Lovely Things

Grand Designs Live in London

Just a heads-up about a show next week: Grand Designs Live. Based on the successful Channel 4 TV series in the UK, the exhibition this year has five main sections covering interiors, gardens, home building, kitchens and bathrooms and a shopping arcade.

As well as visiting the exhibitors, you can attend design, decoration and gardening seminars presented by Kevin McCloud, Naomi Cleaver and Diarmuid Gavin, get advice from members of the British Interior Design Association and RIBA Chartered Architects, and find out how to help the environment through your home with WWF's One Planet Living feature. (That's the group formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund, not anything to do with some sort of 'smackdown' - just in case you were confused).

The show's at Excel in east London from 2nd to 4th June and is open from 10am each day. You can book tickets online or by phone and prices are £12 in advance, or £16 at the door.

Funky doormats

Want a quirky doormat? Feet First have created mats in the style of sewer/manhole covers from major cities in the US and Europe.

If you're in the US you can choose from London, Paris, New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles at Perpetual Kid. Those in the UK can buy from I Want One of Those and are limited to London or New York.

What's great about these mats is they're made from 100% recycled truck tyres, are hard-wearing and easy to keep clean.

(Thanks to A Rug Fantastic for the heads-up)

Furnishings at Matalan

What is it about cut price stores these days? First it was Primark leading the fashion charge, and now Matalan's following suit with some lovely homewares.

 

I love these tub chair and footstool sets - especially the red gingham. For only £99, they'd be great as a corner chair for the bedroom. I can just see my cute 50s style summer dresses draped over it, well, I could if the weather would get its act together!

Also check out the new co-ordinating cushion range including a cute teal with chinoiserie print for £10, and rose print and textured rhubarb-coloured cushions for £8 each.

Chat with Naomi Cleaver

The iVillage Home, Garden & Hobbies board is hosting a 'chat' with TV presenter Naomi Cleaver tomorrow (23/05/06) at 11am. You can post your DIY and design questions before then for Naomi to answer. The blurb on the site reads:

"Having problems renovating your property? Don't know where to start with redesigning a room? Perhaps you've had a DIY disaster? Naomi Cleaver will be on hand to answer your questions.

Naomi Cleaver is the presenter of popular prime-time series on domestic design and decoration for Channel 4. Credits include 'Other People's Houses', 'Britain's Best Home' and Naomi's latest series for Channel 4, 'Honey, I Ruined the House'.

For over ten years Naomi has been instrumental in the success of private and commercial projects across the UK, Europe and the USA ranging from BAFTAs newly refurbished Piccadilly premises to the 10,000 square foot flagship London branch of Manchester United's favourite bar and restaurant, 'The Living Room'."

Beautiful eating

Long gone are the days when the only options for crockery were plain white, a sedate Wedgewood with a gold rim, or perhaps a bit of earthy blue Denby.

Whimsical or mis-matched is everywhere right now to brighten up your home dining experiences.

Danish designers Rice are launching their very pretty new handpainted range of tableware, DELICIOUS, at Pulse next week. Unfortunately, no further details or images on their site as yet but they have a new website in the works.

UK designers Freckle create beautiful, functional bone china tableware for adults and kids. Their Kimono range has a very delicate, serene feel and includes these vases, just perfect for holding the lilac blossoms covering trees in the UK right now. Spring has finally arrived!

From across the pond, Lena Corwin creates funky plates with unusual designs. My fave is the Travel plate - designed for adults, but I recently sent it as a gift to my young nephew who squeaks 'giraffe' and 'dragon' as he eats and uncovers the pictures. Lena's plates are all in sturdy melamine, meaning they're dishwasher safe, but unfortunately can't go near the microwave. All plates $15-20.

A US favourite for vintage style and a bit of whimsy, Anthropologie has me coveting their Butterfly Study series of tableware (I do love nature-inspired items). Well, that and just about all their other ranges as well. The butterfly range is from $38 for the serving plate to $56 for a set of dinner plates. Such a shame they don't ship to the UK!

So it begins...

Welcome to Lovely Things.

After many years spent gawping at gorgeous things for the home (and the rest of life), I think it's time to share my lovely discoveries with others. Nothing like oohing over something that someone else aahing over too.

So after much time spent 'getting around to it' it's finally here, in its very simple glory, just in time for Pulse at Earls Court in London next week.

I'll be bringing you the best of the show, from the comfort of your screen. Can't wait!

...note to self...wear flat shoes...