Category: Design and Interiors

Regular readers will know of our love of vintage Merrow Associates furniture – a stylish combination of wood and metal that looks as contemporary today as it did when it first hit the market in the late 60s.

And that look is still working for designers today – check out this David Linley Bevel desk lamp.

It’s made from a combination of nickel and American walnut and was inspired by woodworking tools originally owned by designer Linley, but still retains that classic  desk lamp look.

Available now from Bella Figura, you can pick it up for £382.

Find out more from the Bella Figura website

At first glance, this rug might look like a stylish piece of 60s-style pop art for your floor, but look again and you’ll realise this is a London Underground rug.

Yes, on a white background are lines in pink, orange, black and red, along with a station interchange in black.

A really stylish item for your floor and certain to stimulate a bit of conversation too. It’s available for around £750.

Find out more at the Art Meets Matter website

We’re all for recycling – especially when the end-result is something as smart-looking as these recycled car plate journals.

The plates are actually taken from old Australian vehicles, with the closing tab made from recycled truck tyre inner tubes, the paper is recycled and the bookmark is made from beer packaging – so that’s about as eco-friendly as you can get!

Available in a choice of Australian state (and also available as photo albums), you can pick one up for £24.95.

Find out more at the Green Apple website

I love Fuzzy-Felt, as I remember one birthday getting about three sets of it from various friends. It was great fun moving the cut out animals and characters on the boards, and now it is back with Fuzzy-Felt cards.

Fuzzy-Felt was apparently first developed during World War II, when a group of homeworkers used to give the felt off-cuts from material being used to line gas masks to their children to keep them entertained. The best selling toy was originally launched way back in 1950, but I remember it as a 70s child. The cards produced by the Monster Factory have all the fun of the original sets, as you can re-arrange the pictures on the front to create a personalised look. The Christmas cards feature nativity, snowmen, presents and angels – and if you get bored on Christmas day you can amuse yourself by playing with them.

They cost £2.99 per card and are available at Paperchase, John Lewis and Selfridges.

Find out more on the Monster Factory site.

Something a little different for your Christmas tree – rather than bells and fairies, how about these recycled vinyl record Christmas decorations.

The decorations are cut out of discarded 45 records and come with chains to hang from your tree. Even better, each has a yellow removable centre, so if you’re short of one for playing one of your collectable singles, just pop it out and use it!

Made in New York by artist Jeff Davis and sold as a set of 3, you can pick them up for $18, which is around £10.

Find out more at the Uncommon Goods website