20 minute read
Homes & Interiors
Homes&Interiors Keep calm and cope with Christmas chaos
As the festive season takes over our homes, some of us embrace the ‘more is more’ approach to Yuletide clutter – while others may appreciate some friendly expert advice on keeping it under control!
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The festive season is truly the best time of year for many; spending time with loved ones, meeting up with old friends and indulging in good food and drink. There is no doubt, however, that with the holidays comes A LOT of extra ‘clutter’, be it presents, decorations or children’s toys. Shire spoke to an expert in the field of clutter-control, professional organiser Craig Hoareau, member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers and owner of A Tidy Mind, London. He had the following suggestions to stop the season spiralling!
Clear the decks
Try to avoid filling shelves with Christmas decorations alongside your year-round decor items. Meaning: take away the non-essential items from your bookshelves or centre-tables, they can be returned to their original positions after the festive period. If decorating the living room, do a declutter first and move items into storage so that you are not adding to an already cluttered space.
Toy story
Children get the most gifts over Christmas and with the influx of toys coming in, there should be some going out. It is really important to do an edit of toys before Christmas arrives as it can get out of control come January. Having so many options can be overwhelming for them too, so keep that in mind. Go through with your children what toys they no longer want or use. Practise altruism and donate to charity so other children can receive gifts for Christmas which would have just been gathering dust at the bottom of a box in your home.
Unloved decorations
Christmas decorations are meant to put you in a festive spirit, so they should look the part. Toss any that are broken, including those tatty tinsels (they can’t be recycled, so avoid them in future). Donate any you don’t like any more or never use. If anything is going to take up real estate for 11 out of 12 months, it must earn its place.
Craig Hoareau
Quality over quantity
If you have guests staying over Don’t leave it till Christmas Eve! this year, use the opportunity to throw away scratchy or stained bed linen. It takes up storage space and lots of time is wasted searching through it to find the decent stuff.
Get started early
Decluttering and organising before Christmas arrives is the best thing you can do to prepare for what is usually a very busy time for families. You don’t have to declutter every room in the house, try to focus on areas that will be used most: family room, dining room and children’s rooms – and above all the kitchen. There’ll be a lot of cooking going on, so space is a must.
Gifts they’ll enjoy
Try to go a more sustainable route when gifting this year. Instead of gifting clutter – which is what it will be if the person doesn’t like or want it – gift an experience such as dinner, indoor skydiving or a boat trip. You may see something in a shop and think it’s cool but the recipient may not want it. Also bear in mind the volume it will take up under the Christmas tree, not to mention the time it will take to wrap all those gifts.
Small is beautiful
One final thought…
When you have people coming over for Christmas, they’re coming to see you, not all the decorations you’ve filled every space in your home with. Keep it simple and avoid going too over the top.
PRESENTS FROM THE PAST
There’s a special thrill in fi nding the perfect gift for someone close to us, but in the bustle of Christmas preparations it’s often hard to fi nd the time or inspiration to choose something personal. Shire columnist Holly Johnson, of Holly Johnson Antiques, has fi ve unique ideas for presents that will last a lifetime.
Pasotti umbrella, £280
Pasotti’s Italian-designed, luxury umbrellas are as elegant as they are unique, and the range includes an option for every taste. At Holly Johnson Antiques, our stock includes the Pasotti animal-themed umbrellas, which feature beautifully carved handles in Italian style for British weather the shape of flamingoes, pandas, zebras, gorillas and several different dog breeds including the muchloved French bulldog. Handmade in Italy, this stunning piece features an enamelled brass handle and an automatic opening.
Piero Fornasetti porcelain horoscope plate c.1964, £490
Match the recipient’s star sign Designs by Piero Fornasetti are always whimsically delightful yet luxurious, and the horoscope plates from his Gli Influssi Astrali series stand out for their meticulous hand gilding and printing. The astrologyinspired designs mean a plate from this beautiful collection can make a very personal gift. Fornasetti plates are a piece of art in their own right, and can be equally appreciated on a wall or displayed in a cabinet.
Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson carved oak cheeseboard, England c.1970, £550
Featuring Mouseman’s trademark carved mouse, a cheeseboard makes the perfect gift for those who love to be the ‘hostess with the mostest’ at dinner parties. All Mouseman pieces are not only of exquisite quality and beautifully crafted, but also so well made that they truly stand the test of time.
Seren Bell (b.1950) Below Black Mountains, crayon, pen and ink on paper, Wales c.2020, £950
“If you’re not sure where Described by Country Life to start, our magazine as one of the most original animal artists within the UK, Seren Bell’s talented designers can advise you” paintings truly capture the different moods and seasons of the rural Welsh landscape. Below Black Mountains features the rare, historical breeds of sheep that the artist is so drawn to, with ancient, bony heads and unwavering gazes. A painting by this artist is a gift to be treasured, as two of her works can be found in the private collection of King Charles III, who has the same fascination with obscure sheep breeds. Also stocked at Holly Johnson Antiques are paintings by Seren Bell depicting chickens, pigs and hounds.
A favourite of King Charles
Porta Romana lamps, from £1,434
A bespoke item always makes for a very special present, and a Porta Romana piece can be customised as much as you desire, down to the smallest detail. With every item made to order by the best craftspeople across the British Isles, each Porta Romana lamp is totally unique and can be tailored to your loved one’s favourite colours, textures and finishes. If you are not sure where to start, Holly Johnson Antiques’ talented interior designers can advise and guide on each aspect of your design.
GET THE BAKE OFF LOOK
As series 13 of TV favourite The Great British Bake O comes to an end, one iconic British company celebrates the popular show with a new range of homeware
A mouth-watering colour palette…
When it comes to homeware icons, Cath Kidston is definitely among the best of British. And when it comes to television icons, the Bake Off team leads the way. So a collaboration between these national treasures was always going to be a good thing. And as Noel, Matt, Paul and Pru bring the current series to a close, that’s exactly what the creative forces behind both brands have done.
Cath Kidston is celebrating The Great British Bake Off with a limited-edition, hand-painted confection of colour, print and cake,
a collection worthy of the world’s finest Star Baker. Mixing the artistry of Kidston’s beautiful prints with the catchphrases and visuals of GBBO, now ingrained in our popular culture, this bright and playful collection offers a visual banquet of items across the brand’s homeware, accessory and fashion categories.
The collection includes PJs too!
Sweet styling
Cath Kidston’s design team have lovingly taken inspiration from Bake Off, blending the iconography of the show with signatures from the Cath Kidston archive and their own affirmations: Cake & Courage, Flour Power and Peace & Pastry. The hand-painted prints are sprinkled with details of the Bake Off Tent, such as the gingham altar and sunburst window.
The hero print of this collection is the Cath Kidston Tent of Dreams. Combining all the ingredients you’d expect of a Signature Bake – from luscious swirls of creamy icing to confetti-raining roses and a finishing dust of icing sugar, it’s a delightful display of colour and joy, crowned with a cup of tea and a hard-earned handshake.
Showstopper Jug £30
Joy through baking
Holly Marler, creative director of Cath Kidston, said: “Creating and making a collection for The Great British Bake Off has been filled with laughter and creativity, just as it must feel for the show’s bakers. They were my inspiration, a wonderful community brought together from many walks of life to bring joy through baking.
This was my starting point, to create a commemorative piece of artwork to celebrate everything the famous tent and its community stand for. We used the show’s slogans and created our own sentiments to decorate plates with icing lettering as if they were cakes. I hope this bright and colourful collection wows our collective fans, as we put such a lot of love into it!” The collaboration utilises organic cotton across all textiles and offers a spectacular range of unique hand-painted prints, showcased across a commemorative collection of tableware, aprons, PJs, clothing and accessories. Whether you’re a Cath Kidston fan, a Star Baker in the making or just love watching the show, the collection is full of colour and humour, for you to treasure, gift and enjoy for years to come, with prices ranging from £8 to £65.
cathkidston.com
Showstopper Billie Mug £12
The big switch-on
With the days at their shortest around this time of year, the lighting we use in our homes gets more important, whether just as functional illumination or as an atmospheric feature
There are a multitude of options when it comes to lighting a room, from industrial-style bright lights to simple cosy lamps. Kitchens may require focused, well-lit areas and bathrooms need special damp-proof fittings. How we light our homes is an important part of creating our own individual style, so it matters to get it right.
One local supplier that could help you make sure you get exactly what you want when you flick the switch is Moon Lighting, a small independent lighting retailer in Church Street, Oswestry, opposite the Cae Glas park gates. Running the business in this lovely spot in the border town are Carol Aitken and Mike Roberts, who know all there is to know about the industry.
A soft glow for bedtime stories
Light it right
Carol said: “We opened our shop in 2019 but have over 20 years of experience in lighting retail. We show and stock a wide variety of lighting for your home, including pendants, semi flush, wall lights, floor lamps, table lamps, lampshades and occasional furniture, along with all manner of retro-fit LED light bulbs including vintage.
“Our showroom also carries the Laura Ashley lighting and mirror collections, including the latest outdoor and bathroom lights.”
Local support
The business has gone from strength to strength and developed an enviable reputation in the area. Mike said: “We’ve been heartened by the support of local people and visitors to our area who appreciate seeing a wide variety of lighting and seeking advice from an experienced supplier. It has been great to hear and see how people wish to support and maintain their local independent high street shops.”
Close to home
For interiors inspiration, one North Wales shopping centre has a great range of stores to help you pick those essentials for inside and out
The Deiniol Centre in Bangor has 23 shops in total. As well as established staples such as Pampered Retreat salon and John Cobblers, it has been pleased to help local people with their business start-ups, which are bringing interest and visitors. All the shops have new Christmas stock, interest and visitors. All the shops have new Christmas stock, and with parking and public toilets on-site it’s the perfect place to shop for gifts while helping support local enterprise.
For those special gifts
New shops include Soulful Living, which sells clothing and soft furnishings from around the globe. Stiwdio 9 “Staples and local start- A whole day’s shopping under one roof ups” has paintings to suit all tastes and also offers an upholstery and curtain-making service. Enchantment is the local stockist of Frenchic paint and also stocks Joma jewellery, with new gift sets on the way. Pete the Hat’s is the go-to for all things antique and collectible, from coins to books to militaria. For the more esoteric, Dead Faeries is a wonderland of unusual gifts. And don’t forget the wrapping paper! Card Factory has a good choice, but Wild Elements offers more unusual paper for that special gift – which you may well find at the same time, as they have lots of local handmade items from toys to garden accessories.
BEST OF THE BEDS
One local supplier is celebrating after scooping a top award in the world of bed sales – thanks to continued development over the past year
The National Bed Federation has selected local North Wales mattress and bed retailer Now to Bed as the 2022 winner of its Small Retail Champion of the Year award. The award recognised the advancements that Now to Bed have made in the past year, including opening a new 8,000 square foot flagship store at Clwyd Retail Park in Rhyl, launching “They are a new and improved website at nowtobed.co.uk as well as introducing extra warehousing to increase its stock of mattresses available for quick delivery. Another key really delivering and one of the judges. “Often there are lots of entries, and sometimes the size of the businesses means the aspect that made Now to Bed stand apart was customer for their judges don’t know as much about them as we do satisfaction, as evidenced by great Trustpilot reviews. customers” about companies that enter some of the other awards,
The National Bed Federation is the recognised so the quality of the entry is key. Now to Bed has a trade association representing UK manufacturers brand-new store and has shown a great improvement of beds and their suppliers. Founded in 1912, its members today in sales. And their Trustpilot reviews show at 4.9, which is strong account for about 75 per cent of the total UK bedding turnover. evidence that they are really delivering for their customers.”
“The Small Bed Retailer of the Year award is always tricky,” said Richard De Melim, trade press editor at The Furnishing Report Now to the future
The new fl agship store in Rhyl
Now to Bed CEO Paul Burnet said: “Winning this award will greatly assist Now to Bed in our growth plans going forward. We would not be in this position without the superb effort from the whole team, I thank them all for their commitment. I would like to thank NBF, and also the UK bed industry for their support in voting us as the Sales growth impressed the judges Small Retail Champion of the Year 2022/23. We’re now looking forward to further improving the business, both locally in North Wales via the Rhyl, Prestatyn and Llandudno stores and nationwide via our website.”
TOOLS FOR THE JOB
If you have a home or garden project in mind, make sure you’re properly equipped to make a success of it
Few of us have more than a basic toolbox for tackling tasks around the home. Even the keenest DIY-er will lack the bigger machinery and specialist gear that may be needed once in a lifetime. So when you’re tackling a new project, local tool hire companies can be invaluable. Griffiths Hire Shops is a familyestablished business that has been trading in the Shropshire and North Wales area for over 40 years. The company has locations in Oswestry, Whitchurch and Wrexham and the team specialises in plant and power tool hire and sales, access
equipment and training. They also have a range of indoor and outdoor commercial and domestic heaters, so you can carry on working in the winter months. Gas space heaters, marquee heaters, ceramic and infrared heaters are all part of the range, as well as the new Airrex heater which is proving popular not only with commercial customers needing to heat showrooms, warehouses Outdoor heating solutions and workshops but also customers with larger indoor areas to keep warm, or outdoor areas for Airrex heaters are popular entertaining. Griffiths also offers a range of generators up to 20kva and outdoor lighting ideal for powering your outdoor events this winter. Contact your nearest branch or visit griffithshireshops.co.uk
Hafren Furnishers new concept furniture store opens in Aberystwyth
The state-of-the-art retail showroom is welcoming its fi rst customers in Llanbadarn Fawr
The Grand Opening of the eagerly awaited new Hafren Furnishers showroom took place on 23rd October, with a celebrity guest cutting the ribbon. The former Cambrian Printers site in Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth has been transformed from a print works into a spacious, modern furniture showroom, with a 160kw solar scheme providing most of its energy. Being experts in the field with over 57 years’ experience, the retailer’s new showroom will showcase across two floors the very latest collections from leading furniture manufacturers and brands for the home and office.
Hafren Furnishers’ original flagship store in Llanidloes continues to trade, having been satisfying returning customers’ needs since 1965. The business philosophy will remain the same in the new venture: offering customers the widest choice of quality furniture at the best possible prices. A knowledgeable team of friendly, non-commission-led sales assistants, coupled with free delivery throughout Wales and England, will undoubtedly
build on its unrivalled reputation. Living room, dining room and office furniture collections are on display as well as an extensive bedroom studio dispaying the latest beds, mattresses, bedding and bedroom furniture. Occasional furniture, soft furnishings and giftware are also available. Brands such as Stressless, Parker Knoll, G Plan, Tetrad, Orla Kiely, Ercol, Vintage Sofa Company, Sherborne and Marinelli feature strongly alongside names such as Silentnight, Rest Assured, Hypnos, Sealy, Tempur, ViSpring and many more. A Carpetright concession is located in store, offering the widest choice of quality flooring and carpets. There is ample free parking, and lift access to the bedroom studio on the first floor. Refreshments will be available in a modern ‘breakout’ zone. The store will open seven days a week: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5.30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. For enquiries, call 01970 864000 or 01686 414000. “We look forward to welcoming customers new and old to experience the next exciting chapter in the Hafren Furnishers journey,” said The new showroom director Tim Morgan.
“The next Actor Richard Lynch does the honours, with directors Tim Actor Richard Lynch does the exciting Morgan and mother Patience chapter”
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imm ine&Winter white and silver cast a magical spell for Christmas
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1. Metallic Geo napkins £14 for set of four, Next; next.co.uk 2. Ombre candle £2.49, The Range; therange.co.uk 3. Boho white wooden bead ceiling light £399, Listers Interiors, Chester; listersinteriors.com 4. Elsa cappuccino stoneware cup and saucer £15, MOOandBOOM,
Whitchurch; mooandboom.com 5. St Davids Cross cushion from £55, Melin Tregwynt, Haverfordwest; melintregwynt.co.uk 6. Angel Wing tealight holder £7, Make Your House A Home, Whitchurch; makeyourhouseahomewhitchurch.com 7. Anyday 12-piece porcelain dinner set £30, John Lewis; johnlewis.com 8. Febland Coco bar stool £149, Hafren Furnishers, Llanidloes; hafrenfurnishers.co.uk 9. Sona storage side table £120, Habitat; www.habitat.co.uk 10. Mirrored rectangular tray £105, The White Company; thewhitecompany.com 11. The Vintage Room silver Christmas tree 50cm high, £28, The Silver
Pear, Ludlow; silverpear.co.uk 12. Retreat vintage wooden stars from £5 (18.5cm size), Bodenhams,
Ludlow; bodenhams.co.uk
