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New Porada Collection

Porada are well known for their timeless contemporary designs, applying artisan skills and artistic rendering to traditional shapes and silhouettes. Their recent Milan collection was highlighted with bold natural marble patterns, new shapes and classic woods.

   
Pictured above: Callisto Coffee Table and Matics Glass Sideboard

The Callisto Coffee Table sees asymmetric pebble-shapes cut from marble for its table top, supported by a curvy bronzoro lacquered wood base. The table comes in a choice of new-to-the-collection natural marbles including Lapponia Green (pictured) and is available in a selection of varying shapes. Also employing marble for its top, the Matics Glass Sideboard is a beautiful storage piece in solid canaletto walnut with four glass front door panels each with a sleek pewter grey metal edging. Glass internal shelving and dimmable internal lighting complete the design.

   
Pictured above: Etienne Sofa and Ekero Totem Floor Lamp

Grey pewter metal details are a quietly recurring theme within the collection, and feature elegantly on the feet of the Etienne Sofa. This welcoming design features low lines, square backrest cushions and softly rectangular armrests, in a host of modular compositions ranging from traditional to experimental. The Ekero Totem Floor Lamp is a graceful addition to the Ekero family, featuring a slender grey metal pewter frame on a cylindrical natural marble base. The frame splits into two stylised curves at different heights, supporting a solid canaletto walnut coin tray and a spherical diffuser in white opal frosted glass.

   
Pictured above: Abby Chair and Gong Mirror 

It wouldn't be a Porada collection without showcasing their longstanding love of working with wood. The Abby Chair displays how beautifully Porada can execute a simple idea, featuring round-ended solid wood legs that support a rounded upholstered seat with curved arms. Lastly the Gong Mirror is a broad, oversized trapezoid shape mirror that makes a feature of its frame. Two solid ash 'legs' in a choice of colour cut unapologetically through the mirror's glass, tapering upwards as it leans into the wall.

Explore the new collection from Porada and invite a contemporary classic into your space.

Relaxed Seating

Relaxing is an important function of our living spaces, sometimes forgotten while we emphasise personality or aesthetic. With clever and intelligent interior design, comfort needn't be compromised. A classic piece of furniture that can really allow you to sit back and relax is the recliner, so here we’ve identified some contemporary chair designs that bring this function into the 21st century.

   
Pictured above: Isa Relax and Stefani by Sits

The Isa Relax Armchair by Sits is a bold and unique design with a distinctive headrest profile and a slimline backrest that can be tilted for comfort. The chair comes with either a swivel or fixed base depending on your needs and has the option of an electric or manual reclining function, allowing you to truly create your ultimate sitting experience. Add an optional footrest for a really ‘laid back’ reclining position. The Stefani Armchair by Sits is a more retro style that also offers a manual reclining option to its backrest when selected with a swivel base — so that you can truly curl up in its cocooning upholstered seat and armrests. 

   
Pictured above: Sofia and Tai by Bontempi Casa

You can explore a reclining option with dining room chairs too, as many designs now come with a flexible back allowing you to lean back and relax between courses. The Sofia Chair by Bontempi Casa is a striking padded dining chair available in a low and high back style to suit your comfort needs, or for a more understated look the Tai Chair and the Malik Chair by Bontempi Casa both offer sleek frames with high back seats. All these options have flexible back options giving you the comfort you need to complement your dining experience. 

   
Pictured above: Malik by Bontempi Casa and Casanova Chaise by Cattelan Italia

Ending our relaxing design curation is a bold and striking design. The Casanova Chaise by Cattelan Italia features a swivelling and adjustable S-shaped seat with a black or satin finish steel frame. Available in a selection of leathers and finishes, the chaise almost fully extends, resembling a reclining therapy chair. 

Extending your chair options to include a reclining feature not only creates a relaxing and comfortable functionality for you, it adds a playful hidden design element for your guests too.

Unexpected Reflections

Mirrors and metallic surfaces are a brilliant way of cleverly expanding a space through the illusion of reflection.  Reflective materials allow your space to play with light and if placed correctly can create harmonious sections and nooks to invite you in. This year's Cattelan Italia collection contained some particulary enjoyable reflective highlights.  

   
Pictured above: Cosmos Mirror and Lancer Moonglass Table

To make a statement with the obvious reflective choice of a mirror, why not explore one with a twist. The Cosmos Mirror by Cattelan Italia features a rounded decorative frame that captures reflections in a fluid and liquid-like way, forming almost freehand and natural shapes and silhouettes around the wall mirror, adding intriguing dimensions to the design's function. While a dining table may be a less traditional source of metallic shine, the Cattelan Italia Lancer Moonglass Table has the appearance of a river of molten metal, the dimpled underside of its burnt bronze cast glass top catching the light in unique ways every time. 

   
Pictured above: Atrium Wood Table and Vivaldi Sideboard

The Cattelan Italia Atrium family explores a dimpled mirrored glass finish which adds an industrial echo to your space. Available in a range of designs from rectangular dining tables to consoles, this design takes all the contemporary elements we have come to appreciate from Cattelan Italia and adds in an artistic chromium flare. Similarly so, the Vivaldi Sideboard by Cattelan Italia explores the striking couture mirrored finish which ripples and reflects light around the room, casting interesting shapes and shadows and adding depth and texture.  

   
Pictured above: Coimbra Suspension Light and Biarritz Suspension Light by Cattelan Italia

Turning our gaze towards our ceilings, lighting fixtures can be a great way to add unexpected reflections and enhance the light before it descends down and around our space. Take the Coimbra Suspension Lights by Cattelan Italia — this design features a flattened-bubble of suspended clear borosilicate glass complete with an inner shell in reflective metallic allowing for a stylish and sleek appearance. Or if you’re looking for something bold and artsy, then the Biarritz Suspension Light by Cattelan Italia will light your way. Featuring a distinctive design that plays with balance and harmony, these spherical and linear shapes all join to create a harmonious structure complemented by a metallic mirrored sphere which reflects the objects' viewpoints back out into the room. 

Giving your space the reflective treatment isn’t always about going with the obvious — it can mean identifying new ways to expand and surprise.

5 Magical UK Christmas Light Trails

We all love a little sparkle this time of year, and as the nights get darker earlier, we find ourselves turning to festive lights to make us feel all warm and cosy. Outdoor lights have become something of a sought after Christmas experience tradition for many of us, so here we’ve carefully selected some magical Christmas light experiences in the UK.

Pictured above: Hever Castle

Hever Castle, Kent
The entire family will enjoy this light spectacular as you explore the grounds and walk freely underneath the stars. Starting at 4pm so you can truly bask in the illuminating magic, this trail also features exciting kids game stalls and food vendors that help make it a festive memory that you will all be talking about for years to come. 
https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/hever-castle-christmas/

Pictured above: Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, London
One of the very first, and still one of the best light displays. Follow the trail on this 60-90 minute experience as you explore the wonder of Kew Gardens as it glitters and sparkles. From a fairy light tunnel, to a truly incredible water fountain projection display, and not forgetting a spectacular music and light show which lights up the entire Palm and Temperate Greenhouses, it really is one not to be missed.
https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas

Pictured above: Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
A glorious country estate, Blenheim is an already magnificent setting for a light display. Combine that with uplit columns, a kaleidoscope of colours, and fields of fire, you are in for a real treat. The trail is lit up to show you the grounds as you’ve never seen them before, but the true magic is inside the palace itself which is converted into the Kingdom of the Snow Queen, and you’ll find a festive market outside to truly give you the Christmas experience. 
https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/christmas/

Pictured Above: Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Trees drenched in captivating colour, lakeside illuminations, and fairy lit tunnels await you as you wander through this 90 minute trail. There are some steep sections so do take your walking shoes but you’ll be delighted that there are a few food stalls on the way to help you fuel up.
https://www.rbge.org.uk/whats-on/christmas-at-the-botanics-2022/

Pictured above: Bedgebury PInetum

Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent
Bedgbury is one of the UK’s favourite light experiences thanks to its vast expanse of space that gets cleverly designed to scatter sparkle and fairy lights into every possible corner and every single tree, to truly light up this already picturesque conservation project. Grab your wellies and get stuck into all that the trail has to offer, you’ll be amazed at the music and light extravagance that awaits you. 
https://www.forestryengland.uk/Christmasatbedgebury