May Newsletter

Hello again and welcome to Poised to Move's May newsletter/blog. This month we look at glam travel on the cheap; soon to be launched home help electronic gadgets; re-cycling, up-cycling, renovation and vintage; designer radiators and the upcoming Clerkenwell Design Festival.


Glam Travel
I hope this finds you well and that you didn't get caught in the recent volcanic ash, and if you did I hope were stuck somewhere fabulous! Perhaps you were lucky enough to be holed up in a stylish designer hotel somewhere glamorous, maybe somewhere like the properties on offer from Voyage Prive.

I meant to write about Voyage Prive a couple of months ago when they offered a fantastic saving of 60% on the weekend rate at the super stylish Metropolitan Hotel in London. A mention in the Sunday Times Travel section this weekend prompted me to let you into the secret too. The site describes itself as an 'Invitation Only' site but if you sign up for the newsletters you'll automatically get notice of forthcoming flash sales. This week's offers include the new Moods design hotel in Prague where the room rate is down from £250 to £69.

Other offers this week include a saving of 58% on a stay in a beach hotel in Mauritius, 66% at the Catedral Hotel in Barcelona, 56% savings at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Berlin....... and so it goes on. Flights are not included and the offers are for a minimum of two nights or more but I've noticed some great bargains at really stylish properties. Register at: http://www.voyage-prive.co.uk/

Firstly a couple of launches in the world of electronics to look out for in the near future.

Electrolux Renew

Hate doing laundry? Worn something once and just want it refreshed? Then look out for the launch of the Electrolux Renew clothes steamer. You simply slide your garment through the machine (like you'd swipe a credit card) and an infrared scanner and radio frequency identification gather information on the garment from specifically designed clothing tags and using it's two steam blades the Renew 'blasts' your clothing clean.

Light Sleeper Bedding from Philips

The Light Sleeper is a personalised alarm that's integrated into bedding that gently wakes you up in the most natural way - by light. It works by our body clock responding to an imitation sunrise as the Light Sleeper bedding gradually begins to glow in a natural breathing rhythm over a 15 - 20 minute period. Light Sleeper bedding uses electroluminescent technology which allows traditional textile surfaces to become a reactive light source and the pillow and duvet simulate a natural dawn that gently eases you into your day.

Select Radiators

Like me you'll be keeping your fingers crossed that we won't have to turn the heating on for a good few months to come but these summer months are the time to check and review the heating in your home. If you can't fit underfloor heating then radiators become an integral part of the overall look and design of a room so it's important they reflect your own style as well as doing their job of belting out the heat. I want to tell you about a great service from Select Radiators who bring their mobile showroom direct to your home.

Select Radiators is run by Martin Hicks who imports all his stock directly from the manufacturers and so offers great reductions on exactly the same products you'll find in catalogues of the more well known radiator companies. See the Select Radiators site at: www.selectradiators.co.uk and give Martin a call to arrange a visit.

And more to enhance your home ........

I came across BiOrb Aquariums recently and quite like their step away from the general look of the typical aquarium. They're also well designed for today's home in that their footprint is quite small and when the LED in the top cover is lit the Bio-Orb gives the impression of a column of water suspended in the air.

Re-cycling, Up-cycling, Renovation and Vintage

With no apologies I'm jumping on the very topical bandwagon of Re-cycling and Vintage, here's just a sampler of the busy world of Re-cycling, Up-cycling, Renovation and Vintage.

Home Building and Renovating Show

Home Building and Renovating Shows are held around the country throughout the year and the next one is in Scotland this weekend with Sandown Park in Surrey following on the 26 and 27 June and Harrogate and Somerset later in the year. If you're thinking of a new build, renovating or improving it's certainly worth visiting one of these events. There's always a good Seminar Programme and exhibitors are of good quality. Tickets are £8 on the door but if you go to the Select Radiators site at www.selectradiators.co.uk and click on the About Us tab and then Exhibitions it will take you to a page with a link to the Home Building and Renovating Show site where you can register for free tickets for any of the events.

Giles Miller

Featured in the Green Heroes section at Grand Designs the corrugated cardboard wardrobe from Giles Miller caused quite a stir.

There are other cardboard products available from Giles Miller and my favourites are this lovely lamp and screen.

And don't you love this rather swish handbag?

Camira Fabrics

Camira leads the way in woven natural fibres and you know what? The fabrics are woven from the fibres of nettles. Lest you think the fabric's scratchy and uncomfortable, think again! It's lovely and soft and is super hard wearing and for some time now Camira have been supplying upholstery for the travel and leisure market which demands the most highly resilient and hard wearing fabric.

The fabrics come in all sorts of fabulous colours and textures.

A Camira fabric was used for the seating in this theatre belonging Cable & Wireless.

I love it and applaud the boldness of whoever specified the fabric.

Vintage at Goodwood - 13 - 15th August

Celebrating everything vintage is the Vintage at Goodwood event running from 13 -15th August curated by Margaret and Wayne Hemmingway. This three day event will feature Music, Fashion, Film, Art and Design from the 1940's through to the present day. Along with live music and film events there will be over 200 stalls selling vintage fashion, homewares, toys and everything else you can think of that can be called 'Vintage'. If you're a regular at your local car boot sale make sure you go to Goodwood. Find out more at: www.vintageatgoodwood.com

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Clerkenwell Design Week

At the end of this month Clerkenwell deservedly celebrates it's contribution to all things design with the very first Clerkenwell Design Week. There'll be exhibitions, seminars, food and drink events and the many design showrooms in the area will be putting on special shows and displays. Big name design companies you can expect to see include Tom Dixon, SCP, Hitch/Mylius, Flos, Knoll, Moroso and Poltrona Frau to name just a tiny few. Go to the website at www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com to register for a free wrist band that will get you into all the events.

And to end, another weird yet brilliant design ...........

The Chairless

I forgot to mention The Chairless in last month's newsletter/blog when I highlighted some of the cutting edge designs launched in Milan. You've may have seen this as it's been featured in most of the Design media but it's still worth applauding the simple yet brilliant design of the Chairless designed by Alejandro Aravena for Vitra. Based on a device used by South American Indians it's a webbing strap that's wrapped around the body to relieve tensions when in a seated position. It takes pressure of the back and thighs and leaves the arms and hands free which we usually need for support when sitting on the floor.

Not only useful but compact and portable!

Well that's it for another month and I'll be back in June for more on what's new in interiors and design. Have a great May and thanks for reading.

Jane