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Home Impruvement Article
Independent homeware designers: emerging makers and artists you should watch out for this year
The talented independent designers who make living in London such a vibrant and creative experience need our support now more than ever.
Here’s our edit of the most fabulous London-based homeware collections, emerging designers and creators you need to know about in 2021.
Feel-good design
Abalon (@abalonuk)
Natural candles hand-poured into porcelain vases created by artist Ana Bridgewater in her studio in west London, some finished with gold detailing. Once burned, the candle is easily replaced with a soya wax refill or washed and used as a delicate cup.
Where to buy: candle in porcelain vase plus refill, £50, from abalonuk.com
Aerende (@aerendeshop)
Homewares crafted in the UK by people facing barriers to employment. Gently fragranced candles, with blends to calm or aid sleep, look beautiful and come in sustainable packing; while each batch creates hours of training for people struggling with mental health illnesses. “People
Outdoor space ideas: how to make small patios, balconies and even doorsteps look good in winter
As we grapple with Tier restrictions, ahead of a supposed five-day relaxation over Christmas, Londoners will be looking to spruce up even the minimal outdoor space any visitors will see. Even if it's just a doorstep, at a two-metre distance. You can do something with...
Go natural with home interiors: sustainable rattan and woven cane are top design looks this season
Much loved and super sustainable, cane and rattan tap into the present vogue for all things natural. They’re all over the shops this autumn, with pared-back black frames in stained wood or iron sporting sleek, blonde, slim woven panels at affordable Dunelm and H&M...
How to decorate your first home: your essential guide to styling your home with interiors looks that last
After years of meticulous saving — in some cases decades — you're finally completing on your first home and then, in one fell swoop, there goes all the money on the fees and deposit just as you’re about to get to the fun bit. Here’s an essential step-by-step guide to...
Grand Designs’ most dramatic moments: controversial, still-unfinished lighthouse among jaw-dropping reveals
1/72 Drama, drama, drama The most recent series of Grand Designs offered viewers drama by the skipload, with the airing of one instalment sending viewers rushing to Twitter to declare it the show's "saddest ever” episode. > Scroll right to see the most...
Awards shortlist: home renovations, extensions and furniture among eco-friendly design up for Wood Awards 2020
From stunning geometric canopies to hand-carved conservatories and unusual furniture, wood is coveted for its beauty, sustainability, strength and tactile warmth. “Wood in buildings was once mainly limited to veneers and cladding,” says Jim Greaves, a principal at...