The View - Christmas 2016

2017 is set to embarce Darker Tones.

Seasonal reds are in! We take a look at this emerging interior trend.

We reveal the winner in Decora's first ever window display competition.

Metallic Mania has hit & we're loving it.

We check out some of the latest gadgets in the year homes got smart.

DEC ‘16 | ISSUE 15 1

WE ALL KNOW AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SANTA IS FINALISING HIS “NAUGHTY AND NICE” LISTS...

HERE AT THE VIEW WE HAVE MANAGED TO GET OUR HANDS ON SANTA FE’S CHECKLIST FOR THE “NEVADA NICE LIST”

*Data Source: Thermal performance of traditional windows. English Heritage and Glasgow Caledonian University

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Welcome to the View

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A welcome to the View, from us to you.

Merging Media

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A look at Decora's press exposure in both traditional & new media.

A Very Berry Christmas

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Seasonal reds are in! We take a look at this emerging interior trend.

Escapism

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We investigate the growing interior design trend of digital escapism.

And The Winner Is...

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We reveal the winner in Decora's first ever window display competition.

Metallic Mania

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Metallic Mania has hit & we're loving it.

The Year That Was

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From Bowie to Brexit; we take a look at the years major events.

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Home & Away This Christmas Find out why more & more people are spending Christmas away from home.

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Movers & Shakers Bloggers are having a big impact on the interior design world. We check out some of the rising stars.

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Embrace Your Dark Side 2017 is set to embarce Darker Tones.

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Automation Sensation We check out some of the latest gadgets in the year homes got 'smart'.

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Stuff the Turkey Are you getting a little tired of the old bird? Check out how the rest of the world does Christmas dinner.

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Pay It Forward It's easier than ever to do your bit for charity this Christmas, all it takes is a little good will.

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ELCOME TO THE FINAL VIEW FOR 2016.

With the year that brought us Brexit, a new American President & Pokemon Go! We also must remember that March saw the launch of the new Fabric Box, Sunwood introduced several new colours to the Fauxwood range and Santa Fe brought a stylish presentation box to showcase the latest collection. We hope you have loved these additions as much as we have enjoyed launching them!

As we look ahead to 2017, this edition of The View provides some insight into projected trends – get ready to embrace metallic mania! Along with modern metals, we take a look at the must have home technology gadgets for 2017, which are sure to ease everyday life! Not only focusing on the home, this is the year to focus on you – we provide some tips and tricks for creating the perfect environment to escape and relax.

Embracing all things new, we also take a look at alternative places to spend Christmas across the UK and Ireland and discover how Christmas dinner is celebrated around the world – with these ideas you might even think about breaking tradition!

We look forward to 2017 and our continued journey with you all! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and wish you a prosperous New Year!

THE DECORA TEAM 5

Embracing the digital world is The Fabric Box. With presence on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in addition to an online blog, The Fabric Box intertwines digital marketing into the marketing mix for a smarter marketing approach.

Frame with a flourish: Smaller details such as window dressigns are key to finishing off a new kitchen space. These Sephora roller blinds in Sky, which depicts ferns against a dusky plain backdrop, are new from The Fabric Box.

Screen Idol: These made to measure sliding panels certainly fit the bill when it comes to stylish screening & we’ve fallen head over heels for this Splash Divine & Tango feature wall.

A classic colour scheme: Black and white is on trend both in fashion and homeware. Sally Chamley, founder of Black Orchid Interiors, says: ‘A touch of black can add structure to a room scheme. With white, it looks clean and sophisticated.’

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Social media generates a huge amount of data about your customers in real time. Every day there are over 500 million Tweets, 4.5 billion Likes on Facebook, and 95 million photos and videos uploaded to Instagram. Behind these staggering numbers is a wealth of information about your customers—who they are, what they like, and how they feel about your brand.

Rosa Calico

Farah Duck Egg

Through daily active engagement and social listening, you can gather relevant customer data and use that information to make smarter business decisions. With Hootsuite Insights, for example, you can gather information across all your social networks in real time— allowing you to gauge customer sentiment, find the conversations happening around your brand, and run real-time reports.

Grace Moonstone

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EASY USER INTERFACE & STEP BY STEP ORDERING PROCESS.

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DESIGN SHUTTER ONLINE: SHUTTER DIAGRAMS CAN BE PRINTED DIRECTLY FROM THE SITE.

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TECHNICAL DRAWINGS CAN BE PRINTED OFF THE SYSTEM.

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ORDER BAY WINDOWS: ORDER UP TO 6 BAY SECTIONS.

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EFFICIENT ORDER PROCESS: ORDERS SENT DIRECT TO FACTORY.

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TRACK PROGRESS OF CUSTOMER ORDERS.

SANTAFESHUTTERS.CO.UK

SANTAFESHUTTERS.CO.UK

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CHRISTMAS JUST ISN’T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SOME RED! FROM MARKS AND SPENCER’S CHRISTMAS #WITHLOVE CAMPAIGN TO STARBUCKS RED HOLIDAY CUPS AND OF COURSE COCA COLA’S RED TRUCK, THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS RED IS BEING EMBRACED!

Starbuck’s new Christmas cups

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Not just for Christmas, a red and white colour scheme can be used all year through to make a statement. Pure and serene, crisp whites can be combined with red for a simple yet luxuriously energetic look. Nera Scarlet is the perfect addition to such a design.

Mark’s & Spencers Mrs Claus Campaign

Feeding the Christmas appetite, red is the perfect choice for a kitchen diner with its proven quality of stimulating one’s appetite. This makes Vitra Flame the perfect shade for a family dinner environment.

Nera Scarlet

Vitra Flame

Alumitex Primary Red

Warming and welcoming this traditional Christmas colour is perfect for creating that fuzzy feeling in a home design.

Mixing Christmas crimson with a leafy metallic, Satina can be used to add a touch of magic sparkle all year around.

Not just for creating a homely feel, red can also be used to add confidence and flair. Bold and delightful, Mezza embraces a hot red and quirky design for a unique touch.

Truly embracing the Christmas spirit, Alumitex’s dramatic Primary Red adds glamour, spice (and all things nice!).

Fused into a black and white design the true beauty of its metallic tone is enhanced.

Mezza Lava

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Within interior design, a growing trend has developed over time – Escapism. People are designing areas within their home where they can go to decompress and disconnect from electronics in a setting that is soothing and relaxing for them. With social media being at the forefront of everything, many people want to be able to escape from the pace of everyday life. The desire to create small nooks solely designed for relaxation is something that can be easily achieved without lengthy renovation. The colours used to create your ‘safe’ place can be anything you want. Pastel hues evoke openness and relaxation. They are considered relieving and soothing. The Farah range within The Fabric Box collection is inspired by the Japanese cherry blossom tree, the delicate detail and pastel colours brings a sense of zen to any room. Blue is a colour which projects a sense of calm and tranquillity increases creativity and spirituality. Sephora Sky has a soft delicate fern which evokes relaxing while Rosa Mineral has an elegant design that could captive your imagination. Another

E S C A P I S M trend which will work hand in hand with the trend is the colour dark green. This colour adds depth and can bring the colours from the outdoors inside. The dark green can be complimented by natural wood tones such as Sunwood Beech and Chestnut or Timberlux Walnut. Soft cloth inspired fabrics from The Fabric Box collection such as Costello Stone will complement the dark green while adding texture and a sense of luxury to the serene environment. Technology, for the most part, is one of the greatest creations in our generation. Tech-filled homes certainly aren’t going anywhere, but more and more families are opting to keep their family rooms unplugged in order to facilitate more family time. If you have noticed that your family have begun to drift apart due to the amount of technology in your home, it may be time to re-evaluate the impact it has on your life. Minor changes within the home can help bring the family together by making certain areas more appealing, inviting and relaxing.

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THIS YEAR SAW THE EXPANSION OF THE SUNWOOD FAUXWOOD COLLECTION, WITH 6 NEW COLOURS INTRODUCED TO THE EXISTING RANGE. EMULATING A SOPHISTICATED WOOD GRAIN OR A CONTEMPORARY SMOOTH FINISH, FAUX WOOD BLINDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN 8 COLOUR OPTIONS RANGING FROM WHITE TO A RICH DARK BROWN WOOD GRAIN.

Crafted using high quality PVC, Sunwood Fauxwood blinds meet the demands of consumers who want to introduce elements of nature and wood to every part of their home.

The fine grain re-creates the warm, homely effect of natural wood. The durability and versatility of PVC enables a faux wood blind to be the perfect window covering for areas of high moisture content such as kitchens and bathrooms. The highquality PVC absorbs less moisture which means the slat will not warp, yet still retaining the natural look.

The new Sunwood Fauxwood colours include a rich warm cream, Linara available in both flat and finegrain; Stratus, a warm grey wood grain is the ‘must-have’ colour in any room as it compliments many colour schemes. Four other wood tones finish the palette ranging from Desert Oak, perfect accompaniment to oak flooring and furniture to Callo, a dark rich grain which can create a sophisticated modern look when mixed with a clean white interior.

The Sunwood Fauxwood collection can also be enriched by adding tapes to the blinds. The option to choose flatweave tapes will allow you to add a more refined look on your blind and help you tie in with your current interior trends.

The Sunwood Collection now totals 38 colours and wood tones that will truly enhance and further strengthen the Sunwood brand as one of the most comprehensive and competitively priced wood venetian ranges in the market.

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AND THE

WINNER IS Competition was fierce as customers tapped into their creative sides to produce an eclectic mix of retail displays. The Final selection was eventually narrowed down to four possible winners.

S I M P LY

B L I N D S

Each of the four finalists clearly grasped the conceptual theme of the competition, with a theme / message evident to support the visual element to each of the displays.

Blinds 2000 creation of clothing from The Fabrics Box collection delved into the made to measure theme of The Fabric Box, while Amber blinds chose to make a visual statement with a monochrome display with the eye-catching Mezza as the centre piece.

M&S Blinds Belfast’s, colourful paint pots have created a splash of interest with passing trade. Siobhan from M&S Blinds commented “we have received great feedback from customers, it has drawn them instore and created a buzz around the collection”

Trailored: A strong concept

Genius use of the Fabric Box accessories & materials

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Eye catching & colourful merchandise display

AMBER BLINDS The judges felt that the winning display showed a great understanding of the conceptual theme, combining The Fabric Box’s recognisable green branding through the choice of product and by utilising props to capsulate The Fabric Boxes ability to be tailored to individual consumer needs.

The mixture of contrasting colour on display falls in line with a key merchandising theory that states that “A mixture of colours to create a contrasting background to the products on display can have a high recall rate by consumers”. The judges loved the visual “tailored” message created with the 89mm vertical dress. Overall the visual elements combined with the written message to create an eye-catching conceptual display.

As noted many times the power of the window display cannot be underestimated.

The window display is the first physical interaction a potential consumer has with a brand, it provides an understanding of what goods are sold in store as well as communicating the brand image and how it is distinguished from competitors.

BLINDS 2000

A study of the pharmacy and beauty retailer Boots, found that products introduced in a window display increases the sales of those products and even help with increasing the sales of products which have low sales. Overall, stores who had a window display had a positive increase in sales compared to those who did not. Entrants to The Fabric Box window dressing competition have seen the impact on their business and with the increased interaction with consumers.

M&S BLINDS BELFAST 17

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THIS YEAR THE HOME DÉCOR, FASHION AND BEAUTY INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN MAD FOR METALLICS. FROM COPPER VASES TO GOLD DRESSES AND EVEN ROSE GOLD TINTED HAIR, METALLICS HAVE BEEN A PROMINENT FEATURE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2016!

The metallic trend has its roots in the copper craze which began in 2015.

As popularity increased through 2016 we saw the addition of bronze, rose gold and gold adding to the glamour and warmth of existing copper tones.

Assisting in setting the trend was the colour of the year choices made by Pantone, the colour experts; Rose Quartz set the culture for a rise in pastel shades and warm metals. As such they were introduced into the home in a variety of ways from wallpaper, tiles and flooring to accessories, appliances and furniture.

Today, chrome taps meet copper baths, ceramic tiles and wooden floors are intertwined with rich metals, furniture pieces infused with metal become statement pieces and home furnishings set out to dazzle. The Fabric Box collection carries the love of metallic through to window design with various shimmering options; Reflection, Nina, Treviso, Satina, Midas and Grace utilise distinct metallic patterns whilst Luxari, Albany, Sahara, Samba, Metz, Diva and Linos incorporate a subtle metallic sheen. With a range of options, metallics can be used to not only create an elegant glow in a room, but to also

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add an edgy vibe for uncontrived individualism. Suiting any scheme, metallics can be used to emphasize any theme from old-style glamour to exotic bliss and modern minimalism.

Muted metals can be paired with vintage patterns, neutral whites and soft textiles for old-style glamour.

Grace from The Fabric Box collection is perfect for this look with a baroque floral design in shimmering metallic.

Additionally, Albany adds a beautiful glow with an elegant brushed metallic design. Stark golds and silvers can be paired with cobalt blues, lime greens and quirky patterns for exotic bliss.

Pefectly adding to such a design is Reflection Olivine with a bright green base and metallic pattern, Satina Vanilla with wild gold leaves on a neutral base or Treviso Citrine with its forest flair.

Additionally, subtle hints of gold and copper can be used to create warm sophistication within a modern design.

Reflection and Nina from The Fabric Box collection add a homely touch to a minimal design whilst the leathery metallic sheen of Metz adds a little touch of drama.

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

Thousands of hearts across the world are simultaneously broken when One Direction announce their split.

At the 6th time of asking Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins his first Oscar for ‘The Revenant’.

England won the 6 Nations and Grand Slam

World’s first baby born with new “3 parent” technique. It’s a boy by the way.

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

Leicester City fight their way to a historic fairy-tale Premier League victory.

The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday while the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Pokemon Fever took over the world, with people giving up jobs to chase Pokemon around the world

Team GB finish 2nd on the medal table at the Rio Olympic Games

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Samsung had to recall millions of phones as many have started exploding while the iPhone 7 was launched

The Great British Bake Off appeared on the BBC for the last time

Donald Trump is elected President of the United States of America, defeating Hillary Clinton at the polls.

Santa sleeps in...

HOME OR AWAY

This Christmas?

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FEATURE HEAVILY IN OUR ANNUAL FESTIVITIES; WE ALL HAVE THEM EVEN IF WE THINK WE DON’T. From the Christmas jumpers, the carrots left out on Christmas Eve, champagne for breakfast on Christmas Day to visiting every family member over the festive period. Why not step away from the norm and do something totally different this year! Leave the madness of the ‘big’ Christmas food shop and the stress of cooking the turkey behind you, instead have someone cater to your every need while you spend quality time with your family – after all isn’t that what Christmas is about?

5 STAR LUXURY IN IRELAND Cork City’s premier 5-star hotel, Hayfield Manor. Relax and enjoy the entire festive season in tranquillity. Arrive to a reception of warm mulled wine and the sound of heart-warming Christmas carols. Children will enjoy their time here as the hotel plan little surprises to delight the junior guests during their stay over the festive season.

They will relish all the fun and excitement of decorating their very own Christmas tree in the luxurious bedrooms, then on Christmas Eve the little ones can gather around the cosy fireside and enjoy some festive stories before all the excitement of the arrival of Santa Claus later that night.

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FESTIVE EDINBURGH CASTLE RESORT Carlowrie Castle is an alternative way to spend Christmas.

Take in the breath-taking views of the 32 acre grounds by taking a stroll or sip on festive bubbles while relaxing beside the open fires. Christmas Eve the butler will serve boozy mince pies while listening to Christmas songs around the decorative tree. Wake up on Christmas morning with a stocking full of goodies on your door followed by a festive turkey dinner with all the trimmings then settle down to watch your favourite classic movie.

CHRISTMAS IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE Re-enact the popular Christmas movie ‘The Holiday’ and enjoy Christmas in a secluded cottage in the English countryside. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and explore the lovely towns, villages and countryside of the region, while visiting local pubs and coffee shops to indulge in a mulled cider or hot chocolate.

Stay in the Cotswolds and relax this Christmas while enjoying all the countryside has on offer, take leisurely walks admiring the landscape or retreat to one of the many spas to enjoy some selfindulgent pampering.

FESTIVE FUN IN WALES Located on the west coast of Wales in Pembrokeshire, enjoy an action-packed Christmas with lots of festive fun to suit the whole family. Blue Stone National Park is ideal for families dreaming of a traditional Christmas break, while enjoying some actionpacked fun such as rock climbing, kayaking or simply relax and watch the Christmas pantomime.

Whether you’re an outdoor adrenaline chaser, a fanatic foodie or a wound-up workaholic in need of some winding down, you’ll find your perfect adventure in Wales.

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Social media is said to be the most powerful form of marketing. With a few keystrokes and the touch of button, you can target any market in the world! True success, however is knowing what content your market wants to see and how to put it in front of their eyes‌follow our tips and tricks to help you get started!

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USE THE POWER OF IMAGERY With an average of 7,000 tweets per second, 48,000 Instagram posts per minute and 1.3 million posts per minute on Facebook, the use of eye catching images is a must! Take inspiration from Instagram user @brightbazaar. With an impressive 161K Instagram followers @brightbazaar uses a mix of images to appeal to various personas…

USE THE POWER OF #HASHTAGS Hashtags identify content on a specific topic and increase the chance of it being found by the right people. To get started simply use words that describe your content to form hashtags within your post. A key point here is to ensure you use words which are relevant to the topic of your content. Twitter user @mikeahern_, author of the blog Brit décor, embraces the power of hashtags to attract people with an interest in home interiors; as a result his following is growing and as it stands he has a total of 5.7K Twitter followers.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS As your social following increases it is important to nurture the relationship with your potential customers – enhancing trust through communication is key - speak to your followers, ask questions and listen to what they have to say! Home Interior blogger @lovechicliving is not afraid to connect with others and openly engages with her multitude of followers (10K Twitter followers & 975K Pinterest followers!). She often poses questions to entice conversation and always responds to their comments. As a result she oozes likeability.

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MODERN INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS ARE IN A STATE OF CONSTANT FLUX, ALTHOUGH VIBRANT COLOUR SCHEMES ARE ALWAYS AT THE FORE FRONT, A NEW TREND HAS TAKEN A DARK TURN AWAY FROM THE CONVENTIONAL AND DARKER SHADES ARE SET TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON FASHION AND INTERIOR DESIGN. Dark stains can help make a statement in your home, creating a bold and dramatic look. The Timberlux range which includes darker shades like Wenge and Walnut will add a sense of elegance to any living space. The Fabric Box Collection picks up on the grey trend with many of the top sellers incorporating tones of grey in the designs, textures and plains ranges.

If you’re worried the dark colour may make your living space appear small, remember to pair your dark stained woods with lighter accents of colour.

For example, light or white coloured walls, coloured cushions or rugs can create the perfect balance where the dark wood can become the focal point.

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Sin Gloss 89mm

Bedrooms should be calming and seductive spaces. This can be obtained through a pallet of natural tones kept interesting through a mix of textures such as woods, velvets and silks.

Sunwood Fauxwood Acacia is an example which is ideal in bedrooms as it shows the fine grain of the wood which will compliment light coloured walls and accessories.

Smooth shiny textures such as chrome lamps, glass tables or gloss finishes reflect more light, these make rooms such as kitchens or bathrooms feel cooler and also add a sense of modernity. The Alumitex range has a variety of metallic or textured darker options such as Orion and Rapture Rebel available in 25mm slats which will tick multiple design trends while keeping your room modern and allow you to move with changing trends

Mezza Noir

Blacks, browns and greys are colours that will always be considered when designing a home. Darker shades create a dynamic and bold ambiance in your home. Even in small spaces, darker colours can give depth and volume and won’t overpower a space when used strategically. Be sure to apply lighter shades such as light greys or whites to floors or ceilings to enhance the dark colours and maximise the feeling of space.

Fauxwood Acacia

Toro Pewter Orion

Henlow Shadow

During the winter months, we tend to gravitate towards the darker, richer tones. However, these colours can last all year long if matched correctly.

Alessi Jet from The Fabric Box collection is a subtle self-patterned fabric that presents a feel of luxury with the mix of matt and sheen Italian yarns. This design would fit perfectly in both a contemporary and classical interior setting using whites and light greys. Toro Pewter also allows you to add warmth and texture to any room with its subtle two tone leather effect print, this easy wipe fabric makes it ideal for kitchen areas.

The Fabric Box, Treviso Shadow will bring a touch of nature inside with a linear tree print. The Metallic base adds a touch of sparkle!

Treviso Shadow

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IN A TECHNOLOGY LED WORLD, HOMES ARE BECOMING ‘SMARTER’ WITH THE INTEGRATION OF SMART DEVICES, APPS AND GADGETS CREATED FOR ALMOST ALL ELEMENTS OF THE HOME. FROM REMOTE CONTROL HEATING TO AUTOMATIC LIGHTING, MOTORISED BLINDS AND EVEN VIRTUAL ASSISTANT’S, LIFE CAN BE MADE EASIER. ALL YOU NEED IS AN INTERNET CONNECTION, WIFI ROUTER AND A MOBILE DEVICE TO START BUILDING YOUR DIGITAL HOME!

EASY ENTERTAINMENT R7 Wireless 360° Smart Speaker

by Samsung

SMART LIGHTING ‘The light switch is on your phone!’ Motion detection, audio recognition and remote controlled lighting means the light switch is always easy to find. Most versatile, remote controlled lighting allows you to do more than just power the lights on and off. Products such as the Philips Hue range also enable automatic activation of lights with inclusion of a timer in their smartphone app.

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Phillips Hue

by Phillips

Digital music services such as Spotify and iTunes enable your personal music library to be carried in your pocket.

Wireless speakers perfectly combine to allow music to be streamed from your phone to fill the air with your favourite tracks. Multi-room audio systems add to effortless song control and minimal home interior, making wireless speakers the perfect choice for easy entertainment.

THE PERFECT THERMOSTAT Wi-Fi connected thermostat’s not only enable remote control heating, they also provide a smarter way to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Using a dedicated app, heating schedules can be set up at the touch of a button. Not only that, smart thermostats learn how to heat your home by working out your heating patterns. Nest Learning Thermostat offers additional cost savings as it adapts heating to the weather outside, and Hive by British Gas tracks your location and adjusts the heating depending upon whether you are leaving or returning home.

Nest Learning Thermostat

By Nest Labs

ULTIMATE PRIVACY

Motorised venetian Blinds

by Sunwood

Motorised blinds provide ultimate convenience in maintaining privacy and controlling natural light. Using a remote control, blinds can be tilted and lifted at the touch of a button. Sunwood, Timberlux and Alumitex motorised blinds incorporate a linked system for synonymous control of all blinds in a room.

Discrete motors are used to maintain the aesthetics of a room, and to increase convenience automatic functionalities can be included; light sensors can be added so blinds automatically tilt in periods of sunshine, and timer units can be added to raise and lower blinds at set times – this offers increased security as blinds can be set to raise or tilt whilst you are on vacation to make it look like you are home!

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Streaming music, setting a timer or ordering a takeaway?

Devices such as the Amazon Echo allow you to complete a multitude of tasks without having to lift a finger. Speech recognition enables you to simply ask for what you need, and wireless speakers mean you get an answer! As the hub of complete home integration, the Amazon Echo can also be integrated with many other smart systems; simply download third party “skills” (apps) such as Philips Hue lights or the Nest thermostat to power your lighting and heating in one sentence!

Echo by Amazon

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but have you ever stopped to wonder what Christmas is like around the world?

For us, there is no better feeling than tucking into a turkey dinner that has more than likely been on our minds all day. It’s a part of Christmas that brings everyone together and helps keep you in the Christmas spirit.

As we celebrate Christmas in the Winter season, sitting down to a warm Turkey dinner always gives you that feel-good feeling. However, other parts of the world tend to find themselves celebrating the Christmas season in the sun. With a turkey dinner not looking so appealing look at what some countries class as a ‘traditional’ Christmas dinner!

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In Italy, you won’t find the same Christmas dinner on every table. Each region of Italy has their own traditions.

The first course is either broth or pasta followed by a second course generally based on meat or fish.

Christmas Eve is when the main meal is eaten which includes all of Sweden’s classic dishes, such as, Christmas ham, pork sausage, an egg and anchovy mixture (gubbröra), herring salad, pickled herring, home-made liver pâté, wort-flavoured rye bread (vörtbröd), potatoes and a special fish dish, lutfisk.

3.6 million Japanese households celebrate the Christmas holidays with a takeaway from KFC. This food trend started back in the 1970’s and has continued to grow in popularity ever since.

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FOR THIS YEAR’S PAY IT FORWARD, THE AIM IS TO GET OVER 10 MILLION ACTS OF KINDNESS AROUND THE WORLD.

PAY IT FORWARD DAY ON THE 27TH APRIL 2017 IS WHEN PEOPLE WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT IN PERFORMING RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS TO 3 OR MORE PEOPLE AND ASKING THOSE PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME. You might be thinking why just one day, should we not be kind to people every day? Of course, the answer is yes, however Pay It Forward Day is giving people that little reminder of how important and empowering it is to be kind to others. Why not try out some of these different ways in which you can get involved in Pay It Forward Day:

THINK ABOUT PUTTING SOME MONEY DOWN FOR A PENDING COFFEE

“BUY A MEAL FOR A HOMELESS MAN”.

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Donate to a charity.

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Buy someone at work a cup of coffee

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Hold the door open for someone.

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If someone you love likes something, give it to them when they least expect it.

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Compliment someone who deserves it, or doesn’t. Remember, it’s about charity.

A HOMELESS MAN GAVE STUDENT DOMINIQUE HARRISON-BENTZEN HIS LAST £3 SO THAT SHE COULD GET HOME. SHE THEN RAISED OVER £21,000 FOR THE HOMELESS MAN AS HE HELPED HER GET HOME SAFE.

A girl set a £10 note in the street with a note that said: ‘Hi! This £10 is for you: I’d like you to pay it forward. Buy a meal for a homeless man, plant a tree, whatever strikes you.’ She left her email address on the note and told the person who found it to email her and tell her what they did.

In a small coffee shop two customers arrived. ‘’5 coffees, 2 for us’ they said.

They paid for 5 but only drank two.

A poor man enters the shop. With a soft voice, he asks ‘Do you have any pending coffee?’ So, what’s a pending coffee?

People pay in anticipation for the coffees and even meals for others who can’t.

‘My dad was a soldier. He’s in heaven now’: Touching note of thanks that the eight-year-old son of a dead Iraq veteran handed to a soldier in a restaurant along with $20 note.

Myles Eckert, aged eight

When thousands of people were left without electricity after hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the US. These People allowed complete strangers to charge their phones to let their relatives know they were alright.

To see more amazing stories like this or to read more about Pay It Forward Day go online to payitforwardday.com/get-involved

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COLOURS | TEXTURES | DESIGNS 35

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