Author: Justine Harvey

Amongst the dream items, design icons and frivolities, occasionally it is good to find something a little more practical. This Retro-Styled Fire Extinguisher fits that bill perfectly.

It is light, easy to use and could save your life should you knock over a candle in a room filled with highly flammable walnut furniture and 70s style panelling! But we wouldn’t be featuring it if it didn’t look good as well. With its shiny round red base, it will look great sat on your fireplace.

It costs £45 from Cox and Cox.

Walnut is suddenly the wood of choice for furniture designers who want to evoke styles of the past. The latest product we’ve found using this material is this Walnut Square Clock by Karlsson.

Despite its name, it isn’t technically a square but has rounded corners, another retro design staple. Bright coloured lines make the numbers and the white and orange hands provide a contrast to the dark background.

It costs £50 and can be bought online from Heal’s.

One of our favourite textile designers, Celia Birtwell has joined the auspicious ranks of designers who’ve contributed to Habitat’s VIP range.

Her “Very Important Product” is a hand tufted rug that features a flower design trimming bold stripes that will be familiar to followers of her work. It is made from 100% wool and measures 140cm by 250cm. It costs just under £400.

Visit the Habitat website for more details and to find your nearest store.