Stylista Homes Apr/May 2014

STYLISTA

HOMES

Published by Haywood Media

April / May 2014

cool kids beds

interview kim woodburn

bigger bathrooms

review galgorm Resort & Spa informative

inspiring

COMPETITIONS Page 60

Spring Clean Special STYLISTA 1

enlightening

Welcome to

stylista homes

This magazine is dedicated to all those home and aspiring home owners who love creating their own individual space. We look at current home interior trends and feature stylish and unique products perfect to give your home some Stylista chic. We always open to ideas and suggestions, after all we write this magazine for you so feel free to send in any suggestions to editorial@stylistahomes.co.uk. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this edition. Enjoy and be inspired! .

From

the Editor

Welcome to the April/May issue of Stylista Homes Magazine, this issue is packed full of Spring time inspiration.

We look at Upcycling an old set of drawers, the ultimate bachelor pad and beds for teenagers and little ones who have an active imagination.

You can read all about my trip to Galgorm Resort & Spa Victoria Branson (a little indulgence for a hard FOUNDER & EDITOR working Editor!). Finally, as it is now officially Spring, it’s time for a good old Spring Clean - our office certainly looks and smells amazing as we’ve been testing a variety of top cleaning products and gadgets set to make the mamouth task a little easier, not forgetting some top tips from a couple of experts.

Enjoy and be inspired!

CLICK HERE To keep upto date with the latest from Stylista Homes

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FRONT COVER IMAGE JAB Anstoetz Sorbet fabrics Santa Rosa £86.30, Orlando £107.40, Palm Valley £84.40, Lakeside £188.50, Cape Coral £154.70, Venice £37.70 and Daytona (plain) £83.20 fabrics Price p/sq m www.jab.de/en

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Haywood Media 2 The Hall, Turners Green Road Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6TR Tel: 0800 881 5375 www.haywoodmedia.co.uk editorial@stylistahomes.co.uk Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept liability to any party loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. We are unable to check claims made by advertisers are legal and truthful and that all products and services are safe, Stylista Homes does not accept any liability in relation to advertisements placed.

© Stylista Homes 2014 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

contents

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www.stylistahomes.co.uk

Stylista loves

6 galgorm resort & Spa 16 bigger bathrooms

22 cool kids beds

26 growing teenagers 28 the batcave

38 garden decking

40 spring cleaning

60 competitions

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Phoenix Nickel Train Wall Rack This shiny and beautifully designed metal two tier train style wall rack is more like a piece of wall art than just a very useful and stylish place to store coats and hats! WDH=69 x 40 x 33cm £142 artisanti.com

Rose Cushion A pretty Pink & Ivory Rose Cushion from Tesco. £8 tesco.com

Gingham Fabric Trug A soft quilted storage trug in classic gingham is a great altern ative to a toy box. Available in pink and blue.

100% cotton, polyester wadding Storage trug with handles. W45 x H45cm £35 aspace.co.uk

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Stylista W

loves

e’ve been window shopping and are loving the pastel shades trending for home accessories this Spring season. The gorgeous products here are our favourites, the vintage suitcases are a great way to add stylish storage. We love the ornate chrome coat rack;

this will add some classical glamour to any hallway. The colourful carafes from The Scandinavian Shop will look lovely on a table dressed for a sunny afternoon; the question is which colour do you buy?

Sagaform Birdie Carafes Designed by Markus Johansson for Sagaform (Sweden), designer of the famous ‘Nest’ chair Prices: Small (50cl) £26, Large (75cl) £31. scandinavianshop.co.uk

Wooden Suitcase Storage Boxes Wooden suitcases, with a painted distressed finish.

Sold individually.

Pale Lilac (XS) - £30 Gold (S) - £40 Mint (M) - £60 Cream (L) - £80 oliverbonas.com

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Galgorm

resort & Spa Review by Victoria Branson, Editor

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estled away in the rolling countryside of Northern Ireland, not far from the small town of Ballymena, is the impressive Galgorm Resort & Spa. Set in 163 acres of luscious green parkland the impressive 19th Century converted gentleman’s residence (formerly known as Galgorm Manor) provides guests with a truly relaxing hotel and spa experience. With the River Maine gushing through the estate and beautiful landscaped gardens, a visit to Galgorm will without doubt take your breath away.

As you enter the hotel a mixture of contemporary lighting and traditional dark oak panelling creates an impressive stately look with a welcoming appeal.

A stylish bar to the left and a number of comfortable sofa arrangements provide guests with plenty of areas to relax during their stay, while open fires in the Reception area create natural warmth.

On arrival my friend and I were greeted by welcoming and efficient staff who

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took care of our luggage while we reenergised ourselves with a light lunch.

A generous triple-layered Irish cheddar and beef tomato sandwich, accompanied by chunky chips and side salad topped with vinaigrette dressing was served by attentive waiters whilst we relaxed in sumptuous wingback vintage leather chairs. Just as we were finishing lunch the receptionist presented us with our room keys. As we had arrived slightly early, Housekeeping had prioritised the preparation of our room - demonstrating excellent service.

The room was well equipped with the usual facilities, including a fully stocked mini-bar as well as provision for tea and coffee making. There was a generous sized bathroom, with complementary toiletries and thick fluffy towels. A large window overlooking the grounds allowed plenty of light into the room.

In the spacious wardrobes we found bathrobes and complementary guest slippers – which you get to take home with you!

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Whilst not a prerequisite for a visit to Galgorm, it is a wonderful opportunity to indulge in the stunning spa facilities.

After changing into swimwear, donning our robes and slippers we stepped out of our room and took the lift which goes straight down to the Spa area. A walk along a carpeted hallway with subdued lighting brings you to the Spa Reception where you’ll notice the enticing smell of spa fragrances. Once again, well trained and friendly staff were on hand to show us around the facilities.

In the Thermal Spa the interior décor has been designed to create a calming

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atmosphere. A mixture of local stone, natural wood and a palette of colours inspired by Nature create a feeling of restfulness. First we had a dip in the Infinity Hydrotherapy Pool in which there are a number of different areas with therapeutic massage jets to stimulate the skin and ease tired, aching muscles.

There are three massage cannons which you can use target those tense neck and back muscles and a “volcano” air pad to stand on and give the feet some pummelling therapy, which gave us a few giggles! Well, aren’t you ticklish on your feet too?

There are floor to ceiling windows which truly bring the outside in, as they look out onto the idyllic landscaped gardens bordered by the torrent of water of the River Maine running past. Despite the fact that we visited at the end of January, the view through the windows was nevertheless extremely enticing, so after 20 minutes spent testing the various jets in the hydrotherapy pool, we braved the cold and took the 15 or so paces until we were able to submerge ourselves in the hot Jacuzzi pool outside. With three bay areas there is plenty of room for everyone. Powerful Jacuzzi jets invigorate your skin, and with just your

head and neck exposed to the natural elements this makes it a refreshing experience. Further along is a hot tub where you can only stay in it for a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes as it really is quite hot and you don’t want to parboil yourself!

Venturing back inside we tried out the various cabins. Each cabin serves a different purpose and offers a different sensation. Under the “Experience Shower” you can refresh your skin either under a fine mist of cool water or otherwise use the Rain Forest shower. (I warn you, this is cold but STYLISTA 11

nonetheless invigorating). Next we tried the “Laconium” which is a Roman sweat purification bath, with a constant temperature of 50°C. Inside you can relax on the mosaic tiled seats which are heated and gently warm your body and encourage perspiration. It’s very relaxing and we likened it to sunbathing on a beach. The “Herb Caldarium” has a temperature of 42-45°C and approximately 100% humidity. The aromatic essence in this cabin smells delicious and really awakens your senses and apparently helps to rid your body of toxins as well as improving circulation. There is also a Sauna and Steam room; also the Aroma Room where you can relax whilst breathing in gentle

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steam infused with the fresh aroma of “essential oils”. Wanting to experience everything, we even visited the Ice Fountain where we rubbed crushed ice onto our skin. I’m not sure which was colder, the Rain Forest Shower or the Ice Fountain but both made us a squeal a bit. The whole experience was without doubt invigorating but very relaxing indeed!

During our stay we were fortunate to have been booked in for a “treatment”.

The treatment areas have an Oriental theme with mahogany slats on the walls and ceiling, ambient lighting in all areas, soothing spa-style music and a fish tank - all helping to create a calming

environment. We both opted for the Ginger & Cinnamon Peat Wrap and this meant that we were each allocated to a private treatment room. My lovely therapist, Sheree, explained what would happen during the treatment and left me to get undressed. The treatment started with a full body cleanse, followed by an invigorating sugar scrub infused with lavender to help shed dead skin cells and promote cellular renewal for radiant soft skin. A mask of seaweed was then applied to the body before I was wrapped in a muslin sheet.

Whilst thus wrapped, Sheree gave me a relaxing head massage and finally, after I showered to wash off the mask, she applied warmed “Softly Does It” Body Cream over my body. This left me feeling completely hydrated and detoxified. Putting on a dry robe, I rejoined my companion in the “chill out zone” where we were served mineral water and a delicious lemon sorbet while we mellowed on comfortable futon-like beds and listened to music of our choice.

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Feeling fully refreshed we returned to our room for a glass of bubbly while we changed for dinner. We were booked into Gillies Bar & Grill where we enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal and a bottle of wine. The waiting staff were all very friendly, the food was served hot and we felt incredibly well looked after. We returned to our rooms to find the beds turned down and a fresh complementary bottle of water on the bedside tables.

After our thoroughly relaxing day we naturally enjoyed a deep and comfortable night’s sleep.

If you are looking for an enchanting and pleasurable weekend away, whether for a romantic break, special occasion or simply just to treat yourself, the Galgorm Resort & Spa will not disappoint.

With charming and immaculate staff to attend to your needs and beautiful but stimulating surroundings, Galgorm Resort & Spa is undoubtedly worth a visit. Stylista Homes can thoroughly recommend it.

For more information and to book your stay visit www.galgorm.com

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Bathrooms

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get bigger

he desire to have a bigger bathroom is very much on trend these days, as opposed to purely being a functional room where daily personal hygiene routines are performed bathrooms are becoming more of a sanctuary retreat, a room to relax and unwind in. It is really the only room in the house where locking the door seems the most courteous thing to do. Being a Mum I will often announce that I shall be taking a bath and duly lock myself away for 30 minutes of peace and quiet. Frankly bigger really is better when it comes to bathrooms particularly in terms of the range and style of the pieces you can include. Consider roll top baths, you can’t really do them justice in a smaller bathroom, they need space to

WORDS Victoria Branson

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be admired from various angles. Another sought after luxury benefitting bigger bathrooms is to have amazing double entry walk-in showers. The luxury shower specialist ‘Merlyn Showering’ has some fabulous options for consumers who have the space for a larger shower (as shown here); we take a look at stylish basin and vanity units by CP Hart, as well as the latest roll tops baths from BC Designs. Enjoy and be inspired!

Shower Panel with 2 return panels

Sliding Door with side Panel – 10 Series

(Bottom right) A double entry design, with an impressive height of 2015mm. Mershield Stay Clear (10mm toughened protected glass) Coloured glass options; opti-white, satin and smoked black 1200 mm – 1600 mm. Price on application. www.merlynshowering.com

A luxurious shower enclosure with flexible size options 2100 mm high. Available in sizes 1100 mm – 1600 mm (and smoked black 1200mm and 1400 mm) with Chrome eyelet handle and Mershield Stay Clear protected glass (10mm toughened glass) Price from £1,515.22

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When it comes to renovating your bathroom make sure you never fall out of fashion. Invest in a timeless monochrome scheme that will stand the test of time.

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Incorporate the trend for all things monochrome in a modern setting, with streamlined contemporary pieces like the glossy Domino range from Artelinea or C.P. Hart’s own Giro collection. Or go traditional with a contemporary twist by opting for the elegant aesthetic of C.P. Hart’s Henley Collection.

With an incredible array of products on offer, the bathroom experts at C.P. Hart can provide all the inspiration and advice you need to create a high-quality bathroom scheme. (left) Henley Collection– starting from £1,170

(below) Artelinea Domino Furniture – from £826 (centre left) Giro Furniture – available from £246 For more information on CP Hart visit www.cphart.co.uk or call 0845 600 1950

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BC Designs are specialists in creating designer baths, Chairman, Barrie Cutchie has been in the forefront of bathroom innovation and design for over 30 years. He has designed the best in freestanding baths, made from Solid Surface and Resin, Cast Iron Baths, Stone Baths, as well as Bathroom Mirrors, Bathroom Lighting and now a new range of magnificent Bathroom Cabinets.

Fashioned from an original fireclay bath design the Fitzroy (shown below) is a generously deep bath available in a gloss or matt finish. It comes with

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four solid cast ball feet and measures L1715mm x W820mm x H630mm. The retail price is ÂŁ3,599 This Boat Bath (right) is now available in a smaller model size - 1580mm x 750mm. Whilst still offering a good sized internal bathing area the new double skinned acrylic boat bath can be supplied plain or painted in any Farrow & Ball eggshell paint finish.

Retail prices start at ÂŁ1,260.

For more information on BC Designs visit www.bcdesigns.co.uk or call 01206 927100

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Warwick With Day Bed

Exclusive and 100% designed by ASPACE. Features: -Day bed which can be used running parallel to, or perpendicular to, upper sleeping platform -Ladder which can be positioned at either end of the bed -Optional desk available Material:Solid Pine and composites; plywood slatted mattress base Finish:Prussian Blue, also available in Silk White Dimensions:L 202cm x W 102cm x H 177cm; width with ladder 165cm Mattress size:Single 190cm x 90cm (6ft3” x 3ft). £995 aspace.co.uk 22 STYLISTA

Tree House Bunk Bed

A dream come true for children everywhere, the Treehouse Bed is guaranteed to transform any room into the ultimate hideaway. Inside there is room to store all your favourite books and toys, while the interior light turns it into a playhouse. Who said that treehouses were only meant for the outdoors...bring the outside in with this fabulous new bed! Handmade to order. £2,390 cuckooland.com

Cool

kids beds

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Cabin Tent Trundle Bed Every young campers dream, children can camp indoors whenever they like with this Cabin Tent Bed. Just like the camper bed, it has a pull out section underneath that could be used for storage or as a second bed for sleepovers! The cloth side wall opens up as a canopy which is held up by 2 poles. It can the easily be taken down and the cloth rolled up and fastened with strips. Handmade to order. ÂŁ1,250 cuckooland.com

camper Bed Shaped like a classic teardrop trailer, kids can camp all year round with the Mathy by Bols Camper Bed! Features include a moving door, cut-out windows and a retractable roof, inside there is storage for all your favourite toys and underneath there is a pull out drawer for additional storage. Handmade to order. ÂŁ1,500 cuckooland.com

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Perch Bunk Bed The elegant Perch bunk bed is the perfect centerpiece for any childrens room. Its compact footprint leaves plenty of room for play and additional furnishings. The versatile Perch easily separates into a loft bed and a standalone twin, giving many configuration options. ÂŁ1,085 nubie.co.uk

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Teenagers

are growing!

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o I’m being serious, they really are! Thanks to women improving their nutrition during pregnancy and a decline in the number of mothers smoking (which may stunt the growth of a baby) teenagers are on average 5-15 cm taller compared to children born 50 years ago according to Professor Mitch Blair, Officer for Health Promotion at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health who was interviewed by the Daily Mail back in 2011.

With our children are definitely getting bigger…. it stands to reason they now need a bigger beds. However, we don’t all have room for double beds in our kids’ bedrooms. The clever people at Sealy Beds, on a mission to make everyone deeper sleepers, have a solution to offer.

They have just launched the new SOLO range of single mattresses and beds which are a full six inches bigger than a standard single. It may not sound much, but the extra 17% of sleeping surface gives more room to stretch out and relax. This is particularly useful for those growing teenagers who are now bigger than mum or dad, or indeed anyone that feels a little constricted in a standard single. The beds come with Sealy Edge Guard too, which means there is support for the sleeper right

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up to the edge of the mattress. Every inch of the bed is utilised to give you deeper sleep….

If you enjoy deeper sleep, your body is much healthier and, more importantly, happier. If your quality of sleep is bad this is known to hinder mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity and problem solving as well as

many other brain and physical functions.

Getting quality sleep is often overlooked for its wide reaching health and wellbeing benefits, but it can be had with so little effort – deeper sleep is a necessity we all need, not a luxury!

this spring and spruce it up…why not treat them to a new bigger SOLO bed at the same time and do your bit to make them Sealy deeper sleepers.

The new SOLO bed range is available from all good furniture retailers nationwide and The SOLO bed is available with an is priced from £399 visit www.sealy.co.uk enormous storage drawer, perfect for all for your nearest stockist. that clutter today’s teenagers manage to collect! Also, the beds come with the famous Sealy Smart Fibres as standard – approved by Allergy UK to keep house dust mites at bay so perfect for anyone suffering from asthma and allergies.

Teenage Dirtbag So if you are looking to give your This large drawstring laundry bag makes kid’s bedroom a bit of a makeover the perfect gift for a teenager. A bold

Mums love these

reminder to keep their dirty laundry in this bag and not on their bedroom floor.

Perfect to hang on the back of a door.

Inside a bright orange motif, the text reads: “Teenage Dirtbag n. A place for your dirty laundry; the name you’ll be called if you don’t use it.” Comes packaged in a neat carboard tube.

Screen printed on unbleached cotton. 50 x 75cm £12.75 hunkydoryhome.co.uk

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Batcave

the ultimate

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rousseau

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ou don’t have to be a superhero to have your own Batcave, you just need an appropriate space and some help from lighting and furniture designer Ben Rousseau. Recently, Ben has created a contemporary “Batcave” in the basement of a London apartment which he has kitted out to the highest spec for his client!

This 3,000 square foot leisure area, in the basement of a 10,000 square feet London home, has been custom-designed by Ben for a client who is an enthusiast of urban and contemporary art. The homeowner ironically calls it his ‘batcave’ and uses the space to relax, partyand play games.

An underground car port is a central feature. Designed to look like a protective force field, a set of laser beams encircles a prized Aston Martin DB4, which rather than being shut away in a garage is intended to be admired by visitors just as the many artworks are cleverlyshowcased by the lighting design.

The lounge features a colour-changing INSA bubble chair and a matching coffered ceiling with the same striking graphic illuminated by two levels of colour-changing LEDS around each step, whilst the cocktail bar in pearlised and silver flecked Tadelac has strips of warm white LED lighting to make the most of the multi-faceted angles of the counter.

In the games room is a bespoke American black walnut pool table with illuminated detail below the pockets and around the exterior edge. The dramatically lit snug

has mirrored surfaces on the back wall and insidefront wall to create infinity reflections and an ‘Iris’ light in red LED by Rousseau Design makes an interesting focal point.

For more information about Rousseau Design visit www.rousseau.co.uk

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When having the plumber or electrician in to fix things around the house, it is common curtesy to offer them a brew before they set to work.

RatedPeople.com, the UK’s biggest tradesmen recommendation website, who have 24,000 tradesmen on their database, have undertaken some new research to discover the formula for making the perfect cup of builder’s brew. With over 40% of the tradesmen community knocking back an average of 3 – 4 cups of tea a day, they are the true brew experts.

The research revealed that British people are a warm, loving nation, with over 75% of UK homeowners welcoming tradesmen with a cup of tea on arrival.

And not just any tea brand will do, when asked to name their favourite brand of tea; PG Tips came out on top (37%), followed by Tetley (33%) and Yorkshire Tea (23%).

RatedPeople.com also uncovered what the best biscuit is to accompany the perfect tradesman’s tea. The mighty Digestive Biscuit wins their favour (25%), closely followed by the

Hob Nob (20%) and the Kit Kat (19%).

And should a cup of tea not be available? In what could be considered as a modern trend, builders are opting for a latte (29%), or even a simple glass of water (23%).

cup of tea, from how many times it should be stirred and the teabag squeezed, to the number of sugars to reveal the miracle formula: Squeeze teabag 1-2 times + A bit of milk, to medium colour + 1-2 tspns of sugar + stir 3/4 times = The Perfect Trademan’s Tea

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Hit the Deck

Expert Tips for Creating a Dream Outdoor Living Space

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here really is nothing better than an English garden in the spring/summer, with the sun shining it is the ideal time to be outside, relaxing with all the family.

Trex, the eco-friendly decking brand is encouraging homeowners to make the most of their outdoor living spaces this year with decks, patios or even terraces.

To help consumers make the most of each space, Trex has put together some top tips to encourage others to transform a basic backyard into an outdoor oasis to be enjoyed: Maximize your space Think about how and for what occasions you are most likely to use your outdoor space, will it be for family lunches, entertaining friends or as an area of relaxation. With this in mind design it with both function and comfort in mind and a dedicate area for relaxing bbq’ing, dining and socialising. Add

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tall potted plants and built in planter pots for added function and style Make materials matter If you want to spend more time enjoying – rather than maintaining your deck, choose low-maintenance materials that need only a soap and water cleaning to retain their enduring good looks. As Trex is a wood-alternative decking, it resists fading, stains, scratches and mould growth due to an exclusive protective shell and high-traffic formulation – even after years of spills, splashes and mishaps. Perfect as an all year round decking.

Design with distinction Consider how your space interacts with the environment and use that as inspiration when designing your deck.

Select a style and color scheme that complements your home’s exterior and reflects its natural surroundings.

Go online and experiment with resources such as the Trex Deck Designer and Deck Visualizer tools to figure out how your outdoor living elements can be integrated.

Light Up the deck

Globe Lantern Dimensions: 35W x 35D x 36H cm £89.95 annabeljames.co.uk

Add flair with finishing touches Today’s homeowners are customizing their outdoor living spaces to reflect their personal interests and preferences. However, if you are working with a tight budget, try adding vibrant pillows or tropical plants for fun pops of color and personality.

As a company built on green principles and practices, Trex decking is manufactured of reclaimed wood and sawdust, as well as recycled plastic from many common household items – including sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves and grocery bags.

In fact, Trex saves approximately 300,000 tonnes of plastic and wood scrap from landfill sites every year, and no trees have ever been felled to manufacture Trex products.

La Rochelle lantern Dimensions: 18W x 18D x 26H cm £59.95 annabeljames.co.uk

BeachHarbour Rope Hurricane Lanterns Small £25; Large £50 houseoffraser.co.uk

Prices start from £75m2 including VAT (tax) and secret fixings For more inforamtion visit www.trex.com/uk STYLISTA 39

HOMES

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Spring G

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Gleam Special STYLISTA 41

reviews Still keeping the old toothbrush in the cleaning cupboard? JML’s Turbo Brush eradicates the need for the old toothbrush, this sonic powered precision cleaning tool blasts away grime and limescale from a whole host of surfaces and more importantly those awkward, hard to reach places like taps and sliding door tracks. This small yet super powerful brush comes with 4 different heads enabling you to clean virtually anything.

Just pop in a couple of batteries and turn it on, it whizzes away and literally lifts the grime up before your eyes, zero effort needed – we think it’s just brilliant and have been hunting around for awkward dirty gaps to challenge it’s cleaning ability, however this turbo brush 42 STYLISTA

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t’s spring cleaning time again and the Stylista Homes team have been busy-bees cleaning away testing some of the latest products to hit the market (the office is simply sparkling!) helping to make your Spring Clean into a Spring Gleam!

relentlessly keeps on proving it’s strength, getting even the most hard to reach dirt out of a whole range of little gaps and finally what’s even better is I can throw away all those old toothbrushes now!! £14.99 from www.JMLdirect.com and all good JML stockists

so easy with only one screw and crystal clear instructions to follow you really couldn’t get it wrong. As with any steam cleaner, there are lots of do’s and don’ts to mull over, but whilst most of it is common sense I would encourage you to grab a cup of coffee and read them though to be on the safe side. After all the manufactures don’t want you to ruin your furniture or floors, they just want to help you keep them clean.

It’s not often we are lucky enough to review one of the products we are giving away but JML have sent over their sleek Shark Lift Away steam cleaner for us to review. The Shark Lift Away is the new steam cleaner in JML’s range of cleaning products.

With a super sleek design this multi function steam cleaner will banish the germs from a range of surfaces around your home.

Once out of the box you have to attach the handle, but this is ever

The Shark Lift Away’s lightweight and compact design means it’s not at all cumbersome and is easily manoeuvrable around your home. Simply gliding along without much effort it’s much easier to push than a vacuum cleaner. It’s supplied with a fabulous range of useful attachments for a variety of tasks, 2 cloths and a handy bag to store everything in.

Before you start have a good vacuum and remove the grit and dirt, remember this is a steam cleaner and won’t replace the need for a hoover. Remove the water tank from the cleaner and using the jug fill up the reservoir.

Replacing the cap securely choose one of the three settings,

dependent on the floor type and strength of clean you want to do, plug it in away you go, it gets to work immediately. There is a handy hook for the cord so you don’t get in a muddle trying to hold it out of the way. Remember you don’t need any cleaning products or detergents; the steam is all you need to cut through the grime.

Cleaning windows is very simple, you just detach the central part and attach one of the tools.

Holding it upright you just point the steam and it cleans with ease.

Even with the reservoir full it is still very light to carry.

The Shark Lift Away has Stylista Homes’ seal of approval because it’s so simple and easy to use; the small compact design is a positive for storing it as much as using it. We were equally impressed by the way the scrub setting refreshed our rug and the way it left our tiled floors sparkling and germ free. £149.99 www.JMLdirect.com and all good JML stockists

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reviews Doktor Power Magic Eraser is just like magic! What looks like an innocent block of white foam is in fact a master of all disguises. Simply cut off a

piece the size you want, run it under the tap and use it to rid anything from crayon on the walls to removing scratches on car bumpers – amazing! We don’t know how it does it but it works. Putting it to the test we’ve successfully removed stubborn scuff marks from our floors, cleaned the ceramic hob removing all old cooking marks and removed limescale build-up on the chrome kitchen

Another top piece of weaponry against the ever invading limescale is Limelite Limescale Remover Spray.

We were delighted to be sent a sample to test out. Limelite Limescale Remover is an easy to use spray on solution which reduces down the limescale, until you can simply and ever so easily wipe it away. Just simply spray it on in a well ventilated room and leave it to soak for about 5 minutes then using a damp cloth just wipe it away.

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taps. This is going to become a regular tool in the fight against grime, it’s brilliant! £4.99 www.JMLdirect.com and all good JML stockists

I was really impressed with the results, it has left our bath gleaming and limescale free.

I would recommend using this product regularly to keep limescale at bay particularly if like us you live in a hard water area. Limelite Limescale Remover Spray is priced at around £2 and available at all good supermarkets.

For more information visit www.limeliteinfo.co.uk

Next up in our review is the Method Multi-surface Lavender cleaner. We love this product, a gentle scented cleaner that is super powerful, it brilliantly cuts through grease and grime on worktops and ceramic hobs.

It’s completely streak free and non toxic so is ideal for food preparation surfaces. The packaging is very attractive with an excellent spray mechanism – this product certainly gets the thumbs up from us.

Method also sent us their gorgeous liquid gel hand wash in Lavender and Pink Grapefruit fragrances, again in simple yet elegant see-through packaging showing the clear liquid in

a colour resembling their scent. Again, a good dispensing mechanism this we feel is worth mentioning as you want to know when trying a new product if it works as good as your favourite. Both have a very gentle scent, we prefer this to strong overpowering perfumes and the soap leaves your hands soft and clean. We think Method products are of a very high standard.

Multi-surface cleaner £3 Gel hand wash £2.49 www.methodproducts.co.uk

We definitely live in a hard water area, forever battling against the build up of limescale around our taps and in the kettle. Thanks goodness we were able to review the durgol® surface, a powerful foam spray decalcifier that saps away limescale with no fuss. So easy to use, simply spray the area you want to clean whether it’s a tap or the sink, leave it for around 10 minutes while you have a cup of tea and it does all the hard work for you, then just rinse thoroughly.

Unlike other strong cleaners this doesn’t emit any of those toxic vapours making it much more pleasant to use on a regular basis.

We’ve not only brought back the shine to our shower heads, but removing the limescale means the water flows out much smoother giving you a better shower experience. Our tea is tasting better since we tried it out on the kettle. A vital piece of kit in the fight against limescale! It’s 500ml bottle £4.99 visit www.durgol.co.uk to get yours today!

STYLISTA 45

reviews

that does seem like rather a cop out. However, never fear it isn’t as bad as you imagine not when you’ve got a box of Oven Pride by your side. In your kit you will find a bag, a pair of gloves and the Oven Pride cleaning solution. There are instructions and I do recommend you read them as this is lethal stuff and you need to take the utmost care when using it.

Ok, hands up who hates this job the most? I can’t stand this task and I know you can pay people to come and do it for you, but

Placing two of our grimy greasy shelves into the bag and pouring in about 2/3 of the solution, I carefully removed the air and sealed up the bag. Swirling the solution around so it covers every bit of the shelves you leave it for 2 hours. Give it another swirl then I left it overnight. Next wearing the gloves, pour the remainder

of the liquid into the oven on the bottom shelf, using a sponge wipe it over the sides and base of the oven covering all the dirty surfaces, but avoiding the rubber seals and fan area, again I left this overnight too.

In the morning I couldn’t believe how easy it was, although our oven was fairly dirty to begin with after simply wiping away the residue solution it was sparkling clean again. And the shelves once rinsed were gleaming silver! All so easy and giving such good results, I will definitely buy this again.

Priced at around £3.99 and available at all good supermarkets.

Ecover is in our eyes the leading eco-friendly manufacturer of cleaning products which are sustainable and kind to the environment. With over 30 years experience, Ecover continue to develop amazing products which are without all the harsh chemicals meaning they are kinder to you, your home and the environment.

We were lucky to be sent samples of the Ecover Washing up Liquid, my father has been using this product for years after being

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diagnosed with Prostate cancer, he wanted to eliminate the use of chemicals around the home but particularly on items he would eat and drink from.

We received one of the Pomegranate and Lime which has a very light refreshing aroma and one of the Lemon and Aloe Vera which again isn’t at all overpowering. Having tried them out, ensuring you use the hottest water you can bear, they are just

Top brand washing up liquid Persil has a new formula out to help you wash away the grease and grime from the daily task of ‘doing the dishes’. The new improved formula is now stronger and tougher breaking down grease with ease. We tried out the new Orange Crush fragrance which is a delicious zesty scent it’s also available in Pink Blush, Lemon Burst, Apple Fizz, Fresh Mint with anti-bacterial action, and limited edition Spring Blossom. Persil have gone one step further with improving their washing up liquid, it’s now even greener than before for the 500ml bottle they have reduced it by a whole 7 grams of plastic and estimates say this will save 120 tonnes of plastic a year! Retailing at around £1 look out for the new

Persil washing up liquid in all good supermarkets nationwide.

as good, if not better than any supermarket washing up liquid, but you can feel good about yourself because you’re also looking after the environment.

it provides a streak free clean wiping away grease and grime with ease. As Stylista Homes is all for all things green we can’t recommend Ecover products highly enough. Log on to www. ecover.com to view the whole range.

We also received one of the Ecover Simply Soothing hand wash. Scented with Lavender and Aloe Vera this delightful hand wash has a mild gentle aroma and leaves your hands feeling soft and clean.

All the Ecover products are available from all leading supermarkets or buy online at www.ecoverdirect.com

Lastly we tried out the Ecover All Purpose Lemon Cleaner, STYLISTA 47

interview

Queen of Clean Kim Woodburn offers tips on how best to spring clean this coming spring – and when to say goodbye to things old and worn – as well as revealing her enthusiasm for getting behind the Stroke Association.

WORDS: Camilla Davies

If there was ever an exemplar for the art of perseverance, Kim Woodburn would be it. The veteran cleaner rose to fame in 2003 as part of TV Duo Kim and Aggie in How Clean is Your House. Since finding fame at the age of 61, she’s become known for her customary updo and bubbly persona.

Eight months ago, though, her life was turned upside down when husband, Peter, suffered a stroke. Did Kim see the warning signs?

“Nothing at all! Peter’s mother and father had low blood pressure, he inherited that. He never needed pills…

You wouldn’t have thought him a target for a stroke.

“But the doctors asked: why wouldn’t you expect he’d have a stroke? Babies can have them – they occur at any age.

They are all severe but some are much more severe than others. You have to be grateful, stay positive.”

In Peter’s case, his stroke was preempted by a series of smaller incidents.

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“The Saturday evening (before his stroke on the Monday) we were sitting reading the papers and he couldn’t get his words out. Peter was reading something to me and he couldn’t get one word out: Bashir. He was trying to say Bashir – the reporter’s name but he couldn’t say it. He said to me after he read it that he had a shocking headache on the left side. So off he went to bed.

The next day he was in the garden pottering round wearing backless mule slippers. But he kept losing his slipper off his foot and he had his bare foot on

the pebbles in the garden – you know they can hurt – and he couldn’t feel it.

Then on the Sunday evening he said ‘I have a bit of a headache’ – I said ‘go to bed’ and that’s it. What I didn’t know, is that he was still suffering these symptoms...he just didn’t tell me. If he had I would have called an ambulance right away.

“On the Monday morning it was sunny so we sat in the garden. He brought me over a cup of tea and it was spilling everywhere. You couldn’t miss it. I said ‘what’s going on?’ He said ‘I just don’t feel good’. He told me about yesterday not feeling his feet on the pebbles. He said ‘I’m numb down my right side, and the right side of my face by my ear, my hand.’ And I knew he’d had a stroke. I rang for an ambulance.

So what happens now?

“He was discharged with medication, which he will be on the rest of his life.

And he will continue to have frequent check-ups. He may not have another stroke, but obviously now has a higher chance than before. He had no paralysis, and you wouldn’t tell from looking that he’d had a stroke apart from him slurring his words. But he has no short-term memory at all.”

How far back does that go?

“He can remember up to about three or four years ago his entire life, but ask him to recall what he didn’t this morning, he doesn’t know. He’s stopped slurring

his words now but he can’t get out the odd word out. He panics a lot, when he was always a laid back man.” But what does happen all the time is he’ll misplace words – he knows what he wants to say but just can’t remember specific words.

He does that a great deal. He also has a slight limp.

But Kim isn’t one to wallow.

“I tell Pete: ‘Listen, you had this stroke, but you don’t have to work, no-one would know from looking, remember that there are people in terrible states.’”

Kim says Peter Having suffered a hard upbringing, coupled with domestic violence ending her first marriage, Kim knows that the secret to positive thinking is acknowledging the blessings you do have and to realise there is always someone worse off than you.

STYLISTA 49

interview

“I had a rotten childhood and it doesn’t leave you as an older woman. But honestly, people have had a worse childhood than me. It’s not that you forget there are people worse off than you – its gets you through. Pete will see people half his age in wheelchairs and think that goodness that isn’t me”.

So what does Kim rely on to cleanse the mind?

“Cleaning! I know people laugh, but I’ve always loved cleaning, it’s therapeutic, it keeps you fit, the joy of a clean house. To me, it means a great deal. I love it! To know where everything is. A tidy mind! I walk around the house and it gives me a thrill. It doesn’t everybody – but it certainly does for me!”

So does Kim have any cleaning tips she just can’t live without?

“Clean as you go! And throw as you go! Don’t let a room mount up and up.

Half an hour here leaves you less hard slog later.”

We’ve spring coming up – where to focus on first?

“There are always going to be certain things in the spring you do – closets.

I’ll put winter clothes out of the wardrobes. Some people never clean them but they get dusty, and moths will just ruin your clothes.”

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When it comes to spring cleaning her own wardrobe, is Kim as strict as with the rest of the house?

“Oh yes! You have choices – charity shops or commission shops where they’ll sell them for you for a little profit. If you have something that just sits there – give it away to someone who needs it – get rid of the junk!”

Kim is an ambassador for Stroke Association. Visit their website for more information

accessories

Cool Cleaning accessories RoyalVKB Dark Grey Wet and Dry Organiser £24.95 95percent.co.uk

koziol black april flower sponge holder £10.75 koziol-shop.co.uk

DUSTPAN & BROOM black £22 darwinshome.com

Prank Pack Pet Sweep £7.99 thegiftoasis.com

We love these!

If only they were real (note ‘prank’ in the title)!!!

STYLISTA 51

cleaning tips

Speed Cleaning To clean your house in record quick time, why not take a lesson from the professionals at Vileda?

1. Schedule Your Cleaning Time Set aside a specific period of time you know you can commit to that day, be realistic about what you can achieve in that time, and don’t stop until the job is done!

2. Dress Appropriately Every time you clean, wear a specific set of washable, comfortable clothes that you won’t mind getting splashed with bleach or covered in dirt. This should help to put you in the right frame of mind for getting through your scheduled tasks.

3. Stay Motivated The pros won’t stop half way through a job to watch the telly, check their emails or rearrange their shoe cupboard for the sake of it! Follow the tips in this booklet on staying motivated, and don’t allow yourself to get distracted as you clean.

4. Tidy Up Before You Clean Up Don’t start cleaning until

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you’ve thoroughly de-cluttered the areas you intend to tackle.

5. Get The Tools of the Trade You won’t see a professional cleaner buying cheap and cheerful products that don’t last. Invest in a small set of proven-performance tools from Vileda. Replace your soggy string mop with SuperMocio 3Action or Micro & Cotton. Forget dodgy dishcloths and dusters and go for Microfibre instead with Vileda’s latest range. Quality literally shines through, and you’ll soon get your money’s worth.

Top 10 Cleaning Tracks: 1. I Want To Break Free – Queen 2. Single Ladies (Put a ring on it) - Beyonce 3. Walking On Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves 4. Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams 5. Bat Out Of Hell - Meatloaf 6. Diamonds - Rihanna 7. Candy - Robbie Williams 8. Shine - Take That 9. Mr Brightside - The Killers 10. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

6. Get a Cleaning Caddy Ever gone to clean the bathroom to realise you’ve left your cleaning fluid downstairs? Professional cleaners have a handy holder to ensure everything they need to tackle a task is at their fingertips. Buy a tray for your products, cloths, dusters and gloves. Leave your mops, brushes and vacuum waiting in the doorway. Tuck a couple of plastic bags under your belt to dispense with any rubbish you see as you go. You’ll find you’ll have finished the bathroom in the time it normally takes you to get back up the stairs!

9. Make It a Family Affair Professionals often operate in teams of two or three to make light work of the homes they visit. Enlist the help of your family to speed up the process. This is what National Cleaning Day is all about!

Ask the kids what they’d like to do to get maximum buy-in, and make sure there’s an appropriate reward at the end.

You’ll also find that they’re less likely to make a mess in a house they’ve been instrumental in getting straight!

7. Keep Supplies Simple You don’t need bottle upon bottle of cleaning solutions to clean. To ensure you can fit everything into a single handy holder, stock up with the following products to handle any grime.

You’ll not only save time, you’ll save money too!

• Multi-surface cleaner (for kitchen surfaces and bathrooms) • Heavy duty degreasing cleaner (for tiles and appliances) • Heavy duty germ killer • Bicarbonate of soda • White vinegar 8. Make Your Moves Count Don’t waste energy. Methodically clean everything within your path before you move on to the next task, rather than haphazardly moving round a room several times.

STYLISTA 53

cleaning tips

Soak & Sleeps’ guide to Spring Cleaning your bedroom, with the help of Feng Shui!

The days are getting longer and Spring is on the horizon, the perfect time for a spot of Spring-Cleaning. Whilst new storage and a good clean-out can help de-clutter, the team at Soak & Sleep like to introduce an element of Feng Shui to bring harmony to the bedroom.

You’d be surprised how much the simple things in your room can affect the way that you relax. So here’s what you should be doing to ensure that your bedroom is the perfect retreat at the end of the day.

harder to relax and get to sleep. If there’s a TV in your room, remove it.

Your bedroom needs to be for sleep only.

Get rid of the TV If you use anything with a backlit screen, like a computer, iPhone or TV in your room, you’ll find it much

Choose calming colours The design of your room should be calming to encourage sleep and relaxation. Using blues, greens and

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Banish work from the bedroom Don’t bring your laptop into the bedroom and work in bed. Don’t pile up spreadsheets or files and folders in your room – you need to let go of the day’s stress in order to have a good night’s sleep.

Feng Shui

in the bedroom

STYLISTA 55

yellows in pale, pastel shades in your bedroom can help you get the most sleep.

Try to avoid colours such as purple, as these can encourage creativity and make it harder for you to drop off. When choosing smaller accessories there’s no harm in a few mismatching colours, by try to go for bedspreads and curtains that match.

Where should I put the bed?

As a rule of thumb, arrange the bed in a place where you can have a clear view of the door – but not directly in front of it.

Try not to put the bed under a window or any drafts which could disturb your sleep cycles.

Avoid squishing your bed into a corner and try to make the room as symmetrical as you can. A key learning from the masters of Feng Shui is to avoid putting your bed directly underneath a chandelier; this causes a so-called ‘poison arrow’ that can pass negative energy to you as you sleep.

Try de-cluttering If you store a lot of stuff under the bed, why not try clearing it out and seeing if you get a better night’s sleep for it?

According to Feng Shui, sleeping on top of the stuff you’ve crammed under the bed doesn’t let the energy flow. www.soakandsleep.com

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STYLISTA 57

Upcycle

with annie sloan Following a recent visit to a Paul Klee (a German water colourist, painter and etcher) exhibition, Annie Sloan was inspired to paint a Klee-coloured Chest of Drawers – and this is how you can do it at home: Find a fairly modern chest of drawers to upcycle.

Paint the entire chest with Chalk Paint™ Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan in Paris Grey to provide a good neutral background.

Rip off large flaps from cardboard boxes and paint onto them. Annie used a limited number of colours from the Chalk Paint™ range to keep the effect similar in tone.

Press the cardboard squares onto the cabinet to give a slightly uneven effect.

When the entire area is covered, roughly apply the same colours onto some bubble wrap.

Finally press the ‘tips’ of the bubble wrap onto the surface of the chest of drawers to create the dot effects.

Prices for Chalk Paint™ Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan are £5.95 for 100ml tester pots and £18.95 for 1 litre pots. Over 30 historic, mixable, colours are available, which produce a beautiful, velvety matt finish that can be applied to numerous surfaces including wood, concrete, metal, glass, plastic, brick, stone and

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even fabric. Chalk Paint™ is the favourite choice for upcycling furniture as, due to its incredible unique sticking power, no priming or sanding is necessary - just paint over existing surfaces to create great, durable, results. Lead free and completely non-toxic Chalk Paint™ is naturally as low in VOCs as you can get and is virtually odour free – making it ideal for those who are sensitive to traditional paints. Annie Sloan Soft Wax is available in Clear and Dark, priced at £7.95 for 500ml tins and Clear Wax is also available in an extra value 5 litre tin at £58.95.

Annie Sloan developed Chalk Paint™ over 20 years ago and has now written over 20 books on traditional paints, colours and techniques.

Further inspiration for all levels of painting projects can be found on Annie’s website: www.anniesloan.com STYLISTA 59

Competitions

S

tylista Homes has some fantastic competitions this month! We’re giving away a Shark Lift Away steam cleaner, which we also reviewed it’s so easy to use! The fabulous Sealy Hybrid Bed may be just what you need. We have spending vouchers for Harvey Maria, flooring specialists or for Dorothy & Theodore

a fab new boutique to hit the web. Not forgetting the Yale Door Monitor or the stunning Victoria Ghost Chair from Fusion Living! Why not enter all, you never know it might be you!

The Stylista Homes team wishes you all the best of luck!

WIN

Shark Lift Away Steam Cleaner worth £149.99!

The Shark Lift Away sold by JML comes complete with attachments for refereshing carpets, cleaning windows and steaming garments.

It has 3 settings for mopping, scrubbing and dusting. The five-inone steam cleaning appliance can be used anywhere in the home with the steam power to kill 99.9% of bacteria.

Stylista Homes Magazine has teamed up with JML to offer one lucky reader the chance to win one of these amazing steam cleaners, enter now for your chance to win!

Also available from www.JMLdirect. com and all good JML stockists

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions

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WIN

Sealy Hybrid Bed worth £2,000!

Memory foam is now so last century! It was invented in the sixties - over 50 years ago…. Now, however, we’re in the 21st century and the next generation of bed technology is here…the new Hybrid beds from Sealy Posturepedic, the world’s biggest bed brand. The Sealy Hybrids are a fusion of a new, technologically advanced, highly elastic gel and breathable foam, merged with the latest, specially designed, innovative springs…. a union of extreme comfort, with zonal support along the length of the bed, pressure relief and immense breathability, everything combined to make you the ultimate, Sealy deeper sleeper.

The unique and different covering for these beds is a new type of flexible, stretchy soft mattress wrap

which contains ADAPTIVE, an ultra brand new treatment that changes passive textiles to textiles with a dynamic response to environmental changes like temperature and humidity. ADAPTIVE re-uses the energy (heat) of the body to boost moisture wicking, moisture evaporation and cooling, to keep the sleeper and the mattress cool and dry, all night, every night. ADAPTIVE treated mattress covering works through the bed sheets and/or mattress protector as long as the textile layers have a good breathability.

For more information visit www.sealy.co.uk Stylista Homes readers now have the chance to win one of these amazing beds so get entering and best of luck!

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions STYLISTA 61

WIN

A Yale Recording Digital Door Viewer £99!

Yale is offering one lucky Stylista reader the chance to win a Yale Recording Digital Door Viewer worth £99.99 With distraction burglary affecting thousands of households per year in the UK, seeing who is at your door before you open it has never been more important.

The Yale Recording Digital Door Viewer has a 3.5-inch digital screen that shows a clear image, which can be seen from several metres away, so

you don’t have to be near the door or alert visitors to your presence before you see who they are. The Recording Digital Door Viewer also has a built in camera so users can take pictures of anyone who is approaching the door while they are not in, acting as a smaller and more inexpensive version of CCTV. Visi www.yale.co.uk for more information.

Don’t miss your chance to win one of these amazing gadgets what are you waiting for? Get entering and best of luck!

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions

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WIN £250 Flooring Voucher

Kiss goodbye to lifeless, bland flooring and inject some excitement with Harvey Maria!

For more information on their ranges visit www. harveymaria.co.uk or call 0845 680 1231

There are designs to suit every homeowners needs...from stylish woods and stones, to contemporary designs like Parquet by Neisha Crosland and GRID by Hemingway Design.

Stylista Homes is offering one lucky reader the chance to spruce up their home with £250 to spend on the flooring of their choice at Harvey Maria. Bring your interiors up to date in an instant!

Affordable, durable and unique...Harvey Maria’s diverse range of inspirational flooring will make any home beautiful.

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions STYLISTA 63

WIN Victoria Ghost Chair worth ÂŁ74!

Fusion Living an online store offering an extensive collection of contemporary, classic and retro style furniture for the style conscious individual has teamed up with Stylista Homes Magazine to offer one lucky reader the chance to win this Victoria Ghost crystal clear plastic chair It’s based on the designs of Philippe Starck and is made from a single-mould injection in clear polycarbonate. These stunning and elegant chairs have become extremely popular in recent years

and are perfect for both relaxed and more formal spaces. The clear plastic allows light and colour to flow through it creating different shapes and patterns on the surrounding walls. If you are creating a vintage French style interior, this chair is perfect for adding a touch of contemporary glamour and making a statement.

View the Victoria Ghost chair and many more amazing products at www.fusionliving.co.uk

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions

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WIN

£75 Voucher Dorothy & Theodore make thoughtful easy and believe that practical can be beautiful.

At www.dorothyandtheodore.com you will find all manner of beautiful and stylish products and gifts for pregnancy, babies and beyond. We have everything from home accessories, furniture, maternity wear, children’s wear, traditional toys, jewellery, stationery and even cupcakes along with some truly special, one of a kind gifts.

birthstones and initials hanging on the leaves underneath. For Daddy, how about some silver cufflinks made from the precious doodles his children have created or a noticeboard made from a special photograph. And we promise the school water bottle will never be lost again with one made to match their owners. Choose hair colour and style, eye colour, skin colour, optional rosy cheeks, glasses and freckles and add their name on the back. Perfect for nursery, school and football!

What Mummy wouldn’t love our beautiful Birds on a Branch necklace personalised with her children’s

www.dorothyandtheodore.com. Because practical can be beautiful.

To enter log onto www.stylistahomes.co.uk/competitions STYLISTA 65

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Broste Copenhagen Lanterns

Broste Copenhagen lanterns made from willow, bamboo and glass Prices from ÂŁ17.95 scandinavianshop.co.uk