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JLWF603 Wine Cabinet

Department store John Lewis says that sales of wine cabinets have risen by 27 per cent over the last six months.

According to the retailer, customers are choosing to invest in more sophisticated models that offer greater flexibility and storage options.

Vic Sinclair, central buyer for large electricals at John Lewis, said: “Wine cabinets are becoming the must have appliance for the kitchen. Over the last six months we have seen the strongest sales in the mid to high end models, including the John Lewis JLWF603 wine cabinet, that benefits from a twin temperature control unit, allowing you to store red and white wine together. We also have orders placed for the newly introduced Sub Zero wine cabinet, perfect for wine connoisseurs who also want the wow factor.”

ICBWS30-S-TH-RH Wine Cabinet

John Lewis JLWF603 Wine Cabinet – £599

This John Lewis 60cm wine cabinet has the flexibility to store different wines in one cooler. Separate cooling zones allow you to keep your red and white wine together, but at different temperatures, thanks to a twin digital temperature control unit. The upper zone allows you to store up to 16 bottles of white wine between 5-10 °C and the lower zone allows up to 30 bottles of red to be stored between 10-8 °C.

Sub-Zero ICBWS30 Wine Cabinet – £8,750

This seriously-stylish wine cabinet will keep your wine in the very best conditions. A stainless steel and full-view glass door allows you to show off your collection, as well as storing up to 147 bottles, on 15 pull out cherry wood roller shelves. Touch pad controls make it easy to set the correct temperature from 3°C to 18°C in each zone and you can chose between Celsius or Fahrenheit for the display.

Ever since the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton Britannia fever has started to creep across the nation. Potteries, souvenir shops and the wedding industry are already hot on the case of supplying the public with royal inspiration.

Not to be left out on a good trend – the home interiors market is showing its patriotic side too.

From accessories in the bathroom, living room, kitchen and bedroom, high street stores are offering a hot new range of products featuring iconic Union Jacks and patriotic colours.

Fashion and homeware retailer Next has a particularly great collection of cushions, towels and much more in its Spring-Summer collection for 2011.

So how about giving your home a truly royal treatment and enjoying some British style.

Visit www.next.co.uk for inspiration and products.

Living Accessories

Next Westie Cushion £25
Next Baroque Clock £30
Next Keep calm print £20

(As below left to right)

Bathroom Accessories

Next Regency accessories (set of 3) £12
Next Regency bath mat £16
Next Laundry bags (set of 2) £18

(As below left to right)

Image source John Lewis

Making improvements to your bathroom or adding an extra facility is one way to improve the market value of your property.

The claim has been made by Rosie Millard within an article for the Daily Telegraph. According to Millard, modern bathroom accessorise and a clean, stylish space can make a home more desirable for potential buyers.

Noel de Keyer, head of houses at Savills, told her that an extra bathroom or living space could increase the value of a home by around five per cent.

The advice by Millard is that anyone looking to invest in a new bathroom suite should opt for all white, as this will reduce the appearance of tidal mark from limescale which is more prominent against colour.

She also states that bathrooms should be kept minimalist as rooms free from clutter create a more relaxing space.

She commented: “Ideally, a bathroom should be a sleek sanctuary.”

For ideas and inspiration, visit the Bathstore at www.bathstore.com

Pantone’s colour of the year, Honeysuckle, is already brightening up the high street. And it looks like John Lewis is leading the fashion front thanks to a fresh range of products.

Homeowners looking to change the style of their bedrooms or living areas with a contemporary theme should head over to stores such as John Lewis for inspiration.

The department store has just unveiled a brand new range of honeysuckle coloured products and furnishings including lamps, clocks and bedlinen.

Leatrice Wiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, recently described honeysuckle as “a captivating, stimulating colour that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues.”

John Lewis Karlsson Pointer Alarm Clock £10
John Lewis Harlequin Etienne Cushion £50
John Lewis Jolie Table Lamp £35
John Lewis Wild Rose Candle Jar £5

(As seen below left to right)

Create a stunning wine collection with Spiral Cellars

According to an article by the Independent, homeowners are defying the recession aftermath and embracing stylish household gadgets.

The must have accessories this year reflect domestic comfort and glamour. So if you’re thinking about starting a new project in your home, here’s are few ideas to consider, as well as some (slightly more) budget friendly alternatives.

Wine Cellar/Fridge

Us Brits love our wine. According to Vinexpo figures we consumed 1.7 billion bottles last year and spent more on wine than the French! These statistics could help to explain how a “must have” trend for wine cellars has developed in the UK.

Spend – Combining style and technology, a stainless steel wine cellar can in some cases hold almost 2,000 bottles. Top of the range cellars feature LED lighting, glass panels and temperature controls.

A Cylindircal wine cellar from Spiral Cellars can store 1,870 bottles, from £14,500. Visit www.spiralcellars.com for more details.

Save – Wine fridges are becoming increasingly popular with new fitted kitchen installations. John Lewis stock a varied range with prices starting from around £199.

Orangery/Conservatory

A conservatory is an easy way to add value to your home or simply create some more living space. But if you’re looking for something a touch more modern then an orangery may be for you.

Spend -  An orangery can cost around £40,000. Taking a step beyond conventional conservatories these rooms feature more brick than glass but can also boast energy saving technology thanks to insulating membranes. To view some beautiful examples, visit www.theenglishglasshouse.co.uk.

Save – A conservatory can be just as stylish as an orangery (in our opinion) but without the high price.  A basic 3m x 3m style can be from £10,000.

Coffee Machine

The coffee machine is today an essential gadget in the kitchen with appliances coming in stand alone or built in options.

Spend – The latest award winning coffee machine from Dualit, the Espressivo, costs approximately £175. The advantage of this product is that it enables you to use both ground beans and capsules, making it much more versatile. Take a look at www.dualit.com.

Save – If you just can’t get enough of your coffee but want it at a friendlier price tag, check out the Dolce Gusto. This product retails at £99 and can be purchased at www.dulce-gusto.co.uk.

The Spring- Summer 2011 Collection by Habitat takes its inspiration from the heat of the Meditteranean, fun at the seaside and lazy days in country gardens.

It’s enough to make you long for the spring and summer months. But while homeowners continue to shiver their way through the winter, atleast there’s the latest collection by Habitat to give us something to get excited about.

Tapas in the Med

Bring into your home the intoxicating warmth and vibrant colours of the Mediterranean. This is a trend that brings to mind quayside tables, flickering candles, good food, and the best of friends. A great way to brighten up fitted kitchens and upholstery.

Honeysuckle pink

It may not sound or look like the most obvious colour of choice for 2011 but honeysuckle pink has been tipped as a strong favourite this year.

Experts at Pantone Colour Institute believe that homeowners are looking for something to brighten their day – and uplifting honeysuckle hues are the solution.

High street stores are already stocking a range of homeware collections in this colour. Many of which will be available from February.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, explained: “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating colour that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues.”

Eiseman continued: “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this colour, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Honeysuckle is an upbeat and dynamic colour which can be used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is recommended by Pantone as the perfect conversation stimulant when applied to the dining room walls. In the kitchen too, it can be used to add a fun touch on the table in placemats, linen, colored glassware, candles and small appliances.

Prince William’s marriage  to Kate Middleton will provide a long overdue cash boost to Britain’s flagging economy.

A boost of over £600 million is being predicted by financial analysts prior to Prince Williams Wedding.

Wedding souvenirs are being rushed to production prior to the big day with huge amounts expected to be spent both on and offline on gifts and mementos.

The couple which are expected to tie the knot in Spring or Summer 2011 will have the world’s eyes fixed upon them as they walk down the aisle.

Neil Saunders the retail research expert commented “We think wedding-related merchandise sales could easily top £26 million in the UK, while food and grocery retailers could cash in to the tune of £360 million as consumers buy extra treats to celebrate the occasion as well as Champagne and wine to toast the happy couple.”

The  couple are being reminded of the current economic situation which they are “mindful of” according to St James’ Palace but the policing bill for the wedding and security for VIPs could potentially run into tens of millions of pounds.

This huge expense should hopefully be recouped back into the economy from the huge influx of tourism, travel and related merchandising.

Although the UK economy is showing signs of recovery, the housing market remains in turmoil. Despite optimistic reports on increasing average house prices, it should be remembered these positive figures refer to monthly rises and not quarterly or annual gains.

Nevertheless, signs of improvement are enough for many homeowners and property developers to consider how best to proceed in the market.

In view of the difficulty that many have experienced in terms of keeping up with mortgage repayments, putting up property for rent has become popular during the last couple of years. However, have the tenants been properly considered?

Whilst the financial concern of tenants is not, strictly speaking, the landlord’s responsibility, the two are nevertheless interdependent. High rental prices will not deter tenants who would struggle with such costs in a normal housing market because, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), around 93% of agents have dealt with tenants who have haggled over costs with their landlords. However, whilst some tenants have proved successful in driving down costs, around 65% of ARLA agents have claimed more are falling behind with rent.

Although housing benefit is available to many unemployed tenants, the payments are often made a month in arrears and only after time is lost setting up new claims. This is driving more tenants into rent poverty and, owing to the nature of housing benefit, which is paid directly to the tenant and not the landlord, many tenants are forced to choose between survival and paying their rent on time. As market prices recover and unemployment increases, this problem is set to worsen before it improves, which ought to be realised by landlords and tenants alike.

Home improvements will ordinarily include a spot of redecoration and perhaps a little building work such as an extension or garage conversion. Furthermore, a new garden design is especially popular during the spring/summer months, while a thorough clean throughout the home will inject new life into a property.

However, homeowners are becoming more sophisticated when it comes to decorating their properties, which is arguably a result of the many home improvement television programmes and related online resources that are available now. Homeowners are finding much cheaper ways to improve the home during the recession.

Space is an important aspect of any home; too much of it can make a house feel cold, impersonal and uninviting, whereas too little will often impact negatively on the more practical points of arranging furniture and providing sufficient living space. Nevertheless, in terms of space, as with many things in life, the bigger the better can be adopted as a general rule. The average UK home will not comprise an area too large to be considered excessively spacious, so usually the requirement to increase space is considered instead. In this respect, it is possible to make small spaces appear much larger than they actually are without having to develop the building itself.

Maintaining light, uncluttered rooms is often the best place to start in this respect. Dark furnishings and floors can visually close off a room, whereas with good natural sunlight, light furniture and flooring, the room will feel and look far more open. Other designer tips to improve space include attracting attention to the far end of a room, keeping central spaces clear and decorating in order to accentuate the vertical perspective of rooms.