Author: Cat Tomalin

The influence of Japan’s timeless design philosophy is inspiring more British homes, blending minimalism, natural materials and a deep-rooted sense of tranquillity. With Japan welcoming a record-breaking 37 million tourists in 2024, including a surge of British visitors (source: Bloomberg, Jan 2025), the nation’s design ethos is making a bold impact on UK interiors. A weaker yen has made Japan more accessible than ever, drawing design-conscious travellers eager to bring back inspiration from the country’s serene aesthetics, craftsmanship, and mindful living principles. For years, Japandi – the seamless fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian simplicity – has dominated interiors. But…

Explore fresh finds for Spring 2025 with discounts on furniture, flooring, homewares, accessories, and more. Arighi Bianchi’s Spring Sale offers up to 25% off across every department, both in-store and online, until Sunday 1st June, giving shoppers the perfect opportunity to refresh homes for the new season. Hailed as one of the North’s most prestigious interiors stores, Arighi Bianchi has been a destination for home inspiration for over 170 years. With four floors of curated furniture, flooring, and designer accessories, plus stunning inspirational room-sets, expert in-store advice, and premium home delivery services, there’s no better place to upgrade your interiors.…

Cheshire-based digital marketing agency Pretzel Group has rebranded to Ideate Digital aligning the business with its current proposition – bringing ideas and data together to deliver high-performing marketing campaigns and websites. The new identity comes on the back of continued growth, new business wins and increased specialism in Shopify and WordPress website design and development. Further expertise in Technical SEO and Digital PR enables the agency to provide full-service digital strategy and ongoing support to clients across a variety of sectors from eCommerce and retail to hospitality, aesthetics and clinics. The agency is headed by Ideate Director and Founder John Butcher, who…

Forget the days of having just one signature scent – 2025 is all about fragrance wardrobes, and Gen Z are embracing the trend like never before. “Perfume is no longer just about simply smelling good or a luxury; it’s become a powerful tool for self-expression, a way to reclaim individuality, with new generations seeking out scents that match their mood, personality and even their outfits,” says perfume expert Aude Asklöv who’s working with PerfumeDirect.com From reinvented florals to unexpected gourmands, this year’s biggest fragrance trends prove that scent is as much of an outward statement as your favourite accessory, expressing…

Last week saw a glittering evening of Japanese culture and creativity at Arighi Bianchi to celebrate the launch of its latest destination-inspired homewares collection for Spring 2025 – Postcards from Japan. Held at the brand’s iconic Macclesfield store, the event offered an exclusive preview of the new collection, beautifully curated to capture the essence of Japanese design and craftsmanship. Guests Throughout the evening, guests immersed themselves in authentic cultural experiences – from hands-on crafting workshops to beautiful Ikebana flower arranging, as well to the chance to sample a delicious selection of sushi, sparkling sake, and expertly crafted Japanese cocktails. There was also an opportunity…

The nation’s favourite romantic heroine is back! With the return of Bridget Jones in Mad About the Boy, the nation is once again falling for her irresistible charm, sharp wit, and chaotic love life. But as Bridget embarks on this exciting new chapter, what fragrances best suit her journey of reinvention? Perfume Direct used expert perfumer Aude Asklöv’s top tips on selecting scents that resonate with a person’s personality and style preferences to curate the ultimate fragrance wardrobe for Bridget, inspired by her personality, quirks, confidence, and newfound sophistication. Fragrances Fit for Bridget Bridget Jones has always been a woman…

Time is running out to take advantage of Arighi Bianchi’s biggest and best sale of the year, with the Macclesfield-based store’s Winter Sale set to end on 23rd February. This is the final chance for shoppers to enjoy not-to-be-missed savings of up to 30% off across the store, making it the perfect opportunity to invest in statement pieces like a dream sofa, dining set, or luxury bed and mattress. With incredible savings on top brands and designer furniture, there’s no better time to refresh your home for less. Explore an exceptional selection of sofas and chairs from leading brands such as Parker Knoll, Sits and Tetrad. With contemporary…

Door4, a specialist in home and garden performance marketing, has conducted an in-depth analysis of current search trends in the gardening sector. This study highlights the categories and products gaining traction among UK consumers while also identifying those seeing a decline in interest. “While search volumes have naturally decreased from the extraordinary peaks seen during the UK’s lockdowns, many categories have stabilised at levels notably higher than pre-pandemic figures” says Sean Dwyer, Door4’s Managing Director. “This represents a sustained shift in consumer interest rather than a simple decline, with particularly encouraging patterns for equipment suppliers.” Core garden equipment, such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers…

This Valentine’s Day, many will be scouring shops for chocolates and flowers, but what if the most meaningful gift is something much simpler? In an era dominated by texting and social media, picking up the landline could be the ultimate act of love and nostalgia – and Brits agree. A new survey by Zen Internet, a leading telecommunications and network connectivity provider, has revealed that over 2 in 5 Brits (41%) feel that calling someone’s home phone feels more personal than reaching them on a mobile. In fact, nearly 4 in 10 (39%) say that a home phone-to-home phone chat is…

Family-run businesses PJ Livesey and Arighi Bianchi have formed the perfect partnership to add even more sparkle to a £1million property at the King’s Gate development in Macclesfield, to give visitors and would-be residents a real taste of the good life. Specialist heritage developer, PJ Livesey has more than 40 years’ experience of successfully restoring heritage properties like the former King’s School in Macclesfield, to create bespoke, luxury conversions, alongside innovative, low carbon newly built homes. Established in 1854 and located in the centre of Macclesfield, Arighi Bianchi is widely regarded as the North West’s premier interiors shopping destination, celebrated…

The elderly and vulnerable are among the millions of people being warned that they could face isolation by losing access to their landline. The alert, on the back of new research into the largest overhaul of the UK telephone network in decades, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the official retirement of Britain’s iconic red telephone boxes by BT. A survey commissioned by Zen Internet, a leading telecommunications and network connectivity provider, reveals alarming statistics about public awareness and preparedness: Landline usage remains high despite the mobile revolutionThe survey also highlights the enduring importance of landlines in UK households: Image credit: annie-spratt-goholCAVTRs-unsplash Despite these…

“In the realm of interior design, the pursuit of wellbeing continues to be a significant influence on décor choice,” says Lucy Mather from Arighi Bianchi, a viewpoint shared by fellow interior design experts. “At the heart of this movement is the concept of Sense-scaping,” says Mather, “which is the practice of using all five senses to create a desired mood or experience within a particular environment.”  In interiors, Sense-scaping is reshaping how we think about and design our living spaces in 2025. So how can we apply this design principle in our homes – we asked three experts to explain. According to Lucy: The Sensescaping…