Our homes and interiors column brings you the very
best that money can buy, for not much money at all. By Alison Cork
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Barcelona bargains
Furniture by Florence Knoll, Le Corbusier and other famous
designers of the 20th century never seems to wane in popularity, but
its price tags are inevitably daunting. So it is good to know that
Fantastic Furniture is offering top-quality and affordable reproductions. This Barcelona chair takes its inspiration from Mies Van der
Rohe's design for the World Exposition in 1929. It features
12mm polished steel and Italian leather, hand-stitched from
individual pieces of a single hide. For one week only, Fantastic Furniture is offering readers the
Barcelona chair in black, white or dark brown leather for just £375
instead of the usual £795, with the Barcelona footstool (worth more
than £200) thrown in free. UK mainland delivery is available for
£45. To claim, click on the Reader Offer banner at www.fantasticfurniture.co.uk or call 0870 0671 970.
Bucking the trend
Large furniture retailers appear to be suffering more than most
from the credit crunch. Land of Leather's share price has
halved; sales are down at Marks & Spencer and a host of other
retailers. So it is interesting that, in spite of its smaller
stature, Trade Secret is flourishing in its niche market. Its "secret" is to sell cancelled orders from the likes
of Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and House of Fraser at exactly
half the High Street price; when times are tight, this is the place
to go. Affordable high-street brands, all under one roof and ready to be
delivered or taken away, make for a very powerful formula, offering
instant gratification to any customer stepping through the door. As a special offer to Telegraph readers, Trade Secret is taking an
additional 10 per cent off its newly arrived, half-price Natuzzi
Italian leather sofas, while stocks last. That is a discount of 60
per cent off the high-street price. A Tahira sofa, for example, will
cost you £880 instead of £2,200. Just mention this offer. Trade
Secret, Unit 6, Twyford Mill, Adderbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 3SX;
01295 810110; www.trade-secret.co.uk
Freebie of the week
Forget the Oscars, if it's glamour you're after,
Shilou's range of furniture has serious star quality. Inspired
by the Art Deco and Biedermier designs of the 1920s and 30s, it
holds a timelessly stylish appeal. This macassar ebony veneered
table features a silver leaf trim with a dark wood base and measures
1200 x 1000 x 460mm. And Shilou is offering to give one (worth
£1,040) to a lucky reader. To enter the draw, text 'TABLE'
plus your name to 87233 (texts cost 50p plus standard network rate)
or email enquiries@shilou.co.uk before 16 February. The
winner will be picked at random and contacted within a week. www.shilou.co.uk
Luxury linen for less
If you missed the January sales, it's worth knowing that the
Chelsea Linen Company offers year-round discounts. A stalwart of the
linen business for 20 years, it selects only the finest goosedown,
silk and cotton for its combination duvets, as well as offering pure
cotton bedlinen and more. Prices start from £269 for a single All
Seasons Goosedown Duvet, with 10 per cent off orders of £100 and
over or 15 per cent off orders of £250 and over. Call 01453 731277
or visit www.chelsealinen.co.uk
Thai style
I like furniture that tells a story, and there is many a tale to
be told at Soto, which uses materials ethically sourced in Thailand. This Rangoon lamp (from £65) has a basket design, originally used
as a net by Thai fishermen. To claim 25 per cent off across the range, quote "Bargain
Hunter" when you order on 01347 878 433 or at www.soto-uk.com
before March 1.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
Love posters
If you're looking to fill wall space without spending a
fortune, you could do a lot worse than a framed poster, print or
artwork from www.allposters.co.uk. The world's largest
poster shop, it offers over half a million ways to bring colour to
your walls. This Valentine's Day, set the tone for romance with
a heart themed poster such as this 'The French Language of the
Heart' example (£12.99) - a tasteful alternative to pink hearts
and fluff. www.allposters.co.uk
Feeling spicy
Food without seasoning will guarantee you left overs, so it's
important to make sure you've got some key spices to hand at
all times. These Ceramic Spice Jars from Colloco provide a cheerful
and practical way to keep your favourite spices fresh. Available in
a choice of four colours, each one comes with its own wooden scoop
and sealable lid. And the best news? Each one costs just £2. Call
01538 382 615 or visit www.colloco.co.uk
Your turn to recommend
Here are just some of the tradespeople you have
recommended in Hull this week
Chesters Electrical, HU10 6AD, professionally
trained and NIC EIC certified electrical contractors. Call 01482 657
078 or visit www.chesterselectrical.co.uk.
Boothferry Felt Roofing, HU10 6JN, offers a
complete roofing service from repairs to guttering, slating and
tiling. Call 01482 651 919.
David Norton Chimney Sweep, HU12 9GB,
experienced tradesman offering high standards in all chimney sweep
services. Call 01964 602 302.
Richmond Loft Conversions, HU13 9DN, a well
established company offering professional loft conversions. Call
01482 649 355. |