Categories / Design and Interiors

Christie’s Interiors auction in London

Desk

Want to kit your home out in some classic 20th century design? You need to head for the Christie's Interiors auction in London, which takes place at the South Kensington site in London in 8th February 2011.

In truth, there are items going through the centuries, both antique and fairly recent, but it's the midcentury items that have caught our eye. This Ernst Igl Hadi desk is one such design. From 1971, this space age gem was produced by Bayer in moulded polyurethane, with storage and lighting built-in.

Not too expensive either really, £800 – £1,200 is the estimate. Check out the site to register to bid or see all the lots.

Find out more at the Christie's website

Categories / Design and Interiors

John Lewis retro-styled Aalto armchair and sofa

Aalto1

Not sure if there's much similarity to the work of the man it's named after, but we like the retro styling of the John Lewis Aalto armchair and sofa.

Pictured above is the oversized armchair, with light oak legs, a high back granite-coloured 'chunky' fabric upholstery and the bonus of a scatter cushion.

If you want something bigger, check out the sofa over the page, which is in much the same style. Available for order now, prices start at £999.

Find out more at the John Lewis website

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Categories / Design and Interiors, Music

Acme The Beatles Collection Pen and Card Case sets

Acme1

Something for The Beatles fans out there, although you'll need to be an affluent fan of the Fab Four to collections all of these Acme The Beatles Collection Pen and Card Case sets, which celebrate 50 years since the band was formed.

Each set limited to 600 worldwide and each design is based around an original Beatles album, so the one above is, as you've probably guessed, A Hard Day's Night. Also released in the first batch is Please Please Me and With The Beatles, with other albums following over the next couple of years.

In the set, you get an enamel rollerball pen and business card case with the album design featured, as well as a presentation box which replicates the album cover and is individually numbered. Available for pre-order now, £119.99 is the price. See over the page for the packaging.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

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Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: Italian 1970s eyeball desk lamp by Prova Lighting

Prova

Not sure how collectable this actually is, but the eyeball desk lamp by Prova Lighting is certainly an eye-catching and distinctive piece.

Designed in either the 1960s or (more likely), the 70s, this Italian design has an aluminium base and a steel body, with a lacquered mustard yellow finish. The entire thing stands at around 30cm and is, of course, adjustable.

This lamp has been recently re-wired, retaining its original period inline switch and is described as being in 'pretty much mint' condition. £4.99 is the current bidding price.

Find out more at the eBay website

Categories / Art and Photography

New Sir Peter Blake limited edition prints – Vera Puzzle and 24 Flags

Opus1

We're not going to pretend these are cheap, but if you have money to invest and want to invest it in art, Sir Peter Blake has two new limited edition prints on the market – Vera Puzzle and 24 Flags.

Both are part of his 'Found Art' series, as well as as being giclee prints with a silkscreen glaze and in a signed limited edition of just 25 of each. The flags one, as you can see, is a collage of Union Jack images, while the Vera Puzzle artwork, which is pictured over the page, is inspired by vintage Mickey Mouse imagery.

Both are sized at 36 x 42 inches and both are available now for £2,500 each.

Find out more at the Opus Art Gallery website

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Categories / Design and Interiors, Travel

La Vie Ordinaire wallpaper from B&Q

La vie ordinaire
If you like Cath Kidston's London design or the retro city views of Lizzie Allen's City Gents wallpaper or indeed the the C'est Magnifique wallpaper we featured a couple of weeks ago, this La Vie Ordinaire wallpaper from B&Q could offer you a good budget option.

Like those three designs, it's decorated with illustrations of a city, in this case showing London, Paris and New York. It's a very nostalgic, touristy viewpoint so New York gets yellow cabs and the Statue of Liberty; London gets gents in suits and a girl in a rain mac holding a bulldog. The retro feel is further enhanced by the red and yellow highlights that have been used as part of the illustrations. 

The paper costs £19.98 for 10 metres

Order it online