Melinda Ashton Turner
Grab an Italian masterpiece for less
Out of the blue
Jasper Conran has raided Wedgwood’s pattern archives, reinterpreting its classic glazes in his Blue Butterfly tableware for the iconic British pottery. The range includes dinner and tea services, as well as serving platters. Teapot, £90, cup and saucer, £28, from Wedgwood, 0800 028 0026, www.wedgwood.com
Into the light
These fluorescent toile de Jouy lamp shades, with metal bases, will add a touch of colour and fun to any interior. The handmade shades offer an intriguing modern take on traditional designs, and the bases come in vibrant shades of red, orange, lime and yellow. They are available in two sizes; the table lamp costs £495, the tall floor lamp £695. House Couturier, 020 7371 9255, www.housecouturier.com
Cheap’n’chic
Take the hassle out of trawling through market stands and thrift shops for fashionable vintage fabrics by tapping into the online collection of Country House Antique Textiles. The range is categorised by era, from the 19th century to contemporary, making it easy to find what you are looking for. Each piece of fabric is a one-off, so they vary in size and price. A pretty 1940s rose and paisley cotton fabric (96cm x 109cm), for example, is on sale for £35. The firm also stocks old buttons, braids and quilts. Country House Antique Textiles, 01237 420679 www.countryhouseantiquetextiles.co.uk
If you buy only one thing...
... make it this witty doormat, designed by Alan Titchmarsh for Heal’s in a limited edition of just 100. The proceeds will go to the Terrence Higgins Trust, an HIV and Aids charity. Other famous names who have designed a mat for the cause are the textile designers Celia Birtwell and Orla Kiely, the handbag designer Lulu Guinness, the gourmet pie-maker Sophie Conran and the socialite and television presenter Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. £22, from Heal’s, 020 7636 1666, www.heals.co.uk
Stick-up
This gold Sparrow wall sticker will instantly change the look of your walls with minimal effort – and, if you change your mind, it leaves no marks when it comes off. £69, by Ferm, from 95% Danish; 0800 085 9054, www.95percentdanish.co.uk
Blow the budget
Spencer and Richman is known for classic carved fireplaces. Its latest offering, the Orlean, will maintain its reputation. Made using Doulting stone, quarried a few miles from the firm’s workshop and gallery in Somerset, it has a small carbon footprint, too.From £8,000, from Spencer and Richman, 01458 273401, www.spencerandrichman.com
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