Christmas stars
Every Christmas tree needs a star, so how about adorning your tree this year with a handmade glass star?
The fused glass stars are individually handmade by Alex R, making each one unique. They’re available in a choice of colours, including white, red, purple, blue, champagne or mixed.
One star costs £12.50 and can be purchased from Alex R’s store on Not On The High Street, along with lots of other gorgeous handmade glass home accessories.
Daisy flower bottle
Have you seen the flower bottles collection from Dartington Crystal?
If you love coloured glass and like the idea of displaying flowers – whether single stems or several blooms – in glass bottles, then the collection is well worth a look.
We particularly love the colour and design of the turquoise daisy bottle, which is wonderfully vibrant. It has a small etched daisy flower emblem on the front of it.
The flower bottles are designed by Hilary Green and are available in a range of colours, sizes and designs. A vase on its own looks lovely on a windowsill, where the light can shine through it, but the vases would be perfect displayed in groups of three in complementary or contrasting colours.
The daisy flower bottle is £42 from Dartington Crystal.
A few of the flower bottles in the collection are being discontinued at the end of 2011, so if you’re after the plum pansy vase or grape green lily vase, snap them up while you can – they’re reduced to £26 each.
Bud vase set
With the summer flowers in full bloom, it’s the perfect time of year to pick a few stems to bring inside and enjoy. We’ve recently been enjoying some freshly picked homegrown lavender and the lovely aroma of fresh sweet peas.
A small bud vase does the trick perfectly for a holding a few small stems and this set of three fluted bud vases looks like a great buy. Each of the clear glass vases is a slightly different size and shape, which appeals to my love of all things eclectic, and they’re all made of nicely fluted glass.
You could use them individually, or group them together, or perhaps give away one or two of them as gifts if you don’t need all three.
At only £14 for the set of three fluted vases from The Orchard, I don’t think you can really go wrong.
Serve up a delicious sundae
Every kitchen needs a set of sundae glasses.
They’re perfect for making up a quick layered dessert and there’s nothing nicer than digging in through layers of ice cream, yogurt, mousse or fruit to see what’s underneath.
This set of four classically designed glass sundae dishes are £17.95 from Coco Male Interiors. They’d go perfectly with the spoons we featured yesterday.
Round lantern
This unusual round glass storm lantern looks almost nautical in style. It’s made from glass and nickel plated stainless steel and works well with a small pillar candle inside.
The glass storm lantern is a limited edition piece and can be purchased from Nordic House.
Glasses for all occasions
These glasses are not only stylish, but I rather like their name too – Linea Spirit Crystal glasses. You don’t have to believe in spirits, or drink spirits from them (although I could be persuaded to do the latter, ahem), but if you’re looking for glasses that would add the perfect finishing touch to a dinner table or drinks party, then these are ideal.
Made from cut crystal, each of the glasses has a kind of swirly finish on them which makes them stand out. A whole array of different sizes are available, from elegant champagne flutes, to white wine glasses, champagne saucers (the wide brimmed one), hi balls and tumblers.
All of the Linea Spirit Crystal glasses are now half price at House of Fraser and are only £6 each.
Summery glasses
There are lots of different ways in which you can introduce colour into your home and, one of the easiest ways, is through the products you buy and use.
These bright and colourful Sagaform glasses are a perfect example of how a simple glass can help inject colour and interest into a room – in this case, your kitchen or dining room. They look great on a table being used, but work equally well when displayed in a glass fronted kitchen cabinet.
Designed by Scandinavian Lotta Odelius, the fun and playful highball glasses come as a set ouf four and are bursting with colour.
Buy the glasses for £18 a set from Cloudberry Living.
It does what it says
We love the elegance and simplicity of this glass decanter, or water carafe.
Ideal for a lunch table, desk or dinner party, this glass water decanter holds up to 1.5 litres of water and is stencilled on the front with the pure and simple wording, “Tap Water.”
The tap water decanter is available from Isabel Ballardie Interiors and is priced at £15.
Gold champagne flute
The sales are a great opportunity to stock up on luxury items that you fancy owning, but can’t quite justify normally. Champagne flutes may fall into that category, as they’re lovely and useful for some occasions, but may not get heaps of use all year round.
This gold champagne flute is elegant and stylish. It’s part of the Star range by Julien Macdonald and has a lovely metallic silver lustre. The champagne glass is half price in the Debenhams sale, making it a very affordable £3.50. If you want to build up a set of glasses, then a matching wine glass is also available in the sale for £3.50.
Trendy bird design jug
Glass jugs are hugely useful to have in your home. They’re great for serving up ice cold drinks, large jugs of cocktails, or for doubling up as a vase and displaying some gorgeous flowers.
Simple in design, and with straight sides, this glass jug is given lots of extra appeal by the addition of its botanical bird print.
Sweet little birds are pictured perching on tree branches and it’s a very on trend and stylish design.
The jug measures 26cm by 11cm and is £22 from Laura Ashley.
