Author: Justine Harvey

Marcel Wanders has created a range of cushions for B&B Italia called Couples that take their inspiration from various styles including Sixties.

The designer has taken five styles (Sixties, Pop, Asian, Ethnic and Minimal) and paired them together using colour is the guide.

They are many Couples Cushions to chose from, and Yoox has a good selection, all priced £67.

Although Danish designer, Georg Jensen died in the 1935, the company bearing his name still continues to produce beautiful pieces in his favoured Art Nouveau style.

The Georg Jensen Living Teapot is a great example of the company’s current work, designed by Helena Rohner. It combines stainless steel with porcelain and comes complete with its own porcelain coaster to protect delicate surfaces.

It costs £129 from John Lewis and can be ordered online. A matching sugar bowl and cream jug are also available.

Perhaps the current economic climate has pushed the classic designer pieces out of your financial reach, but it is possible to find stylish homewares at bargain prices. Wallace Sacks are selling this Ceramic Retro Desk Lamp at a 50% discount on its original price.

It was pretty reasonable value at £30, but even better at £15. It is made from black ceramic and has great curved shape.

Buy online at Wallace Sacks.

The Kitchen Debate was a groundbreaking discussion between Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev. It took place in the kitchen of a model house in 1959 and they discussed the merits of their respective political and economic systems.

Inevitably (although with nearly a 50 year gap) the historic event has given rise to an ironic kitchen range, courtesy of the V&A. The range consists of a Kitchen Debate mug, apron and tea towel, each bearing quotations from the landmark meeting.

The mug (£8) features Nixon’s words, "Let’s drink to talking, as long as we are talking we are not fighting" and the tea towel (£5) says “Would it not be better to compete in the relative merits of washing machines than in the strength of rockets” The apron features the appropriate quotation from Khrushchev “we do not have the capitalist attitude toward women” and costs £18.

They can all be bought online from the V&A Shop.