Brand watch...Gas & Air Studios

Introducing Gas & Air Studios - a design duo from London on a mission to revive unloved, abandoned pallets.

Upcycling old, scruffy pallets may not be a new idea, many a hands-on home lover has tried their hand at breathing new life into something otherwise fairly dull, but Gas & Air's creations are by far the best I've seen so far. The furniture is foldable for easy storage and available in absolutely any colour your heart desires; adding on top the recycling factor, these really are the ideal addition to your garden (or your home for that matter!) - why not opt for this year's Emerald Green Pantone hue for an on-trend, outdoorsy addition?!

Gas & Air studios is a new brand and are currently asking for your help - if you like the products then head on over to KickStarter and help them become a fully-fledged brand with their own studio - if they raise enough money by 28th February they will get the backing they need...recycling and supporting young, British design talent, definitely a talking point to boast about whilst admiring your fab new table and chairs: go on, you know you want to - Give a pallet a home!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/253161877/give-a-pallet-a-home

http://www.gasandairstudios.co.uk/

This week's top 5...His & Hers neon

1. Anglepoise type 1228 desk lamp - £159, Nest.co.uk
2. Pink allia delphine chair - £695, Designers Guild at Artisanti
3. 'Our Adventure' cushion - Rob Ryan, Misterrob.co.uk
4. Bulb table lamp - £49, dwell
5. 'Where to Darlin'?' screen print - £95, Dan Innes at ArtRepublic

In celebration of Valentine's Day - it may seem a bit unromantic and kill-joy-ish but why waste your money on something so limited to one day a year when you can build your home together instead...surely a much more heart-felt, permanent sign of love, is it not?!

Do the look...Carolina Herrera-Baez

1. 3D butterfly wall art - £39 (approx.), Etsy.com
2. Large convex sunburst mirror - £190, Exclusive Mirrors
3. Small drinks tray - £14, Nom Living
4. Cream velvet Louis chair - £195, Out There Interiors
5. Serene Lyon day bed frame - £199.99, Archer's Sleepcentre

Main image from Elle Decor

Brand watch...Goodwin & Goodwin

You may already be aware of the fabulous bookends, or perhaps the brilliant passport cushions, or the fun ampersand lamp, with over 30 UK stockists including the likes of Rockett St. George and Not On The High Street these fun-loving beauties have been all over the place, and it's no wonder at it either, I mean LOOK at them(!) - but now to introduce the brand behind the products...

Created and run by husband and wife team Paul and Viviane, Goodwin & Goodwin is a fun, design-led brand. Award-winning designer Paul has over 12 years experience in the graphic design field - no surprise then that the collection is sleek, creative simplicity at it's best, with a strong typographic lead; what may be more of a pleasant surprise however is the usability and approachability of the products - all of which would look fabulous in my dream house (one day!)

With the typographic display boards a particular must-have this is definitely a go-to brand for all things decorative yet useful for the modern home.

goodwinandgoodwin.com

Something for the weekend...

Last night saw lifestyle store Wolf & Badger celebrate their 3rd birthday with a party at their Ledbury Road store...

The store was bustling, the drinks were flowing and the music was pumping - to top it off the store was full of absolutely stunning items. From a mixed range of delicate, fun, bold, flamoyant jewellery to fun home accessories, I could have absolutely purchased everything in sight. One aspect that was so brilliant that I just have to share with you though is the beautiful variety of prints available - everything from clothing to slippers to silk scarves, pattern and colour inspiration was everywhere... 

Do the look...Louis Vuitton

1. Jonah armchair - £449, Made.com
2. Canterbury clear glass table lamp - £490, Black Orchid at House of Fraser
3. Eivor throw - £15, Ikea
4. Congo floor cushion - £55, John Lewis
5. Elixir classic candle - £32, Penhaligon's
6. Eiffel side table yellow - £50, Made.com

How to recreate the Louis Vuitton look for your home - a strong, punchy yellow and black combination will create impact and elegance whilst remaining uncluttered.

This week's top 5...Bicycle Prints

1. Bicycle art poster - $24, Tumbleroot on Etsy
2. The Black Bike tea towel - £14, Dovetail-Living.com
3. Bike cushion - £19.95, Sass & Belle
4. Bicycle print make-up bag - £20, Lulu & Luca on Folksy.com
5. King of the Road mug - £12, Roderick Field at Pedlars

Brand watch...Chase and Wonder

One of my favourite brands at the moment, Chase and Wonder offer a fantastic range of fun accessories for the home. From brilliantly eclectic tea towels to stunning washbags and pencil cases; all products are graced with an oh-so-British eccentric design - whether that be a top hat-wearing flamingo or a penny-farthing bicycle.

Chase and Wonder is the brainchild of Faye Pearce and David Aspinall, who founded the brand in 2010 after gathering fantastic experience at the likes of Anthropologie; with the desire to collaborate and work on their own brand, Chase and Wonder was born.

With my wish list continuously growing (and apparently consisting of every item I see on the website!) I'll be starting with the Sophisticated Animal Napkin Set - the ideal accessory for the other half's birthday dinner this month!

Emma Bridgewater for Comic Relief

It's almost that time again - every March we see school children take to the streets in their pj's, celebrities do fun and crazy things a little out of the ordinary, and of course, little red noses popping up everywhere we look; from Greg James and co. tackling the Zambezi River to Jessie J shaving her head, it's a time for everyone to take part, have fun and do a bit for charity to boot!

This year British designer Emma Bridgewater has come to the rescue - be gone ugly-yet-money-raising goodies, this March even the most house-proud fundraiser can sigh with (comic!) relief as the fantastic range of Red Nose Day 2013 goodies are unveiled - exclusively sold at HomeSense and TK Maxx stores nationwide.

Featuring the distinctive black text and fun slogans the range is the ideal buy for those wishing to help a good cause as much as those who simply love Emma Bridgewater's iconic designs - with mugs from £9.99 (at least £4 goes to charity) and teatowels for just £4.99 (£2 goes to charity). 

Here's what Emma has to say...

“I was delighted to be asked to design a series of mugs and textiles to support Red Nose Day 2013. Matthew and I had great fun creating the range and we hope the products will carry the Comic Relief message into tens of thousands of kitchens and help change countless lives both here on your doorstep in the UK and in Africa. It’s also fantastic that Comic Relief supports a project in Stoke-On-Trent, centre of the Staffordshire potteries where all of the Comic Relief mugs have been made.”

Items available:

- Mugs (6 designs) - £9.99 (£4 donated)

- Tea towels - £4.99 (£2 donated)

- Double oven glove - £7.99 (£4 donated)

- Apron (worn above) - £12.99 (£6.50 donated)

- Bag for life - £9.99 (£4 donated)

Buy at - HomeSense or TK Maxx

Something for the weekend...

I've recently been introduced to Camera+ - an iPhone app that, you guessed it, is a camera and then some!

A little like Instagram (without the legal issues), Camera+ allows you to take photos and edit them to your heart's content - with different scenes, lighting, special effects and borders to choose from, there's no limit to the different looks and combinations you can create - not too shabby for just 69p. Here are a couple I tried earlier...