Jonas Damon 2B Tube Amp Radio - vintage audio for the modern era

Heading to market very soon is a stylish retro radio that uses vintage technology for its audio output - the  2B Tube Amp Radio by Jonas Damon.

Its outer shell is reason enough to give it a closer look, but the selling point is inside, with the radio using three old school vacuum tubes for sound, which are said to be warm, resonant and free of distortion.

It's not about the past though - there's also connectivity for your iPod. The current models are prototypes, but it will be going on sale via Areaware soon - no price confirmed as yet.

Areaware website

Via Cool Hunting

Tom Dixon Mirror Ball floor lamp

We featured a forthcoming addition to the Tom Dixon Mirror Ball range recently, then realised we hadn't actually covered the existing range - which includes the Tom Dixon Mirror Ball floor lamp.

Not just for the floor, it's also available with a stand, should you want your light at a higher level. Or just keep it on the floor - the plastic polycarbonate globe with internal mirror coating and exposed bulb creating a lot of light and a lot of impact.

Two sizes available - small at 40cm diameter and large at 50cm diameter. Prices start at £265.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

Jean Prouve 1950 Compas desk

A design classic that's practical and still in production today - the Jean Prouve Compas desk.

Designed back in 1950, Prouve based the desk around a set of compasses - the legs being reminiscent of a pair. They're  actually made of profiled steel, with a tubular central crossbar and laminated wooden top to finis things off.

It's style is in its simplicity - and if it ticks the boxes for you, the Compas is back in production by Vitra for £1,800.

Find out more at the Design Shop UK website

Screen-Printed Albert Armchair

Inspired by Arne Jacobsen, the Albert Armchair is available in various guises. All of them have the same antique armchair shape in high gloss lacquered sheesham hardwood, but there is an interesting selection of screen-printed upholstery from which to choose.

The range includes a swirling blue, white pink Missoni-like pattern, a monochrome tree print or the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe’s face (pictured here).

The Albert Chairs all cost £260 from Egamma.

Robex Trifoglio Bowl

The Trifolglio Bowl is just one of many dishware items from Italian designers Robex. It has its roots firmly in the mid-century modern movement, with its innovative use of moulded plastics.

The Trifologio Bowl uses five layers of polystyrene to create a durable product that looks stunning too. The design of this particular bowl with its three sections makes it ideal for serving nibbles, chips and dips. It is available in a choice of decidedly Seventies colours, wood effect exterior with lime inside or orange exterior with lime interior.

They cost just under £12 from Optima Style. There are various other shaped bowls in the range as well.

Fontana Arte Amélie lamp

A modern design with a distinctly retro flavour - the Amélie lamp by Fontana Arte.

Designed by Harry and Camila, the lamp is available in blue, white or red, with the 'tulip-style' base painted aluminium, while the shade is made from hand-blown glass, surrounding an incandescent bulb.

Available online, you can pick one up for around £121.

Find out more at the Made In Design website

Cutler and Gross M0692 retro-styled sunglasses

If you're after a Ray-Ban look, but want something a cut above the rest of sun seekers, you might want to check out the stylish M0692 sunglasses from Cutler and Gross.

Just two examples above, but take it from us, you can chose from a variety of frame colours and indeed lens colours, with the frames made from a hand-polished transparent acetate and the lenses being of optical quality.

All are sold with hard cases and are handmade in England. They're priced at around £180 a pair.

Find out more at the Oi Polloi website

New Bauhaus and Beat bag collection coming soon at Cheet London

Hopping on the resurgence of retro influence in designer fashion this year, boutique accessory shop Cheet London bring us their Bauhaus & Beat range.

Hitting the shops in the Autumn, this preview shows us a glimpse of their heavily vintage inspired bags. The orange and black clutch bag is my favourite, though the retro designs are pretty well carried throughout the range. Click on the image for a proper look.

These bags won't be available until later this year, and prices will range from £79 to £230 in stores across the UK and at the online boutique.

Crayola thermos flask at Urban Outfitters House

As playground nostalgia goes, there's no brand more synonymous with childhood than Crayola. Everyone knew the joys of a new box and the pains of using up your black on the outlines.

Urban Outfitters have brought back the classic design in an altogether more practical form with this Crayola Thermos Flask. Just in time for the festival season, the flask is available in four bright colours and at 23cm tall is pretty sizeable.

Practical and stylish for only £8 each, which might just be cheap enough to indulge in a full set.

Find out more from the Urban Outfitters website

Art deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe re-opens - just don't try to book a room

This weekend sees the grand re-opening of one of the most impressive art deco buildings in Britain - the Midland Hotel in Morecambe.

Back in the 1930s, when Morecambe was one of our thriving seaside resorts, it was the place to be seen - the likes of Coco Chanel, Mrs Simpson and Noel Coward were some of well-heeled visitors seen in the lobby. But times changed and the hotel declined in tandem with the resort - leaving a derelict ruin on the front for many years.

That was until Urban Splash got its hands on it. The hotel was resurrected, with the facade and key architectural features given an overhaul, while the interior was developed to the kind of standard you would expect from a high-end hotel, with a cocktail bar, upmarket eaterie and penthouse suites thrown in for good measure.