Homes & Property

You know when it clicks

The suite that urns its place

Sedi
The innovative company’s sculptural Convertible Vase turns into two modern outdoor chairs plus a glass-topped coffee table when you un-stack the pieces from the 5ft “vase”.

It is made from an all-weather synthetic fibre that’s UV-resistant, so can be left outside all year round. The ivory-coloured cushions are stain-resistant, too. The set is £249. Call 0845 055 8468, or visit www.sedifurniture.com.

Bring home the barbie bucket

Sainsbury's
Why spend a fortune on a pricey barbecue when this compact, portable version will do the job just as well? These bucket barbecues come in pink, blue or silver and have a removable grill - all for only £5.99.

Affordable homeware with a luxury look is also available from Sainsbury’s, with its new Home range. Cushions and throws in luscious berry colours include a deep chenille throw (£14.99) and cushions in purple velvet, purple stripes, red velvet and purple pin-tuck (£5.99 each).

To find your nearest Sainsbury’s with a Home range, call 0800 636262, or visit www.sainsburys.co.uk.

Nice with a slice

Sagaform
Serve summery drinks stylishly and cheaply in Sagaform’s Juicy glasses. A set of four tumblers (£10.95) is decorated with fruit slices in red, green, blue
and yellow.

Meanwhile, a water carafe set is a good desk-top accessory and comprises a tall glass carafe with a single glass tumbler that cleverly acts as a stopper.
Call 020 8646 3883, or order online at www.formahouse.co.uk.

Birds table

Danica
Transform your old garden table by spreading a well-designed tablecloth and placemats over it.

Shown here (left) is Danica’s Hummingbird printed-cotton tablecloth, which has very businesslike, solid-colour sewn-on borders.

The tablecloth (5ft by 7ft) is £32; (55in square is £25); a table runner is £17.50; placemats are £6 each; napkins, £5 each.

For stockists, call 01603 488019, or visit www.ictc.co.uk.

Black adds glamour to glass

Asda
There’s no need to compromise on style just because you’re on a limited budget.

Check out Asda’s new Shanghai Chic tableware range and snap up dinner plates at £2.50 each; side plates, £2 each; and mugs, £2 each.

A four-pack of black wine glasses (right)with slender stems is only £10, while a four-pack of black hi-ball glasses costs £8.

For your nearest store, call 0845 300 1111, or visit www.asda.co.uk.

French flair outdoors

Fermob
Add French flair to your patio with Fermob’s good-looking garden furniture.

Designs include Rendezvous, a generously sized steel armchair with a rice-grain pattern in its back (from £141); Plein-air folding chairs and tables with feet designed for use on lawns (chairs from £133; square table from £209); stackable Facto enamelled-steel chairs, from £139; and Castille Plus enamelled-steel folding chairs (left) from £185.

All are available in a choice of colours. Call 0870 974 9848, or visit www.fermob.com.

Stuffed shirts

Hector Serrano
London-based Spanish designer Hector Serrano has come up with this witty solution to eating spaghetti (or any other thrills with spills food).

His Dress for Dinner napkins offer a tuck-in paper shirt-front complete with a natty tie.

The napkins come in packs of 20 with a stylish assortment of tie designs.

Buy the £2.95 packs online from Natural Products Worldwide www.npw.co.uk, or call 020 8735 2882.

The sharpest eye in London

Barbara Chandler at Habitat
As part of the Regent Street Festival, Homes & Property’s design writer, and photographer, Barbara Chandler, has a selling exhibition of her photographs in Habitat’s flagship Regent Street shop in its circular picture gallery, built in 1880. Spanning 20 years of her work, the 38 images celebrate London, from Routemasters to iconic city squares (left).

Chandler, never without her camera, has created an incredible archive of London life, with each picture framed and ready to hang.

Love London is at Habitat, 121-123 Regent Street, W1 (www.habitat.co.uk) from 3 September until a first edition of 200 signed and hand-titled pictures is sold. For more information, visit www.barbarchandler.co.uk.

Fashion is on a roll with the boldest of metallics

Graham & Brown
Biba founder and fashion icon Barbara Hulanicki has designed a range of bespoke wallpapers in her strong, signature style for the design-aware wall-coverings manufacturer Graham & Brown.

The three designs employ bold metallic patterns that look simultaneously retro and modern. Diva is an exuberant, free-flowing Art Nouveau pattern in a cool shade of oyster; Viva has an interlocking design in turquoise or glossy black; while Hula (right) is Art Deco-inspired in charcoal, green or gold.

Each is £30 for a 10m roll. For stockists, call 0800 328 8452, or visit www.grahamandbrown.com.

This stool's no fool

Umbra
Anyone looking for eye-catching and innovative design should check out the Balloona stool.

In a new move that combines traditional craft techniques with modern aesthetics, Canadian designer Natalie Kruch ties more than 500 deflated balloons to a solid wooden frame to make this distinctive, brightly coloured 17in-high stool. Available at Liberty and Selfridges in central London, or order direct online (£225) at www.umbra.com.





Published: 28 August 2008
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