Leaf Bowl

27 Jan, 2009 in art pottery by admin

Leaf Bowl

Forget the credit crunch - style for less

Don't let the credit crunch stop you from updating your home. Our shoestring budget ideas will help you wave good-bye to your dated look. Big impact, little cost.

IKEA at your fingertips
The best kept secret among budgeting style aficionados is that IKEA can now be bought online. Hail the Scandi retailing institution that bought us the £150 sofa. Since launching 50 years ago, the Swedish flatpack giant has delivered endless bargains with style. The Bram steel palm leaf bowl tops our wish list. So, unless you're craving their meatballs, shop their products from the comfort of your armchair.

Cut back on cost, not on style
Dressing head-to-toe in designer gear is no guarantee to style. In the same vein, throwing cash at your home is not the solution. Juxtapose the old and bespoke with the mass produced for a home with personality. Are you an apprehensive shopper? Use the mydeco Plan my Room tool to test out products in 3D before you buy. About 40,000 products like the Curved wood dining chair from Dwell have been modelled so you can design your room on a budget.

Colour me wonderful
'The best way to update a room is with key accessories. Colourful, distinctive rugs can really brighten up a space,' says Michelle Alger, furniture and lighting buyer for Liberty. 'Add vibrant, patterned or image-embellished cushions.' We've fallen in love with the Douppion silk cassis cushion from Heals.

Lick of paint
Instead of spending a fortune replacing your kitchen or bathroom, update it with a funky splash of colour. 'It's so easy to update a wall with gloss paint. The finish looks clean, shiny and modern and really makes the colour pop,' says designer Cath Kidston. 'And, of course, it's super-practical.' A tin of Elizabethan Red from Designerpaint goes a long way in a downstairs loo.

Impact without expense
Instead of splurging out on rolls and rolls of wallpaper, how about creating a feature wall? Pick a wow factor design like this Contour from Wallpaperdirect to create real impact at a snippet of the cost. Get creative in your bathroom - mount your design on a thin MDF board, protect with glass splashback and place behind your basin. Trust us, it looks great.

Spend wisely
Spend your money where you can see it. So think big - don't waste a fortune on a pretty little ornament that is barely visible. Turn your favorites photo into a piece of art. This Bespoke montage magnetic memo board from Not on the High Street will take pride of place in any room and adds a personal touch to a space.

Bargain basement
There's no need to sacrifice style when there are great bargains to be found. Think of mydeco as your very own one-stop-shop for all the sales. Clear clutter in the Morton low sideboard from Graham & Green.

A frugal fashion: wall stickers
The wall sticker phenomenon is greeted with enthusiasm from commitment phobes, bargain hunters and parents of little ones. Ideal for creating an instant update to any wall at little cost, blossom wall stickers from Not on the High Street are a cheap and cheerful decorating solution - just how we like it.

mydeco exclusive - get it while you can
The best deals always run out quickly so, when you spot something you like, jump! Get 20% off all products at Wallace Sacks only at mydeco until 31 October. Revamp your living room with the cosy White Bonne deep pile rug. At checkout, type in the mydeco code OctDeco. Don't miss out.

About the Author

Annie Deakin is an expert furniture and interior design writer who is currently interested in flooring, art prints and desks

What does it mean when the cat starts leaving the mice in the dog's food bowl?

I appreciate my cat is such an outstanding mouser. He used to leave me the top half of the mouse. Then he got really good at it and just chews a hole in the side and takes out what he wants. Stomach? Liver?, and he always leaves me the carcass in really unappreciated places.
Now he is leaving them in the dog's bowl? Any puppy shrinks out there?

Hahahaha! This is awesome. Part of it is probably an actual gift for the dog and part of it is showing off what a masterful hunter and provider they are.

If the dog is Very Old, it can be a sign that they really are trying to take care of them.

Although I do believe cats understand sarcasm, I don't think the cat is teasing the dog. They are usually very proud of their treasures.

Agenta Collection Porcelain Silvertone Leaf Bowl