this May?  Look out for Tom Dixon’s indoor food laboratory for Ikea, the return of Chelsea heavyweights Thomas Hoblyn and Andy Sturgeon and an installation to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day featuring haunting figures of servicemen that recede into the distance amid a sea of 10,000 pink sea thrift plants.  There will also be a Yorkshire canal, Patagonian waterfalls, a Zimbabwean classroom, a new clematis called ‘Meghan’ named after the Duchess of Sussex and the intriguing prospect of the introduction of a ‘watermelon radish’.  As for the Donkey Sanctuary garden in the Artisan Category, we’re hoping for a real donkey.  Take a look through our gallery above for the best highlights to watch out for at this year's show.  Designer Tom Dixon’s ‘Gardening will save the world’ garden for Ikea is an exciting prospect that celebrates how we can grow food even in inner cities.  The lighting, furniture and accessories innovator has turned his hand to a sort of ‘upstairs, downstairs’ edible fantasyland where subterranean mushrooms and other hydroponic edibles in the lower storey are topped with a wild landscape. The public will be able to wander through garden which will be in the Great Pavilion.  A first-time Chelsea designer, Dixon confesses to nerves about how the yellow lighting in the tent will make the plants look, but reassured that he will be dry whatever the weather.  The power of the natural world takes centre stage with several gardens celebrating its ability to endure and regenerate.  Andy Sturgeon’s M&G landscape is a Jurassic-looking bold-leaved woodland sliced through with enormous charred timber formations inspired by rocks he saw on a Australian beach.  Sarah Eberle’s restful forest for the Forestry Commission is inspired by the gardener William Robinson who introduced the idea of wild gardening to the Victorians.  Titled ‘The Resilience Garden’, it highlights the importance of helping forests adapt to climate change and pests and diseases.  Multi-award winning Eberle is never boring. Last year her garden was a giant cricket wicket. This year the centrepiece is an enormous farm grain silo that doubles as tree researcher’s workshop.  Thomas Hoblyn returns to Chelsea with the Dubai Majilis Garden inspired by the beauty found in arid landscapes.  Last year Mark Gregory scooped the People’s Choice Award for his patch of the Dales complete with babbling brook, bird sounds and sheep poo.  This time for Welcome to Yorkshire, in his 99th garden for Chelsea, Gregory is building a canal with flowing water, a lock keepers lodge and working gates.  You can almost smell the bilge water. Likely to be another crowd pleaser.  Jo Thompson celebrates Wedgwood's rich 260-year history by setting its foundations in Etruria, the 18th-century Staffordshire village that Josiah Wedgwood created for his workers.  Framed by pavilions and arches and underplanted with airy planting, this will have an elegant, classical feel inspired by Thompson’s childhood in Rome.  Kate Gould is designing a garden for Greenfingers, the charity that helps life-limited children and their families.  A lush split-level garden with sloped walkways and a lift to access the top storey, it evokes a peaceful space filled with trees where children and their families can relax together.  Last year Jonathan Snow recreated the burnt landscape of the South African fynbos in his show garden.  This year he’s heading west to Patagonia for his Trailfinders garden complete with waterfalls, to evoke a ‘land of snow-capped mountains covered in ancient forests and dense vegetation’.  Expect gunneras, ferns, fuschias and geums. His challenge will be trying to make a dramatic waterfall with only a few metres of height to play with. But the former army officer will doubtless relish the challenge.  The Space to Grow gardens always offer a fresh take and Jilayne Rickard’s garden for the charity Camfed that supports girls’ education in Africa brings rural Zimbabwe to Chelsea with colourful oil drums and edibles.  Kampo no Niha celebrates healing plants for common ailments inspired by the landscape of northern Japan.  And Facebook comes to Chelsea with Joe Perkins’ Beyond the Screen garden which imagines an ever-changing coastal landscape to explore the positive side of social media.


eveningstandard--2019-02-22--Four of the best robots for house and garden

Lawn need cutting? Floor need to be hoovered or mopped? Put your feet up. You need trouble yourself with tiresome household chores no more with a fleet of robot servants on hand.  Automated home devices are getting smarter and smarter, so you no longer need to manage them quite so much as in the past, either.  The Honda Miimo 3000 will return itself to its docking station when it's running low on battery, while the Roomba i7+ is app or voice controlled meaning you needn't lift even a finger.  And most of these products have been around for a while in some form so have had any irritating faults and less useful features ironed out — on that note, when will the robot iron be invented?  Here are four of the best home cleaning robots currently on the market.  Promising to crawl up and down any vertical plane, this clever robot inks the walls as it goes, turning them into giant interactive canvases, like the fun high diver on the right.  Think of it as a sort of plotter, using coloured pens to draw and producing up to 15 colour combinations. All you need is a power point.  It can draw any content sourced from the web, and there is a growing library of online designs to choose from, with everything from geometric patterns to inspirational quotes.  The Scribit can erase its work in a jiffy and start again, changing the designs according to your whim.  Price in the US, $449 (about £348) | Scribit | Buy it now  This robotic vacuum cleaner may be pricey but it has an invaluable feature: when it returns to its charging base it empties its dustbin into a disposable bag that holds 30 bins’ worth, so shouldn’t need emptying for weeks.  It makes its own map of your home and offers both app and voice controls, so you can tell it which rooms to clean from your sun lounger.  If you have hard floors, an iRobot Braava robotic mop will make them shine. The smaller Braava jet 240 is designed to sweep and mop spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms and is able to whizz around objects such as loos and pedestals.  Meanwhile, the larger 390T can handle an open-plan living space of up to almost 1,000sq ft in a single pass, dry- or wet-mopping floors daily to ensure they are always clean and gleaming.  From £249.99 | iRobot | Buy it now  Prepare for spring. Robo mowers aren’t cheap but they are huge time savers. This one can be scheduled via app and is so quiet that it can do the job in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone.  Miimo mows little and often, scattering the tiny clippings to fertilise the lawn. It automatically heads back to its docking station whenever it runs out of juice.  Big wheels mean it copes well with bumps and inclines, while it mows lawns of up to an acre.


eveningstandard--2019-03-14--How you can turn your roof space into a beautiful and safe garden

How you can turn your roof space into a beautiful — and safe — garden

When Janet Morris saw her Hampstead flat for the first time it wasn’t the penthouse itself that clinched the deal but the 40ftx23ft flat roof leading off it.  “You can have all that space and turn it into a garden,” the estate agent promised her. It was an irresistible prospect.  But when Morris asked London garden designer Manoj Malde to carry out the transformation there was a hitch.  “When I went to see the roof I immediately knew it wasn’t structurally sound,” says Malde.  “I took my contractor with me and he said, ‘I wouldn’t even want to step on to this.’ I knew my client was sold on the place because of the outside. I thought, how do I break this news to her?”  The hint that a roof space could be turned into a garden is a carrot many house hunters can’t resist.  But before you get carried away, it’s crucial to check that a roof or balcony can support the people, soil, pots and plants of a garden, and that planning has been looked into.  In this case, not only was the roof too weak to bear the weight of a garden, but the cavity walls were unsuitable for a safety rail to be attached.  It also overlooked many other houses so neighbours’ objections were likely. Malde was going to have to be creative.  A structural engineer confirmed the designer’s misgivings and recommended laying a framework of steel beams on top of the existing roof to spread the load.  A timber deck was then laid on top. It increased the cost, but was worth it to create a strong base.  Since a balustrade wasn’t an option, Malde came up with the idea of using pots instead, and commissioned large bespoke powder-coated aluminium planters to place around the perimeter.  Once planted, the containers are immovable and create a tall, leafy living screen that encloses the roof garden beautifully.  The planners were satisfied that these made a safe barrier but the privacy of the neighbours was still an issue.  Setting the planters in from the perimeter by about 20in ticked that box since people on the roof couldn’t stand on the edge, looking into homes and gardens below.  “I used the planters to create different zones, too, so there’s an area for dining and entertaining, a chill-out zone and a little kitchen area with a barbecue and an outdoor fridge,” says Malde.  “If you have an amazing view you want to take advantage of it, but in this situation it wasn’t a problem to create an enclosed space. It makes quite a cosy atmosphere and shuts out the noises of the street.”  Malde chose Mediterranean and coastal plants to cope with the exposure of this sunny rooftop spot. Six mature olive trees and evergreen Pittosporum Tobira Nanum keep structure year round.  Lavender, rosemary, salvia Caradonna, verbena bonariensis, Russian sage, Mexican daisies and low-growing rose Pink Pirouette mingle with panicum and pennisetum grasses, with tulips and narcissus popping up in spring.  How did he get it all up on to the roof? By hiring a crane to lift everything over the top of the house, of course.  “Yes, that was quite a stressful day,” admits Malde, “but it is far more cost-effective than to pay a team of people to carry everything up the stairs.” And there’s far less chance of compost on the carpets.


eveningstandard--2019-03-29--Best garden furniture sales Rattan tables and chairs and the best outdoor sofa sets

Best garden furniture sales: Rattan tables and chairs and the best outdoor sofa sets

It’s official. Spring has sprung and that means one thing. Summer is on its way.  If last year was anything to go by, we are in for an absolute scorcher and after months of wind, rain and the threat of snow, we cannot wait.  With summer on the horizon, you may be looking to bring a little TLC to your outdoor space. Whether you have a large expansive garden, a small secluded patio area or an intimate balcony, you can enjoy a cosy outdoor oasis without even needing to leave the country.  But it does not need to cost an arm and a leg. Make the most out of your space for less with garden deals that will allow you to invest in dining sets, loungers and more with impressive discounts.  Entertain your family and friends, cook up a storm alfresco-style or create a haven for staycations, we have gathered fuss-free furniture deals whatever the occasion so you can soak up the sunshine in style.  Celebrate the long-awaited arrival of summer with impressive offers on BBQs or collapsible sun loungers that you can easily store inside when the colder weather hits. We’ve particularly got our eye on the fire pits and wood burning ovens that have been reduced by £20-£300.  Take £60 off this John Lewis & Partners Fyn Coffee Table that has been reduced from £300 to £240.  As the days getting warmers, it’s time to step up your outdoor furniture range with brand new coffee tables, sun loungers and chairs as well as accessories like planters. At Debenhams, there are offers of up to 70 percent with 20 percent off a range of stylish sofa sets.  Take 20 per cent off this Brown 'Riviera' Double Cushion Chair that has been reduced from £1,200 to £960.  Browse through the extensive range of swing seats, sheds, gazebos, benches, and recliners with up to £110 off. Decorate your space with a modern dining set with six seats that has an impressive discount of £300 as well as lighting and planters.  Take 47 per cent off this 7 Seater Rattan Effect Corner Sofa Set that has been reduced from £1,539.99 to £819.99.  J.D Williams is offering durable outdoor furniture that will withstand rain or shine. Unwind with loungers that have up to £50 off as well as pieces in plastic, rattan and more. There is even Parisienne arbour trellis to create a cosy haven with £100 off. Hedge trimmers, lawn mowers and select pressure washers are also on offer.  Save £200 off this Paris 6 Seat Metal Mesh Dining Set that has been reduced from £499 to £299.  Make the most of the summer by investing in garden chairs, sun loungers, and bistro sets that will be ideal for any summer parities. Very is offering dining and sofa sets as well as other essential outdoor furniture with up to £200 off.  Save £250 off this Santorini 11-Piece Dining Set that has been reduced from £799.99 to £549.  With classic hardwood furniture included, you can expect up to £450 off a range of pieces at Robert Dyas such as benches that doubles up as storage solutions, compact seats, reclining chairs and cosy pods so you can enjoy the sunshine.  Save £110 off this Robert Dyas FSC Country Hardwood 4-Seater Dining Set that has been reduced from £329.99 to £219.99.  The clearance section over at Made is giving us serious garden design inspiration. It includes a selection of bikes, bistro tables, planters – including hanging options and terrariums to convert your garden or balcony to lush, plant-filled spaces.  Take £10 off this Alyx Large Standing Hurricane Lantern that has been reduced from £69 to £59.  With the promo code SAVE, La Redoute is offering 25 percent off lighting and plants and 30 percent off furniture. Covert even the smallest green patches to an oasis with a whole host of pieces for all aesthetics.  Take 25 percent off this Hammock Chair that has been reduced from £99 to £74.25.  Get ready to soak up the rays with aesthetically pleasing furniture over at M&S where you can buy two and save 20 percent on mix and match furniture. The deal includes armchairs, sofas, loungers, and chairs in must have wicker styles in both grey and neutral to instantly elevate your space.  Shop both the Marlow Corner Sofa and Square Table & 4 Chairs that would reduce the total from £1,798 to £1,438.40.  Over at Homebase, you can save up to £150 on garden and patio essentials like folding dining sets that are space efficient and ideal for alfresco dining.  Take £150 off the Orleans Rattan 6 Seater Rectangular Garden Furniture Set that has been reduced from £699 to £549.  Maximise your warm weather relaxation with bistro sets, deck chairs, loungers and footrests with a 20 percent discount. A range of classic and contemporary pieces, including a day bed in this season’s favourite rattan design, has savings of up to £284.  Take 20 percent off the Argos Home Newbury 2 Seater Wooden Bistro Set that has been reduced from £69.99 to £55.99.  Instantly elevate your garden with six seater dining sets, or benches for relaxing in the sun. The retailer Out & Out has classic garden sets with modern detailing as well as extending sets that you can adapt to small dinner parties or for hosting larger festivities with up to £250 off.  Take £500 off this Sorrento - Garden Lounge Set that has been reduced from £1,999 to £1,499.  As part of the Alice’s Garden spring sale, enter SPRING at checkout for up to 20 percent off. From classic to modern pieces, there is something for all design aesthetics.  Take £90 off this Chicago Extending Table with 8 Seats that has been reduced from £839.99 to £749.99.  Garden Furniture Centre is offering up to 60 percent off its outdoor range with planters, deckchairs, small and large garden sets, lighting, rugs, and accessories all included.  Take £1,000 off this Luxor Sun Seeker With Ice Box that has been reduced from £2,499.99 to £1,499.99.  If you can’t get enough of the star material this season, Rattan Direct has up to 50 per cent off as well as 68 per cent off furniture sets and 12 per cent off sofa sets.  Take 50 per cent off this Venice rattan garden day bed that's been reduced from £1,198 to £599.  Furniture sets, picnic benches, bistro sets, outdoor bean bags and everything you need to transform your space and make the most out of the sunshine is on offer at Wyevale Garden Centres. The retailer also has 20 percent off garden furniture sets with the code GC20.  Take 20 percent off the Moreton Casual Dining Rattan Garden Furniture Set that has been reduced from £1,999 to 1,599.20.  Rattan is really having a moment right now in outdoor design and are offering the ideal sale to charm your garden while keeping your wallet in check.  ES Best product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter


eveningstandard--2019-04-12--Best garden furniture 2019

Best garden furniture 2019

Garden table looking a little tired? Chairs seen better days? It’s time to invest in the best garden furniture for lazy summer soirees, eating al fresco, patio parties and everything in between.  When buying garden furniture, it’s always a good idea to invest in all-weather-resistant materials, like bamboo, powder coated steel, resin, rattan and concrete.  If you’re a diehard wooden furniture fan, teak is a great timber to try for its durability. Anybody will tell you, however, that it’s always best to cover any garden furniture when not in use to keep it looking good for longer.  Don’t have a large garden to play with? A is the perfect patio product, meaning you can enjoy brekkie outside in the fresh air.  And just because you might have a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t still make a big impact. There’s a host of compact-but-cool lounging and dining sets available, from brightly-coloured string chairs to handy picnic bench seats.  For larger gatherings, you can’t beat a gorgeous rattan table and chairs, while rattan sun loungers make a fantastic feet-up-and-flop feature.  Looking for something a little different? Add the funky factor with a cool hanging chair, or why not inject a California-worthy boho vibe with a laze-inducing hammock? And don’t forget the all-important outdoor drinks trolley to get the garden party started.  Keep scrolling for our roundup of the best garden furniture below. Summer has never looked so stylish…  Modern, contemporary and cool, this garden corner sofa set will make outdoor entertaining easy as well as stylish.  A two-seater sofa and three-seater number join together to create the corner unit, while the coffee table that comes with the set can be attached to the end or left separate for complete flexibility.  The aluminium frame is weather-resistant and light, making the set easy-to-move and practical as well as good looking.  The last word in garden furniture chic, this gorgeous lounge set gives a nod to 50s design as well as boasting a pared-back Scandi look.  The black iron frame and faux rattan seats are durable and stylish, while the coffee table has a removable tempered glass top for easy cleaning. It’s the perfect spot to gather round and sip that glass of summer rosé.  California love! Add a little boho chic to your garden space with an LA-style cool-girl hammock. Laze away the sunny days in your very own hammock hideaway.  The ecru weave and fringing are totally on-trend and make the perfect spot for relaxing in style. Now we just need the palm trees and those endless blue skies.  If you’re going to invest in a wooden outdoor dining table, a teak version is the best option. Durable and hardwearing, this timber will weather the storms better than any other.  However, you should always keep wooden garden furniture covered when not in use for the best long-lasting results.  This gorgeous characterful table comes with six fabulous rattan chairs, so there’s plenty of room for hosting al fresco. The whole look evokes balmy evenings at a rustic-charm French farmhouse. Pop the Champagne.  Kick back, relax and soak up the English sun (when it decides to make an appearance) in these super-stylish garden sun loungers.  The recliners have the rustic look of rattan but are actually made with an all-weather-resistant resin to prevent rusting and peeling. Bonus? They come with a handy side table that also doubles up as an ice box, so you don’t even have to take a toe off your lounger to give yourself a top up. Cheers!  A simple stunner — anything practical that doubles as easy styling gets our vote. Even the most drab outdoor space will get a fresh boost of life with this garden stool from MADE.  Made from earthenware and finished in a reactive glaze, take your pick between a top to bottom turquoise or light pink with a thick white trim at the base.  There’s something ultra-sociable about a round garden dining table, and this gorgeous number is giving us all the English country garden tea party vibes. Perfect for small, informal gatherings, its pretty fawn-coloured cushions fare well against sun and mildew, while the aluminium frame is rust-resistant. Not just a pretty face, then.  Pep-up your patio with a vibrant splash of Club Tropicana colours. Get hot Cuban salsa night vibes without setting foot out of your own garden with this gorgeous statement sofa.  Made with durable steel and a dense-weave rattan, it’s weather-resistant as well as mighty pretty. Want to shop the whole look? The matching House by John Lewis salsa garden coffee table in orange sunrise is available at £110, and the House by John Lewis salsa garden chair (set of two) in orange sunrise is available for £140. There's even a rocking chair to match.  Short on square metres? This space-saving bistro set is perfect for a patio or a smaller garden. Vintage fans will love the pretty retro feel and colour, making it a chic spot for a coffee-and-cake catch up. Comes with water-repellent seat pads for a bottom-pleasing comfier experience.  Crank up the barbecue, turn up the tunes and gather round for an outdoor feast at this affordable-yet-stylish garden dining set.  Wooden-effect legs are actually made of no-rust aluminium, and the gorgeous string chairs feature a handwoven rope design. The seat cushions are removable for easy cleaning while the glass table top offers fuss-free maintenance, too. Gorgeous botanical print outdoor cushion also available from Asda.  Whose turn is it to cook?  Curl up with a holiday read right in your own back garden on this inviting five-seater sofa  set. The set comes with two large armchairs, a three-seater sofa, and a nifty little matching coffee table. The rattan-look material is actually UV-resistant resin to ensure your set looks good for longer. And relax.  Who doesn’t love a multitasking marvel? This cute country-chic bench seat doubles up as a storage box for all your garden necessities and is a great place to stash cushions, games and garden tools.  It also makes a lovely spot to take five and enjoy the garden views for a relaxing little timeout.  Who says you have to spend a fortune for stylish garden furniture? These outdoor string loungers would make a cool addition to any terrace and can be easily folded away when not in use.  Perfect for an outdoor cuppa, chinwag, snooze or reading spot. Love the look? The Applaro outdoor bench, wall panel and shelf unit is also available from Ikea for £88.  Did somebody say garden party? Make sure you’re fully stocked and prepared with this handy - and stylish - outdoor drinks trolley.  Crafted in durable powder coated steel, it’s finished in a trendy charcoal shade, and features two wheels so you can take the party around the patio.  Use the lower shelf to hold bottles, mixers and ice and the top for serving guests. You’ll be the hostess with the mostest.  Hanging around has never looked so chic with this bamboo-wrapped chair. The powder coated steel frame makes it ideal for outdoor use but, when winter rolls around again, it makes a fabulous accent chair for indoors, too. The seat pad and cushion are included, so what are you waiting for? Time to rest up in your calming garden cocoon.  A spot where you can swing, sip, sit and chat all at the same time? Yes, please. This contemporary grey swing seat is perfect for a natter with your bestie or simply some alone time soaking up the garden.  The chain is made from rust-resistant steel while the responsibly-sourced timber has been treated to protect against rot. The most stylish way to swing into summer.  Industrial-chic lovers will adore this trendy outdoor dining table made from a cool concrete and metal combo. The design means your garden furniture can be as directional as your home decor, while the cement top is also wipe-clean and weather resistant. A tablescape that’s as good as the landscape? Sold. Matching benches available at £229 each.  A stylish outdoor day bed that comes in the shape of an apple — what more could you ask for while baking in the sun with a good book and gin?  When it’s opened, the stalk acts as a stand for the top section and can be put in three different positions, so you can recline to read a book, take a nap or have a meal.  Made to look and feel like natural rattan, it’s durable, won’t fade and can be left outside all year round.  If you’re looking to tick all the boxes for serious summer lazing AND entertaining,   has you covered. Read or take a snooze in the afternoon sun, then gather round with family and friends later on for balmy evening drinks and snacks laid out on the coffee table. All at a palatable price. If we could just put an order in for a three-month heatwave, too.  For simple seating that takes up very little space, and, looks entirely gorgeous, the are a worthy buy.  ES Best product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter