The colourful yet simple range is hand made from resin and incredibly, it’s all dishwasher safe, as well as having anti-bacterial qualities which makes it perfect for food. You can purchase Tina’s products from her UK outlet – Mint.

Tips on vintage styling:
- Use old medicine bottles as vases, clear glass look best.
- Use old french linen as a tablecloth, embroidered edging looks super cute.
- Hang vintage bags on door knobs or if you have one, on the corner of your metal bedstead.
- Shabby chic some old pine chairs, take a look at our guide on ‘How to Shabby Chic furnitre’.
- White metal bird cages are still a firm favourite, try filling one with tea-lights and hang it above your dining table as a feature light.

                                                  Clockwise from top left: Dress, rug, horse lamp, bench seat, Warwick fabric, Ralph Lauren bookends.

In recent years the skull has escaped it’s sinister association to become a thing of beauty. The late Alexander McQueen revitalized and re-introduced the skull to current popular fashion in the early 2000s. The provocative skull imagery sweetened with bright colours and silky fabric sent fashionistas wild, itching to get their grubby hands on his skull-jacquard silk scarfs or Britannia skull clutch bags. Damien Hirst furthered the lust for skulls and proved his status in the arts world with ‘For the Love of God’ – a diamond encrusted platinum skull that sold for a spine tingling £50 million! Damien Hirst’s diamond skull became hypermodern and Dwell quickly copied, making an affordable diamante encrusted skull statement centerpiece for the home – it’s no pocket change at £199. Skulls, bones and even organs have been transformed in to a variety of house hold pieces in materials that you’d never expect. Below is my pick of the best anatomically inspired home-wares.

Various Mugs, all Kuehn Keramik

Pavilion of Natural History vase (left), Skull Candle holder (right) – all, Virbent

Supermodel Plates (main image), Inkhead Plate (top right), Anatomica Plate (bottom right) - all, The New English

Flower Pump – Veneri Design

‘Souviens toi que tu vas mourir, fiberglass chair’ – Pool (left). Glass Skull Pen Pot – Graham & Green (right).

Wig Vase – Tania da Cruz Design

Beware of the moon, bronze flock skulls on oil slick wallpaper. Rockett St George

Vintage Rose Skull Tapestry Cushion Kit, Jan Constantine (left). Skull Stein Glass, Heals (right).

Up-cycled Vintage Skull Teacup (left), Up-cycled Vintage Skull Plate (right) – all Melody Rose

In recent months there has been a real surge for raw, imaginative and free illustrations, and in my eyes, one of the leading designers in this category is James Ward of Jimbob Art. Ward honed his skills in illustration whilst studying at Westminster University, London, where he developed a love for working in pen and ink. After a recent vacation to Sweden, Ward came back to England truly inspired; inspired by their use of natural history design and the range of products or surfaces that features them. It’s from this point that Ward began using ceramics as a medium to display his range of animal characters.

‘I feel drawing anthropomorphic characters can describe so much about human emotions and personalities with the juxtaposition of the animal’s expression against his clothing, an item or text.’ – James Ward

I am enchanted with Jimbob Art’s selection of ceramics and the beautiful illustrations that cover them; they’re so playful and humorous. The bright pops of colour on the monochromatic designs bring the illustrations to life and add to their charming nature. Each individual illustration is hand-drawn with on-glaze ink on to dishwasher proof white porcelain. All of the ceramics will look not only brilliant as a table setting, but great on display; perhaps on a welsh dresser or kitchen shelving. My personal favourites have to be the El Guapo plate, The Dominator plate, the Owl in Pants teapot, and the Tea Defender Mug. It’s probably too early to be writing a ‘Christmas Wish List’, but these will definitely be going on it!

Origin – the contemporary craft fair

Ontwepduo is dutch for ‘design duo’. Designers Tineke Beunders and Nathan Wierink work closely together to create inspiring creations such as the above Light Forest (left) installation.  Their products have a brilliant industrial edge which is spot on at the moment. The award winning Shan Annabelle Valla is the next exhibitor I am looking forward to seeing. The collection of playful decorative curiosities take a twist on the normal, highlighting the everyday beauty. The above Itzy Bitzy Ditzy vases (right) have a fantastic texture which you wouldn’t expect from porcelain.

Top Drawer – design-led gifts, lifestyle and fashion accessories.

As a cookie extremist I instantly fell in love with Nikki McWilliams scrumptious cushions and homeware accessories (left). I’m looking forward to seeing the tea time treat creations, such as the above Tunnock’s Teacake and Bourbon cushions. Next on my list for Top Drawer will be Fifty One Percent, a colourful company which offer a great selection of folksy tableware, bedding and textiles. All in bright and bold colours.

100% Design – cutting edge, contemporary interior design

& Then Design (left) is a creative venture of Nottingham based furniture designers Samuel Wright and Jamie Bowler. Their pieces are intelligently crafted and full of character. The overall look is effortless and perfect for both at home and the workplace. London based Ochre (right) create subtle yet sophisticated designs that embody glamour. The craftsmanship is to an exceedingly high standard along with the materials used. The ‘Arctic Pear’ table lamp pictures above (right) is a personal favourite.

There are many elements that make this new Home store exciting including collaborations with designers that are completely new to John Lewis.  One that I am really excited about is the vintage boutique brand, Pedlars.  As well as their signiture pieces, they will be offering reconditioned 1950s telephones, original London bus blinds, vintage 1960s bread baking tins sourced from the Hovis factory, along with 1960s lamps, maps, and globes.

Customers will also see a new focus on design-led, directional products, particularly in furniture and lighting.  One particular designer lighting brand will be Design House Stockholm, a firm favourite of mine, you might know them for their ever popular and gorgeously stylish Nordic Light.

There will be a section dedicated cushions, wallpaper and fabric by Jocelyn Warner, a new dining range from Bethan Gray for John Lewis, and fabrics from Mulberry Home.  The area will see a new installation by the renowned stylist Emma Davidge, her concept is inspired by Tibetan flags, and uses long drops of John Lewis fabric to create a breath-taking entrance to the Home floor showcasing the array of fabrics available.

Other collaborations include Original BTC and Modernica, as well as designers Clements Ribeiro, James Joyce and Ptolomy Mann (images above).

Another service will be from Image library guru, Getty, where customers can customise a range of art and photography to suit their own requirements – altering the print size and frames to suit their taste.

Finally, there will be a Home Design service offering customers a design consultation in-store or at home.  Customers will also be able to pick-up swatches and samples, browse interiors magazines and books, and speak to one of their interior design-qualified home designers.

The official opening will be on September 13th 2011
John Lewis