Lovely Things

Airline lounge cocktail sign

Fancy a retro cocktail hour? I think there's something very civilised, if a little Bondian, about getting dolled up for a fancy drink before dinner. To help you get into the spirit (see what I did there?), hang this cute pink metal airline lounge sign (Rex £3.95), and pretend you're about to embark on a glamorous trip filled with exotic intrigue.

Cupcake/Fairy Cake Kitchen & Dining

I thought it was appropriate to start the new year with something sweet (did you overindulge during the festive season? I did). If you're going for the shabby chic look, or want a girly touch in the kitchen (hmm, that sounds ruder than it was meant to), these fairy cake/cupcake decorated items would be just the thing. The hook comes in four different designs and is made of metal (£2.95), the cute 'tea & cakes' placemats are laminated for easy cleaning and cork-backed to protect your table (£8.95 a set of four), and if you want to go all out, how about using these paper napkins as well (£1.95 for a set of 20).

Dwell Warehouse Sofa Sale

Furniture and homewares store Dwell starts their sale of ex-display sofas and seconds tomorrow at their London warehouse. With prices slashed by up to 80%, it's a great time to bag a bargain. This chocolate three-seater sofa bed is usually £595 and has been reduced to just £180 - that really is a fantastic price (depending on the state of the particular sofa in question). The sale runs from 23rd to 31st December, excluding Christmas day, at the Dwell warehouse in South London.

Related: Heavily discounted sofas | Ex-showroom Designer Bargains | Bedding from Dwell

Aurora Modern Pendant Lights

These 'Aurora' pendant lights from Jeremy Pyles are so astonishingly beautiful I'm sitting here trying to work out what I'll need to hock to get my hands on some. Named after the aurora borealis lights in nature, I doubt they give off quite the same eerie, shimmering effect, but you'll certainly be able to gaze in wonder and ooh and ahh to your heart's content. Available from Niche Modern for $500 each, they come in amber, chocolate, crimson, grey, smoke and sapphire transparent glass.

Related: Store Discovery: Retro Decades | Ceramic hanging tealight holder | Chandeliers with a difference

[via iliketotallyloveit]

Faux Fur Bedding & Throws

Fur really is luxurious, especially for winter. While I wouldn't feel comfortable with real fur in my home, faux fur can give you the same decadent feeling, without harming any little beasties. Here's a round-up of some of the fake fur options for throws and blankets currently on offer to have you snuggling up over the winter months...

First up is Heal's who has a couple of options. There's this lovely silver, almost shimmering, rippled faux fur throw and cushion set (shown) starting at £100...

Glass Patterned Wall Clock from ASOS

I love vintage patterns - especially when they're used in an interesting way. This glass wall clock by Karlsson has great contrasting patterns that looks like they're taken from vintage tiles or china. It's battery operated and has a 16 inch (41cm) diameter. Available from ASOS for £15.

Related: Shabby chic vintage-style clocks | Cheap & (shabby) chic mantel clocks | Lovely Things: Shabby Chic

Floral Table from Paperchase

It's not really the season to be talking about outdoor living, but while this floral table is designed to take on camping trips, it would also be useful as additional low coffee table space for indoor parties. You know what it's like: your friends are lounging around on floor cushions because you don't have enough seating and drinks get spilled because they're sat on the floor. Problem solved! The table would also make a stylish child's table, especially if bedroom space is at a premium, as one assumes (though the site doesn't confirm), that the legs are folding. £25 from Paperchase and also available in a rectangular shape with butterflies or stripes.

Related: Father's Day gifts for BBQ Dad | Amenity Nature Inspired Bedding | Tealight holders for the garden

Moderno Glassware from the Pier

How wonderfully gothic these 'Moderno' glasses look, very sleek and simple, but incredibly opulent at the same time. You could go all out baroque style with decadent tableware and flowers, or quite minimalist with plain edgy white china and stark cutlery and this glassware would complement either look. The glasses are mouth-blown, so you'll probably need to wash them by hand, but being from the Pier, they're still keenly priced at £4 each. 

Related: Kate Spade Gwinnett Lane Tableware | Gift Ideas: Laura Ashley Tableware | Lovely Things: Tableware

Retro Coasters from Truly Ace

It's great being able to buy from small, independent designer-manufacturers. Through little online shops, you'll often discover new things that aren't available anywhere else, like these retro coasters from Truly Ace by designer Amanda Vlahakis. They come as a boxed set of four for £8 and are available in a striped design or the fabulous rounded design shown which makes me think of watermelons. They're cork-backed and suitable for hot or cold drinks.

Related: Fabulous chairs by Aiveen Daly | Pink kitchen appliances | Store Discovery: Retro Decades

Minimalist Black Vase from Tesco

We've been featuring a lot of retro and cute stuff lately, so I wanted to break from that with something sleek and minimalist. Enter this square ceramic floor vase from Tesco Direct. At just a shade under £13 it's great value for a vase of 45 cms tall and is available in black only.