Latest news with #LaRedoute
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pippa Middleton's affordable Grand Prix wedge espadrille heels are selling fast
Pippa Middleton copied her big sister Kate with a comfy-looking pair of espadrille wedges from a readily available brand Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has been spotted on countless occasions in a certain pair of espadrille wedges, wearing them with everything from wide-leg jeans to flowing midi dresses for all kinds of occasions. Now, her little sister Pippa Middleton has followed suit, choosing to sport the comfy-looking shoes to the Silverstone Grand Prix over the weekend. The wedges in question are Castaner's Carina self-tie canvas wedge espadrilles, £120 on Selfridges. Word has gotten around about Pippa's shoe choice because there's now limited stock in many of the popular sizes. So, if you're keen to get a pair of your own, we'd suggest acting fast. As we say, Kate is also a big fan of this exact style of wedge, having worn them on many occasions, including the Chelsea Flower Show and Henley Royal Regatta. It's also easy to see why the Castaner Carina shoes are a top Royal pick for casual and more dressy events. The espadrilles are made from 100% canvas and feature self-tie fastenings, closed round toes, woven patterns on the sides, all-over canvas texture and, most crucially, a comfy low wedge heel that measures 2.3". Essentially, it's the perfect shoe choice for days when you're spending a lot of time on your feet but you also still want to look polished. If you love a bargain, La Redoute is also offering a version of the Carine canvas wedges for £64.99 in a slightly darker colourway. However, stock is dwindling fast. If you're interested in the rest of Pippa's F1 outfit details, she also carried a new accessory to the racing event: Emmy London's Mabel Bag in the tan leather colourway, £595. As for her dress, it's from Usisi Sister and is priced at £415. Currently, stock is still available in sizes S through to XL. Her jacket, which matches perfectly with the bag and heels, is an old-season Sezane piece. Although the Castaner wedges aren't breaking the bank by royal standards, the £120 price tag on Selfridges may be a little steep still. If this is the case, we've managed to track down an almost identical pair at Crew Clothing which will save you some pennies, with the Faith Classic Heeled Espadrille priced at a much for budget-friendly £60. The Faith sandals mirror Princess Kate 's thanks to their espadrille style, with a jute wedge heel and suede closed toes. The suede is made from real leather and comes in a range of three colours, including beige, pale pink and black. Alternatively, we also love New Look's versions, the Off White Faux Leather Woven Closed Toe Wedge Sandals, £35.99. Their adjustable strap and wedge heel ensure a comfortable fit, while the raffia trim and ribbon tie detailing around the ankles give the shoes an elevated feel.
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Boden's 'flattering and incredibly comfortable' summer dress is now 50% off
The sought-after jersey midi dress from high street favourite Boden is now available at a whopping 50% off - but you'll need to be quick if you want to snap one up Floaty, breathable and pretty dresses are a must-have for effortless summer chic, keeping you cool as the temperature rises. With the summer season now in full swing, numerous beloved high-street stores are slashing prices, offering discounts of up to half price - including Boden. The popular retailer has reduced the cost of its coveted Sofia Trim Jersey Midi Dress, normally ranging from £90 to £98, to just £49 for the 'Paintbox Daisy' pattern, effectively cutting it to half-price. This particular design boasts a figure-flattering fit-and-flare shape, handy side seam pockets, and a removable self-fabric belt for added adaptability. If the ditsy print doesn't tick your boxes, the frock is also available in an array of colours like navy, black, terracotta red, poppy red, multi and bright blue, all adorned with patterns and offered in both petite and regular fit. Sizes four through 16 are still up for grabs for the dress, which features eye-catching puff sleeves and intricate scallop trim detailing. Its jersey composition, blending 50% cotton with 50% TENCEL Modal, promises both softness and comfort – a fact that shoppers have been keen to praise. With it's 4.5 star rating, one happy customer said: "Purchased this dress for office-to-evening days, and it's perfect - comfortable and stylish." Echoing the sentiment, another fan of the dress wrote: "I'm in love with this dress, it's so flattering and incredibly comfortable. I wish there were more colours available." Whilst another raved: "This dress fits so well. Even though I've gained a few extra pounds recently, it does a great job of hiding them - I'm already thinking about getting it in more colours." Despite the majority of positive feedback, a few shoppers had issues with the sizing, particularly the length: "I am 5ft2 and it was too long even though I had bought petite. It was also a bit unflattering around the waist." Some weren't fond of the gathered waist, stating it didn't flatter their figure as much as they'd hoped. Alternatively you could opt for the Maxi Shirt Dress with Tie-Waist from La Redoute, priced at £67.99. The dress is available in several neutral shades including dark green, navy, and black, reports the Express. The dress has been a hit with customers, boasting a 4.5-star rating from 248 reviews. "I love this dress, I get loads of compliments and it goes seamlessly from day to evening," one happy customer raved. Meanwhile, New Look's Dark Khaki Crinkle Texture Tie Front Midi Shirt Dress is currently on sale for £20.99, reduced from £27.99. The dress offers both comfort and style with its elasticated waist and tie front detail, and comes in versatile shades of black, dark khaki, and navy. For those interested in Boden's Sofia Trim Jersey Midi Dress, now on sale for £49, visit the website. Join our Shopping & Deals WhatsApp for the best bargains and fashion news WHATSAPP: Get the best deals and exclusive discount codes straight to your phone via our WhatsApp group. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Some of these articles will contain affiliate links where we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from them. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
How to make your home office work for you
'A home office has become a must have in a lot of houses,' says Gwen Kenny, interior designer. The vast majority of her clients require one. Many of these may have worked from the kitchen island during the pandemic. Now, they recognise the need to shut the door on the office at the end of the day. 'If they're constantly reminded of what they do, they never get a break from work.' In home office design, everyone's needs are different. Some like their desk to face the window, others find this distracting. Not everyone is comfortable with a door behind them. Who knows what may creep up behind you as you work? Some like to surround themselves with a comforting mess of books and papers; others need everything to be tided away. 'I've designed home offices for couples,' Kenny says. 'Both working from home, but in different businesses. Sometimes one of them is neat and the other needs to spread themselves. I'd go bananas!' Kenny is married to a joiner, Tadgh Kenny of Chisel and Plane. They collaborate successfully on projects, from separate office spaces. Most home workers prefer a room of their own, with a door they can shut against the world. This isn't always possible. Where space is tight, or the home office is located in a multi-functional room, Kenny recommends a 'cloffice' – an office in a closet. This is a new name for an old concept. The Victorian bureau desk had a slanting lid that shut the worktop from view. The modern cloffice is more likely to be wall-mounted with a pull-out desk below shelving. Off-the-peg cloffices are available but are not yet widespread. The Matheo Oak Hideaway Cabinet Desk (€955.99) from La Redoute is elegantly styled but tricky to acquire in Ireland. The best option is to order from the UK website for delivery to an address in Northern Ireland. In all of this, ergonomics is the elephant in the room. 'Ergonomics are so important,' Kenny says. 'Even when people think they're getting it right, they're probably not.' The problem is that human beings did not evolve to work on computers for 8 hours a day. Our heavy heads – on average between 4.5 and 5 kg in weight – are designed to be in alignment with the spine. When this balance changes, even by a small degree, it puts pressure on the neck. 'A lot of people use laptops. They either have their set-up right for the arms or right for the eyes, but not for both.' A separate screen and keyboard can help a lot. Seating is another issue. Sitting too much is bad for your health, yet most office jobs require it. Ikea's sit-stand desks range from the Segrare (€90), operated with a manual crank handle, to the electrically-powered Mittzon (€435). Saddle stools or chairs, as used by dentists and hairdressers, are reportedly better for the back than standard office chairs. 'I've ordered one for my own office,' Kenny says. 'You can find them in hairdresser suppliers and the design is quite minimalist.' The FRNIAMC adjustable saddle chair has won awards (from around €100 on Amazon). A home office from the Dublin-based joinery company, Custom Made, costs between €4,500 to €8,000, depending on size and complexity, with an average spend of €6,000. 'Most clients want a peaceful, uncluttered space to help them focus,' says in-house designer, Vanessa Manta. 'They want plenty of storage without making the room feel busy. When that's the case, I tend to recommend floating shelves, open shelving, or storage under the desk to keep things light and functional.' The trend is for bright colours with oak or walnut elements and integrated lighting, either LED strips or downlights. 'Shaker-style doors with small knobs or handleless fronts are the most popular,' Manta says. Most of her clients are hybrid workers. 'This definitely influences their home office needs. They need enough worktop space to accommodate a multi-monitor setup and a printer. The space needs to be practical for regular use, but not necessarily set up like a full-time commercial office.' While some integrate a desk into the living room by combining it with the TV unit, the overwhelming preference is for a separate, dedicated room. No home office, however well designed, will remain uncluttered in a messy home. 'If you struggle with accumulation of stuff, it tends to flow into every area of your life,' says decluttering coach Suzy Kell. Decluttering is a state of mind, rather than a particular project, but working from home brings its own challenges. 'A cluttered desk brings a feeling of chaos. It's distracting and makes it hard to concentrate.' Kell's solution is simple: 'Get rid of anything that's obviously rubbish and anything that has an obvious home.' Once the books have been restored to the bookshelf and the pens to their resident mug, tackle the anomalies. Unlidded Tupperware containers can bring order to a drawer. 'I like to have a one-step put-away,' she explains. 'Small items of stationery can simply be dropped into place. It helps if they have an obvious place to land. If you have a tech drawer, wind up the cables and fasten them with a rubber band so they don't turn into a crazy spaghetti of cables.' Paperwork can still be a problem. 'With paperwork comes the fear of throwing something important away,' Kell explains. 'Some of my older clients feel they need to keep a record of everything. This can lead to piles of unprocessed papers and packed filing cabinets. In extreme cases, I've seen rooms full of shopping bags filled with papers.' The fear of discarding important paperwork is legitimate. Many people have died intestate because their Last Will and Testament went out with the recycling. 'If you think a document may be important, check it at source. Call the bank or the solicitor. If in doubt, keep a scanned copy.' Once the accumulation of clutter has been dealt with, a regular tidy-up routine will stop it from getting out of hand. 'A 30-second clean-up at the end of the day is a good habit,' Kell says. 'It's easier to start a new day with a clean desk.'
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Linen, suede and wicker fashion and home buys from £9 we're shopping this week
Trending neutral tones and wicker textures for your home and wardrobe, from as little as £9 from top brands like La Redoute, Tu at Sainsbury's and Dunelm... If you're loving the soft, calming vibe of neutrals right now, you're not alone. Trending across both interiors and fashion, gentle beige, cream, and stone tones are making everything feel a little more relaxed and effortlessly chic. Wicker textures and natural finishes are adding a layer of laid-back sophistication, and the best bit? You can tap into the look from as little as £9, thanks to stylish pieces from La Redoute, Tu at Sainsbury's and Dunelm. From breezy wardrobe staples to soothing home updates, we've rounded up a few favourites to get you started. Sip on a Rosé Spritz with the Mirabeau x Fever Tree set, available at John Lewis, or elevate your kitchen shelf with a set of speckled stoneware mugs from La Redoute. For those dreamy lounging moments, Dunelm's Selene Egg Chair is pure garden goals, and Oliver Bonas' stripe muslin bedlinen set brings the ultimate bedroom refresh. Stylish, affordable, and totally on trend.... La Redoute Interieurs Set Of 2 Stoneware Mugs You can never have too many mugs, and this stoneware set of two is guaranteed to make any morning coffee look even more tempting. Oliver Bonas Stripe Muslin Bedlinen Set This muslin stripe bed linen, which comes in double or king sizing, is perfect in every way, but the only thing is you'll have to drag yourself out of it every morning. River Island Pink Raffia Ballet Pumps Combining three trends, ballet pink, ballet pumps and raffia, these pretty shoes are your perfect spring/summer accessory. Pair them with jeans or pleated skirts to be on trend. Narciso Rodriguez For Her With summery notes of peach, musk and patchouli, this new scent for women is like a bottled holiday in Europe. It's also a guaranteed crowd pleaser if you're looking for a gift for a loved one. Habitat Selene Egg Chair The rattan-effect frame of this chair forms a cocoon-like silhouette, designed to cradle you in style, while the soft, cream cushions are tailored for a snug fit. Edge of Ember Ocean Shell Earrings You don't need to wait for a fancy occasion to wear these utterly luxurious freshwater pearl droppers on 18k gold plated shell studs. Pack them for your holiday or wear them to work paired with a white linen shirt.
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Mirrors, caddies and skinny shelves: 12 space-saving tricks to make small rooms feel bigger
Large rooms need more – and bigger – furniture, so small rooms just need fewer, smaller pieces, right? Not entirely. In fact, there's a lot more to creating a successful small space than that. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. When looking at a room, don't just think about the floor plan; consider it as a three-dimensional space and ask yourself: what can be hung from the ceiling? What can be wall mounted? How many hooks could I put on the back of that door? Find the perfect skinny shelves to fit in that gap behind the door and suddenly you've freed up a lot of space in the rest of the room. We asked interior designers and architects for their tips and products for making small spaces work harder and feel bigger than they are. Fermob Alizé end table £239 at Fermob 'Occasional' furniture is too much of a luxury for small spaces, where each piece has to earn its keep. Look for side tables that double as stools for squeezing extra guests around the table, or ones that conceal generous storage. I've used a wicker laundry basket from Zara Home as a side table, with a circular Ikea tray on top (it's also great for stashing away toys at the end of the day). Mine are no longer in stock, but you just need to match the diameters of each, or you could try this H&M basket on its own with the lid inverted. Also think about pieces that can double as outdoor furniture. Designer Hannah Campbell of Campbell & Cottrill recommends Fermob for small, lightweight tables: 'We recently supplied one of these for a client with a balcony, and it's been used inside all winter as an extra side table.' La Redoute Mathéo hideaway cabinet desk £819.99 at La Redoute£820 at Next There are lots of great occasional desks, from vintage bureaus sourced secondhand, to foldaway and wall-mounted designs (Wayfair does a hideaway version with a top shelf that squeezes in another element of storage). Then there's this striking design from La Redoute, which is on the expensive side but so functional it's almost like buying another room – and it looks great even when tidied away for the weekend. Overdoor oak caddy £65 at Futon Company Make the most of the backs of doors by adding hooks – for everything from coats to tomorrow's work outfit (I've used H&M ones for years). They can also accommodate tote bags full of hard-to-store occasional stuff. Better still, get an overdoor caddy like this clean-lined oak version from the Futon Company. Mushroom wall light £48 at John Lewis In the past few years, rechargeable lights have become a mainstay. They work brilliantly in spaces where wiring is hard to access or looks ugly. Campbell recommends Pooky's Scoon table lamp, Fermob's Balad lamps and Fatboy's Bolleke lamps. Rechargeables are also perfect for by the bed, eliminating clutter. This simple design from John Lewis is dimmable and comes in eight colours and finishes. Bayonne triple hanging basket £28 at Futon Company Don't forget the ceiling. Free up surface space by placing indoor plants in clusters of macrame hangers – Etsy is great for these – or place plant pots and drip trays in a triple hanging basket. They are also a great way to keep cuddly toy collections close to a child's bed. Storage 02 From £449 at Swyft Edward Martin of Delve Architects recommends incorporating a built-in dining bench in kitchens wherever possible: 'As well as seating, they provide storage underneath, through pull-out drawers or a liftable lid. When the dining table is not in use, it can be pushed in close to the bench, providing more floor space.' Meanwhile, Campbell is a fan of ottomans in smaller living rooms and bedrooms, like this velvet one from Swyft, which comes in eight colours. Anyday Laguna shelving unit £129 at John Lewis Vodka table £179 at Futon Company There are many ways to boost storage in the kitchen. 'If space is tight, a plate rack over the sink is a two-for-one move allowing plates to drip dry,' says interior designer Jill Macnair. Dunelm's practical corner storage rack maximises space on a small worktop. If gadgets are taking over your surfaces, look for stacking storage – Debenhams does a three-tier kitchen organiser. For something bespoke, Lugna has a great shelving range for tight spaces that would work well in the kitchen. Wall-mounted shelves are an obvious go-to in smaller spaces. Macnair suggests using overlooked spaces in halls and corridors and above doors. 'Ideally, run the shelf wall-to-wall in a nice wood or MDF painted the same colour as your walls,' she says. For a shelving system, Martin says: 'Nothing beats Vitsoe's 606 hanging system. It keeps storage off the floor to create the illusion of space. You can customise them to create study areas, bookshelves or closed storage.' If you're on a budget, most shop-fitting suppliers sell similar customisable ranges, for example, Trade Systems. Irregular rattan wall mirror £199.99 at Zara Home Mirrors are a small spaces cliche for a reason, but they can be used in unexpected ways. In its Fortyfour house project, architecture studio Fardaa used mirrors as unobtrusive fronts for kitchen cabinets, positioned above head height to create extra storage. They also work well as plinths in kitchens and bathrooms to give a floating effect that makes rooms feel bigger. Or keep it simple with a statement piece. 'A large-scale wall mirror will create a brighter, more open feel, enhancing the sense of space,' says interior designer Antonia Winkler von Stiernhielm of Studio Anton. Primrose ottoman double bed £1,495 at Button & Sprung Chadwell ottoman double bed £300 at Argos I recently bought my first one of these – beds with storage underneath – and experienced a 'where have you been all my life?' moment. They are much easier to access than I imagined and store A LOT – bedding, books, out-of-season clothes, luggage. 'I frequently recommend Ottoman beds for clients' spare rooms, where space is at a premium,' says Winkler von Stiernhielm. Adding a valance can soften their aesthetic, she says. Jimi wall-mounted bedside table £169.99 at La Redoute Wall-mounted 'floating' furniture is a brilliant way to free up floor space and boost the sense of flow in a room. There are lots of great floating nightstands, so think about your bedside storage needs. Look for designs that feature a drawer for clutter and a shelf for books. Danderyd drop-leaf dining table £199 at Ikea These designs typically transform from a console table to space for dinner à deux – or more if you open both leaves. They were a mainstay of the postwar kitchen, and it is still easy to source vintage versions on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or local forums (it's much harder to find new versions). Melamine finishes have a cheery, nostalgic feel; also look for versions with a built-in drawer or cupboard.
