In this issue...
Emmy Watts, editor, writes...
It's weeks like this one that make me want to drop everything, call in sick with an unpronounceable new strain of hippo flu, withdraw the contents of my savings account and hop on the first plane to the little-known isle of As-Far-Away-From-Here-As-You-Can-Possibly-Get. Yes, it's been a stinker and I am not exaggerating when I say that if I don't get a holiday soon I will be driven to kill. Sadly, unlike precisely everyone else I know, I haven't got one booked for this summer, nor have I had one booked for the last seven years - not counting the university trip to Amsterdam during which I spent the night of my 20th birthday at a drug-addled rave with a stranger named Fergus who claimed to be part of the Dutch aristocracy. That was interesting, but it was by no means a holiday.
My best friend goes on holiday about 25 times a year and responds to any vaguely bitter remark I make about this with 'wanna come too?'. Obviously I am desperate to go too. I'm so lacking in cultural stimulation that I exist on repeats of 'Escape to the Sun' and I practically foamed at the mouth last time I munched on a Solero Exotic - seriously, summer on a stick. I've had such limited exposure to the sun that I'm virtually green and the use-by date on my Ambre Solaire is October 2003 (I wish that was a joke but it really isn't). So why don't I quit my incessant whinging and get my miserable white behind down to Thomas Cook? Oh, naive readers, if only it were that simple.
The truth is I'm lazy; so lazy that I can't even be bothered to take a holiday from my self-indulgent sloth. Holidays scream effort to me, and I just don't have the energy. I mean, I'd have to decide what kind of holiday I wanted - city break, beach holiday or sightseeing tour? I'd have to decide what continent, what country and how to get there. I'd spend some time freaking out about flying before I decided that it definitely wasn't an option and settled for continental Europe, courtesy of my old friend the Eurostar. I'd have to book stuff, I'd have to buy stuff, I'd have to sacrifice my ridiculously expensive regular haircut and monthly Topshop splurge just to afford the stupid thing, and before I'd even crossed the Channel I'd be exhausted. No, no, no. Just no.
Instead, I kid myself that my entire life is a holiday. It's actually quite easy; I do things like incorporate as many famous landmarks into my evening walk home as possible; huddle near groups of foreign students gathered outside the British Museum; eat my fish fingers with chopsticks; and order coffee and cigarettes using my best GCSE French, which is embarrassingly bad to put it kindly. On the plus side, my flat always seems reassuringly cosmopolitan with its open-plan spaces, posh bathroom and plaza-style courtyard. Sometimes I lean over the balcony and pretend I'm in rural Italy, or splash around in the bath and pretend I'm on a boat. It seems perfectly plausible if I'm very, very tired.
Don't try it at home though; I wouldn't want you to drown on my account. Instead, check out Philip Watts's porthole windows, which have been released in the Solid chunky retro design that sees the frame protruding from the door by 2in. These fire-tested stainless-steel porthole kits for doors are available in a limited run of circular and rectangular designs with large radiused corners - very nautical chic. Or, if the ocean's not far out enough for you, Decoratum is offering a range of contemporary and 20th-century furniture, lighting and artwork, including the metal and eco-leather Sculpta Chair by Chromcraft, which was featured in Star Trek in 1966. It was actually sat on by William Shatner himself, probably.
If sci-fi isn't your bag and you're more into the natural disaster look, why not relive the high jinks of first-century Pompeii with De Ferranti's molten lava bricks from its Magma Collection, which are designed to bring the dramatic beauty of an erupting volcano to a spa-style bathroom or wet room. These roughly hewn bricks are available in a glossy black or a cool, understated pale grey - perfect for channelling that nonchalant European look. And if you can't get enough of the Italian connection, De Ferranti's in-house mosaicist will be creating a custom design at the Decorex show. The stand will celebrate the revival of mosaics today and encourage all visitors to get involved by buying a mosaic kit so that they can make their own decorative panel at home. Tile-tastic.
For those of you who are planning a trip abroad this summer, I genuinely wish you a fantastic break, without a hint of irony or resentment - and that means a lot coming from me. While you're away, remember to pick up some duty-free goodies for your home - some of my most treasured possessions came from abroad and it's always great to incorporate a touch of the exotic into your interiors, even if it's just the stick of rock you bought from Brighton last summer. In all seriousness, I'm hoping to save up for a mini-break as soon as possible and might even man up and consider my sworn foe - the dreaded aeroplane - as a viable transport option. Then again, you've seen 'Final Destination' right?
Our top new products selection
1. Decoratum chair featured in Star Trek
Decoratum 22 Jun 2011
Decoratum offers a range of contemporary and 20th century furniture, lighting and artwork, such as the Sculpta Star Trek Chair by Chromcraft, US, from 1966.The metal and eco-leather chair was featured in Star Trek and is priced at GBP1,250.
Read more
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2. De Ferranti to create mosaic at Decorex
De Ferranti 23 Jun 2011
This year at Decorex, De Ferranti's display will focus on the creation of a custom-made mosaic put together by the company's in-house mosaicist.The stand will celebrate the revival of mosaics today and encourage all visitors to get involved by buying a mosaic kit so that they can make their own decorative panel at home.
Read more
|
3. Porthole windows in chunky retro design
Philip Watts Design 24 Jun 2011
Philip Watts Design has released its porthole windows in the Solid chunky retro design, which sees the frame protruding off the door by 2in.These fire-tested stainless-steel porthole kits for doors are available in a limited run of a circular design and a rectangle design with large radiused corners.
Read more
|
4. Molten lava bricks bring luxury to spas
De Ferranti 24 Jun 2011
Designed to evoke the dramatic beauty of an erupting volcano, molten lava bricks from De Ferranti's Magma Collection provide a luxury surface for a spa-style bathroom or wet room.These roughly hewn bricks are available in a glossy black or a cool, understated pale grey.Made of split-faced glazed basalt, the bricks can also be used on interior walls, swimming pools, spas, bathrooms, splashbacks and exterior cladding.
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5. Lamps combine new and antique styles
Louis Poulsen 22 Jun 2011
Louis Poulsen offers a range of lamps in modern and antique styles.The Enigma 425 has been designed by Shoichi Utchiyama and retails at GBP421.The Campbell 210 in black chrome has been designed by Louise Campbell and retails at GBP421.The PH 3/2 black/chrome has been designed by Poul Henningsen and retails at GBP639.
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