2012 – New Beginnings

Sunshine through dramatic dark clouds

This year it is not going to be about New Year’s Resolutions that don’t even last out the week.

This year is going to be different.

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7 Easy Ideas for Centrepieces and Table Decorations

With the festive season fast approaching, I thought you might enjoy some inspirational ideas for centerpieces and table decorations.

Adding a few decorative touches to your table creates an impact and can totally transform it. You can use table centrepieces and decorations to add some drama, elegance or help create a party atmosphere.

The best thing about all these ideas is that they are all easy to recreate yourself.

Origami Napkins

Origami Napkins as table decorations

Napkins are a really simple way to add colour and interest to your table. Experiment with some origami folding techniques and then style a few together to create interesting shapes and effects.

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Small Spaces: A Small Apartment with Space for Everything

Living area and home office of small apartment

Mike’s small New York apartment is an airy, calm and organised space with masses of clever storage solutions. It’s hard to believe that it is less than 500 square feet in size; but it shows just how much you can do with small spaces, with some clever design and planning.

But it wasn’t always this way …

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7 Original Gift Wrapping Ideas

One of the most exciting things about receiving a gift is the suspense of what might be hidden inside – and then the pleasure of unwrapping it. Rather than just using standard wrapping paper, personalising your gifts by wrapping and decorating them in innovative ways makes them extra special.

With the gift giving season now well and truly upon us, here are some original gift wrapping ideas for you to try. Or why not use them as a starting point for inspiration to come up with some gift wrap ideas of your own? (And if you do, please send me some images.)

Gift wrapping using autumn leaves and twine

A simple but dramatic gift wrapping idea using autumn leaves and brown twine. Natural and earthly, the warm colours of the leaves are evocative of the season and it is so easy to do. Just wrap your present in simple white paper such as tissue paper or baking parchment. Then wrap the twine around in a crisscross pattern and place a leaf under each section.

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Giveaway – Boris Phone Holder

Boris Phone Holder from Mocha

Meet Boris the Phone Holder.

Designed to look like a mountain climber / hiker, he’s a trusty companion for your mobile phone or MP3 player.

Boris will carry your cell phone on his back while it charges, and hold the charging cable to keep it organised and tidy. It’s a perfect accessory for your desk or bedside table.

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How to Make a Mocha

Mocha Coffee in a Dunk Mug from mochacasa.comA mocha coffee is the ultimate luxurious drink; blending the deep flavours of rich and aromatic coffee with the velvety smoothness of  chocolate.

In the cold weather this warm and delicious combination is the perfect feel good drink.

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Decorating With White

White minimalist kitchen and tips on how to decorate with white

Bright and fresh, white is a perennial favourite for interiors and home accessories. But now, with the return of minimalism, white is re-emerging as a major interior design trend.

Nothing reflects light better than white. It makes rooms feel more airy and gives them a feeling of space. An ideal choice for more compact rooms, it opens them up and creates the illusion of a larger space.

White highlights everything around it and works as a great background on which to add colour and bright home accessories.

Exceptionally versatile, it can be used to create an array of interior styles including modern minimalist; a sophisticated antique look; beach theme; vintage or shabby chic style.

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An Interview with Margarita Salmerón Espinosa of schindlersalmerón

Margarita Salmeron Espinosa and Christoph Schindler architects at schindlersalmeron

Christoph Schindler and Margarita Salmerón

Margarita Salmerón Espinosa is one half of the Zurich based architectural partnership schindlersalmerón. Born in Valencia, Spain, she studied Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Between 1998 and 2004 she worked as an architect at MVRDV in Rotterdam, Meili Peter in Zurich and Herzog & de Meuron in Basel. As well as her work for schindlersalmerón, Margarita is a contributor to the magazine Mundo Hispánico, where she writes about issues related to architecture and design.

Together with partner Christoph, they design and develop innovative – yet simple – modern furniture and home accessories in which the focus is the interrelation between form, function, tool, and material.  Their best-selling Kleiderleiste Slimline Coatrack still belongs to the very few furniture products successfully implementing mass customization principles.

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7 Ways to Make Your Hallway Feel Bigger

7 ways to make your hallway feel bigger

The hallway is often the most cramped and cluttered part of the home. Space is very limited, and its design given less thought than other rooms. But your hallway is possibly one of the most important spaces in your home. It is the first impression your guests receive of your home. More importantly, the entrance hall is the first area you see when you come through your front door.

Entering a bright airy space is a welcome sight to come home to and can help set the tone for the rest of your place. Even if space is tight, there are tricks to make it feel bigger.

Here are some tips and ideas that will make your hallway look and feel larger than it really is.

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Results of Tea Lovers Eco Cup Newsletter Competition

Image of Tea Lovers Eco CupIn last month’s newsletter we had a competition to win the new Tea Lovers Eco Cup (or I am not a paper cup – for those more partial to coffee).

Readers were asked the question – Where would you like to be right now?

Here is just a selection of the emotive and witty replies received …

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