Countryside La Vie Magazine

An interior design service is to be launched as a pilot across the East Midlands by colour experts Dulux, under the direction of Nottinghambased interior design celebrity, Marianne Shillingford. The first scheme of its kind in the UK not tied to a particular range of products or retail outlet, the Dulux Design Service will expand on the Dulux brand expertise in colour inspiration by offering homeowners the chance to work with a professional interior designer without the fear of runaway costs or designer overkill. Heading up the new service is Nottingham-based interiors expert,

writer and broadcaster Marianne Shillingford, who as Design Director will ensure that the service stays at the forefront of leading design trends and provides the very best interior designers across the region.

Marianne says: “People often struggle to get the right look for their home but feel that it would be too costly to enlist the help of a professional interior designer. The Dulux Design Service aims to do away with this concern by offering three levels of service to suit every budget. Whether you want a £250 design scheme complete with moodboards to give you ideas and confidence, or a designer who will provide hassle-free product sourcing and project management, the service will help transform your home into the perfect personal space”. Marianne is keen to stress that the design service is about expert advice, not expert overload.

She says: “Whichever level you choose, you stay in control of the design and costs. There’s no risk of having a design imposed on you. Whether you’re looking for something classic, country cottage or contemporary, the service is there to help you achieve the room of your dreams. Our designers aren’t tied to any

brand and have access to a fantastic range of fabrics, furniture, flooring, lighting and paints. You can relax in the knowledge that your designer will act as a one-stop supplier, sourcing products at highly competitive prices. And if you need them to, they can project manage a team of highly skilled tradesmen whose workmanship comes with a 2 year guarantee”.

Readers interested in finding out more about the Dulux Design Service should visit: www.duluxdesignservice.co.uk

With the environment a hot topic we’re all looking to appear more eco-friendly in our day-to-day lives. Increasingly we’re recycling our waste and turning off the lights, but we can still be conscientious and enjoy some of earth’s natural materials – with bamboo being the perfect example.

Usually associated with pandas, bamboo is one of the most enduring and sustainable materials on earth and, whilst in some countries it’s considered a nuisance, we can use it to bring some stylish and refreshing items into the modern home.

Not only does bamboo grow twice as fast as a tree, bamboo stands release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees and therefore significantly contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. Bamboo is also a source of income for more than 2 billion people worldwide and doesn’t need pesticides to grow, making it an ideal social and environmentally friendly material.

Biome Lifestyle, an online store that sells eco-friendly and ethically sourced products for the home, has a fantastic range of bamboo products that will change your opinion over this once drab material. Available at biomelifestyle.com, you can finally unite style and eco with a number of bright and stylish bamboo products that are not only up to the minute trend wise but ethical too – the best of both worlds!

Founder Alexandra Bramham handpicks each product for the store, from eye-catching kitchenware to bamboo bathrobes, not to mention a range of other products that are organic, recycled, sustainable and ethical. And behind each item lies a unique and interesting story telling you exactly where the product came from and the materials used.

We’re all looking to introduce conscientious living into our lifestyles, and with eco chic products available for the whole home - from the kitchen to the bathroom – it’s a lifestyle change that is now even easier than before, thanks to Biome Lifestyle.

Bamboo Facts:

one of the most enduring and sustainable materials on earth and compared to fibres originating from wood, such as viscose rayon, or other petrochemical fibres like polyester, bamboo has important advantages including a short growth cycle and easy cultivation.

Bamboo is antibacterial by nature, as confirmed by Testex, an independent Swiss laboratory. Additionally, the Japanese Textile Federation has confirmed that after 100 washing cycles, bamboo fibre fabric still possesses its antibacterial properties.

Bamboo can be harvested in 3-5 years versus 10-20 years for most soft woods.

Haslam Homes top designer, Karen Staniforth

It’s soft and flirty and positively guaranteed to bring out your feminine side. Love it or loath it, pink just will not go away. From ipods to kettles and kittens paws it’s everywhere. It’s undeniably girly and that’s the rub. How can you slip that perfect pink into a colour scheme without upsetting the whole household? Team it with serious amounts of strong and sophisticated black says, Haslam Homes top designer, Karen Staniforth. Karen added: Pink and black bring out the best in each other. They really are the perfect partnership, playing to each other’s strengths. Pink has a real softness and gentle tone in the daylight and just glows in the evening with candles and soft lighting. Black has such strength and is a very grounding colour when used in virtually any scheme. It provides the perfect balance and a hint of drama. When you put these two colours together the effect is very glamorous and slightly decadent!

Here are Haslams design team tips on how to get pink to pack a punch:

The perfect backdrop is a bold art deco inspired black and silver wallpaper Balance the drama of the strong wallpaper pattern with elegant long neck pink vases, trimmed with black velvet ribbon tied in softbows. Pink rose prints are very popular right now and work beautifully in small silver frames. Use two together for maximum effect. Add small accents with accessories like soft pink dishes with a tumble of smooth pebbles. Snuggle up with a pale pink knitted throw and cushions these work well with all neutral colour schemes too.

Great style and homes to match are available at your nearest Haslam Homes site: The Orchards, Stapeley, Nantwich Crewe has easy access to the M6 motorway - details from 01270 625187. For Haslam Meadows, near Bottesford, Scunthorpe call 01724 289897.

www.haslamhomes.co.uk