Style & Function

Trying to find home gadgets and appliances can be a little overwhelming. To simplify and help with your search, I’ve selected some choice pieces that provide cutting-edge technology and score highly in the style stakes too. 

Winter is a time when the kitchen takes centre stage in the home; a time for parties, impromptu gatherings and long, lazy meals with family and friends. For an upgrade to one of the most important elements of your kitchen, the Mercury 1000 range cooker will make a style statement as well as being practical. Available in neutral shades to colourful Blueberry, this would fit a contemporary design scheme or complement a more classic look. It has two ovens and a separate grill and stainless-steel hob, so festive gatherings will no longer pose a logistical challenge.

Whether you plan to fill your home with guests or just hibernate, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere is important. Rangemoors in Winkleigh suggests the C-Series by Charnwood to be the latest word in contemporary stove design. ‘A classically styled wood-burning stove that features one single air control and an integrated outlet for ducting external air’, this particular model is eco-friendly and adaptable too, as ‘it will deliver an exceptionally clean burn with outstanding efficiency and can be fitted with a drop-in multi-fuel grate for burning solid fuel’. 

A wine cabinet is another sought-after kitchen item. This sleek integrated Liebherr version offers ideal conditions to store fine wines, with two adjustable temperature zones for up to 64 bottles and an electronic touch temperature control to adjust from +5 to +20 degrees centigrade. Definitely one to add to the dream Christmas list.

Matthew Dibley, store manager at Bang & Olufsen’s Exeter branch, has some ideas for your living room. “Luxury and quality are two aspects of a comfortable living room. Just imagine coming home in the dark after a day’s work and snuggling down to watch a film with superior vision, surround sound and audio quality, giving you everything required to appreciate the film exactly as the director intended.” Technically speaking, what does his recommendation, the BeoVision 11, provide? Matthew explains: “Not only does it look like a piece of art on your wall, but it integrates full HD, LED-based LCD screen with superb 3D performance and anti-reflective coated glass to achieve outstanding clarity and contrast. A fully active three-way speaker system has impressive inbuilt bass.” 

How about a new sound system for the living room? The BeoPlay A8 uses ‘airplay’ that enables you to move around your home while controlling the tunes you play at the touch of a button. You can also add different colour speaker faces to co-ordinate with your colour scheme.

What about a new bath? Fired Earth's Bathroom Category Manager Laura McCormack suggests considering a copper one. “A glamorous addition to any bathroom, a copper bath will look particularly jewel-like when lit by candles on a cold winter’s night. The Babylon bath provides a luxurious, lightweight alternative to its traditional cast-iron cousin, weighing around 45 kilos compared with approximately 160 kilos.” Laura explains why a copper bath is surprisingly heat efficient too. “Copper conducts heat very well. As hot water fills a copper bath, warmth permeates it and is retained. In addition, the brushed exterior of the Babylon bath is protected with aviation-grade lacquer and, along with the polished nickel interior, makes it easy to keep clean.”

There are innovations beyond bathroom hardware, too. Fired Earth's Tile Category Buyer Leila Roberts provides some inspiration on how to create a warm, natural look in your bathroom, without sacrificing practicality. "Porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and hard-wearing so are ideal for busy households. The Newlyn range is a collection of porcelain planks with a realistic reclaimed wood-grain effect that can be used in wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms or utility rooms in place of real wood, which might warp from the moisture.” 

When it comes to the bedroom, we all know that a room full of technology is not conducive to a good night’s sleep; experts say screens should be avoided for at least 30 minutes before bedtime, and even shelves full of books are supposed to be detrimental to night-time relaxation. So what slumber-friendly options are available?

A low-light-emitting radio is an excellent choice if music helps you to relax. The Sovereign Roberts radio, a contemporary DAB version of the Vintage R500 first released in 1964, comes in wintry tones of Windsor Green, Sandringham Burgundy and Balmoral Blue and its amber display backlight means there will be no eerie blue hue emitted, which could potentially disturb sleep. It’s a great addition to the Christmas list too.

If you are a keen star gazer then consider setting up a telescope in your bedroom to study the winter skies. Like the radio, the telescope won’t emit a sleep-disturbing glow.

An innovative way to conserve heat in your bedroom is to install plantation shutters instead of curtains. Chris Rocker, the owner of Just Shutters, explains: “Shutters are very effective at reducing draughts and provide a thermal barrier with the cold window glass during winter months. This quality makes them particularly well-suited to Listed buildings with single glazing.” In addition to the heat efficiency by adjusting the shutters’ louvres, you can ensure privacy in your bedroom without blocking out natural light, as you would by drawing curtains. 

And for the morning after a perfect night’s sleep in your cosy, relaxing bedroom? Why not put an Espresso coffee machine on your Christmas list? Anything to help give a kick-start on a dark morning.

“Luxury and quality are two aspects of a comfortable living room”