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Italian designers Francesco Esposito and Marianna Contaldo bring us the Swan Stool with its curvy and ‘new fangled’ shape that emphasizes the technical features of the corian material from which it is manufactured.

Italian speakers will find more details at their website.

Studio Aisslinger has presented the NETwork project, a transformation of 2-dimensional embroidery into a pop-up furniture.

The project is a combination of the application of new technologies to traditional stitching techniques. The pieces of the NETwork, armchairs, stools and lamps, are carefully designed for later flattening. The objects created are extremely light and transparent and they seem to flow in space.

3D textile pop-up technology is an empirical research/result developed with a traditional German manufacturer in Plauen, a region with a long tradition in stitching and embroidery. The combination of experimental design with a hidden traditional production is always a challenge for designers albeit an exciting field for new concepts. Nowadays the know-how of specialised technologies is more often found in the supplying industries than in the design brands themselves.

…requires serious consideration. Karen Broderick, Interior Designer and Trend Watch Expert at Harveys advises when converting a loft space in to a bedroom, people can get caught out by not allowing enough budget for custom built furniture to fit the space.

Five get out of jail free cards:

1. Look for furniture such as wardrobes that come in different heights and widths.

2. If wardrobes just won’t fit, place drawers the full line of the eves – the repetition creates a neat style feature.

3. Low level beds are a great way to stop you banging your head in the mornings.

4. Under-bed storage can avoid the need for so much furniture keeping the rest of the space in the room clear and uncluttered.

5. Modular furniture is really flexible, meaning you will be free to move your room around in the future. Avoid beds with built-in bedside cabinets.

Harveys ranges suitable for loft space include the Lima bedroom range which is fully flexible. The wardrobes come in a variety of heights, widths and also door styles with a mirrored finish option.

Grand Central is an expandable table that transforms from space-saving occasional table to the centre piece of a room. The tabletop is divided into 22 pieces that fold out in a spectacular way through its advanced construction. Dramatic and poetic at the same time! The inspiration comes from a pop-up map of New York.

Sanna Lindström and Sigrid Strömgren are two independent designers based in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden. Grand Central is their first piece together and it is currently dispalyed at Salon Satellite Milano which is running until 19^th April.

Escape the hustle and bustle of life without even having to leave your garden, with the Teardrop from Living It Up. Simply curl up and watch the clouds go by….

The Teardrop is an egg-shaped hanging chair with an intricate hand-woven basket, perfect for any garden, wherever, whatever the size.

Imagine sitting comfortably cocooned in the Teardrop’s basket whilst rocking gently, warmed by the summer sun. Sink yourself into the oversized cream cushion as you allow yourself to drift off. The very picture of a blissful afternoon!

Failing that, the Teardrop’s galvanized frame is designed to be resistant to the inevitable cold and wet of the British weather. Available in a choice of black or natural weave. It is quite expensive at £329 but it definitely works for me!

More details at Living It Up.

Enjoy intimate chats or tete-a-tetes on the beautifully curved Banana Bench from Kingshall Furniture.

This solid grade A teak Love Bench will add a touch of glamour and class to any outdoor setting. Immensely tactile, it seems impossible to pass the Love Bench without touching its luscious curves! The bench boasts further curves along the backrest of the seat, giving it that extra special luxury and comfort. With its graceful sweeping curved top rail, level seat and raked back for comfort, the contemporary structure provides the perfect focal point or design solution for gardens and architectural landscape settings. While conveying an unmistakable sense of presence and longevity it is equally at home in both contemporary and traditional settings.

We’ve been taking a look at Newtons, a family business based in Newton Abbot, Devon. Family tradition is core to their business, giving reassuringly old fashioned courteous service together with a modern approach and outlook.

Renowned for their exquisite collection of bedroom furniture, Newtons has just introduced the gorgeous French White from the stunning hand-crafted Rococo range. The extensive collection includes this intricately carved rococo styled bed finished in beautiful ‘French White’.

Extensively hand-carved from mahogany, the exceptional range exudes grandeur and pure luxury. Simple, yet striking – painted in subtle white, the furniture is gently rubbed back and an antique finish applied to accentuate the intricate detail of graceful, curvaceous lines, presenting a style that is quite unique.

The Rococo French White collection creates an energising yet calming feel to the bedroom. The perfect new look for spring, great for lifting spirits and ‘tired bedrooms’!

Newtons’ Marketing Director, Rachel Edmonds, says:

“We pride ourselves on creating impressive handmade furniture that exudes French style. This stunning yet quite affordable French White collection breathes new life into the bedroom – demanding just the right amount of attention!”

Newtons, online, by phone or mail order for delivery across the UK and Ireland.

Decadent sumptuous purple shades have become a style staple for interiors. Darlings of Chelsea has a brand new range of fabric sofas upholstered in a range of rich hues including plum, berry and violet.

A popular choice for sofas, purple shades remain fashionable, yet if you choose a practical or classic shape they’ll have timeless appeal. A versatile choice for sofas, it allows you to make a statement even in small rooms as long as you keep the rest of the room light and balance out the bold colour.

Darlings of Chelsea’s new sofas include the Lauren Modular Sofa, a versatile sofa that can be made to fit a particular space by changing the number of seats, chaise and arms. The Samara Sofa has a dramatic curved back and is upholstered in a violet hue and velvety fabric. The Alicia Corner Sofa is a sleek contemporary sofa with a low back, while the Marrisa Sofa (pictured) is a sumptuous roomy 3 seater that in berry shades is perfect for making a statement in a larger living room.

Many different size options and fabric colour choices are available as well as customer’s own choice.

See their full range at www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk or visit one of their showrooms (locations listed on their website).

Multi-functional furniture that saves on space yet is design led and stylish is hard to come by. However, Urban Living Interiors introduces the Punto Extendable Table that transforms from a coffee table to a dining table for four. Sadly, when we visited the site it loaded incredibly slowly, which was irritating, but it is worth the wait as they have some nice pieces.

For many of us, making the most of the little space we have in urban apartments can be tricky. For this, Urban Living Interiors has the most ingenious piece of furniture in the form of the extendable coffee table that turns into a dining table.

It starts as a coffee table on wheels which you can adjust to the height that you require. Then when you need it to be a dining table, raise it up to full height to seat two people comfortably for dinner. Finally if you are having people over for dinner the top of the table lifts to open to become a large dining table that will seat four.

This stunning table comes with chrome legs and matt white lacquer finish to the table top, but alternative wood finishes are available.

More details at www.urbanlivingfurniture.co.uk or call them on 0207 487 2997

Roderick Fry has designed an extremely stable and easy to mount table for French producer Moaroom.

Pi is a flat-packing table, which helps minimise its carbon footprint during shipping. The table is simply assembled by inserting a tabletop, without any screws or Allen keys. Simply slide in a wooden board and to block the board just reposition the feet on the floor to insure a maximum stability. The trestles can be purchased separately or of course you can just use your own. They say that the simple things are the best and this is simple in the extreme!