This Friday afternoon why not…
February 27, 2009
…compare the market (home insurance, loans, mortgages etc) or…compare the meerkat:
You can even follow him on Twitter.com too!
Emily
Just when you thought you’d seen it all…
February 27, 2009
this happens:
This is just one of three new designs launched by Picture House Home Cinema TV Furniture
Shown here, the Montana TV Fireplace lets you sneakily hide away your large LCD or Plasma screen in the fully working fireplace so it doesn’t dominate the room, but then it’s easily accessible via remote control when you want to watch a bit of telly or your fave movie…Prices start at £2,573…I wonder if the company will fit them in small two-bedroom flats?! :> – Emily
Panasonic launches new products
February 27, 2009
I’ve just got back from the Panasonic convention in Amsterdam where I was lucky enough to see the latest white goods and technology launches.
Panasonic unveiled the world’s largest HD plasma TV display, which was an impressive 150 inches wide and had a crystal clear image. We were also shown the NR-B30FX1, an incredible new fridge-freezer with an LCD display on the door and loads of storage space inside. Traditional fridges have thick walls of insulating materials, which means reduced space for food inside, but the new NR-B30FX1 model has ultra-thin ‘U-Vacua’ panels. They’re just an inch deep but offer 20-times more insulation than traditional materials, meaning the walls are thinner and the space inside is bigger.
Check out the smart blue LED lighting inside the top, too – very cool! This fridge will start at £699 and you’ll see it in John Lewis and Comet next month. Panasonic‘s new washing machines impressed me, too. They have a tilted drum, which makes it easy to load and unload, and saves water, too. I also liked the new ‘3D Sensor Wash’ technology in these machines, which detects the movement of the clothes in the drum and makes adjustments to enable the laundry to tumble from the optimal position, so it washes perfectly every time.
These machines will retail from £449 in John Lewis and Comet next month. Panasonic also announced some stylish new Viera flat-panel TVs, but what got me really excited was the announcement of the world’s first portable Blu-ray Disc player.
The DMP-B15 lets users view movies on the go, with stunning images on a high-quality 8.9-inch WSVGA LCD screen. I want one! – Ellie
An Apple today
February 24, 2009
This evening I’ve been checking out the new Pro-Dock from Logic3, £50, which was launched today. It lets you watch your videos, photos and slideshows from your Apple iPhone or iPod on your TV. It comes with a remote so you can sit back and control your videos and snaps on the larger screen from the comfort of your sofa…bliss – Emily 
Get creative…
February 23, 2009
If you want to jazz up dull-looking curtains with a luxurious ribbon tieback or get busy beading stylish designs onto your cushions, then head down to the the V V Rouleaux warehouse clearance sale this Saturday 28th February at the Trade Vaults, 6 Tun Yard, Peardon Street, London SW8 – I’m told there’s bargains to be had so if you see someone covered in trimmings and fighting over the last piece of satin ribbon, that’ll be me – Emily
Eat cake and carry on…
February 23, 2009
This poster from London-based cupcake bakery, Treacle, caught my eye recently. It’s a cute take on the ‘Keep Calm’ poster, and a motto we live by in the Ideal Home office! If you’re not in London, you can buy this poster framed from Treacle – just give them a call. – Ellie
What a carry on…
February 23, 2009
Ellie and I are loving the Keep Calm and Carry On merchandise…check out the poster in Jane Adam’s home in the March issue (page 54) of Ideal Home magazine… I’ve just bought a t-shirt with the Keep Calm and Carry On slogan and seem to have got a bit carried away – I’ve ordered the bag, mug and poster too…oops…think I might be a little too calm now… Carry on… – Emily
Gadgets and appliances preview in Lisbon…
February 22, 2009
I’ve just got back from Portugal, where Philips presented their latest collection of gadgets and appliances to the worldwide media…
Every year, Philips take over the Penhalonga golf resort, for 3 months at a time, kitting the rooms out with latest Philips products – TV, daylight alarm clock, music systems – and displaying their products in marquees around the golf resort, so us journalists can get to know their products in depth, see them in action and spread the word…
The hotel, which dates back to the 14th century, is a gorgeous contrast to the latest high-tech offerings from Philips…These include:
NET TV – launching this spring it’s a new feature on Philips‘ latest TV designs (such as the S8000 and S9000 series) that lets you access a range of entertainment and information websites, such as YouTube, TomTom, eBay, MeteoGroup, Funspot, MyAlbum and Netlog, direct from your TV.
Also worth mentioning is the wide range of music streaming products that Philips has launched, such as the MC15ooH (pictured below), which lets you play music wirelessly in every room of the house. With a ‘station’ in every room you can access your digital files on your PC or listen to internet radio or music services such as Last.fm. You can synchronize the music so the same tunes are played in every room, or for example, each family member can listen to a tune in their own room – so you can have Beyonce blairing out in the kitchen, Fleet Foxes in the study and a bit of relaxing chillout music in the bedroom.
And if you’re looking for birthday ideas for him, then check out the new straightener for men (!)
Yep, you heard it right – it’s smaller than your average straightener so gives ‘precision styling’ and, it seems, a bit of a ‘new romantic’ edge…whatever floats your boat – Emily
Flower arranging with M&S
February 20, 2009
A group of us headed over to M&S HQ yesterday for a flower arranging master class and to see the new spring/summer collections. The press show had a summer fayre theme, complete with a Lucky Dip and a coconut shy – fabulous! I spotted a fantastic floral pop-up tent, which assembles in seconds. It will be out in April for £39 – what a bargain.
The flower arranging master class was good fun and we got to take our masterpieces (!) home with us afterwards. It was nice to get a sneak preview of the new flower collections from M&S, which are all grown in Britain. My favourites were the pretty pink peonies, shown here. This gorgeous image has inspired me to start collecting vintage bottles so I can recreate the look at home! – Ellie
Pretty Plumo cushion
February 17, 2009
I’ve just seen the new spring/summer collection from Plumo and had to share this gorgeous British Isles cushion with you. It’s £98 and reminds me of a Jan Constantine piece. It’s at the top of my wish list! Ellie
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